The prayers are still being felt and are working Team Sheldon!
PET Scan Results and Surgery details
I had the PET scan yesterday at the Red Oak location since Kingwood's machine was down due to the weather. I got there and they injected me with the radioactive isotope. Then I had to wait an hour for it to get into my system. The actual time on the table only took 20-30 minutes and wasn't terrible. I went to the oncologist today to get results and they said there is no cancer to be seen anywhere else in the body except the left breast. PRAISE GOD!! I am having the BRCA test repeated as mine was negative 6 years ago. It tests for the cancer gene. I guess they are repeating it in case it wasn't read right before?? I'm really not 100% sure on that reasoning. I just stuck out my arm like a brave girl and gave them the blood. I did have to wait in the chemo suite while I waited to have the blood drawn and that was unpleasant. Just knowing I probably will be one of the youngest in there is weird. They all were staring at me, I'm sure wondering why I had to be there. Trust me, I have been asking why also! My surgery will be June 13th at Tops Surgical Hospital. It's a beautiful facility. I will have to most likely stay 1-2 days overnight. My mom is coming to help us June 16-25 and I can't wait. My mother in law has been wonderful helping with kids while I run to appointments. Not to mention she has been spoiling us with making supper for us. People want to help and I thank everyone who has offered. I will need help down the road I'm sure. And I will ask, I promise! I filed for FMLA and Short Term Disablilty today also. I feel like I'm getting things done. I'm on my third cancer book. I read "Any Day With Hair Is A Good Hair Day" and now I'm reading "Not The Year You Had Planned". Thanks Alissa and Theresa! It's keeping me preoccupied!
Visit With The Plastic Surgeon
Dr Paul Gill
Wiggin' out
Today my friend Dawn, Jaelyn, and Erik took me wig shopping. We went to Wig World off Kirby. They had a big selection and I tried on about a dozen before I found two that looked somewhat good on me. I got them both in a light brown/blond color. I am still somewhat in denial about all this so buying the wigs was a wake up call that my life is about to drastically change.
Meeting the Oncologist
Today started out with my MRI at TOPS. They had to stick me 5 times for an IV for the contrast and then I had to lay face down on the table, as still as I could be, for an hour! But during that time the nurse got my her2 results back and I'm negative, which means the cancer isn't as aggressive as it would be if it was positive.
Next was my much anticipated appt with Dr. K. He is such a nice guy and remembered me from working at the hospital. He said I needed a PET scan to check to see if the cancer spread to other parts of my body. I'm having that next Wednesday. Then he said those words I was hoping I wouldn't hear. I need chemo. He thinks I should have surgery first tho and in the next 2-3 weeks. Then chemo can start 3-6 weeks after that. I will get a port placed while in surgery to help save my veins. I still won't know if I need radiation until after my pathology report comes back. That would happen after the chemo.
So I got the ball rolling...maybe a little too fast for my liking. I am sitting here thinking about how different my life will be in a month from now. Funny how life can be sometimes.
Next appointments
I did as instructed and got my other two doctor appointments scheduled and my MRI. This Thursday (5-22-14) I have my MRI at TOPS Comprehensive Breast Center off Red Oak at 9:30 am and then I meet with Dr. Khoury (the oncologist) at 3pm in Kingwood. Erik will come with me to that one. We hope to get a game plan from Dr. K in terms of radiation and chemo needed. Then on Tuesday (5-27-14) I will meet with the plastic surgeon, Dr. Gill, to discuss reconstruction. His appointment is at 3pm in The Woodlands.
Today I am feeling a little more accomplished since I had three things on my To Do List and I checked them all off.
Go me!!
Meeting With the General Surgeon
Today finally got here!! We had been waiting 6 days, which felt like an eternity. Today we got to meet Dr. S and come up with a plan. I was more than ready because I'm a busy mother of 4 and I need a plan. I need to be in control of my schedule and waiting for answers of what happens next wasn't working very well for me.
We got to the office early to fill out the paperwork. Then we were escorted into the exam room where Dr. S came in and talked about my medical history, my medications, my family's breast cancer history, and my new diagnosis. He was as disappointed as we were to learn that the Her2 part of the pathology wasn't back yet. We were anxiously awaiting that because that will pretty much secure your destiny with chemotherapy if you are positive. Being Her2 positive means the cancer cells can divide and grow more aggressively. The treatment is a chemo called Herceptin. I will have to wait maybe until the end of the week to hear that result. Dr S. then examined me and said he didn't feel my lymph nodes to be abnormal. Then he brought us into the conference room where he spent a good chunk of time with us talking about my cancer and my diagnosis and treatment plan. Having to have radiation is up in the air as is chemo at this point. I will have to have hormone therapy to shut off the estrogen and progesterone supply in my body, which is feeding my tumors. Speaking of tumors, I have 4. 2 are less than 1 cm and then one is 1.7cm and 1.8 cm. This puts me at a Stage 1. (You have to have a tumor of 2 cm to be bumped into stage 2.) Once we do surgery and find out the lymph node status, I will know my real staging. I did find out I have the infiltrating ductal along with the ductal carcinoma in situ. He wants to order an MRI to further check the breasts. This test should get done this week. Then he wants me to make appointments with the plastic surgeon, Dr. Gill and the oncologist, Dr. Khoury. He wants to make sure I don't need chemo before the surgery. And since I opted to and he suggested having a bilateral mastectomy, I will need plastics to do the reconstruction part. I hope to meet with them this week too. I pray I can get all three of those things on my TO DO list accomplished and maybe even on the same day, God willing!
My mind is racing and I don't have all the answers I hoped for but I have somewhat of a plan and I can breath a little easier for tonight.
We got to the office early to fill out the paperwork. Then we were escorted into the exam room where Dr. S came in and talked about my medical history, my medications, my family's breast cancer history, and my new diagnosis. He was as disappointed as we were to learn that the Her2 part of the pathology wasn't back yet. We were anxiously awaiting that because that will pretty much secure your destiny with chemotherapy if you are positive. Being Her2 positive means the cancer cells can divide and grow more aggressively. The treatment is a chemo called Herceptin. I will have to wait maybe until the end of the week to hear that result. Dr S. then examined me and said he didn't feel my lymph nodes to be abnormal. Then he brought us into the conference room where he spent a good chunk of time with us talking about my cancer and my diagnosis and treatment plan. Having to have radiation is up in the air as is chemo at this point. I will have to have hormone therapy to shut off the estrogen and progesterone supply in my body, which is feeding my tumors. Speaking of tumors, I have 4. 2 are less than 1 cm and then one is 1.7cm and 1.8 cm. This puts me at a Stage 1. (You have to have a tumor of 2 cm to be bumped into stage 2.) Once we do surgery and find out the lymph node status, I will know my real staging. I did find out I have the infiltrating ductal along with the ductal carcinoma in situ. He wants to order an MRI to further check the breasts. This test should get done this week. Then he wants me to make appointments with the plastic surgeon, Dr. Gill and the oncologist, Dr. Khoury. He wants to make sure I don't need chemo before the surgery. And since I opted to and he suggested having a bilateral mastectomy, I will need plastics to do the reconstruction part. I hope to meet with them this week too. I pray I can get all three of those things on my TO DO list accomplished and maybe even on the same day, God willing!
My mind is racing and I don't have all the answers I hoped for but I have somewhat of a plan and I can breath a little easier for tonight.
Dr. Phillip Sutton
6 Days Is A LONG Wait!
From the time we found out the initial diagnosis until the time I saw the general surgeon, 6 days had past. What a long wait! I ventured out to Barnes and Noble and got myself a book called "Be A Survivor: Your Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment" by Vladimir Lange, MD. What a great book for people just diagnosis. It lays it all out in layman's terms and was such an easy read, I read it in a day. There are suggested questions on the sides of the pages and real life testimonies of survivors. Little did I know, my sister gave my mom the same book from a friend of hers. So now my parents can be educated on breast cancer treatments and understand what I'm talking about. Erik read it too so we can have educated conversations now.
My friend, Kristen, has graciously started a tshirt campaign. Little did she know how big this was going to get once my facebook friends got word of it. Initially I think it was suppose to be just for the baseball families but when we opened it up to the facebook world, we were getting orders from all over the Midwest too! Avery and Jaelyn are still busy having their competition to see who can sell the most in school. Avery was up to 68 orders last we counted.
My friend, Dawn, gave me a notebook to write all my questions to my doctors in that fits in my purse. I love it! I came up with 25 questions to ask at my appointment.
Erik and I are just going through the motions these last 6 days, at work and at home. Our minds are consumed with all the "what ifs". But I haven't really allowed myself to cry too much. One day, while going over to Megan's, I had to pull over the side of the road and cry. But otherwise I am finding that I'm preoccupied with learning everything I can about my diagnosis that there's no time for tears. I feel I have to be strong for everyone around me because if I'm weak it will scare them. Especially the kids. I don't cry in front of the kids. It's too much for them. So for now, I'm still in denial, shock, disbelief I guess. It seems unreal.
I just need a plan. Something to do so I feel like I'm moving forward instead of staying at a stand still.
My friend, Kristen, has graciously started a tshirt campaign. Little did she know how big this was going to get once my facebook friends got word of it. Initially I think it was suppose to be just for the baseball families but when we opened it up to the facebook world, we were getting orders from all over the Midwest too! Avery and Jaelyn are still busy having their competition to see who can sell the most in school. Avery was up to 68 orders last we counted.
My friend, Dawn, gave me a notebook to write all my questions to my doctors in that fits in my purse. I love it! I came up with 25 questions to ask at my appointment.
Erik and I are just going through the motions these last 6 days, at work and at home. Our minds are consumed with all the "what ifs". But I haven't really allowed myself to cry too much. One day, while going over to Megan's, I had to pull over the side of the road and cry. But otherwise I am finding that I'm preoccupied with learning everything I can about my diagnosis that there's no time for tears. I feel I have to be strong for everyone around me because if I'm weak it will scare them. Especially the kids. I don't cry in front of the kids. It's too much for them. So for now, I'm still in denial, shock, disbelief I guess. It seems unreal.
I just need a plan. Something to do so I feel like I'm moving forward instead of staying at a stand still.
How Did I Get Here?
Whoever thought that I would need to start a blog about breast cancer? But on May 13, 2014, our lives forever changed. Here's how it started...
I found a thickening in my left breast that made me think something was wrong about a month before my diagnosis. Along with that was a palpable lump. Erik convinced me to ask my doctor about it so while I was at work one day I mentioned it. Dr. B offered to send me for an ultrasound and mammogram so I made the appointment with TOPS, where I have been having my mammograms (my last one just 9 months ago). May 8th I went in for the tests and the mammogram machine was broke so they did the ultrasound first. The doctor at TOPS came in and told me he was suspicious of 4 spots and they wanted to biopsy them soon. I left the room feeling numb. Then went in for my mammogram. I left TOPS with an appointment for the following Thursday to have the biopsies. On my way home, I got a phone call asking me if I could change my appointment to Friday (the following day) and go to the Red Oak location off 1960 and 45. I asked them why they were changing my appointment and was it because of what they saw on the mammogram. The lady just said it was going to be a chaotic day Thursday and this would be less stressful for me to go to Red Oak. Friday morning I met with Dr. B. in the office so she could check me over and do a breast exam. At 1:00p I had the biopsies. They biopsied 2 of the 4 spots. The only thing that hurt was the local. The core needle biopsy didn't hurt until later that night and I iced and took Tylenol as ordered. It was totally tolerable. The hardest part was waiting the four days for the results. I worked Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and by Monday afternoon I was pretty ansy. I got a text to come into Dr. B's office for a followup. We got there early Tuesday morning and were escorted to her office. She came in and had "the look". It was written all over her face. I said, "It's cancer isn't it?" She shook her head yes. I didn't cry until she prayed over us at the end of the talk. They made my appointment with Dr. Sutton for May 19th (Braden's 10th birthday). My diagnosis is Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. I'm still waiting to see other specific parts of the pathology which I should get on Monday the 19th from the surgeon.
I have been so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from our friends and family. I can not believe how many people want to join Team Sheldon in the fight. I am honored to have so many by my side praying for me. One of the baseball moms is heading up a Team Sheldon "Help Save Second Base" tshirt order for those that want to order. I don't think she realized how big of a project this was going to be! LOL! The kids took the news well. Jaelyn has been overly attentive and full of extra hugs. Avery and her are selling tshirts at their school to help support me on my chemo days or surgery days. Braden and Evan try not to giggle when I say the word boobie, because they don't know what a breast is. Heck, I'm sure it does sound funny to a 7 and 9 year old boy. We decided to keep the lines of communication open with the kids so they don't feel left out. They are all doing well.
I will post here with updated doctor visits as soon as I have them so you all can follow me.
Dr Noel Boyd, my OB/GYN
Dr Pierre Khoury, My medical oncologist
I found a thickening in my left breast that made me think something was wrong about a month before my diagnosis. Along with that was a palpable lump. Erik convinced me to ask my doctor about it so while I was at work one day I mentioned it. Dr. B offered to send me for an ultrasound and mammogram so I made the appointment with TOPS, where I have been having my mammograms (my last one just 9 months ago). May 8th I went in for the tests and the mammogram machine was broke so they did the ultrasound first. The doctor at TOPS came in and told me he was suspicious of 4 spots and they wanted to biopsy them soon. I left the room feeling numb. Then went in for my mammogram. I left TOPS with an appointment for the following Thursday to have the biopsies. On my way home, I got a phone call asking me if I could change my appointment to Friday (the following day) and go to the Red Oak location off 1960 and 45. I asked them why they were changing my appointment and was it because of what they saw on the mammogram. The lady just said it was going to be a chaotic day Thursday and this would be less stressful for me to go to Red Oak. Friday morning I met with Dr. B. in the office so she could check me over and do a breast exam. At 1:00p I had the biopsies. They biopsied 2 of the 4 spots. The only thing that hurt was the local. The core needle biopsy didn't hurt until later that night and I iced and took Tylenol as ordered. It was totally tolerable. The hardest part was waiting the four days for the results. I worked Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and by Monday afternoon I was pretty ansy. I got a text to come into Dr. B's office for a followup. We got there early Tuesday morning and were escorted to her office. She came in and had "the look". It was written all over her face. I said, "It's cancer isn't it?" She shook her head yes. I didn't cry until she prayed over us at the end of the talk. They made my appointment with Dr. Sutton for May 19th (Braden's 10th birthday). My diagnosis is Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma. I'm still waiting to see other specific parts of the pathology which I should get on Monday the 19th from the surgeon.
I have been so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from our friends and family. I can not believe how many people want to join Team Sheldon in the fight. I am honored to have so many by my side praying for me. One of the baseball moms is heading up a Team Sheldon "Help Save Second Base" tshirt order for those that want to order. I don't think she realized how big of a project this was going to be! LOL! The kids took the news well. Jaelyn has been overly attentive and full of extra hugs. Avery and her are selling tshirts at their school to help support me on my chemo days or surgery days. Braden and Evan try not to giggle when I say the word boobie, because they don't know what a breast is. Heck, I'm sure it does sound funny to a 7 and 9 year old boy. We decided to keep the lines of communication open with the kids so they don't feel left out. They are all doing well.
I will post here with updated doctor visits as soon as I have them so you all can follow me.
Dr Noel Boyd, my OB/GYN
Dr Pierre Khoury, My medical oncologist
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