Glad that's over!

Sorry I haven't posted any updates recently! I feel like the past 3 months have flown by, which is not a bad thing given how crappy I felt!


My last post left off the day of my first treatment. That was a horrible week. Lots of nausea, very little eating/drinking. I ended up going to the ED once for fluids only because i had dropped 15 lbs and my oncologist was worried my electrolytes would be out of whack. There were fine. Probably the only bonus to starting out chemo overweight is that you have the weight to lose...I went to the ED on Monday night and Tuesday morning woke up feeling amazing. We're not sure if it was because of the fluids or because it had been a week since treatment. Whatever it was, I didn't care!


The second treatment was a little better, only because I don't remember it. Haha! Jackson went to Papa Roy's and the girls were at church camp for the beginning of the week. I took Ativan and Phenergan every 6 hours around the clock and slept through the next week. I felt bad that I wasn't "present" for the girls, but Jamie and my mom checked on them and kept them fed! My mom even taught Audrey to mow the yard!  Woo hoo!


The third treatment I think my body was finally getting used to the chemo. They give you premeds every treatment for nausea, and they are supposed to last up to 5 days. That had not been the case thr first two treatments, but I could definitely tell a difference this time! I didn't sleep through the entire week, but Jackson did go play with Papa Roy again just in case.


Dr. K had prescribed an oral chemo that I was supposed to take the entire 63 days as well, but it made me pretty sick. We decided to cut it from the regimen and just go with the IV stuff. I was really thankful for that decision, but will kick myself if I have a recurrence.


Speaking of recurrence, I had a CT this week and a followup Dr. appointment. The scan was clean. Amen! At my appointment I asked what the percentage of recurrence is. She stated that in her experience she would say 25%.  To most that may not seem like a big number, to me that is huge! A one in four chance I may have to have another surgery and more chemo? Come on! My mom is trying to be a positive force for me but I will admit I still have doubts. Dr. K said if it comes back it will most likely be in my liver. Ok, I can live without some of that. But it's just ANOTHER surgery and more CHEMO?!? Ok, say it with me, CANCER SUCKS.


I'm going to revel in the fact that I am currently cancer free, my hair will grow back, and I have a celebratory cruise in less than 2 months! My next CT will be in 3 months. I hope to not have to update until then!

The next 63 days...

Ugh...today was the first day of the 2nd round of chemo. I had labs, which were low but fine, met with the doctor, and then had a 6 hr treatment. The last time they kept telling me how the rest of the treatments would be much quicker BC they had to see how I reacted to those meds first. They didn't tell me that this time, which leads me to believe the other 2 treatments will also be 6 hours. 😒

Jill and I talked a lot, had lunch, and I took a nap. No surprise, right??

Dr. kosuri says the rest of this week will be yuck and that i should feel much better by this time next week. Almost back to normal in fact!  Two weeks of feeling good...and then we do it again.  I was told multiple times to start taking my anti-nausea meds TONIGHT and take it every 8 hours for at least 2 or 3 days. I also got a new script for another med for nausea. That makes 4! Sheesh!

I will start taking my oral chemo tomorrow and will take it 2x a day. She thinks my hair will start falling out in 2 to 3 weeks. I have to also have labs drawn weekly to make sure my blood counts don't drop too low. If that happens I will start getting shots to keep the counts up.

I think that's it, right Jill?

I'm going to bed. Shelby is in summer school and has to be there at 8. Jack decided not to go after attending one day. ..and I wasn't going to argue. 8 to 3...4 days a week...for a month. That's a lot! I'm a little worried about keeping them occupied the rest of this week though!

63 days. Now 62 days. 😘

Almost one month...

It's hard to believe surgery was almost a month ago! 9 days in Barnes, 11 days at my moms, and we have been home almost a week! Wow! Time flies! My mom and Michael were wonderful and let me sleep in their bed since there was a bathroom in their room...they slept downstairs on the extra bed. I'm sure Michael just enjoyed me cooking a few meals! Haha!

As most of you saw on Facebook, Dr K has decided bc there was tumor coming through a lymph node we were unaware of, another 2 months of chemo are necessary. I can't say I'm happy but I also want to be completely DONE with this crap!

I'm am tired tired tired of not being able to eat what I crave. I have advanced myself to softs so that I have a little more to choose from. Eggs, pasta, etc...but what I really what is a freaking cheeseburger or steak. Mmmmmm....I'm such a red meat fan. Can you tell? Ha!

My incisions are all healing really well! The only problem is this stupid feeding tube. It's kind of coming out on its own so I'm excited to have it removed Wednesday at my follow up with Dr Patterson. My mom and Dr K are interested in keeping it since I won't feel much like eating with chemo but I'm over it. I'll figure it out. I'm already down a little over 20 lbs but they said to except this. Give me red meat!😆

I'm so glad the kids are almost out of school. Let's see how long that lasts;) shelby and Jackson are going to be in summer school for a month so it's not completely out of school but at least Audrey will be home! They all have VBS, church trips, a new studio, band camp, it's going to be an awesome summer! I hope I have energy for all of it!

I love you all! The benefit was amazing! Jamie, mom, and Michelle did an awesome job putting it together and are so glad it's over! Haha! It was fun and definitely helpful to my little family over the next few months. Thanks for all the donations as well! AWESOME friends and family. Period.

Love you all! On to the next round!
Reva

Hello out there!

So Tuesday was the big day! We got to Barnes about 845 bc I had to give Dr. Patterson a copy and of the PET scan from Friday. They took me later than 11 I think, but I don't remember exactly what time it was. I did sign up for a clinical trial where they took blood and path of their own tone tested. Anything to try and help figure this mess it out!

I don't remember much of rolling in to the OR but I hear it really didn't take long. 4hrs?? I remember being in the ICU and them tying to extubate me but I kept biting on the tubes and would desat. I was also gagging on the tubes so I'm not sure what I wanted to keep them for! I had to stay one night in the ICU because of the difficult time the had, but am not there now!


That brings me to Wednesday. I was moved to the step down unit. It was more like an old ICU in that there were not doors, just curtains. The ICU was much nicer! I stayed there for a day and then was moved to the floor. Thank goodness we had already put in for a private room! So here it is Saturday already! I have had my art line removed and my peripheral hand line removed so I only have the central and my power port (which has not been accessed). I still have a primrose? Drain by the midline chest incision, a chest tube on my right side which is not putting out more than 50/hr if 8 heard correctly, and my g and j tubes. Tube feeding started in the step down unit and are fine so far. It's going I pretty slow. I have a thoracic epidural, and it is wonderful! I don't hit my button very often and my pain is usually 0-4! Catheter was removed in step down too so I'm walking to the bathroom and doing daily PT. I was on O2 until yesterday morning. Just couldn't keep my sats in the 90s.

As far as I know I will be in this room until discharge. Not sure of a date yet. I have my swallow study on Monday and will HOPEFULLY GET TO DRINK SOMETHING! Not at all the least bit hungry but I would kill someone for water or ice! ;) hahaha! The nurses have all been very nice.

Thank you for all the prayers, calls, messages, and visits! Prayers are being answered! I will let you all know the pathology as soon as I do and whether I will go another round of chemo or not.

Love you all!

Not what I expected...

I met with Dr. Patterson yesterday...things didn't go quite as planned. First I actually met with anesthesia. The nurse informed me that they would not use my port for surgery because it wasn't good for "resuscitative measures". Who are they going to be resuscitating?? Let's just say that this wasn't the only surprise! The resident said I would have an IV to go to sleep but I would probably wake up with an Arterial line and maybe another line. I will have a thoracic epidural for pain control. I will most likely spend the first night in the ICU or the step down unit. They drew my blood work and sent me to the doctor.

Dr. Patterson came in, sat down, and asked how I was doing. I said the nausea was better but I was still tired. That's when he told me he thought we should wait a week. WHAT?!? He said I have to be at the top of my game going in to this surgery. I should have explained that I had worked 3 out of four days in a row and was just wore out. We decided that I would see how the PET scan went and talk with Dr. kosuri Friday. I will get back with him then as to whether or not we proceed or push it off a week. Now my allergies are hitting and it might not be such a bad idea. 😩

As for the surgery itself, we discussed the abdominal mesh and the Peg tube. He said he didn't think the mesh would be a problem for the upper abdominal incision but that he couldn't put a tube or button through the mesh. 😳 Ok, then what?! He never said. Um...

Needless to say I left with more questions than answers. I fully trust Dr. Patterson and have heard wonderful things about him but people have rearranged their lives for next week and I don't know that I could emotionally wait another week. I think I would just sit and obsess for the next week and a half! I want to be able to get this done! Today I got the kids off to school and didn't take a single nap! Let's pray everything goes as planned, if it's meant to.

And I'm going to kick the next person that tells me how BIG this surgery is. I'm aware.

Woo hoo!

Today was my last day of chemo...for this round at least. I'll explain more in a bit!

Labs were fine, only 3 radiation after today! The next three radiation are what they call boost radiation. For the first 25 I have had the area with lymph nodes and mass treated. Now they will focus more on just the mass. I will have about 3 weeks off and then a PET scan to see the progress. They have to wait that long because the treatments will make the whole area "hot" and will light up. After a few weeks the area will have "cooled off" and only the cancer cells will light up. That test will be on 4/15. I will then meet with Dr Kosuri that day as well for a follow up. She will give me the results and let me know if the plan changes at all.

Jamie P took me to chemo today. Thanks girl! It was short (I slept) and sweet (I'm done!).  While we waited an hour for a chair though! They were busy today. It's really eye opening to see how many others are going through this is some way or another. During my treatment I called the surgeon. We put a date down for the 19th of April! That's A month away! Ahh! Crazy! So far the plan is still 7-10 days in the hospital and 2 months off. I'm so nervous already. That's a whole month almost of unpaid time. Yikes.

Please say a quick prayer for my BFF Jamie today too. Though they say the results are fine, the final pathology hasn't come back from a test last week. I know she is nervous and is telling everyone "Reva and I have done a lot together! I do NOT want to do cancer together too!" Haha! Me either sister, me either! ❤️

Nothing exciting this week to report...my labs are down but not crazy. I did have a hard time eating this weekend at work and am having to be more careful about what I choose. I have told a few people already...take food away from a big girl and there will be a mourning. I'm sure I will get over it...but it's a definite relationship change with food. Ok, pity party over.

My high school chum Sarah came with me this week. I was able to fight off the Benadryl and we chatted and caught up. Thanks for coming!!

I still have not heard from the surgeon so no scheduled date yet. I'm hoping they will call soon!

Only one more chemo and 8 more radiation! Everyone enjoy this beautiful weather today!

Dr. Patterson

Mom and I met with the surgeon today. He's a pretty no fuss kind of guy. That's ok...I need you to do one thing sir. He drew a diagram of where my proposed incisions would be, one below my left clavicle and one in the middle of my upper abdomen. Then mom, thank goodness, reminded him of my mesh from the hernia repair a few years ago. He asked what type of mesh it is. 😳 Uh...there are different kinds?!? That may change his approach, he has some research to do. They will place my PEG tube then as well. I won't eat for 6-7 days after and then they will perform a dye test to make sure there are no leaks in the reattachment. I will be at Barnes for 7-8 days if everything goes well.

So...finish treatment in the next two weeks.
PET scan 3-4 weeks after last treatment.
Surgery, no date set yet.

I am so happy to be moving through this all without a problem so far! Let's hope it continues that way!💜

Sorry for the late posting! Monday was busy and I didn't feel the best yesterday.

Chemo #4
Radiation #15

More than half way done...with this round at least!

Ok, so first of all I have to say thank you to everyone that has brought food, given gift cards, send cards, messages, etc...I am so grateful! You sometimes forget, as a mom and nurse, what it feels like to be taken care of by others because you're always so busy taking care of other people. My mom has been amazing as well and I don't tell her enough how much I appreciate her. Love you all!!

Alright on to business. Labs. Radiation. Meeting with Dr. Craft...I had to tell him that now I know what it felt like for food to get stuck. At work Sunday I was eating a sandwich and definitely could tell a bite did NOT want to go down. He says, again, just to expect more of the same and the pain I had before was probably just esophageal spasms. I do not have any red markings yet from the radiation so he was pleased. Keep on keeping on.


My labs were all fine again this week so Dr. Kosuri said no meeting next week, we can meet the day of my last treatment! Seems crazy that my last chemo is only 2 weeks away! I thought this 6 weeks would drag on forever but it hasn't so for that I am pleased. She said she was surprised I was even able to EAT a sandwich still when I told her about the food sticking! I must be a rare case! I am still not losing any hair, not puking, just some nausea...I do not have the stamina I used to. I get tired easily but ok...if that and nausea is all I can complain about right now I'll be quiet!

We did discuss surgery though!! Big Step! She says I will have surgery 4-5 weeks after my last treatment. This is a little sooner than I was expecting but I'm all for just getting it over with! She said I could meet with the Mercy guys but she also suggested trying to meet with the WashU guys. It makes sense and mom and I had already discussed it actually. They have volume and more experience there. They have practiced, if you will, on more patients than the guys at Mercy. Just like how women come to Mercy to have a baby because we are the baby factory, I want to go to the cancer factory. I had already started researching the WashU docs and found one that specializes in esophageal cancer. That happened to be one of the 2 names she gave me. She suggested I try and get in to see him before my last treatment so I called yesterday. They wouldn't even make an appointment until they received my records, so I hope to hear from them today. Kosuri thinks the hospital stay won't be too lengthy, but my home recovery will be about 2 months and difficult. She estimates I will have the PEG (feeding tube) for a month and then learning to eat differently will take a while as well.

I guess that's about it! Mike got to go watch me sleep this week during treatment and Sarah will be watching me next week! Mom and I have started shopping for the Horse race awards and such...it sounds like it's going to be so much fun! I am amazed by all the basket ideas and donations! I have a pretty awesome group of family and friends!

**Please note change of date...last week I mentioned that there was an upcoming event on May 14. It has been moved up to May 7th. Here is the FB link to the rest of the information. Thank you mom, Jamie, and Michelle!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1066548776741464/


Chemo Day #3!

Michelle and I had a much smoother go of it today...I think I finally got the routine down. NOT a routine I wish I ever had to learn, but if you arrive 45 minutes EARLY you actually get everywhere on time! Radiation was to start at 915 so I arrived at 830 to get registered and have my labs drawn. It was perfect timing. Chemo was quick today...for me at least...but I sleep through half of it! Dang Benadryl!

I met with Dr Craft today and told him that I guess I have been some trouble with food sticking but wasn't aware that was the problem. I hadn't figured in the time that it actually takes for the food to get to that spot in my esophagus. Smaller bites, lots of fluid, etc...ok ok I get it.

No meeting with Dr. Kosuri today. I will meet with her again next Monday. The RN did tell me before she started the chemo infusion that my labs all looked good still.

So that's it...half way through chemo and 10 radiation down, 18 to go! Dr. Craft said we are in the "thick of it now"...great...

A little update on the rest of the household!
Jack recently had his Blue and Gold Banquet for Boy Scouts! I have to get his belt so that we can put all the slides on it still but he has had a lot of fun! He has a camping trip May 14th if anyone knows how to camp! :) The Birk's are not campers, yet. Maybe Jack will help us change our views on icky bugs and sweating while you sleep. ??

Audrey has started her dance competition season! They did an amazing job at the first comp, getting all PLATINUM and even 1st overall for one number! We are at a crossroads in her dance career of her loving her studio and me not being able/willing to make the hour long round trip to get her there! Please pray we make the right decision and that we both have comfort in the decision made.

Shelby is over halfway through her freshman year! It's impossible to believe she will be getting her permit in a few months! She is excited to try out for another year of Flag Corp. I know I am just as excited because it means we have finally found something she likes!!

The kids are not really acting any different right now, I think just because I don't LOOK sick yet. I'm not getting thinner or losing my hair...just sleeping more than normal. They are being more helpful when asked though which is wonderful.

Mikey has been wonderfully supportive. I told him this was a lot to take on...3 kids and cancer! He just won't go! :) He is having to take on a second job since I am not able to work as much and since he is selling the pest control business. I'm going to have to take it easy on his chore list at home I guess! LOL!

Shirts are being ordered today, please make sure you send me your check if you have not already!

Love to you all!
Reva

My BFF Jamie had a shirt made! :)

 

Chemo Day #2

 

Today was still a waiting game, but not nearly as crazy as last week! I arrived a few minutes late and ran up to get my labs drawn. This was my first time doing it by myself so I was unaware that I needed to Register down stairs first. Back downstairs we trek and waited to get registered. Jamie and I waited for at least 15 or 20 minutes I think before I finally got called. We headed back upstairs to the lab and checked in. Another 20 minutes before they called me back to access my port and draw the labs. By this point I had already missed my radiation appointment AND my radiology Dr. appointment. I really don't like how they chunk all the appointments so tightly together!

 

I met with Dr. Kosouri, my oncologist, and she seemed pleased with my treatment so far. I told her last week wasn't so bad...I was tired but not too nauseated. She asked if my hair had started falling out yet, which I said no it had not. She and Dr. Craft keep asking if I was having trouble swallowing yet...YET? Ugh. I am NOT ready to start having things get stuck and choke...My labs looked good enough to not have to meet with her next Monday. I was only down a few pounds from last week and she was pleased with that as well. She wants me to stay "surgery ready" so that I heal well.

 

Off to Chemo next...I was in a different area this time and they asked if I would be ok with the bed today. Since the Benadryl knocks me out I figured I might as well be comfy! Good thing Jamie and I talked quite a bit prior to starting the infusion because I slept through almost all of it! Twice now I have taken a bag of stuff to do and haven't taken anything out but the snacks! Ha! I did  not have the same sweaty reaction I had last week, which was nice!

 

Last was radiation...I tried to skip it all together but was told no. LOL. I did have to meet with Dr. Craft afterwards, who said to start to expect the effects of the chemo and radiation to get worse. Yay. Otherwise, nothing new.

 

So far, this evening has been good. I hope it's a sign this will be a good week!

 

Tshirt orders are due this Wednesday. I will post on FB the orders I have placed and if I have received payment. Please let me know if anything is incorrect.

 

Mark your calendars for May 14th! More info to come, but ladies get your Derby hat ready!

 

Love you all! Thank you for all the positive thoughts and prayers!

And it begins...

    Today was the first day of radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation was early...820 AM! They had explained to me last week what would happen so I felt pretty prepared and calm. They talked me through everything and even let me pick the Pandora station I wanted to listen to! I chose 80's today which I then regretted...one doesn't simply listen to 80's...one rocks out to 80's...except when you are told to lay completely still. Ha! So there I am laying with my eyes closed (gown down so they can see the marked area for the lasers) just listening to the tunes, when I am shocked to hear one of my doctors talking right next to me! I almost jumped off the table! LOL! The rest of the treatment was fast and uneventful, thank goodness!

    Mom and I went to grab breakfast since we had 45 min to kill. We then headed up to my Chemo Education with the NP. She was very nice and offered lots of help and information. She walked us to the lab where they accessed my port for the first time. THANK YOU DARLENE! She loaned me her numbing cream and I am so thankful! They drew labs, which they will do before every chemo treatment. She then walked us into the infusion room. There we hit a wall...it seems no one had had my chemo run through my insurance and received authorization. Great. We waited for almost 3 hours while they tried to call the insurance company, only to find out that they were closed for President's Day. They then called their manager and got the go ahead. OMG. They have had more than a week to get this taken care of, right?

   Michelle was a savior and brought us lunch! We took snacks, but the 3 hour delay really didn't help! Darlene came up and talked to us after her radiation treatment and brought a gift from Marla...so sweet! Thank you! The real MVP of the day was Jamie P. She picked up Jack and Audrey (Shelby didn't want to leave her cave), took them to lunch, and took Audrey to dance for me! MWAH!

   They started my pre chemo meds which included anti-nausea meds and Benadryl. They also gave a dose of Decadron. All of a sudden I started to feel dizzy. We realized it was the Benadryl and let it go. They started the Taxol and within minutes I was hot and sweating. I closed my eyes and drifted off, waking to my mom fanning me with a magazine. So hot! They weren't too concerned and continued to run the meds. The RN said I tolerated it well...ok...and then ran the second one which is Carboplastin. We were able to leave about 415. Next Monday won't be as long since I "tolerated" the Taxol and they will be able to run it faster than today. Mom and I laughed about a suggestion the NP had given. She suggested I have them give me a dose of Ativan IV with my pre chemo meds. Given my response to the Benadryl, I think mom would have been carrying me out if I had had the Ativan too! LOL!

   I came home to yummy chili from Jamie P (THANK YOU) and freezer meals from Amy G (THANKS!!!). My behind landed on the couch and well...that was it! It was an exhausting day but I felt good that I was actually taking action against this disease.

                                         Time to Show Cancer Who's Boss! This Girl!

The rest of the week is just radiation so unless something big happens I may not update until next week when I meet with the doctor. Love you all!

Membership Required

This is NOT a membership card you want! This is how I check in for my radiation every day.

Today was the planning session for my radiation treatments. They made a mold of my head, arms, and shoulders. It will help me be perfectly still and make sure they hit the same spot every time. They also made three tattoos. LOL! They mark the radiated area with permanent dots so that if I ever have to have this type of treatment again they will see where I have been treated before. It was pretty quick and easy today.

I think what has bothered me the most of all these appointments so far is that I keep learning new information that someone else has failed to tell me. The oncologist failed to mention the 6 week waiting period before surgery, the radiologist failed to mention I would meet with him every week during treatment, no one explained the port until the day of placement, etc...Jamie Pfau had a great idea though I know it would be a logistical nightmare...that you start with a TEAM meeting. There are a team of Drs and such working with you to help you get better so they should all be able to meet at a round table and give you the run down of what will happen in the next few months. There is so much to learn, even as a nurse!

My reflux seems to be bothering me more lately and that worries me. What if I hadn't gone to the Dr at all for simple reflux? How far would this had gone? I already find myself eating less and have almost given up soda trying to not stir up the acid. I hate the what ifs.

Tomorrow is my last day "off" before I am scheduled to be at the hospital EVERY day (between work and treatments) for the next 6 weeks or so. FUN :/ Chemo and radiation start Monday. Wish me luck!

How did this even happen?

I figured this would be an easier way to keep everyone up to date on the progress of my treatment...I will start at the beginning which seems FOREVER ago already but was only 12 days ago!

     Back about 6 weeks ago I went to the doctor's office after a weekend of complete nausea and upper abdominal pain. I was convinced I had an ulcer. The NP started me on Zantac in addition to the Protonics I was already on. She stated that now that I was on 2 reflux medicines, I needed to have an upper endoscopy to figure out why the reflux was getting worse.
    Endoscopy came on January 29th. I was nervous, but only because I had never had this test before. When the doctor came in to the room he made me feel like this test was unnecessary. He stated it could have  been because I had tried weaning off the Protonics back in August, or because I was taking a lot of Ibuprofen. Thankfully I had a friend, Lindsey, in the procedure room with me. She really kept me calm! I came out of my propofol sleep crying. Mike assumed it was just a reaction to the medicine, but I swear now it was because I remembered hearing Lindsey crying during the test...
     Dr. Walden came in to my recovery room and didn't beat around the bush. Obviously I don't remember every detail after the word MASS...but I did remember him saying my stomach looked good and I needed to go have a CT that day. Wow. Not at ALL what I expected! They transferred me down to the outpatient CT and I called my mom. That's not an easy call to make. "Hey Mom...I have a mass and it may be cancer."
    CT was easy and uneventful, which was good...I couldn't take much more that day! Dr. Walden hoped to have some answers by that evening and said he would call me. So I waited....and waited...tried to go to work but just couldn't stick it out...and waited.
    Finally Monday I got call a call from Dr. Walden. The CT showed the mass, a few enlarged lymph nodes near the mass, but everything else looked ok. The PET scan would be definitive and the Endoscopic Ultrasound would help with staging, but we had to also wait for pathology to get the cell type. That call came on Tuesday as I was taking Audrey to dance. I hadn't told the kids anything, and wasn't going to until I had a plan of action from the oncologist. Adenocarcinoma. Ok. I can deal with that. It's the most common of a relatively uncommon cancer in the United States, which mean these docs have treated others before me and hopefully know their stuff.
   Oncologist appointment was the kicker for me. I knew my attitude was going to be reflective of what she had to tell me, or us I should say! Jamie Pfau and my mom came with Michael and I to the appointment. The two of them took notes, since I knew I would not remember a word of what she was saying beyond "this is going to be a tough road but I don't see why this won't be cured".   

                                                     Boom. That's what I needed to hear!

    First step included having the ultrasound of the mass and biopsies of the enlarged lymph nodes nearby. I was obviously more nervous for this procedure, but Miss Lizzie did a great job before and after just by making me laugh and being positive.
   Next was PET scan and meeting with the radiation doctor. I only cried a tiny bit, because I knew what this test was for. I kept imagining peeking in the control room and being able to see EVERYTHING because I was lighting up like a Christmas tree. That would have been horrible! After the PET scan Jamie, Mike, and I went to lunch and back to the hospital for my radiation meeting. Mom met us for that as well. Jamie whipped out her trusty notebook (LOL) and took notes again. He informed us that the scan showed exactly what we already knew! One mass and a few regional lymph nodes! Yes! He instructed me to come back three days later to have my radiation "planned". That where they mark me (new tattoo!) and kind of do a practice treatment I think. Deal.
    Today was my power port placement. You'd think I'd be getting used to these NPO days already, but I'm not. I was more nervous about this since I knew absolutely squat about ports. I knew it went under the skin and was accessed for treatments but that was about it. It went smoothly and I am just sore. Thursday I go for the planning session and then treatments start on Monday!

    Mondays will  be chemo days. I will have 5 baby chemo doses just to sensitize the tumor to the radiation. Radiation will be every day Monday through Friday for 28 days. Surgery will be about 6 weeks after my last radiation because it will continue to work on shrinking the tumor. That's the scariest part. It sounds horrible and the recovery even worse! I just have to keep remembering this is all going to cure my disease and make me well!

                                                                            Hallelujah!

At first I was embarrassed that she did this, but then it started to make sense...
My best friend Jamie and my mom have set up a meal planner for the weeks of treatment. You guys are amazing. The site is TakeThemAMeal.com with my last name as the user and 0409 as the password. Plan on staying to chat for a few minutes if you come by!