Looking Forward, Looking Back

Here at our house, we didn't exactly ease into the new year. As we entered 2013, we already had our dog, Zoe's orthopedic surgery date on our January calendar, as well as Rick's consultation with a surgeon for hernia repair, and we were waiting for results of a breast biopsy I'd had two days after Christmas. 

I got my breast cancer diagnosis on January 2, Rick had his surgery on January 11 and we took Zoe for hers on January 16.

Zoe the day after her "femoral head ostectectomy"

On January 24, one of our cats, who we adopted from the shelter a year ago, went missing. We've plastered the neighborhood with flyers, posted her picture on lost pet websites and contacted the shelters, but still no sign of Sasha.
 

Last week, which was the last week of January, Rick had his followup with his surgeon on Tuesday and got a good report after two weeks of trying to remember not to lift anything over ten pounds and laying off running, which was making him stir crazy.

The next day, Wednesday, I had lumpectomy surgery. 

Friday, Rick and our son, Paul, took Zoe for her followup and to get her 21 surgical staples removed. She is doing well, but still needs a lot of rehab, mostly in the form of daily walks. It will probably be another 5-6 weeks before she's fully recovered and we can consider surgery on her other hip.

Also on Friday, I got a call with the best news possible from my pathology report. The margins of tissue around my tumor were free of cancer, as were my lymph nodes. It was such a relief to know I wouldn't be going back for a second surgery.
 

Me with Kelly and my dad on Saturday after my surgery

Our daughter, Kelly, has come and gone. We had a wonderful weekend with her and look forward to our younger daughter, Erika, arriving late tomorrow night from Iowa. 

I've also enjoyed visits from my dad and from my friend, Jennifer, a breast cancer survivor twice over.

It was wonderful to go to church yesterday to worship the Lord with dear friends, who've been praying for me.

We're having gorgeous weather, perfect for taking Zoe out for walks and for Rick to gradually resume running.

I am driving again and going on short outings and errands, resting a lot, and using over the counter ibuprofen and acetaminophen as needed for pain. I have prescription pain medication, but haven't taken that, or felt I needed to, since my first night home.

Next Tuesday I'll have my two week followup with my surgeon where I expect to get more detail from the pathology report and a referral to a radiology oncologist. I plan to return to work Wednesday of next week, so my appointment with the oncologist will be sometime after that. 

I can't start radiation treatments until I'm completely healed from surgery, which probably won't be before the end of February. I think I'll most likely have radiation treatments five days a week for five to seven weeks. At some point, probably after radiation is finished, I'll be starting on the anti-estrogen, drug, Tamoxifen.

But for now, I'm just looking forward to a week of enjoying Erika's company and, if the forecast is correct, more beautiful weather. 

Flowers from my employer

Hernias and Hip Dysplasia and Cancer, Oh My!

One of the greatest blessings God has given me since I was diagnosed with breast cancer ten days ago is the perspective of dear friends who've been through this experience.

Some of the most helpful advice I've received was,

"Take your time with asking questions and doing research. It's important. I know that after you get the diagnosis you feel you need to get on with the surgery yesterday, but really you have time." 

 "I think you are wise to get Rick's and the dog's surgeries out of the way. You have time to get your ducks in a row."

Although I don't think I'll ever have my ducks in a row, this was very reassuring advice. Before I got my diagnosis, we were already planning for Rick to have a long overdue hernia repair and had also scheduled surgery for one of our dogs.

I had enrolled in a lower deductible medical plan for 2013, mainly because Rick needed surgery, so we had scheduled his consultation with the surgeon early in the new year. Because he is self employed, he is covered under my employer's medical plan. When we got my diagnosis, his first inclination was to put his surgery on a back burner, but I thought we had already delayed it longer than we should have.

So Thursday of this past week, he went with me for the consultation with my surgeon and Friday I took him for his hernia surgery. It seems to have gone very well and he is resting at home. 

This Monday, I will have my MRI and then wait for results which will tell me whether I'm a candidate for lumpectomy or will need mastectomy. Wednesday, we plan to go ahead with Zoe's surgery.

I'll probably schedule mine the following week if it's lumpectomy, maybe the week after if it's going to be mastectomy with reconstruction. That way Rick will have had ten days or more to recover and we will be able to take good care of Zoe for at least her first week after surgery. Of course none of this is very predictable, but that's our tentative plan.

I already feel more peace knowing that Rick has had his much needed hernia repair. And although factoring a dog's medical needs into all this might sound crazy, people who've ever loved a pet might understand. Once I'm dealing with my own surgery and recovery, it would make me feel so much worse to be watching my sweet dog suffering and falling on the floor when her legs collapse under her. I think it will help my frame of mind to know that we've started the process that we hope is going to extend her life beyond her seven years and improve her quality of life. After all, a breast cancer patient needs her therapy dog(s)

 
And speaking of getting my ducks in a row, sometime before I go in for surgery, I hope to make time to clean the house!