Radiation - 5 Weeks Down, 1-1/2 Left To Go

This is a good picture for today. 

This past week my skin has changed a lot where it's getting radiated. It's gone from looking like a sunburn rash to a dark brown leather rash look; but under my arms where the lymph nodes were, is black. It itches a little but started to have some pain yesterday. I'm really tired and haven't felt to good today. Lots of hot flashes! Just another week-and-a-half. I can Weather this Storm!

Radiation - 4 Weeks Down

I've been chastised for not updating this more but life's been a little busy around here. Going to radiation (town) every day wears you out, but here's where I currently am.

It's been four weeks since Radiation started. I go every day Monday through Friday and have had 20 other appointments on top of that these past four weeks. To say I'm tired would be an understatement, but I can't quit now. The end is in sight and I hope and believe that 2015 will be a year of miracles. Times of learning, growing, patience, caring and loving one another.

My current schedule is radiation every morning and physical therapy twice a week with occasional blood draws and doctors appts. So far I'm just feeling really tired. I have what looks like a sun burn on my chest and back but no blistering yet, so that's good. I have friends that take me into treatments each day. It's so nice to visit with each of them since I haven't seen some of them much this year. My doctors are always surprised when I tell them the name of my friend that brought me that day. They commented how I've never said the same name twice yet. I'm not sure if they're just surprised I have that many friends or can't believe I have that much support. Love where I live and who I share it with!

I'm trying to keep up on normal household duties and kids ball games or races. Not sure how many of these events I'll be able to attend but thankful for the events I do make. I take a chemo pill each morning called Anastrozole. It makes my joints ache. They're especially sore after sitting, so when I first get up to walk I look like I'm in pain and walk like an older person. This usually lasts about 30 feet and then my body adjusts and distributes the pain so it's not so bad. Bleachers are hard for me, so if you see me struggle to get up them at ball games, that's why. I love the smaller steps! I'm supposed to take this pill or some form of it for 5 years.

At the end of this month I have an appointment in Spokane to get a spot checked out by my eye. I noticed a black spot at the corner of my left eye just before I finished chemo treatments in June. I kept forgetting to tell the doctor about it. They need to biopsy it and make sure it's not Melanoma. My hysterectomy is scheduled for Decemeber 10th. Merry Christmas to me! That was the first opening after finishing radiation that they had, but I will get to enjoy Thanksgiving with my family and Rachael will be home!!

I was talking to a friend the other day who's going through her own health battles and she commented how when she thinks she's having a bad day, she reads or remembers my blog and says to herself, "if Rebecca can do what she's doing, I can do this." That's humbling to hear and nice to know that in my limited capacity to serve, I can still help a friend in need.

My husband surprised me with these roses on Friday, October 9th. I asked what the special occasion was, not thinking about the date, and he said, "This is the day I proposed to you 20 years ago." Wow! I'm not sure how he always remembers that day but he does, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love him for all that he's done and put up with this past year.

Unfortunately, we will always remember this day because Shad's grandfather, Anthon Price, also passed away this last Friday. I believe he was 91 years old. My children have been blessed to grow up so close to so many sets of grandparents. Because Shad and I are the oldest kids in our families and live by both sets of parents, our children have grown up with lots of Aunts, Uncles, Grandma's and Grandpa's. This will be the first funeral my kids will have experienced in their lifetime that involves a grandparent. That's amazing! Grateful this week for families and the knowledge of eternal families.

Stage 3 Let the Radiation Begin

So almost a month has passed since my last post. My drains were pulled on August 18th, on our way out of town for our family vacation. I would have posted about that sooner but I was on vacation. I was nervous about getting them pulled but it was much easier then expected and they were a lot longer then I thought; a good 15 inches long. Weird to see something like that getting pulled out of you while your watching it. Then they just put a band-aid over the hole and send you on your way. Surprised to get them both pulled the same day but sooo nice to have them gone!! Happy start to our vacation.

We rented a log home by North Bend and the kids had lots of fun: school shopping, fishing, riding bikes, playing games, hiking and eating good food. I even went to my other cancer appointment at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. It was nice to be in the mountains but I was exhausted each day. Going from short movements in my house to walking a mall or mountain was fun but very tiring.

This week I started my next stage of events. I have trouble raising my arms after surgery and even though it's been four weeks, numbness and swelling prevail in areas all over my chest. The incisions are healing nicely but my surgeon recommended going to physical therapy. So I got to meet my physical therapist on Monday. I'm feeling like we're going to have a love/hate relationship. I hate the therapy but will love how it makes me feel later, so I'm told. She says I have long thoracic nerve palsy on my right side and axillary cording/axillary web syndrome on my left side. 

After she went over all my history and paperwork, she proceeded to work on me. She didn't have much time because I told her I needed to leave by 2 to make sure I was home by the time my kids got home of the bus. It was their first day of school. She warned me that when she usually works on people with these symptoms there tends to be some cracking and popping noises. I think I just tried to block that part out of my memory but it quickly came back to my remembrance after she simply placed her thumb under my left underarm and pressed deeply. I remember hearing this cracking and popping noise and instantly thinking, "that must be what she's talking about, and then feeling a wave of pain run down my arm." It literally took my breath away.  She proceeded to press her thumb down the length of my arm and reminded me to keep breathing. Wow! I then proceeded to breath as if I was in the last stages of labor while she proceeded to work on both arms. Again, Wow! She then said, "By the way, I don't think I've told you my name. When you like me,  you can call me CJ. When you don't like me, you can call me Casey. I said, "Casey...I think I might cry." She smiled and said, "let's take a little break." Next time, which is tomorrow, I'm taking Ibuprofen before I go.

Tuesday I had my radiation consultation. Visited with doctor, watched video showing radiation procedure, then had CT scan. Plan is to start radiation after I take Rachael to college next week. It will be every day for 6 1/2 weeks. So hopefully I will be done the first week of November. Side effects are mostly fatigue, skin reactions such as sunburn and blistering but skin will heal quickly within a couple weeks.

A problem that may arise after treatment for breast cancer is swelling of the arm on the side of treatment. So in my case, both arms. This is called Lymphedema and is caused by the loss or damage of underarm lymph nodes and their connecting vessels. It occurs because circulation of lymph fluid is slowed in the arm, making it harder to fight infection. Signs can show years after surgery. I was told to follow these SIMPLE rules: (Notice the emphasis on simple)

• Avoid sunburns.
• Have all injections, vaccinations, blood samples, and blood pressure tests done on the other arm whenever possible. (In my case, on my ankles or feet, fun!)
• Use an electric razor with a narrow head for underarm shaving to reduce the risk of nicks or scratches.
• Carry heavy packages or handbags on the other arm.
• Wash cuts promptly, treat them with antibacterial medication, and cover them with a sterile dressing; check often for redness, soreness, or other signs of infection.
• Never cut cuticles; use hand cream or lotion.
• Wear watches or jewelry loosely, if at all, on the operated arm.
• Wear protective gloves when gardening and when using strong detergents, etc.
• Use a thinble when sewing.
• Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive compounds.
• Use insect repellent to avoid bites and stings.
• Avoid elastic cuffs on blouses and nightgowns.

IS THIS ALL FOR REAL! There's a reason they don't tell you everything in the beginning. They will monitor me carefully and if I show signs of Lymphedema starting I will need massage and wrapping therapy. Maybe I should just start routine massages just to make sure. :)

My hair is slowly coming back though many people have replied how fast it's coming in. So glad to have eyelashes and eyebrows again. 

Just heard news this last week that my neighbor, Steve Danz, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. There is no cure for this. They've asked that everyone pray that their insurance will accept the clinical chemo that will prolong his life. Please add him to your prayer list if you haven't already. It's hard to see someone I know going through similar experiences that I've just gone through but Steve is very positive and that will help him immensely through his fight. 

Love you all and thank you for your continued prayers and support to me and my family!!

Post OP Update

Met with surgeon today to check progress of surgery, possibly pull drains and get pathology report from surgery. Pathology report showed that after chemo my tumors had been significantly reduced in my lymph nodes and breasts. The left side has been diagnosed as Stage 1 with 1 lymph node out of 13 removed showing signs of having had cancer. (I can't remember how that's worded because at the moment I can't find my paperwork, but that's the jist of what he said.) The right side has been diagnosed as Stage 2B with 1 lymph node out of 11 removed showing signs of having had cancer. So good news!

Drains were not able to be pulled today because there's still too much fluid being drained. It looks like I have a small hematoma on the left side that's taking longer to drain. I will go back to the doctor Friday morning to see if by chance the right side can get pulled. The doctor will be out of town next week, so I won't be able to pull the other side until after he gets back. So another possible week-and-a-half with drains. Sad :( but I had a good attitude about it. He thought everything looks really good though.

He said I could try to do some stretching exercises. Not anything to extensive but it will help with physical therapy in a couple weeks. He explained that as things heal, the skin will get pretty tight and my back will start to bow forward and look rounded; hence the need for physical therapy.

I am going to try and do more things this week. I still can't lift more then 5 pounds but I'm sure I can find some things to do to be helpful. I take long walks each night that feel so good. I love the smell of the orchard and freshly cut hay fields. My hair is starting to grow again and so are my eyelashes. Yay! Extrememly grateful for the many prayers in my behalf and how good I'm feeling thus far.

Rebecca returns Home

  Rebecca is now home and is adjusting very well since the surgery on Monday.  She spends most of her day resting to allow her body to heal itself.  She suprisingly has been able to take Ibuprophen alone to control her pain.  Her spirits are really good and her smile is back.

Shad

Post Surgery Update

Yesterday Rebecca had her double mastectomy surgery.  She started surgery prep at 12:45 and was delivered into her recovery room at 6:00pm.  She was able to rest most of the night but did struggle with nausea.  She did discover that she loves Dilaudid (pain med), it worked very well for her.  :)  She met with Dr. Droesch this morning and he only had good things to say about the surgery and her recent 12 hours of recovery.  Several Lymph nodes were removed during surgery to be reviewed by a couple of pathologists and those results will be available early next week.  She is in good spirits and is doing very well.  The plan is for her to go home tomorrow morning.  I'm impressed at how strong and of course beautiful she is as she goes through these challenges.  It is incredible to see all the little miracles occuring all the time.  She has the most amazing doctor and the nurse she had last night was heaven sent, because of the wonderful care she gave my wife (she too had the same surgery 18 months ago and so could relate to my wifes discomforts).  We have felt your prayers and I know our Father in Heaven has heard them as well because of all the wonderful things that have happened in the past 24 hours. Thank you and I will be sure to send one more update in the next day or two.

Shad

Surgery Schedule Today

Todays surgery check-in time is 12:15. I was told to plan on 8 hours from the time they wheel me away to when I wake up. I'm guessing it'll be shorter then that.

People ask how I'm doing and I say good, because I really am. I don't sit and dwell on what's happening because if I do I can get sad really fast. I figure there's no point in sadness before surgery; let's save that for after because I'm sure I'm going to have a hard time tonight. Because of that, I'm asking for NO Visitors tonight. I'd like it to just be Shad and I.

I'm asking with humble heart for your prayers in my behalf this week. Strength to endure and healing will be in my prayers as well as all who will care for me and my family. I think I'm most worried about the mobility of my arms. How quickly that will come back. I already have problems with the numbness and tingling now, what will the surgery add to that?

In my mind I was thinking I'd be down for a week and come back strong but after some studying and reading, I realize it may be much longer then that. I will be a fighter in this, so we'll see how long it takes.

It's going to take many people to help my family get through this. To all of you reading this, praying for us and helping us in so many ways, please know how much I Love You! I could not do this today without all of you. My heart is very full going into surgery.

I will not be able to type on this for a while. I will try to teach Shad today how to put updates on here so it won't be weeks without you knowing what's going on. See Ya On the Other Side of Surgery!! :)