Surgery, Radiation...and Back to work

Much has happened since the last post. At times it seems things are moving so fast, and other times, just not fast enough for our liking. Maybe this is how it is for all of us --walking through this thing called "life." It is a delicate balance of wanting some days to "hurry up and be done" and then some to "slow down and last awhile."

Here's an update since the last post for you:

On 12/30, Rachel had laparoscopic robotic ooprhrectomy(Ovary removal) at West Allis Memorial Hospital.  During our discussion of  the pathology report from the mastectomy with the oncologist we learned that of the 18 lymph nodes removed, 14 had active cancer cells. The cells were ranked as aggressive according to how likely they are to spread and they were overwhelmingly sensitive to stimulation by estrogen and progesterone. We began to realize the severity of the cancer when the doctor talks about how much improvement and benefit you will get from hormonal therapy instead of telling you how were going to cure your cancer. The daily radiation treatments should treat the local area from the collar bone to the top of the abdomen and over to the armpit of residual cancer cells there.  The purpose of this surgery is to remove the bodies production of estrogen and progesterone (ovaries) since these hormones could stimulate growth of any residual cancer cells that may or may not be lingering elsewhere in the body.

So...after a brutal bowel prep, starving for 24 hours and a shortened Christmas vacation for our family, it's finally time. The OR was running late so surgery didn't start until almost 9:00pm. They didn't come to get Rachel until 8 o'clock. That's all I could think was who schedules surgery that late? But, the good part...even we can get here on time this late in the day!

We reminded the medical team that Rachel was lidocaine allergic so they wouldn't use it on her IV sites just before they were going to use it.  They did give her versed; luckily, she didn't have the same paradoxical agitation Luke had after some stitches. First he was talking about a floating carrot in the sky, then he became extremely belligerent.  But regardless, it was a good time to air some grievances without her remembering anything! Her mother and I had a little fun trying to make her say difficult expressions. Of course, she laughed too.

I walked the stairs while waiting for her since sitting around isn't in my nature even on a good day (I'm sure this comes as no surprise). Within about an hour and 1/2, the doc let us know that everything went well; there were no grossly apparent masses in the ovaries. We are grateful - thank God everything went well.

After about one hour in recovery, Rachel arrived in her room. Her pain is worse than after the mastectomy. I stayed until her pain under control and went home to get some sleep. When I got back there in the morning, I realized I should have spent the night. Rachel began having severe abdominal pain because of a blocked catheter. She ended up having to wait 45 minutes for a call light to be answered. Very frustrating start to her day.  This was the low point of her stay. However, her nurse in the afternoon was great and shared her own stories of her mother's battle with breast cancer.

I forgot to mention that the kids had a sleepover on surgery night at Grandma and Grandpas' house. They were looking forward to that...and had a great time with them.

In the days ahead, while Rachel recovered, she experienced a lot of abdominal pain. While this was only laparoscopic surgery, the doc had to remove a lot of scar tissue from 4 c-sections.  And although it was tough, we are both grateful for each C-section which resulted in our beautiful children :-)
Radiation began on December 27th. At this point, 13 out of 35 once every day treatments are done. Time-wise, we have about 4 weeks to go. The skin is starting to look like a deep sunburn. This is completely normal and so far has not caused Rachel too much pain. Hopefully the burning won't get too bad.

Arimidex is another medication she will begin at some point when radiation is done. It's purpose is to block remaining estrogen production that occurs in the other parts of the body. Please be kind to her if she seems irritable as she is now post-menopausal. 



Just this past week, I returned to work. I am grateful for all the good things about being off work- spending time with the family, reading to the boys more and really getting a lot done on the house (moved the water softener, painted the laundry room, painted the whole interior of the house except the bedrooms, installed all 4 gutters on the house, cleaned all the carpets, threw away a lot of stuff); I also got to the YMCA a bit more, got to know some guys better through quick breakfasts and lunches and even learned how to Christmas shop for the girls (and not just the boys:-) Sorry for using this as a blanket thank you... but thanks to everybody who helped in so many ways over the last few weeks and months.

On a positive note, Rachel's hair is staging a comeback! This is something she has been so looking forward to. And Happy 37th Birthday to Rachel this week!!  All of us could do well to think about how we will live TODAY instead of worrying about the future(me especially), which we can't control.  
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? . . . But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:25-26, 33-34).