Two great things happened today. First, I was able to take a shower. It was like being one of the cast members of Survivor and winning the reward challenge where you get shampoo, soap and 50 gallons of water. Ahhh….
Second, I had my first real adventure out of the house to visit friends at work. How nice it was to see your smiling faces. It was so nice to talk to you in person instead of imagining you all as I sit here. For those of you who I was unable to see, know that you will be on the top of my list for my next visit.
So much excitement has made me tired…I should sleep well tonight.
Take care,
me
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
Deep Thoughts by Kim Groves
For those of you who remember “Deep Thoughts By Jack Handy” from Saturday Night Live – late 80s, early 90s. Here is my deep thought for the day.
When I’m having one of those “this kind of sucks” moments, a line from Finding Nemo keeps coming to the top of my mind. When Dory and Marlin are tired and lost, Dory says, “Just keep swimming…just keep swimming.” And I don’t just say it in my head; I sing it just like in the movie. For those of you with young kids who have also seen the movie 100 times, you know what I mean. For those of you who haven’t seen it, I can arrange a screening at my place. The ironic thing is that I can’t really swim that well. So as my cousin Tanya pointed out to me, you guys are my water wings to keep me afloat. Thanks.
Just keep swimming,
me
When I’m having one of those “this kind of sucks” moments, a line from Finding Nemo keeps coming to the top of my mind. When Dory and Marlin are tired and lost, Dory says, “Just keep swimming…just keep swimming.” And I don’t just say it in my head; I sing it just like in the movie. For those of you with young kids who have also seen the movie 100 times, you know what I mean. For those of you who haven’t seen it, I can arrange a screening at my place. The ironic thing is that I can’t really swim that well. So as my cousin Tanya pointed out to me, you guys are my water wings to keep me afloat. Thanks.
Just keep swimming,
me
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Freedom
I’m glad you’re sitting down. I just got the squeeze box removed about 4 hours ago. Holy BLEEP. It felt like I had a 100 foot garden hose ripped out from under my arm. I had to put my head between my knees after the VON took it out for fear of passing out. The good thing is that it’s out and I feel somewhat normal again. My armpit is numb now. The surgeon had said that that would probably happen which is fine, but it just feels weird…like it’s permanently frozen.
Overall the weekend went well. Chris helped me take Sean to swimming lessons yesterday. It was good to get out of the house but I was surprised how exhausted I felt afterwards. I’m looking forward to trying to get out of the house more this week because I’m starting to get cabin fever. With the Olympics over now I’ll be forced to watch daytime television…brutal.
Short and sweet tonight. Thinking of you all,
me
Overall the weekend went well. Chris helped me take Sean to swimming lessons yesterday. It was good to get out of the house but I was surprised how exhausted I felt afterwards. I’m looking forward to trying to get out of the house more this week because I’m starting to get cabin fever. With the Olympics over now I’ll be forced to watch daytime television…brutal.
Short and sweet tonight. Thinking of you all,
me
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Good Morning
Well I’m happy to announce that I am not addicted to sleeping pills. Seems like such an odd statement to make because I only took 4 of the 20 my doctor prescribed me but I had this fear in the back of my mind that I wouldn’t be able to sleep without them. Last night was a successful trial run. I was surprised because Steve and I had a heavy duty conversation between 11:30pm and 1am. Remember the book I told you my mom bought me? Well I was reading it last night and when I came back from getting ready for bed Steve was reading it. No problem…I was tired…it was 9:30pm and ready to go to sleep. I heard Steve come to bed at 11:30pm. Turns out he read the entire book. Talk about information overload, but that’s how Steve works.
The squeeze box still had more than 30cc of fluid yesterday so I wasn’t able to get it taken out. Disappointing. I’m due to empty it soon so my fingers are crossed that I can get it taken out today.
I called the surgeon’s office yesterday and I have an appointment to go over the pathology reports with her on Thursday, March 2nd at 1:45pm. These are the results that we’re most anxious about. In a nutshell we should find out if the cancer went beyond the tumor and the one lymph node. We’ll also start to make arrangements to see an oncologist about chemo and radiation. I’ve learned that whenever you have a lumpectomy, they pretty much always do radiation. Radiation will come after the chemo.
Steve and Andrew are at hockey right now and Sean is watching Scooby-Doo….a typical Saturday morning at the Groves.
All for now,
me
The squeeze box still had more than 30cc of fluid yesterday so I wasn’t able to get it taken out. Disappointing. I’m due to empty it soon so my fingers are crossed that I can get it taken out today.
I called the surgeon’s office yesterday and I have an appointment to go over the pathology reports with her on Thursday, March 2nd at 1:45pm. These are the results that we’re most anxious about. In a nutshell we should find out if the cancer went beyond the tumor and the one lymph node. We’ll also start to make arrangements to see an oncologist about chemo and radiation. I’ve learned that whenever you have a lumpectomy, they pretty much always do radiation. Radiation will come after the chemo.
Steve and Andrew are at hockey right now and Sean is watching Scooby-Doo….a typical Saturday morning at the Groves.
All for now,
me
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Today
Sleep…you gotta love it. Getting 7 hours of sleep last night made a lot of difference today. Like when your baby sleeps through the night for the first time, you wake up in the morning a little more refreshed with a little more energy.
The day was somewhat normal. Steve went to work; the kids went off to daycare and school. I hung out, got some rest, did some reading and watched the Olympics with my dad.
Had another visit from the VON today. The fluid from the squeeze box was down to 55cc today. Hopefully tomorrow it will be under 30 then I can get this thing taken out…it’s really getting annoying. The first time I tapped it by accident it instantly brought back a sound from my childhood. (Guys you can move to the next paragraph.) It was the sound that the quarter used to make when you dropped it into the leather pouch on your Girl Guide uniform…hallow. I suppose the Girl Guides of the new millennium probably just use their debit card now.
I am very excited to hear about the new office pools that are going on for The Apprentice and The Amazing Race. I’m jealous that I won’t be able to help in creating the display boards but know that Vicki, Eric and Sandra will make the Finance Department proud. With any luck I hope to visit next week to see them.
Signing off for now. All is well.
me
The day was somewhat normal. Steve went to work; the kids went off to daycare and school. I hung out, got some rest, did some reading and watched the Olympics with my dad.
Had another visit from the VON today. The fluid from the squeeze box was down to 55cc today. Hopefully tomorrow it will be under 30 then I can get this thing taken out…it’s really getting annoying. The first time I tapped it by accident it instantly brought back a sound from my childhood. (Guys you can move to the next paragraph.) It was the sound that the quarter used to make when you dropped it into the leather pouch on your Girl Guide uniform…hallow. I suppose the Girl Guides of the new millennium probably just use their debit card now.
I am very excited to hear about the new office pools that are going on for The Apprentice and The Amazing Race. I’m jealous that I won’t be able to help in creating the display boards but know that Vicki, Eric and Sandra will make the Finance Department proud. With any luck I hope to visit next week to see them.
Signing off for now. All is well.
me
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Sun
Can’t say I got a lot of sleep last night. Not because of any pain, just because my brain was in overdrive again. I was thinking that it would be great to have a party at the end of the summer when all of this is done. So then I got to thinking about tent rentals for the backyard in case it rained, caterers etc. Crazy, I know.
Steve’s been keeping me in check with the meds and helping with emptying the squeeze box. The VON came to the house today and with any luck I can get the drain out by the weekend. The boys still haven’t noticed yet which is great. The VON is scheduled to come for 6 visits between now and March 6th. Things seem to be healing well.
My mom bought me a book called “Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” by Dr. Robert Buckman. It’s kind of like “Cancer for Dummies”. It has been a good resource for me. Hopefully you or someone close to you will never have to go through this but if you do, I highly recommend the book.
The week’s events have caught up with Steve and myself and I think we’re about to call it a night. Thank you again for all your e-mails…they keep me going. I wish I could respond to everyone one of them but I can’t seem to find enough hours in the day right now. Know that I have read them and I greatly appreciate them.
Good night,
me
Steve’s been keeping me in check with the meds and helping with emptying the squeeze box. The VON came to the house today and with any luck I can get the drain out by the weekend. The boys still haven’t noticed yet which is great. The VON is scheduled to come for 6 visits between now and March 6th. Things seem to be healing well.
My mom bought me a book called “Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” by Dr. Robert Buckman. It’s kind of like “Cancer for Dummies”. It has been a good resource for me. Hopefully you or someone close to you will never have to go through this but if you do, I highly recommend the book.
The week’s events have caught up with Steve and myself and I think we’re about to call it a night. Thank you again for all your e-mails…they keep me going. I wish I could respond to everyone one of them but I can’t seem to find enough hours in the day right now. Know that I have read them and I greatly appreciate them.
Good night,
me
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Hello again
I feel great right now, actually better than I expected. I’m sure the drugs have something to do with that but none the less, great.
The surgery was slightly delayed this morning and started at 11:45am. I talked to the surgeon briefly before entering the operating room and asked when I would hear some results. She said she hoped to have the pathologist’s report by next Friday (March 3rd) and that I will have an appointment with her then. If the results are not in then, we will meet with her the following week.
They wheeled me into the operating room today and the anesthetist moved me close to the operating table and said, “Get as close to the middle of the beer, I mean bed, as possible.” Everyone in the operating room laughed including me. The surgeon said that if we were ordering drinks then she would have a glass of wine. The surgery was done on the right side so I’m pretty sure they were sober.
I woke up in recovery at about 1:30pm. My initial reaction was to take off the oxygen mask and in the process of doing so I gave myself a fat lip. I hate coming out of an anesthetic. Thanks to a man beside me in recovery who was snoring rather loudly, I was able to snap out of it fairly quickly. I then got wheeled to another recovery room where I met up with Steve, my mom and my brother. (Dad was here waiting for me to come home.) I made it home by 4:45pm. Steve picked up the kids and told them that I had surgery today to help my sore shoulder. Andrew had a few questions but other than that they are unfazed. They haven’t even noticed my “squeeze box”.
Speaking of squeeze box, Steve is going to help me drain it now, then I’ll be off to bed. Steve’s got all the drugs lined up so if I wake up in the middle of the night they are close by.
What a day.
me
The surgery was slightly delayed this morning and started at 11:45am. I talked to the surgeon briefly before entering the operating room and asked when I would hear some results. She said she hoped to have the pathologist’s report by next Friday (March 3rd) and that I will have an appointment with her then. If the results are not in then, we will meet with her the following week.
They wheeled me into the operating room today and the anesthetist moved me close to the operating table and said, “Get as close to the middle of the beer, I mean bed, as possible.” Everyone in the operating room laughed including me. The surgeon said that if we were ordering drinks then she would have a glass of wine. The surgery was done on the right side so I’m pretty sure they were sober.
I woke up in recovery at about 1:30pm. My initial reaction was to take off the oxygen mask and in the process of doing so I gave myself a fat lip. I hate coming out of an anesthetic. Thanks to a man beside me in recovery who was snoring rather loudly, I was able to snap out of it fairly quickly. I then got wheeled to another recovery room where I met up with Steve, my mom and my brother. (Dad was here waiting for me to come home.) I made it home by 4:45pm. Steve picked up the kids and told them that I had surgery today to help my sore shoulder. Andrew had a few questions but other than that they are unfazed. They haven’t even noticed my “squeeze box”.
Speaking of squeeze box, Steve is going to help me drain it now, then I’ll be off to bed. Steve’s got all the drugs lined up so if I wake up in the middle of the night they are close by.
What a day.
me
Home
Just a quick one here. I'm home, happy and hungry. Just going to have some toast. I'll probably leave another message after the kids go to bed.
Thumbs up,
me
Thumbs up,
me
Here we go...
Steve tells me that I look like I’m going to write an exam today. I suppose it’s true. I’ve got my sweats on and I have this anxiousness about me like let’s hurry up and get this over with. Tonight I’m sure I’ll have that post exam feeling too…I’ll be glad that it is over and now I’ll just have to wait for the results.
Steve has taken the boys now and I’m just organizing the last few things.
I look forward to sending you another message tonight.
Later,
me
Steve has taken the boys now and I’m just organizing the last few things.
I look forward to sending you another message tonight.
Later,
me
Monday, February 20, 2006
Black socks
So I see you’ve got on the bus. Thanks. (By the way, I filled it up with gas and took it through the car wash today…seriously…I did.) Thank you so much to all of you for your kind words, your cards, your calls, your gifts, your e-mails, your visits and your prayers. They are all much appreciated.
I managed to keep myself busy today running more errands, cleaning the house and doing the laundry. If I find another black sock without a match I think I’m going to scream!
Tomorrow Steve will drop the kids off at school and daycare a bit earlier than usual so we can get to the hospital by 8:30am. At the end of the day when we’re all back home we’ll explain to the kids that I had a lump under my arm and the doctor took it out. I’m sure Andrew and Sean will come up with some interesting questions but we’ll keep the conversation light.
It’s almost time for my hot chocolate and the rest of the routine so I’ll sign off now.
Talk to you tomorrow,
me
I managed to keep myself busy today running more errands, cleaning the house and doing the laundry. If I find another black sock without a match I think I’m going to scream!
Tomorrow Steve will drop the kids off at school and daycare a bit earlier than usual so we can get to the hospital by 8:30am. At the end of the day when we’re all back home we’ll explain to the kids that I had a lump under my arm and the doctor took it out. I’m sure Andrew and Sean will come up with some interesting questions but we’ll keep the conversation light.
It’s almost time for my hot chocolate and the rest of the routine so I’ll sign off now.
Talk to you tomorrow,
me
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Bonjour
Well the day has been spent stocking up on all those bulk items we needed at Costco. One more thing off the “to do list”. We have enough dishwasher detergent to last us until June.
Steve and I headed down to my parent’s place for dinner with Chris and the kids and Nan. Good conversations…good laughs. Thanks to Nan I no longer have to go to Dollarama to buy a pill sorter. She has done that for me. The fact that the pill sorter was all in French will help me brush up on my French during the months ahead. :)
I’ve figured out why I’m dealing with news of the past week so well. I’m a control freak. I have always felt most comfortable in situations where I am in control. I feel I am in control here….I’m the driver and you guys are the passengers. Being a passenger brings with it a feeling of helplessness, I understand. So, you guys will just have to get on the bus and hold on tight and trust that I know where I’m going (I promise not to drink and drive).
Bon soir,
moi
Steve and I headed down to my parent’s place for dinner with Chris and the kids and Nan. Good conversations…good laughs. Thanks to Nan I no longer have to go to Dollarama to buy a pill sorter. She has done that for me. The fact that the pill sorter was all in French will help me brush up on my French during the months ahead. :)
I’ve figured out why I’m dealing with news of the past week so well. I’m a control freak. I have always felt most comfortable in situations where I am in control. I feel I am in control here….I’m the driver and you guys are the passengers. Being a passenger brings with it a feeling of helplessness, I understand. So, you guys will just have to get on the bus and hold on tight and trust that I know where I’m going (I promise not to drink and drive).
Bon soir,
moi
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Note to self.
Do not drink hot chocolate AFTER you take your sleeping pill. These little blue pills work faster than you think.
Steve just recited some conversation that we had last night after I took the sleeping pill and I have no recollection of it. It’s quite funny to hear things from his perspective. I have a recollection of doing a slight weave up the stairs last night and he recalls thinking I was going to do a face plant into the stairs.
So the order tonight will be:
PJs
Write in blog
Drink hot chocolate
Brush teeth
Get into bed
Take sleeping pill. (By the way leaves a taste in your mouth like you’ve just eaten a roll of tin foil or eaten something from Fear Factor.)
Dinner tonight was great…no work talk, no kid talk, no cancer talk.
We did some shopping afterwards so I am now equipped with some new lounge wear and some new DVDs…bring on the popcorn.
me
Steve just recited some conversation that we had last night after I took the sleeping pill and I have no recollection of it. It’s quite funny to hear things from his perspective. I have a recollection of doing a slight weave up the stairs last night and he recalls thinking I was going to do a face plant into the stairs.
So the order tonight will be:
PJs
Write in blog
Drink hot chocolate
Brush teeth
Get into bed
Take sleeping pill. (By the way leaves a taste in your mouth like you’ve just eaten a roll of tin foil or eaten something from Fear Factor.)
Dinner tonight was great…no work talk, no kid talk, no cancer talk.
We did some shopping afterwards so I am now equipped with some new lounge wear and some new DVDs…bring on the popcorn.
me
Drive Thru
The sleeping pill worked. Feeling a little groggy at the moment but for the most part better after having several hours of sleep.
Steve’s taken Andrew to hockey this morning and I’m going to get Sean ready shortly for his swimming lesson. All in all a fairly normal day. Mom and Dad are going to take the kids to a movie this afternoon then take them back to there place for a sleepover. That will give Steve and I the opportunity to go out to dinner, a movie or just hang out.
So Tuesday’s surgery I’ve learned will pretty much be a drive thru.
8:30am – show-up , a few tests
9:30am – meet the anesthesiologist, the doctor…she draws pictures on me just like on Extreme Makeover
10:30am – surgery begins, should take about 1 ½ hours
12:30am – wake-up, hang out
2pm – home
I guess I was expecting something grander than that…not that I’m complaining but modern medicine really is amazing.
I’ll be going home with what they call a hemovac under my arm. Looks like a cross between a mini round accordion and a foot pump you use to blow up an air mattress. Whenever I think of it I have to laugh because the lyrics from a song by The Who go through my head…”Mama’s got a squeeze box she wears on her chest….”. Too funny. For you younger ones who don’t know who The Who is, ask your parents. As for you Nan, you can probably download it from one of the sites that you get all your music from and burn it to a CD. For those of you who don’t know my Nan…I wish you could. She’s the best…she is the source of all the strength in the Lincoln family. I am lucky enough to be one of the genetic beneficiaries.
Off to swimming,
me
Steve’s taken Andrew to hockey this morning and I’m going to get Sean ready shortly for his swimming lesson. All in all a fairly normal day. Mom and Dad are going to take the kids to a movie this afternoon then take them back to there place for a sleepover. That will give Steve and I the opportunity to go out to dinner, a movie or just hang out.
So Tuesday’s surgery I’ve learned will pretty much be a drive thru.
8:30am – show-up , a few tests
9:30am – meet the anesthesiologist, the doctor…she draws pictures on me just like on Extreme Makeover
10:30am – surgery begins, should take about 1 ½ hours
12:30am – wake-up, hang out
2pm – home
I guess I was expecting something grander than that…not that I’m complaining but modern medicine really is amazing.
I’ll be going home with what they call a hemovac under my arm. Looks like a cross between a mini round accordion and a foot pump you use to blow up an air mattress. Whenever I think of it I have to laugh because the lyrics from a song by The Who go through my head…”Mama’s got a squeeze box she wears on her chest….”. Too funny. For you younger ones who don’t know who The Who is, ask your parents. As for you Nan, you can probably download it from one of the sites that you get all your music from and burn it to a CD. For those of you who don’t know my Nan…I wish you could. She’s the best…she is the source of all the strength in the Lincoln family. I am lucky enough to be one of the genetic beneficiaries.
Off to swimming,
me
Friday, February 17, 2006
Work...check
Today was a morning of more tests, all routine before surgery. Again, the staff at the hospital were great. Steve was with me as my note taker, my question asker (another new word for you all) and my protector.
It feels strange that today was my last day of work for awhile. Leaving felt like I was going on mat. leave but I came home to two kids. Sandy and Sandra got off easy today but I can’t say the same for Carter, Vicki and Mai. They got the Coles Notes version of “Special Funds” and I knew I lost them after about 5 minutes….but I kept on talking for an hour anyway. I’ll be back to sort them all out later.
At this point I think both Steve and I could fall asleep standing up. The sleeping pill prescription has been filled along with the post surgery meds. I think I need to go to Dollarama to get myself one of those senior’s pill organizers (sorry Nan, but I knew that would make you laugh).
Well it’s a short one tonight folks. Off to sleep soon.
Yippee!
me
It feels strange that today was my last day of work for awhile. Leaving felt like I was going on mat. leave but I came home to two kids. Sandy and Sandra got off easy today but I can’t say the same for Carter, Vicki and Mai. They got the Coles Notes version of “Special Funds” and I knew I lost them after about 5 minutes….but I kept on talking for an hour anyway. I’ll be back to sort them all out later.
At this point I think both Steve and I could fall asleep standing up. The sleeping pill prescription has been filled along with the post surgery meds. I think I need to go to Dollarama to get myself one of those senior’s pill organizers (sorry Nan, but I knew that would make you laugh).
Well it’s a short one tonight folks. Off to sleep soon.
Yippee!
me
Sleep
It’s like that Christmas morning feeling when you can hardly wait to get up except today there’s no tree, no presents and thank God I don’t have to cook a turkey.
Still many thought ramble around my head and I have a need to get them out. So, today is my last day of work. I know there are many of you thinking “What is she worrying about work for…it will all get done…worry about yourself.” I know, I know, I know. But still, I feel sorry for Sandy P. or Sandra C. who will have to listen to me ramble on this afternoon about reports and things that have to get done. I have about 2 weeks of training to get out in a matter of 2 hours. Meetings to cancel. So how do I word that one? Sorry I can’t meet with you next week but I’m having surgery on Tuesday to remove Breast Cancer…someone will get back to you. I know I’ll figure it out.
There’s the stuff that I want to take care of at home too. I was supposed to get my hair cut on Tuesday…guess that’s not happening. I have asked Steve to tell Elias that he’ll have his work cut out for him when I see him again.
I must go to Costco this weekend. Bulk is good. I thought I would do Steve a favour by buying the mega box of tampons so he didn’t have to buy them for me. He thought that was a good idea too.
I guess I won’t be collecting my winnings from the office Survivor Pool but I will be back. For now I’ll be sitting on the sidelines with Mel and Ab..but who knows what Survivor shake-up could happen next.
Well, I think I’ll get the prescription for sleeping pills filled today so my thoughts can at least wait until the morning.
me
Still many thought ramble around my head and I have a need to get them out. So, today is my last day of work. I know there are many of you thinking “What is she worrying about work for…it will all get done…worry about yourself.” I know, I know, I know. But still, I feel sorry for Sandy P. or Sandra C. who will have to listen to me ramble on this afternoon about reports and things that have to get done. I have about 2 weeks of training to get out in a matter of 2 hours. Meetings to cancel. So how do I word that one? Sorry I can’t meet with you next week but I’m having surgery on Tuesday to remove Breast Cancer…someone will get back to you. I know I’ll figure it out.
There’s the stuff that I want to take care of at home too. I was supposed to get my hair cut on Tuesday…guess that’s not happening. I have asked Steve to tell Elias that he’ll have his work cut out for him when I see him again.
I must go to Costco this weekend. Bulk is good. I thought I would do Steve a favour by buying the mega box of tampons so he didn’t have to buy them for me. He thought that was a good idea too.
I guess I won’t be collecting my winnings from the office Survivor Pool but I will be back. For now I’ll be sitting on the sidelines with Mel and Ab..but who knows what Survivor shake-up could happen next.
Well, I think I’ll get the prescription for sleeping pills filled today so my thoughts can at least wait until the morning.
me
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Moving right along....
I can’t imagine that there will be many days where you will see me writing to you 3 times in one day but here I am again.
So the pre-op stuff all happens tomorrow morning at 9am. Blood work, ECG and chest x-ray. They need to do a bone scan too but that will probably happen after the surgery. The surgery itself will take place on Tuesday at 10:30am at LHSC – Westminster Campus. Talk about quick turn around time!
Time to sit back and watch Survivor. I am Misty in the Survivor pool at work. Go Misty Go. I will be in to collect my winnings before you know it.
Later,
me
So the pre-op stuff all happens tomorrow morning at 9am. Blood work, ECG and chest x-ray. They need to do a bone scan too but that will probably happen after the surgery. The surgery itself will take place on Tuesday at 10:30am at LHSC – Westminster Campus. Talk about quick turn around time!
Time to sit back and watch Survivor. I am Misty in the Survivor pool at work. Go Misty Go. I will be in to collect my winnings before you know it.
Later,
me
Surgery Consult.
We had the consultation with the doctor this morning. I know I am in good hands. Dr. Scott and her staff are great. Steve and I met with the nurse practitioner first. Upon examination, she was surprised to know that I had found the lump myself because it is so small. I have always been known as a detailed person and have now found out that it has its advantages!
When I had the ultrasound done on the tumor, they noticed a lymph node that had an irregular shape. So they did a biopsy on both the tumor and the lymph node. This has turned to be a huge time saver. They now know that the cancer is in the breast and the lymph node so I will be having 2 surgeries at once instead of one for the tumor now only to find out I will need another one for the lymph nodes later. The surgeries will be a lumpectomy and an axillary node dissection. The lumpectomy will remove the tumor and enough surrounding tissue so they feel comfortable that they have everything. The axillary node dissection will remove a dozen or so lymph nodes (from the armpit only, I thought it was from all over originally). The pathologist will then dissect the nodes to see if they are cancerous. The surgery will only be a day surgery so that will help with keeping the boys from worrying. I’ll have a drain under my arm for about 4-5 days then the home care nurse will come and remove it. From there, more healing time then the chemo begins. The pathologist’s report will let us know what kind of chemo treatment it will be.
Out of curiosity I asked the doctor how long the tumor had been there for. She said we’ll never really know but it is thought that from the time the first cell goes wacko to the size the tumor is now (1.2 cm) it has probably been eight years. Wow.
On a lighter note…….Steve picked up several of the “Breast Self Examination” door hangers (info sheet that looks like a “Do Not Disturb” sign) from the doctor’s office. He said he was going to put them on all the door knobs at work. I suggested that he put them on his own door knob but that his office shouldn’t be considered the breast screening room.
Well the day went as well as we could have hoped. Steve and I are happy with how things are moving along and hopefully you are too.
By the end of today I should know the surgery date.
I’ll keep you posted.
me
When I had the ultrasound done on the tumor, they noticed a lymph node that had an irregular shape. So they did a biopsy on both the tumor and the lymph node. This has turned to be a huge time saver. They now know that the cancer is in the breast and the lymph node so I will be having 2 surgeries at once instead of one for the tumor now only to find out I will need another one for the lymph nodes later. The surgeries will be a lumpectomy and an axillary node dissection. The lumpectomy will remove the tumor and enough surrounding tissue so they feel comfortable that they have everything. The axillary node dissection will remove a dozen or so lymph nodes (from the armpit only, I thought it was from all over originally). The pathologist will then dissect the nodes to see if they are cancerous. The surgery will only be a day surgery so that will help with keeping the boys from worrying. I’ll have a drain under my arm for about 4-5 days then the home care nurse will come and remove it. From there, more healing time then the chemo begins. The pathologist’s report will let us know what kind of chemo treatment it will be.
Out of curiosity I asked the doctor how long the tumor had been there for. She said we’ll never really know but it is thought that from the time the first cell goes wacko to the size the tumor is now (1.2 cm) it has probably been eight years. Wow.
On a lighter note…….Steve picked up several of the “Breast Self Examination” door hangers (info sheet that looks like a “Do Not Disturb” sign) from the doctor’s office. He said he was going to put them on all the door knobs at work. I suggested that he put them on his own door knob but that his office shouldn’t be considered the breast screening room.
Well the day went as well as we could have hoped. Steve and I are happy with how things are moving along and hopefully you are too.
By the end of today I should know the surgery date.
I’ll keep you posted.
me
Rain
Here we are 4:24am, February 16, 2006.
I'm finding it very weird that at this moment I have this incredible urge to write. The whole purpose of me taking Grade 13 English in summer school was to get out of having to write in a daily journal. My writing sucks...in Grade 11 English, I was given the "Silver Staple Award" from Mr. Walker as being the "Most Redundant Person". Give me a pencil and a calculator and I feel at home.
In my true form, having found out that I have Breast Cancer, I have this need to organize. So here will be a place for me to organize my thoughts and to keep everyone "in the know". I remember when Jamie was sick. The support from within and outside the Groves family was incredible. I can recall being there and listening to all the conversations and phone calls and thinking how do you remember who you told and how do you remember what you told them. So for me this was the perfect place to know that I have told everyone everything.
The e-mails, visits and phone calls from you all have been great. The thoughts and prayers from all of you that I haven't been able to touch base with have also been felt too.
I love rollercoasters and what a ride this has been so far.
Today Steve and I will meet with the surgeon to figure out where to go from here. We've prepared our questions. Steve, my strength and my info junkie, has done all the research...me, I'm not ready to go there yet.
My kids are awesome... they know nothing and it's great to have that normallcy ( I will make up my own words as we go along, just so you know.) Sean is working on having his good days at daycare and using his words and not his hands to solve his problems. Andrew is continuing to amaze me with all of this knowledge...like how many vertices does a cone have, if any. Sounds like university to me and not grade 1.
Well, I must get back to bed and I think I'll be able to get back to sleep having gotten all this stuff out of my head now. So, know when I see you, that I'm ok to talk about things, I want to talk about things and if I can't, I'll let you know. It's all part of the healing process for me.
Stay tuned.
me
I'm finding it very weird that at this moment I have this incredible urge to write. The whole purpose of me taking Grade 13 English in summer school was to get out of having to write in a daily journal. My writing sucks...in Grade 11 English, I was given the "Silver Staple Award" from Mr. Walker as being the "Most Redundant Person". Give me a pencil and a calculator and I feel at home.
In my true form, having found out that I have Breast Cancer, I have this need to organize. So here will be a place for me to organize my thoughts and to keep everyone "in the know". I remember when Jamie was sick. The support from within and outside the Groves family was incredible. I can recall being there and listening to all the conversations and phone calls and thinking how do you remember who you told and how do you remember what you told them. So for me this was the perfect place to know that I have told everyone everything.
The e-mails, visits and phone calls from you all have been great. The thoughts and prayers from all of you that I haven't been able to touch base with have also been felt too.
I love rollercoasters and what a ride this has been so far.
Today Steve and I will meet with the surgeon to figure out where to go from here. We've prepared our questions. Steve, my strength and my info junkie, has done all the research...me, I'm not ready to go there yet.
My kids are awesome... they know nothing and it's great to have that normallcy ( I will make up my own words as we go along, just so you know.) Sean is working on having his good days at daycare and using his words and not his hands to solve his problems. Andrew is continuing to amaze me with all of this knowledge...like how many vertices does a cone have, if any. Sounds like university to me and not grade 1.
Well, I must get back to bed and I think I'll be able to get back to sleep having gotten all this stuff out of my head now. So, know when I see you, that I'm ok to talk about things, I want to talk about things and if I can't, I'll let you know. It's all part of the healing process for me.
Stay tuned.
me
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