posted on March 15, 2003 03:54:50 PM new
sallyhoffman - Glad to hear she was able to return to work.
Just know that the chemo and radiation effects are going to be cumulative....and will be harder and harder on her body as times passes. My sister went from 120-125#s to 84#s. I thought we'd lose her to starvation. But here we are 30 years later and she's alive and well.
On her hair...yes, they have wonderful human hair wigs. She still might experience some problems though. My sister had problems with wind gusts and the wig made her head sweat and itch. We paid good money for it, it wasn't a cheap one.
One of the nurse's I worked with, going through chemo and radiation while continuing to work, decided she wasn't going to wear a wig [because of the sweating issue] and she had a ball buying all types of hats. Wild ones, one's from the 30's and 40's, hats one might wear to garden, sombarros, baseball, scarves, etc. She had a wonderful sense of humor and it was fun for all of us to look forward to the next 'head cover'. Her mood through the whole time was fabulous.
Keep the faith. As always...we wish her only the best....full recovery and a very long life.
posted on March 15, 2003 04:39:20 PM new
Linda_K, thank you for the kind words. My sister-in-law did purchase a number of turbans to wear before the wig was ready, so if the wig becomes too uncomfortable, she will at least have something to fall back on.
Thanks to for the reminder of the treatments being cumulative. Both my brother and sister-in-law are aware that both chemo and radiation are cumulative treatments and that she may feel differently after each treatment. They are taking it one day at a time, right now focusing on the fact that she is 1/2 way through her chemo treatments. Both Denise and my brother have a positive attitude about this whole thing - oh I am sure there are times when they get angry and wonder "why her", but as I've mentioned before, they are two of the strongest people I know and I am sure their faith in God, their doctors, and each other will see them through this challenging time.
posted on April 13, 2003 04:28:01 PM new
Denise has gone through three chemo treatments now and only one more to go. Then she begins a series of radiation treatments - we're not exactly sure when those will start.
Ladies, please please please call and schedule that mammogram if you haven't had one lately. I had my baseline mammogram done 4 years ago, a routine one 2 years ago, and am scheduled for another routine one this August. I cannot stress enough how important that phone call could be - it could save your life.
Please help me spread the word by telling all your female family members, friends, and co-workers to make that call and schedule their mammogram!
posted on May 20, 2003 11:59:45 AM new
Quick update on Denise. She completed her 4 chemo treatments on April 21 and is awaiting to start the 25 radiation treatments.
She had her yearly mammogram done recently on her left breast and they found a shadow. They took more mammogram views and she had a biopsy done last Wednesday (which was when she was supposed to start the radiation treatments).
Yesterday we didn`t get the best news - the lab results came back and the biopsy revealed more cancer. Apparently the cancer is deep in the tissue of Denise`s left breast by the muscle wall, but it isn`t even a lump or cyst yet, which hopefully is a good sign that things were caught early. Denise goes back to the surgeon on Wednesday to find out the next course of action.
Please continue to keep Denise and Jeff in your prayers - they are going to need all the strength and prayers they can get to help them get through this.......
Ladies, if you haven`t had a mammogram in awhile, please consider this your friendly reminder to pick up the phone TODAY and make that call to schedule an appt. That one phone call could literally save your life!!
posted on May 21, 2003 10:37:09 AM new
sallyhoffman - Sorry to hear Denise has received the bad news of more cancer. It's such a hard struggle for her and for all who know and love her. As I've said before she is lucky to have the support she does in all of you. One always hopes for the best and prays for a miracle. My hope is that she gets her miracle.
posted on May 21, 2003 10:55:23 AM new
Thank you Linda_k for the kind words.
Here's part of an email I received from my brother today......
"Well, we met with the surgeon this morning. The surgeon and
the radiologist are going to consult further. But so far, Denise needs
more surgery (either a lumpectomy, or a mastectomy).
There were two spots on the mammogram and the ultrasound that are the causes for concern. However, it wasn't clear to the surgeon which (one or both) were biopsied and positive for cancer. So, the two of them need to talk further. Once that happens, the surgeon will call us back.
Then, we can decide whether to just have a lumpectomy, or the full-blown mastectomy. Either way, it's not much fun to look forward to.
Additionally, the surgeon will consult with the oncologist to see if more chemo is needed. At this point, the surgeon doesn't think so, but it's too early to tell. I think that decision won't be made until after surgery, and the results of the pathology reports are known.
We did learn that the odds of having synchronous bilateral breast cancer (cancer in both breasts at the same time) are only 3%. You can imagine how extremely disappointed we are knowing that only 3 women out of a 100 face this challenge. Why Denise???
At any rate, that's where things stand for now. Will give further updates once we know more."
