Hope everyone enjoyed their families and had as many laughs as we did during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Sorry to hear about Maggie Daley and her passing. She lived her life graciously and with dignity and will be missed by all Chicagoans.
My sister, Peg, came to town on Thanksgiving to give Ron a hand in my recovery and has been cooking up a storm and adding lots of entertainment to our household. Thanks to my other family members for adding their characters into the mix as well. Family is everything. My dirty little secret is out as my organizational skills in the kitchen are not the best.
I received partial pathology results as follows: I had seven invasive tumors, one as large as 5.2 mm and as small as 1.2 mm. They found 9.2 cm (@ 4 inches) of non-invasive DCIS. That is alot of bad fast growing cells in a short period of 10 months since my last good mammogram. The pathologists also stated that they do not have a clean margin of 2 mm of cancer free cells. A clean margin is where there is no indication of abnormal cells in a span of a 2 mm edge. I do not recall what clearance I did have, but I do not have the recommended amount of clearance. Therefore, Dr. Jaskowiak's recommendation is to go back into the hospital on Monday at 3:30 and reopen the flap and take a small layer of tissue to test for any further cancer cells and to get a clean margin. The Reincision Anterior Margin should only take an hour and I should be going home that evening. This procedure should bring me peace knowing that I will get a clear margin and that the doctors got all the cancer. The remaining biomarker tests for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 factors are still pending. Those results will determine the type of cancer treatments that will follow.
I was stunned at first, but now that I have thought about this Reincision Anterior Margin, I am grateful that we will have definitive results and will more forward to the next step.
I will update when I get a moment.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
All Going According to Plan
Hello World!! Evidently the word is out on Joanie's Corner. Glad I have many followers. Hope I don't reveal tooo much. Yeah Right!!
I have known and dated Ron when we were 17 years old...high school sweathearts... We have both lived through deaths of our fathers at early ages of 13 and 14. So we have experienced that "life is not always fair" and have experienced God's little nudges of "remember this is the person you love", but this new "role" in our lives is something I never contemplated about as Ron as the CAREGIVER. Ron has slid into his new role with such compassion. He hasn't even needed to call in his golf buddies for a consult. He has been very attentive to detail of medicine time and even brought in some backup for the few moments he needed to be away. Ron has gone beyond providing me with 38 wonderful years of consistent love and laughter and now caregiving. Our love for each other continually grows.
I have been feeling as well as could be expected. Had some sick moments this morning but much better tonight. This is a process of healing and I must be patient. The kids are continually showing us their love and concern and how they have grown into wonderful adults. I am so very proud of them.
We all are waiting to hear from the pathologists with only positive good news. So keep those prayers going as my little "life is not fair" is not quite over.
Thanks to everyone who reads the blog and wants to follow my journey. The door bell keeps ringing with friends and family stopping in with food and flowers. Thank you is not enough.
Have a Blessed & Thankful Thanksgiving to you and all your loved ones. The Pettineo Family is so blessed.
I have known and dated Ron when we were 17 years old...high school sweathearts... We have both lived through deaths of our fathers at early ages of 13 and 14. So we have experienced that "life is not always fair" and have experienced God's little nudges of "remember this is the person you love", but this new "role" in our lives is something I never contemplated about as Ron as the CAREGIVER. Ron has slid into his new role with such compassion. He hasn't even needed to call in his golf buddies for a consult. He has been very attentive to detail of medicine time and even brought in some backup for the few moments he needed to be away. Ron has gone beyond providing me with 38 wonderful years of consistent love and laughter and now caregiving. Our love for each other continually grows.
I have been feeling as well as could be expected. Had some sick moments this morning but much better tonight. This is a process of healing and I must be patient. The kids are continually showing us their love and concern and how they have grown into wonderful adults. I am so very proud of them.
We all are waiting to hear from the pathologists with only positive good news. So keep those prayers going as my little "life is not fair" is not quite over.
Thanks to everyone who reads the blog and wants to follow my journey. The door bell keeps ringing with friends and family stopping in with food and flowers. Thank you is not enough.
Have a Blessed & Thankful Thanksgiving to you and all your loved ones. The Pettineo Family is so blessed.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Monday November 21, 2011
Hi:
Brought Joan home about 1:30 this afternoon. She's tired and weak but glad to be in her own home again. She took her meds and went immediately to bed. Now the road to recovery begins. I'm going to buy a nurses outfit so I can dress the part. Give her a week or so and she'll most likely want to see her friends and family cuz she'll be sick of me by then.
Again, thank you to everyone for your prayers, positive thoughts and friendship.
Brought Joan home about 1:30 this afternoon. She's tired and weak but glad to be in her own home again. She took her meds and went immediately to bed. Now the road to recovery begins. I'm going to buy a nurses outfit so I can dress the part. Give her a week or so and she'll most likely want to see her friends and family cuz she'll be sick of me by then.
Again, thank you to everyone for your prayers, positive thoughts and friendship.
Monday November 21, 2011
Hello Everyone:
I've spent about 18 hours with Joan over the past two days while recovering in ICU. She is doing quite well and in good spirits. She had a little fever and feared pneumonia but a chest x-ray revealed she was in the clear. She is eating more a little each day and even took a couple of laps around the ICU yesterday. She's sittng up in her chair a couple of hours at a time to read and just put her body in a different position. My hope is to bring her home today to begin the healing process. We should hear back from Pathology either Wednesday of this week or Monday of next. This is the next big hurdle for her. Her first follow up with the doctors is next Monday.
I'll continue to post at least for another few days to let you know how she is adjusting to home life again.
Thanks
I've spent about 18 hours with Joan over the past two days while recovering in ICU. She is doing quite well and in good spirits. She had a little fever and feared pneumonia but a chest x-ray revealed she was in the clear. She is eating more a little each day and even took a couple of laps around the ICU yesterday. She's sittng up in her chair a couple of hours at a time to read and just put her body in a different position. My hope is to bring her home today to begin the healing process. We should hear back from Pathology either Wednesday of this week or Monday of next. This is the next big hurdle for her. Her first follow up with the doctors is next Monday.
I'll continue to post at least for another few days to let you know how she is adjusting to home life again.
Thanks
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturday November 19, 2011
Well the day from hell is over. Joan was in the OR for 10 hours and 15 minutes, just can't imagine that. After the surgery's they brought her to the ICU where she will remain for the next few days. When she opened her eyes, Lauren and I were there to greet her. After what she had been through, I was impressed at how good she looked. Her color was back, she was very alert but in lot's of pain. We only talked for a few minutes before they bombed her again into never never land.
I am truly amazed with the skill level of her surgeons. After the mastectomy, they literally cut her stomach from hip to hip and removed tissue, fat and blood vessels. From this, they reconstructed a totally new breast that is living tissue. This was a complicated micro surgery and only about 5 doctors in Chicago are skilled enough to perform this type of procedure. The first 48 hours are the most important for the reconstruction. Every hour they perform an ultrasound to make sure there is sufficient blood flow and color.
Joan woke about about an hour later from her deep slumber and was in good spirits. She joked with the staff and held a very lucid conversation with Lauren and me. My hope is to bring her home on Monday. Since she had two surgeries, her recovery time will be long and difficult. I expect this to cover 2-3 months in total. In about 4 months she will meet with Dr. Song again to reshape the new breast and perform a symmetry procedure on the other. By early next summer she'll look so good she'll be taking the lead role in the new show "Housewives of Naperville".
I am truly impressed with her courage and strength leading up to and including the surgeries. She is truly an inspiration to her her family. I want to thank EVERYONE, family and friends, for being so supportive, providing positive thoughts and being there for us. Your thoughts and prayers have provided the strength to guide Joan through this ordeal and fight this horrific disease.
From Lauren, Chris, Scott, Joan and myself we cannot thank you all enough for everything you have done for our family.
I am off to the hospital and make another post later today or tomorrow.
I am truly amazed with the skill level of her surgeons. After the mastectomy, they literally cut her stomach from hip to hip and removed tissue, fat and blood vessels. From this, they reconstructed a totally new breast that is living tissue. This was a complicated micro surgery and only about 5 doctors in Chicago are skilled enough to perform this type of procedure. The first 48 hours are the most important for the reconstruction. Every hour they perform an ultrasound to make sure there is sufficient blood flow and color.
Joan woke about about an hour later from her deep slumber and was in good spirits. She joked with the staff and held a very lucid conversation with Lauren and me. My hope is to bring her home on Monday. Since she had two surgeries, her recovery time will be long and difficult. I expect this to cover 2-3 months in total. In about 4 months she will meet with Dr. Song again to reshape the new breast and perform a symmetry procedure on the other. By early next summer she'll look so good she'll be taking the lead role in the new show "Housewives of Naperville".
I am truly impressed with her courage and strength leading up to and including the surgeries. She is truly an inspiration to her her family. I want to thank EVERYONE, family and friends, for being so supportive, providing positive thoughts and being there for us. Your thoughts and prayers have provided the strength to guide Joan through this ordeal and fight this horrific disease.
From Lauren, Chris, Scott, Joan and myself we cannot thank you all enough for everything you have done for our family.
I am off to the hospital and make another post later today or tomorrow.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday November 18, 2011
Hi All:
Been a long, long day but can't imagine what Joan has gone through today. Just spoke to Dr. Song and he said everything went extremely well. They had a difficult time finding a second artery (for blood flow) but after an hour of searching, they found one. It will take another hour to dress and Sucre the wounds then she will head to ICU. I'm hoping to see her in another 2 hours or so. She has been anesthetized since 7:30 this morning so I'm assuming it will take a significant amount of time to come out of it. Assuming no further developments, this will most likely be the last post of the day.
I'm a little premature because I haven't seen her yet but believe God has held her hand today. I know Joan's Mom, Dad and Sister have played a huge role in guiding her to a successful surgery. Based on what I have heard today, I'm afraid Joan is in for a long and painful recovery. Let's hope I'm wrong!!!
Thank you to everyone for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. It has helped Joan immensely leading up to this day. I will check in with you all tomorrow.
Been a long, long day but can't imagine what Joan has gone through today. Just spoke to Dr. Song and he said everything went extremely well. They had a difficult time finding a second artery (for blood flow) but after an hour of searching, they found one. It will take another hour to dress and Sucre the wounds then she will head to ICU. I'm hoping to see her in another 2 hours or so. She has been anesthetized since 7:30 this morning so I'm assuming it will take a significant amount of time to come out of it. Assuming no further developments, this will most likely be the last post of the day.
I'm a little premature because I haven't seen her yet but believe God has held her hand today. I know Joan's Mom, Dad and Sister have played a huge role in guiding her to a successful surgery. Based on what I have heard today, I'm afraid Joan is in for a long and painful recovery. Let's hope I'm wrong!!!
Thank you to everyone for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. It has helped Joan immensely leading up to this day. I will check in with you all tomorrow.
Friday November 18, 2011
All:
Dr. J was to have completed the mastectomy by 11:00 but just saw her a few minutes ago. She said everything went fine and Joan's vitals are good. I was extremely worried that Dr. J was 2 hours late but she said "you know your wife has big breasts" so I cut her some slack. She also said that since Joan lost so much weight her skin has become stretchy which apparently isn't a good thing for surgery. Lot's of pulling and cutting. The tissue looks good, is healthy and they are well underway in the reconstruction process. It will be another 3-4 hours before it's completed. The breast tissue was sent to pathology but due to the holiday we may not hear back until the week after next. You never know however as the last report was 2 days early. That's it for now. I will update again after I speak with Dr. Song.
Dr. J was to have completed the mastectomy by 11:00 but just saw her a few minutes ago. She said everything went fine and Joan's vitals are good. I was extremely worried that Dr. J was 2 hours late but she said "you know your wife has big breasts" so I cut her some slack. She also said that since Joan lost so much weight her skin has become stretchy which apparently isn't a good thing for surgery. Lot's of pulling and cutting. The tissue looks good, is healthy and they are well underway in the reconstruction process. It will be another 3-4 hours before it's completed. The breast tissue was sent to pathology but due to the holiday we may not hear back until the week after next. You never know however as the last report was 2 days early. That's it for now. I will update again after I speak with Dr. Song.
Friday November 18, 2011
Family & Friends:
We arrived at the University of Chicago Hospital (Bernard A. Mitchell) at 5:30 this morning. We checked Joanie in and promptly waited (1) hour in the surgery waiting room. They then took her to pre-op for the necessary prep work. Dr. Song (Plastic Surgeon) met her first and marked her for the DIEP flap reconstruction. Dr. Jaskowiak (Breast Surgeon) stopped in to say hi and reassure Joan everything will be OK. I expect to hear from Dr. J around 11:00 after which I will make another post. Dr. Song expects to be done around 2-3 this afternoon. I gave her a hug and several kisses and they whisked her away at 7:30. The waiting begins...
We arrived at the University of Chicago Hospital (Bernard A. Mitchell) at 5:30 this morning. We checked Joanie in and promptly waited (1) hour in the surgery waiting room. They then took her to pre-op for the necessary prep work. Dr. Song (Plastic Surgeon) met her first and marked her for the DIEP flap reconstruction. Dr. Jaskowiak (Breast Surgeon) stopped in to say hi and reassure Joan everything will be OK. I expect to hear from Dr. J around 11:00 after which I will make another post. Dr. Song expects to be done around 2-3 this afternoon. I gave her a hug and several kisses and they whisked her away at 7:30. The waiting begins...
Thursday, November 17, 2011
One of the Top SPIRITUAL Evenings of My Life
Tuesday, November 15th, I entered Dolores and John Potterton's home with candle light lining the hallway welcoming my family and I into their loving home. Lauren, Chris, Scott, Justine, Ron and I are gathered by many dear friends with laughter, food, drink and love.
As I am the last to finish dinner, I come into their living room and friends and family are in a circle. Down to the real business of "gathering".
Dolores, being the warm professional spiritual facilitator, starts by welcoming everyone into her home and explains what the process (blessing) will be. Dolores starts the prayer meeting with the song "I Will Love You Through It" by Martina McBride. Tears in everyone's eyes. Oh boy!!!! (You all have to listen to that song on You Tube)
Each and everyone present had an opportunity to tell "ME" how I have touched their life, taught them something, loved and supported them in a special way, knew instinctively how they felt and made them feel better, how I had an impact on their lives and their families, how I brought family members together, how loyal, strong and inspirational I am and how much I do for others unconditionally. (It can go on and on but I will cut it off there.) As they said those amazing things to me with such emotion, they each tied knots in a beautiful blanket Dolores had prepared. When all was said, the group wrapped me in the prayer blanket and we said the Miraculous Invocation to St. Therese, the Little Flower.
I know like WOW, right. We ended the night with a candle and a pink rose that went home with each and everyone of us and are to light the candle on Friday and prayfully think of ME.
This was one of my most powerful and spiritual evening EVER. I soaked up every word and felt so humbled by what they had to say. The feelings go both ways. I truly love all of you. Such peace I feel. God's gratitude.
I know I am held up in all your prayers and please remember those that are afflicted. God's strength will carry me through this.
"All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired." Martin Luther
My heartfelt love and appreciation for my family and my caregivers that they will be PATIENT with me.
Well I am off to bed, hopefully some sleep now.
Love to ALL.
:) Joanie
PS... Visit this link my cousin sent me:
http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSF-Louie-Schwartzberg-Grati
As I am the last to finish dinner, I come into their living room and friends and family are in a circle. Down to the real business of "gathering".
Dolores, being the warm professional spiritual facilitator, starts by welcoming everyone into her home and explains what the process (blessing) will be. Dolores starts the prayer meeting with the song "I Will Love You Through It" by Martina McBride. Tears in everyone's eyes. Oh boy!!!! (You all have to listen to that song on You Tube)
Each and everyone present had an opportunity to tell "ME" how I have touched their life, taught them something, loved and supported them in a special way, knew instinctively how they felt and made them feel better, how I had an impact on their lives and their families, how I brought family members together, how loyal, strong and inspirational I am and how much I do for others unconditionally. (It can go on and on but I will cut it off there.) As they said those amazing things to me with such emotion, they each tied knots in a beautiful blanket Dolores had prepared. When all was said, the group wrapped me in the prayer blanket and we said the Miraculous Invocation to St. Therese, the Little Flower.
I know like WOW, right. We ended the night with a candle and a pink rose that went home with each and everyone of us and are to light the candle on Friday and prayfully think of ME.
This was one of my most powerful and spiritual evening EVER. I soaked up every word and felt so humbled by what they had to say. The feelings go both ways. I truly love all of you. Such peace I feel. God's gratitude.
I know I am held up in all your prayers and please remember those that are afflicted. God's strength will carry me through this.
"All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired." Martin Luther
Please express your feelings and love to one another on a daily basis.We should not wait til an illness or tragedy to express what that person means to you. We all need affirmation.
My heartfelt love and appreciation for my family and my caregivers that they will be PATIENT with me.
Well I am off to bed, hopefully some sleep now.
Love to ALL.
:) Joanie
PS... Visit this link my cousin sent me:
http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSF-Louie-Schwartzberg-Grati
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
OK, I lost the weight
Ok, so I lost 45 pounds now and feel great. This was not what I meant back in May about quitting work and having it all about "ME". But in a way I am very happy that I was concentrating on ME and finding the breast cancer early and hopefully not having to go through chemo and radiation.
So a lesson to be learned is pay attention to your body and your gut...
PS... Results on the pathology of the breast will probably be in after Thanksgiving.
PSS... Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Pre-Operative Meetings
Monday November 14th, the anniversary of my sister Pat's passing, I was meeting with the anesthesia, general surgeon and plastic surgeon for a surgery scheduled November 18th, the anniversary of my dad's passing. All I could think of was Pat and dad and how they will have such an impact on this surgery. I felt as if their hands will be holding the scalpels and guiding the surgeons. It has been such an overwhelming feeling of protection and love that I am at ease with this cancer thing to be moving forward. I know I have my family and friends in my corner but there is nothing like that feeling of those that have passed (the higher power) before you and knowing they are right beside you to protect you. For my mom and mother in law, dad, sister, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles that have gone before us I can feel YOU. It goes without mentioning that GOD has had a major role in all of this as well. HIS power is within and I give it all up to HIM for I am nothing without HIM.
My family has been wonderful and caring and supportive. I could not go through this without them calling and texting me daily to ease my worries and process the next step. I love them with all that I have to give. Thank you is not ever enough. I love you all.
Wow was that heavy. Just thought you should feel what I have been feeling. Nothing but LOVE.
OK the meetings were great and filled with laughter and love and I felt I was in the best of hands. The stats on the mastectomy and reconstructive surgery is this...8-9 hours long starting at 7:30 am. Friday, November 18th. Hospital stay should be from 3-5 days. I will not want to see any of you at the hospital but Ron will be updating you through this blog.
One last thing. Thank you all for the outpouring of love, dinners, flowers, cards and gifts. Keep the prayers and good thoughts coming my way and into all the other cancer patients lives.
"Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning"
I love you, Joan
My family has been wonderful and caring and supportive. I could not go through this without them calling and texting me daily to ease my worries and process the next step. I love them with all that I have to give. Thank you is not ever enough. I love you all.
Wow was that heavy. Just thought you should feel what I have been feeling. Nothing but LOVE.
OK the meetings were great and filled with laughter and love and I felt I was in the best of hands. The stats on the mastectomy and reconstructive surgery is this...8-9 hours long starting at 7:30 am. Friday, November 18th. Hospital stay should be from 3-5 days. I will not want to see any of you at the hospital but Ron will be updating you through this blog.
One last thing. Thank you all for the outpouring of love, dinners, flowers, cards and gifts. Keep the prayers and good thoughts coming my way and into all the other cancer patients lives.
"Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning"
I love you, Joan
Roller Coaster Ride
The news has sunk in and I am scared.
Friends of friends and family started calling with their stories and doctors names. It all became very overwhelming and confusing.
I had started interviewing the Edward Hospital doctors. I was really trying to like and get a connection with one doctor in particular. I was forcing it only because I had heard he was the best at Edward's. I went to see him twice...I was really trying hard. It just never seemed to feel comfortable in my gut. I was getting the feeling that maybe I should go and get another opinion and see what is in Chicago at the teaching hospitals. As I said before I was getting a lot of people giving me their doctor's names. It took me 3 weeks to get an appointment with a doctor at Northwestern Hospital. I knew the clock was ticking and so I made the November 9th appointment to have a mastectomy at Edwards Hospital as a parachute date.
A friend gave me a book titled "A Random Interruption" by Suzanne Zaccone a story of her journey through breast cancer 3 years ago. That evening I talked with the author, Suzanne. She was going for a visit to her doctors at the University of Chicago Medical Center the very next day. Suzanne had collaborated with Dr. Song on her book and would talk to him about me at her appt. The next day I got a call from Dr. Song's nurse saying she could fit me in on Friday to see Dr. Song, Plastic Surgeon.
Ron and I made that appointment and were so impressed with his knowledge and understanding and his order of procedures to take place prior to any surgery. Dr. Song said that in his opinion he would want to do a DIEP flap for the reconstructive portion of the surgery. (Nothing like what the Naperville doctors had recommended). Dr. Song is one of 5 surgeons in the midwest to perform this micro-vascular surgery. We were on board but still had a lot of research to complete. Dr. Song stepped out of the room and made a call to Dr. Jaskowiak, General Surgeon, to get me in to see her at her office on this coming Tuesday. These doctors did everything they can to help me through this process. I was IMPRESSED and felt at ease.
Met with Dr. Nora Jaskowiak. Loved her. She suggested doing a sentinel node biopsy prior to surgery to see if the cancer has spread into my lymph nodes. We scheduled that surgery on Friday, November 4th of the same week. I felt like everything was falling into place. Called Naperville doctors to cancel the November 9th surgery. I was definitely going to go to University of Chicago Medical Center. And I also cancelled Northwestern appointment.
On Wednesday of that week, the nurse called me and said that the doctor reviewed my films and they saw a suspicious abnormality on my left breast and that I should plan on being at the hospital longer as they will take more views and an ultrasound of the left breast.
Friday. November 4th came and I had more views and ultrasound on my left breast. They come back into the room and decided they wanted to biopsy the left breast. I was getting terrified at this point.The biopsy was performed and the tech thought it was nothing to be concerned with. Onto my sentinel node biopsy...pain, pain and more pain. Ron and I left for the hospital at 6:30 am and got home at 9:00pm. Long long day. Now the waiting game. Results should be in by Thursday.
On November 8th, I received a call from Dr. Song's nurse saying that they scheduled the mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. I was like we don't even know what our procedure is going to be. She said that they got the results and she forwarded me to Dr. Jaskowiak's nurse who gave my EXCELLENT NEWS. The cancer did not spread into my lymph nodes and the left breast biopsy was benign. That is the best news a cancer patient could get. I jumped up and down and screamed as loud as I could. Yeah for me and all my caregivers!!!! Now the surgery was set for November 18th, Friday. Delight and relieved!!!!
Ron came home early just as I finished the phone call. It was wonderful to share the great news with him. I called the kids and we cried with joy. Then I sent out a massive email. The responses were unbelievable. Thanks to all my wonderful and blessed family and friends, and friends of friends that have been praying for me. I was humbled....
Friends of friends and family started calling with their stories and doctors names. It all became very overwhelming and confusing.
I had started interviewing the Edward Hospital doctors. I was really trying to like and get a connection with one doctor in particular. I was forcing it only because I had heard he was the best at Edward's. I went to see him twice...I was really trying hard. It just never seemed to feel comfortable in my gut. I was getting the feeling that maybe I should go and get another opinion and see what is in Chicago at the teaching hospitals. As I said before I was getting a lot of people giving me their doctor's names. It took me 3 weeks to get an appointment with a doctor at Northwestern Hospital. I knew the clock was ticking and so I made the November 9th appointment to have a mastectomy at Edwards Hospital as a parachute date.
A friend gave me a book titled "A Random Interruption" by Suzanne Zaccone a story of her journey through breast cancer 3 years ago. That evening I talked with the author, Suzanne. She was going for a visit to her doctors at the University of Chicago Medical Center the very next day. Suzanne had collaborated with Dr. Song on her book and would talk to him about me at her appt. The next day I got a call from Dr. Song's nurse saying she could fit me in on Friday to see Dr. Song, Plastic Surgeon.
Ron and I made that appointment and were so impressed with his knowledge and understanding and his order of procedures to take place prior to any surgery. Dr. Song said that in his opinion he would want to do a DIEP flap for the reconstructive portion of the surgery. (Nothing like what the Naperville doctors had recommended). Dr. Song is one of 5 surgeons in the midwest to perform this micro-vascular surgery. We were on board but still had a lot of research to complete. Dr. Song stepped out of the room and made a call to Dr. Jaskowiak, General Surgeon, to get me in to see her at her office on this coming Tuesday. These doctors did everything they can to help me through this process. I was IMPRESSED and felt at ease.
Met with Dr. Nora Jaskowiak. Loved her. She suggested doing a sentinel node biopsy prior to surgery to see if the cancer has spread into my lymph nodes. We scheduled that surgery on Friday, November 4th of the same week. I felt like everything was falling into place. Called Naperville doctors to cancel the November 9th surgery. I was definitely going to go to University of Chicago Medical Center. And I also cancelled Northwestern appointment.
On Wednesday of that week, the nurse called me and said that the doctor reviewed my films and they saw a suspicious abnormality on my left breast and that I should plan on being at the hospital longer as they will take more views and an ultrasound of the left breast.
Friday. November 4th came and I had more views and ultrasound on my left breast. They come back into the room and decided they wanted to biopsy the left breast. I was getting terrified at this point.The biopsy was performed and the tech thought it was nothing to be concerned with. Onto my sentinel node biopsy...pain, pain and more pain. Ron and I left for the hospital at 6:30 am and got home at 9:00pm. Long long day. Now the waiting game. Results should be in by Thursday.
On November 8th, I received a call from Dr. Song's nurse saying that they scheduled the mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. I was like we don't even know what our procedure is going to be. She said that they got the results and she forwarded me to Dr. Jaskowiak's nurse who gave my EXCELLENT NEWS. The cancer did not spread into my lymph nodes and the left breast biopsy was benign. That is the best news a cancer patient could get. I jumped up and down and screamed as loud as I could. Yeah for me and all my caregivers!!!! Now the surgery was set for November 18th, Friday. Delight and relieved!!!!
Ron came home early just as I finished the phone call. It was wonderful to share the great news with him. I called the kids and we cried with joy. Then I sent out a massive email. The responses were unbelievable. Thanks to all my wonderful and blessed family and friends, and friends of friends that have been praying for me. I was humbled....
CANCER!!!
On October 16, 2010, Ron and I met with the general surgeon in Naperville associated with Edwards Hospital. There, he told us, that I had invasive ductal carcinoma mixed with alot more non-invasive carcinoma. We were not expecting that finding. He spoke for 15 minutes how he would do a right mastectomy and why he thought I would not be a candidate for a lumpectomy. He showed us the mammogram and it was very clear the whole breast needed to be taken. His nurse came in and handed me folders with information on plastic surgeons and oncologists we needed to interview for the next step. My world as I knew it changed instantly.
On the ride home from the doctors office, I had an out of body experience. Just couldn't f'ing believe I was holding a pamphlet on Breast Cancer. We both agreed that I did not need a second opinion because it was very clear to us that the whole breast needed to be removed.
From that point on, research was my number one goal.
"The beginning is the most important part of the work" Plato
The biggest blessing from this experience was that if I had not lost the weight I was loosing, I may not have ever discovered these lumps.
An instant thought of my grandmother with lymphoma under her arm made me think that maybe she had breast cancer and they just didn't have the tools back then to diagnose her. I was reaching for straws trying to come up with family history and really can not find any. It just happens...
Notifying my children was very very difficult as they all took the news badly. The calls to my 3 brothers and 3 sisters had begun. Each call was lengthy with lots of laughter and shock. My dad passed away from lung cancer when I was 13. The second tragedy in my family was my sister Pat. She had died unexpectedly from a sub-arachnoid brain aneurysm in Ireland visiting her newest grandbaby in November, 2006. 10 months later my mom had passed from complications from abdominal aortic aneurysm. Now I was the first to have CANCER and a battle will begin with the rally of my family and friends.
I was determined to take one step at a time and believe I had caught this cancer EARLY.
On the ride home from the doctors office, I had an out of body experience. Just couldn't f'ing believe I was holding a pamphlet on Breast Cancer. We both agreed that I did not need a second opinion because it was very clear to us that the whole breast needed to be removed.
From that point on, research was my number one goal.
"The beginning is the most important part of the work" Plato
The biggest blessing from this experience was that if I had not lost the weight I was loosing, I may not have ever discovered these lumps.
An instant thought of my grandmother with lymphoma under her arm made me think that maybe she had breast cancer and they just didn't have the tools back then to diagnose her. I was reaching for straws trying to come up with family history and really can not find any. It just happens...
Notifying my children was very very difficult as they all took the news badly. The calls to my 3 brothers and 3 sisters had begun. Each call was lengthy with lots of laughter and shock. My dad passed away from lung cancer when I was 13. The second tragedy in my family was my sister Pat. She had died unexpectedly from a sub-arachnoid brain aneurysm in Ireland visiting her newest grandbaby in November, 2006. 10 months later my mom had passed from complications from abdominal aortic aneurysm. Now I was the first to have CANCER and a battle will begin with the rally of my family and friends.
I was determined to take one step at a time and believe I had caught this cancer EARLY.
My Story Begins Here
In May of 2011, I quit my job and decided that it was time for "ME". I was determined to get healthy and just concentrate on loosing weight, enjoy the summer and travel with Ron.
The beginning of June I started detoxing. No problem I was all on board.
In July, I was well on my way to loosing weight. At that time, I was feeling as if my milk ducts on my right side breast were blocked or infected. The breast hurt. I called my doctor and she sent me in to have a mammogram. (My last clear mammogram was October 2010).
The mammogram showed possible abnormalities/calcification and the doctor referred me to a general surgeon. After the surgeon reviewed the mammogram we set up an appointment. He stated he saw an abnormal mass and that I should get a MRI and ultrasound on the right breast. He gave me no indication that I should be worried.
In August I did just that. The results came back in September and the doctor still did not alert me to any concern and said that I should probably get a MRI guided needle biopsy. I was following the doctor's order and not too worried because I had heard that "cancer does not hurt" and I was still in some pain...
Well it took me until October 6th to finally go and get that needle biopsy. As I entered the operating room, the doctor who was going to do the procedure said to me "Well, today we are going to decide whether you need a lumpectomy or a full mastectomy!" My eyes teared up and I was in shock!! The procedure hurt like hell and I am in this MRI contraption with fears going through my head and needles going through my breast. The doctor had told me that she thought it was a non-invasive cancer and that I would be just fine. THIS was all before the pathology came back on the biopsy.
Ron was waiting in the lobby as I came out to greet him shaking and in tears . He knew something wasn't right. This was more serious than I imagined.
The beginning of June I started detoxing. No problem I was all on board.
In July, I was well on my way to loosing weight. At that time, I was feeling as if my milk ducts on my right side breast were blocked or infected. The breast hurt. I called my doctor and she sent me in to have a mammogram. (My last clear mammogram was October 2010).
The mammogram showed possible abnormalities/calcification and the doctor referred me to a general surgeon. After the surgeon reviewed the mammogram we set up an appointment. He stated he saw an abnormal mass and that I should get a MRI and ultrasound on the right breast. He gave me no indication that I should be worried.
In August I did just that. The results came back in September and the doctor still did not alert me to any concern and said that I should probably get a MRI guided needle biopsy. I was following the doctor's order and not too worried because I had heard that "cancer does not hurt" and I was still in some pain...
Well it took me until October 6th to finally go and get that needle biopsy. As I entered the operating room, the doctor who was going to do the procedure said to me "Well, today we are going to decide whether you need a lumpectomy or a full mastectomy!" My eyes teared up and I was in shock!! The procedure hurt like hell and I am in this MRI contraption with fears going through my head and needles going through my breast. The doctor had told me that she thought it was a non-invasive cancer and that I would be just fine. THIS was all before the pathology came back on the biopsy.
Ron was waiting in the lobby as I came out to greet him shaking and in tears . He knew something wasn't right. This was more serious than I imagined.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)