Once again, we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Emily is officially cancer free, her lymph nodes were clear and the margins (extra tissue they removed that surrounded the tumor) were also clear! The cancer is gone from her body and she is done with surgery. Hallelujah!
Here are the details of the pathology report for those who are interested. She was in stage 2A of Invasive Ductile Cell Carcinoma and it was a very aggressive tumor. She caught it early enough and got it out before it could cause any damage. This particular type of cancer has a 95% survival rate so, as cancers go, it was a pretty good one to get.
Now she has to see some more doctors - shocking, huh? They are scheduling her to see a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist and they are the ones who decide on whether or not she needs Chemo. Her surgeon thinks they will probably recommend it because she is so young and it would be pretty effective in keeping cancer from returning. Radiation will start sometime mid-December and last approximately 6 weeks. This is all we know at this time and as soon as there is more info, we will post it!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
You are the best!
OK, so when I started this blog it was primarily to help Emily out by sharing information with anyone who wanted to be in the loop. As it turns out, it has been a source of entertainment and inspiration for all of us. It has been really neat to see all of the support from family and friends and to realize that when the chips are down, the people in your life can really make a difference. Thank you to all who have read this blog, posted comments, kept Em in your prayers and offered any and all types of support. It has truly been amazing (and pretty darn funny as well!)
As far as an update on our surgery survivor, she is doing remarkably well. She is not supposed to lift her arm above shoulder level for quite a while, not that she has any desire to even try that right now. This means no driving or lifting or cleaning, so my parents have been there to help with anything she needs. She did manage to escape the confines of her apartment this weekend to go to church and for a nice long walk with my dad. All in all, she is trying to take it easy and follow all of the doctor's orders. She goes BACK to the doctor on Wednesday afternoon, hopefully for good news!
As far as an update on our surgery survivor, she is doing remarkably well. She is not supposed to lift her arm above shoulder level for quite a while, not that she has any desire to even try that right now. This means no driving or lifting or cleaning, so my parents have been there to help with anything she needs. She did manage to escape the confines of her apartment this weekend to go to church and for a nice long walk with my dad. All in all, she is trying to take it easy and follow all of the doctor's orders. She goes BACK to the doctor on Wednesday afternoon, hopefully for good news!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Drug addled identity crisis
When Em woke up from her anesthesia, the first thing she saw was a sign that read "Your nurse is Joel." Unfortunately, in her muddled state, she read it as "Your NAME is Joel." Confusion reigns supreme in the hospital!
"Joel" is now resting comfortably at home, thanks in part to the various drugs she's on for the pain.
"Joel" is now resting comfortably at home, thanks in part to the various drugs she's on for the pain.
Out of surgery
Em is out of surgery! She is groggy and in quite a bit of pain but the doctor said things went well, despite the fact that the surgery took nearly an hour longer than they thought. Apparently they had to remove more tissue than they anticipated because they were unable to locate the "sentinel node." My understanding is that the sentinel node is the one the at the cancer would drain into and it has other nodes connected to it that could be affected. The doctor thinks she was able to get all of the cancer cells out (with the removal of the extra tissue) and said that the nodes that she removed looked good. I guess that isn't the final word because now the tissue is being sent to Pathology to be tested and she will get those results next Wednesday. Seriously, all this waiting is enough to drive us all mad!
She is in recovery now and should be leaving the hospital later today. I will update the blog again once I have talked to her.
She is in recovery now and should be leaving the hospital later today. I will update the blog again once I have talked to her.
Up to the minute reporting
For all the news that is news, tune in today for surgery updates!
Em has been in the hospital since 6 am getting prepped for surgery. Ultrasounds, IVs etc. Her surgery was scheduled for 8:00 but has been postponed until 9:30. The waiting continues!! My understanding is that the procedure takes approximately 90 minutes and she is in recovery for an hour after that. Hopefully I will have more information in the early afternoon.
Em has been in the hospital since 6 am getting prepped for surgery. Ultrasounds, IVs etc. Her surgery was scheduled for 8:00 but has been postponed until 9:30. The waiting continues!! My understanding is that the procedure takes approximately 90 minutes and she is in recovery for an hour after that. Hopefully I will have more information in the early afternoon.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The War On My Rack
To all my family and friends,
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your comments, emails, phone calls and prayers over the last two weeks. This has been an overwhelming experience, but the support I have received has meant more to me than I could ever express.
I also wanted to say a special thank you to Lisa for starting this blog and keeping it updated with the latest info. Also for all the dinners she made for me last week. And for being such a wonderful sister in general.
Honorable mention goes out to my BFF Angie for coming up with the idea for the title of this post. Good one, Ang!
My surgery is officially scheduled for November 15th. I will only be in the hospital for the day. I'm taking two weeks off from work to recouperate from surgery, and I plan to go back to work after that and work throughout the radiation treatment. The battle has only just begun, but I feel strong and I'm ready for the fight.
Much love to you all...
Emily
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your comments, emails, phone calls and prayers over the last two weeks. This has been an overwhelming experience, but the support I have received has meant more to me than I could ever express.
I also wanted to say a special thank you to Lisa for starting this blog and keeping it updated with the latest info. Also for all the dinners she made for me last week. And for being such a wonderful sister in general.
Honorable mention goes out to my BFF Angie for coming up with the idea for the title of this post. Good one, Ang!
My surgery is officially scheduled for November 15th. I will only be in the hospital for the day. I'm taking two weeks off from work to recouperate from surgery, and I plan to go back to work after that and work throughout the radiation treatment. The battle has only just begun, but I feel strong and I'm ready for the fight.
Much love to you all...
Emily
Thursday, November 1, 2007
GOOD NEWS!
The cancer has NOT spread! It is confined to the lump and surrounding tissue. The doctors also said that the lump has shrunk in the weeks since she was diagnosed!
So, moving on to the future....
Emily will be scheduling surgery in mid November (probably the 15th but that isn't confirmed yet) to have a lumpectomy. The doctors will be checking 2-4 of the closest lymph nodes and if they are OK, she is done with surgery and can move on to radiation. They give her 4 weeks to heal from surgery, then radiation is done every day for 6 weeks. The only catch is if they find something wrong with the lymph nodes, she will have to have another surgery to remove more of them. If they do find something in the nodes, she may still have to have chemotherapy. If the nodes are clean, she is done after the radiation.
This is all I know right now. If there are more pertinent details, I will update again soon. Thank you all again for your prayers and encouragement. We are the happiest family in the world right now!!!
So, moving on to the future....
Emily will be scheduling surgery in mid November (probably the 15th but that isn't confirmed yet) to have a lumpectomy. The doctors will be checking 2-4 of the closest lymph nodes and if they are OK, she is done with surgery and can move on to radiation. They give her 4 weeks to heal from surgery, then radiation is done every day for 6 weeks. The only catch is if they find something wrong with the lymph nodes, she will have to have another surgery to remove more of them. If they do find something in the nodes, she may still have to have chemotherapy. If the nodes are clean, she is done after the radiation.
This is all I know right now. If there are more pertinent details, I will update again soon. Thank you all again for your prayers and encouragement. We are the happiest family in the world right now!!!
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