WOO HOO!!!!

Doctors office called today.... no further treatment is necessary other than close monitoring and CA125 tests every 2 months!!!

Can I get a big THANK GOD?

                              THANK GOD!

Thanks to all my family and friends who sent prayers and positive thoughts my way! All your efforts were well worth it!!!


Now excuse me while I go dance....

Thanks for listening. God Bless! Love you all!!!!!

Monday, November 5th, 2012.... CA 125 Test Results.

I went for a blood test approximately a week or so ago to test the cancer level in my blood stream. It's called a CA 125 test. Everyone has a normal range of about 0-30. Dr, Fiorica told me that he has seen this number go into the thousands on some cancer patients. I thought mine was 144, come to find out today it was over 400 before the surgery.

I got a call from his office's medical assistant today and the results of my test came back. I'm now at 33. THAT IS AWESOME!!!!

The review from John Hopkins is also back confirming the borderline results Dr. Fiorica found about the mass. There is no plan of action as of yet as to how he is going to proceed about the chemo in my file. He is in surgery today but his medical assistant is going to ask if he has one and whether she can call me with it or will I have to wait until my appointment on the 16th.

Good news make me happy :) I'm praying I won't need chemo.

Thanks for listening! God Bless! Love y'all!!! :)

Monday... October 29th, 2012 Update.... The Bloating is Going Away!

It's been a little bit since I posted last so here is another update :)

I'm doing really well. I'm getting stronger everyday. I started walking on my treadmill and getting out of the house for a little bit at a time. I drove my truck downtown today to run an errand it felt so damn good! I'm not having fevers anymore either. My weird taste buds are returning to normal.... just have to be mindful not to eat junk, LOL.

Still need to see my oncologist on the 16th for the decision of chemo and whether I can resume working. I'm hoping for the best!

So here is a pic of me down 65 lbs (that includes the nasty 35 lb mass). And no, I'm not wearing 'blush' , I have naturally awesome cheek bones!!! (and I toot my own horn too!)

Friday, October 19th 2012... The Roller Coaster Ride

It's been a little while since I've posted and not all my friends are on Facebook.

I have been riding a roller coaster during this recovery. Everything was looking really well until my bowel movements stopped again. I was having back to back fevers, some around 102 (danger range for me is 101), and my urine output was concentrated and rather dark even with all the water I was drinking.  

I started to get really nervous about this change and called my doctor.... I was seen the same day. She changed up some meds, and told me to up my water intake and they are going to test my urine to see if anything viral is going on. Had a pelvic exam done and there's no sign of infection. More laxatives because I'm having a rough time moving my bowels as well. The pain meds were changed to non barbiturates and not containing Tylenol. She told me to get regular strength Tylenol and use it as directed. I was also instructed to up my stool softener to twice daily. If the back to back fever continue into next week, she's going to prescribe an antibiotic.

It seems my taste are changing along with everything else. On Tuesday I tried eating leftovers from a really GOOD pasta, spinach, and shrimp dish.... managed to get down 3 shrimp and couldn't eat anymore of it. I love Yoo Hoo and I couldn't choke that down if I was forced too. If I'm not craving it, it starts to taste bad (like a tinny metallic taste) and I just can't do it. 

I had pizza on Monday, french fries from the oven on Tuesday, and Taco Bell on Wednesday. That was it. Thursday morning I wanted bread and figured I'd butter it to make it a bit moister. Well, by the time I got to the 2nd piece the butter started tasting tinny and I gave it to the dog. I was craving strawberry Pop Tarts and sliced turkey. Jeff got me both so I had 2 Pop Tarts for lunch and a turkey sammich for dinner :)

It's really weird. My doctor said this is going to go on for awhile. It's okay I guess... I lost another 7 lbs. LOL

Yesterday, around 7ish, the laxatives kicked in and I got my appetite back somewhere around midnight, but I had another fever. I got it down and wanted anything potato. I wasn't going to ask Jeff to start cooking at 1am so I had a turkey sammich. This morning the potato craving was still there and Jeff made us some home fries, scrambled eggs (which is weird because I always eat my eggs sunny side up yet craved scrambled) and some bacon. I finished the potatoes and eggs but couldn't finish the bacon. It wasn't from a lack of taste, but rather I ate a lot of potatoes! LOL

My body is going through all sorts of changes. It's fight to maintain homeostasis is causing all sorts of weird shit. Like the cravings and my itchy palms. My doctor said this is all normal and I'll balance out eventually.

I talked to my doctor about returning to work. I was going to work tomorrow for 7 hours. Since I had this "change" in status, she feels returning to work any time soon would be a mistake. She said I should wait for at least another month. I'm a bit disappointed but my health is more important.

As my friend Joanne says... "Baby Steps". So that's what I'm going to do. Not think about when I can do what but rather monitor the present day and track what's going on. I'm going to take "Baby Steps" each day in order to recover :)


Thanks for listening! Love yous all and God Bless!!!

Friday, October 12th 2012

I am happy to announce.....

I AM CANCER FREE!!!!!!

I went to see my OB oncologist today and had my staples removed. I have streri-strips all along the incision line and they will fall off themselves. It was also determined through the biopsy that the cancer was contained to the mass. I am completely over joyed!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!

My case is going before a panel of other oncologists for discussion this coming Tuesday. My doctor is on the fence about giving me a preventative chemo dose because the mass was so very large. I'm rather glad that he is seeking objective opinions from his peers about this.

I will be monitored closely for the next 2 years to track my progress. My next appointment is in 2 months, unless it is decided I should have a dose of chemo.

Jeff hasn't stopped smiling :)

I'm dancing in my head. My back is really sore and I have been using a heating pad to relieve the pain. I spoke to the doctor about it and it seems that since my back isn't compensating for the added weight anymore it is trying to adjust to the sudden change. It will go away in time.

I also inquired about me returning to my part time job. My boss is very happy when I told her I will be back to work next weekend. It's the sit down weekend position I have had when I was in school. I can't pursue a job in the field I was trained in for another 2 months... I am not physically able to do it yet.

So that's where I'm at right now. Cancer free and still on the mend.

I am one of the happiest women in the world right now. With the grace of God and all the love and support from family and friends, I made it through.

Thank yous all.

Love yous and God Bless!!!

Monday, October 8th 2012... A Quick Update

I'm able to move around without holding onto the walls now. I battled a low grade fever yesterday but I'm okay now. I can lift myself up out of bed without taking a pain pill and waiting for it to kick in now. It still hurts but not to the point where I want to cry. I'm still eating a soft food diet and able to use the bathroom without an issue. My stomach and intestines seem to sound like their battling, but it's normal.

I get tired easily but I'm not pushing myself. I'm up and out of bed twice a day for 3-4 hours at a time. The napping in the afternoon makes me wake up really early, but it's not like I have anywhere to go. LOL. So letting myself fall into an irregular sleep pattern is okay for now.

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow afternoon with my GP. He's just going to assess me. My OBGYN's office will call me to schedule an appointment next week when the staples come out, I'll get the biopsy results and find out if I need chemo or not.

Well, that's it for now.

Love yous all and God Bless!!!

Saturday, October 6th 2012... So Far, So Good

My first night home was uneventful. I napped when I got home, woke up to some home made chicken soup that Jeff made and went back to sleep like 2 hours later.

When I woke up I was in a lot of pain since it had been long overdue for pain meds. I was REALLY sore but I really had to pee! Later after I went back to sleep (and taking a pain pill) I kind of snapped at Jeff before he left for work (I was still lying down sleeping) that I didn't need anything. He was only trying to help and I have since apologized.

I woke up 2 times after he left and each time I took a pain pill. So when Jeff got home for lunch I was good to get up and out of bed. He set up the laptop in the living room for me and hooked up another monitor to it so I could watch movies if I wanted. He made me some oatmeal to eat and just basically made sure I was set and comfortable before he went back to work. We decided that I'd text him throughout the day saying I was okay or not. If I really needed him he's only 15 minutes away.

When Jeff went back to work I started getting some awful back pain which I am definitely attributing to gas. I got on the comfy chair and even that wasn't comfortable. I took another pain pill and I think it was too soon because I started to get really nauseous. It was so bad that my mouth was producing so much saliva that I stood over the bathroom sink for 10 minutes spitting. I can honestly say I was scared to death of throwing up and I came pretty damn close. So I took something for that and went to lie down in my bed. I was able to lie on my side for the first time since the surgery and I FARTED!!!! The pain in my back instantly went away. Since I was spent from being that uncomfortable and still a bit nauseous, I napped for another hour or so.

My PA said since the diet change to soft foods I would go through another bout with gas not getting out and moving my bowels. She was right. But since I am progressing to the point I can lie, and sleep, on my side I think I'll be okay.

I'm sitting up now with a movie on and Jeff left some chicken soup covered in a pot for me so I had a bowl of that too. The chair I'm in tilts all the way back so I can take pressure off different parts of my body when I need to. I can even sit on my foot!!!

Life is weird. Only 2 months ago my goal in life was to graduate college. Now my goal is to fart and move my bowels. Go figure. LOL