Dr. F called last night. The PET scan showed that the cancer is contained in my abdomen/pelvis. A big concern had been that cancerous cells had spread to the liver and/or lungs, but it's just not there! Based on those results, Dr. F, along with Dr. B of M.D. Anderson fame, has decided to operate. I will go into surgery on Monday morning to have all three masses removed. The surgery will include a colon resection, similar to what I experienced in 2010.
After the surgery, I can expect to spend a week--maybe a little more--in the hospital (it was a 9-day stay last time--entirely too long, in my opinion). During my recovery, my medical team will send the tumors off for chemo sensitivity testing. This process involves treating pieces of the tumor with chemotherapy drugs and watching the effect: do they shrink? do they remain the same? This is how Dr. F will know whether or not to treat me with chemo, and which drugs may be most effective. I am not holding out much hope that this means no chemo at all for me, but I am encouraged that if I have to do it, I will be taking the right meds for my specific cancer growth.
The little cowboys have been informed of the surgery. Here's a little bit of that conversation:
Goliath: How do they get the cancer out, Mom?
Little Middle: The doctor cuts Mom's stomach and takes it out.
Me: That's right, buddy. When he does that.....
Goliath: Yeah, but how does he DO it? Does he have really sharp scissors?
Little Middle: No, he uses a knife. I think it's like the one that Dad used to kill that wild hog at the lease.
They don't like the idea that I will be away from them, and neither do I! I am asking God to put a kind, super-compassionate nurse in place that might let them sneak in to visit.
In the meantime, we are soaking up every available minute we have together. They don't know that I am scared, they don't know that I wrestle with God. What they do know is that their mom loves them. And somehow, for this hot summer afternoon, that seems to be enough.
8 comments:
You amaze me! I love your determination and choice to fight! God will carry you through this. I love you friend!
Forget the kind, compassionate nurse that might let them sneak in... find a crazy, reckless friend that will parade them down the hall to you and throw an elbow at anyone who tries to stop them. Not that I know anyone who fits that description...
I'm still up for a little ice skating anytime in the near future, if I could find three little cowboy partners so I'm not the weird lady ice skating by herself at the galleria...
Thinking of you and praying about you all the time...
so - drs - surgery - scared - check
but what i want to know is - is that your yogurt with all the gummie bears?
love you - in my prayers:-)
I'm praying for that nurse too . . . I'll admit i've snuck in a few kids before! Praying for those masses to be miraculously contained in themselves! -Rebecca coffee
Ugh. Crappy cancer.
We are praying for you, your man, your parents, your brother and sister (and their loves), your grandparetns and for your little men, of course.
We will be praying on Monday especially, for wisdom, protection and miracles!
Much love - the Daigles
This is good, good news. Let me know how I can help. We will be praying. Love you.
I may or may not resemble that....
I love you.
Praying for peace and comfort. Give Goliath my love.
Prayers for you and your family!
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