January 5, 2009

quick update

Just a quick update to let you all know what’s happening……

The surgery was much more invasive than what we had planned. I ended up having cancer in my lymph nodes so they had to remove level 1 (which is about 30 lymph nodes) 5 came back positive for cancer. My lump was 5.3cm (we thought it was only 2.5cm) This all means that the cancer is much further progressed than what we had thought. They put me in Stage III.

Tomorrow I will meet with two oncologists and they will tell me what is planned for chemo and radiation. Thursday I have a CT of my chest, abdomen and pelvis and a bone scan. This is all to make sure that the cancer hasn’t spread to any other organs.

Next week Tuesday I will have outpatient surgery to have a port put in for chemo. I anticipate my first round of chemo will be next week Wed, Thurs or Fri.

If you need to catch up with me I am keeping a blog on facebook. Just set up a free account and send me a note through open diary and I will set you up as my friend. Unlike Open Diary , Facebook uses REAL names so I will not post any of that on this journal.

I have asked my surgeon 3 times if she thinks that a mastectomy would be a better option and all three times she has assurred me that we made the right decision. She is confident that she got all the cancer out and has clear margins.

John and I agreed to ask the cancer doctors (oncologists) tomorrow about a mastectomy and if they agree it isn’t necessary we won’t ask anymore. I just don’t want to go through all this chemo and radiation to have a high recurrance rate. I am ready and willing to take them off if that is what is necessary. i don’t want to regret this decision in 5 years if it happens to come back again.

Thanks for all the notes.

Sorry I’m not on Open Diary much anymore. I really need to start journaling on here more because cancer will mess with your head. You start twisting things around in your mind and you think everyone is out to get you LOL!

~*whenwedance*~

January 6, 2009

Susan, know that I am thinking about you and praying for you every day. I’d get on Facebook, but I have no desire to have my students find me, and that privacy is very important to me. I hope you continue coming here. Good luck with the chemo next week. <3

Grammy's Heart

I’m glad you updated. My prayers are with you and I hope 2009 turns out to be a very good year for you after all this is behind you:) J

Conspicuous

*BIG HUGE HUGS*

Susan, you know I’m on Facebook so plese include me in your updates. I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I can’t believe it! If it makes you feel better, my mother was 65 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and it had spread to 13 lymph nodes. She lived for 16 more years after her mastectomy and removal of the lymph nodes. She took Tamoxifen for 5 yrs. and was in remission for 11 yrs.

Gosh, you have been SO heavy on my heart. Thank God for your update. I have a FaceBook account, but, I forgot my password, and I might have to create a new one. I will continue to pray for you. Big, soft hugzzz. I miss you.

thrifty nickle

wow, I had no idea. My thoughts and prayers are with you. You are a very strong and courageous woman. remember that.

So glad to see your update. I’ve been thinking about you. Lots of prayers that the treatment is not too difficult. How are your kids holding up? I remember how hard it was for me when my mom was diagnosed.

AnJuli914

I have been thinking of you lately. I am so glad you updated.

Ohhhh Bless your Heart! You have a horrible ordeal to deal with. Thank you for coming to keep us up to date. It sounds like the Drs have it well in hand and I have heard many good results with a lumpectomy. I think that’s what I’d do if I had to and had that choice.

hugs to you I am Praying and have been and thinking about you!

how? I am on facebook=Denise Truman

ddfroger

January 7, 2009

I hope everything turns out well.

~~Believing God~~

January 10, 2009

Thank you so much Susan, for this update!!! You have been on my heart and mind a lot lately hun!! God has all this in His hands, and I agree with getting other opinions on the mastectomy for sure. I don’t have facebook, just myspace, so I will check into that. I pray all works out good for you sweet friend!! (((Hugs))))

I checked my Facebook and you are no longer on my friends list! Did you change your name on there or what? I don’t know how to find you. I’m Kim Schuman or lalamama38@aol.com. I have been thinking about you so much, Susan. Please keep in touch.