11/29/08 Gettin' Out

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We did.
Me and the kids did some shopping yesterday afternoon. Nick drove me, Tara, and Daniel around and even to BG. He was so sweet taking charge, offering to open doors for me and carrying my bags..which they all offered. It was a very nice time with the kids. I couldn't have asked for a better shopping day. I have a little over a week to squeeze in as much as I can before my next surgery and begin treatments. I see my oncologist for the first time on the 8th.
Last week I was a little down because when I got my tube out, he said depending on my next pathology results from my upcoming surgery, I may need another surgery and possibly some reconstructive surgery. I pray that this next surgery and the treatments will be enough.
My incision is a little sore and uncomfortable and my arm isn't at full strength so I try not to use it. Well, I can't unscrew things, reach high, pick up heavy things...etc. But other than that I really feel fine and I am ready to fight.

I heard from Kathy.
She is having an outpatient biopsy. The one that they do with mammography. It will probably be the same day as my next surgery on the 9th.
the following is what she wrote...he said there was a small cluster and that it is contained, not into any surrounding tissue and 80% of the time they are NOT cancerous but needs to do the biopsy.
I pray it is not cancerous and she does not need surgery.

I spoke to Bev this morning and of course she continues to struggle with speaking and other things related. I pray her medicine gets adjusted quickly so she can get some rest and be without any pain.

Thanks for all of the emails, cards, and especially the prayers.
Have a blessed week.
I am really blessed.
And if you have never seen Facing the Giants, I encourage you to watch this with your family.
Thanks Tara and Grant for the movie. I love you and I can not wait for Fireproof.
We all have Giants in our lives.
Don't quit until you've got nothing left.
Do your very best every day.
Love,
Teressa

11/26/08 Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Beverly had her MRI yesterday and we saw her new neurologist afterwards. Her MRI was good. He doesn't think she will need anymore tests. He still doesn't think she has distonia. He doesn't think she has an eye disease.
He continues to believe her pain around her eyes, neck and shoulders is due to her neck muscles. He told her where she was having the pain and he pushed on those areas and said all of that is related to your neck. He thinks he can fix her with medications. Because she has not had any deep sleep in months..probably a year. He has given her a couple of medications to help make her drowsy so she can sleep good and not wake up with pain. She is suppose to check in with him so he can make adjustments to the medications to help them work for her. And he said to not go back to the other neurologist in Louisville because the botox he gave her was not needed. The other gave her 31 shots of botox around her eyes, face, and neck. She can not now control any of those muscles because they are paralyzed. She can't even swallow good. It will take several months for that to go way. She will never see Dr. Olson in Louisville again.
She took 2 pills last night and woke up without pain this morning. She will struggle to talk, not bite herself in her mouth, and move her neck around until this botox wears off. Which means, botox is permanent and he said it goes away when nerves rebuild themselves and move around(grow around) the injected area.

Please pray that this does not take several months. Also, that she will get much needed deep sleep so her neck muscles can rest and repair.


I get my tube out today...woohoo! My incision area is still sore and I am taking Aleve for now. Next week I go for pre-op and bloodwork for my lymph node surgery on the 9th.

Thanks for everything...I am blessed. And today is Tara's birthday! Her first birthday as a mother.

Have a great Thanksgiving!
Love to all,

11/26/08 Happy Thanksgiving from Rita

(My dear friend Rita emailed this and a few other pix. I thought this one was fitting. She also came to my house and made a large pot of homemade chicken soup..which my husband loved. She's a sweetie.)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

11/23/08 - Neighbors

I love my neighbors.
My sister-in-law(Peggy) and mother-in-law(Jean).

Jean is always there to cook, clean, wash, anything she can do for me. I don't know where she gets her energy.
We also have had some special talks during this ordeal that I will cherish forever.

Peggy is like a second sister to me. I can call her anytime, about anything, and she will always take time to listen. And she has good advice. =) She also helped me with my incision care and bandaging.

I'm thankful for them both....always

11/21/08 1st surgery - Pathology Results

(I will need another surgery)

Todays results could have been better but they could have worse too.

I'll try to explain...by what I heard and read on the report.
Intramammary Lymph Nodes - one of two lymph nodes positive for metastatic adenocarcinoma. there are a total of 4 of 12 nodes positive for metastatic mammary carcinoma.

He doesn't think I will need a mastectomy. I will need surgery to remove this lymph node area and he believes he can clear margins around the area. I will need chemo added to the radiation of course. It is stage 3 because of the lymph nodes.

I get my drainage tube taken out next wednesday. On Dec 9th I have my surgery and then I begin treatments with my team of doctors for oncology, nuclear medicine, etc.

I feel fine other than the loopiness from hydrocodone. I could not wait to get home and let my incision get some air. It had rubbed against some clothing and caused some burning but that's all I have felt.

Tara and Bev went with me and it was hard for them but they were strong around me. After i got in my gown we held hands and recited Tara's bible verse she had found.

I made Bev stay home afterwards because she was having a horrible spasm day. I had Tara go home and spend the rest of the day with Ellie because Tara goes back to school on Monday. We all needed to go home and absorb the information in our own way. I have spoken to them recently and they are some better.


My life is going to be different for a while but again, it could have been worse and I am really blessed to have found this very small "active" cancerous lump when I did. It was already attaching to my nodes. Please check yourselves regularly and make appointments for your exams. Breast cancer does not run in my family. And this was in my arm pit area.

Everything will be ok...I have results and now I have a plan to fight back. I have a lot to fight for.
Thank you for everything and I appreciate your prayers and emails.

Bevs MRI is Tuesday so please pray for her and for Kathy to get good results from her testing.

Email me anytime if you have questions and I will be happy to share my information if you have friends or family with the same situation. And thank you for letting me share my information with you. This is my link to the outside world. I am already feeling cooped up in 88 and it has only been a few days. =)

Love,
Teressa

(Email from Tara)

Tomorrow (or today actually..it's 1:00am) is the day we find out the test results of my mom's surgery. As I was reading tonight, I just so happened to come across this bible verse and thought it was so fitting for the situation our family is facing right now that I started to cry, and I wanted to share it with you. I believe I found this verse for a reason for sure. It reminds me that even though I have no control over this situation, and have been questioning why this is happening, since she was diagnosed a week ago, that God is still sending me strength and hears my prayers.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction (distress), faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12

Love,

Tara

Thanks for continuing to pray for my mom!

11/20/08 Sisters caring for each other

I have a Hemovac/Jackson Pratt tube for drainage I have to empty and measure. Beverly changed my dressings today and applied my ointments and she did a wonderful job=).
Tomorrow at 9:30 I get my results.
Beverly is scheduled for her MRI on Tuesday with her new neurologist and we are excited about going to that and hopefully getting some answers for her.
Continue to pray for us both.
We had a good laugh today as she was trying to tape me back up and applying ointment, while I sat in the bath holding my drainage tube . With her spasms...let's just say I have tape everywhere and ointment all over me....ha
We thought what a pair.
Love to all,
Teressa

11/19/08

My home health nurse came today and changed my dressings and checked on my drainage tube..whatever that is called and I am doing fine...especially with my hyrocodone..ha...Friday is my big result day and I will email then.

My nurse and I had a lengthy chat today and she just found out about her mammogram.

I had Beverly, Tara, little Ellie, and Nick here when she came to visit. I also had my Mom and Mother-in-law earlier today and Peggy and the boys came later. I also had numerous calls and emails. During our chat she mentioned that I had a wonderful support group and I told her that I was blessed to be mentioned on a many prayer chains. She mentioned that her news was new and she didn't have a large support group at hand and I asked her if I could share her name with my group and she said she would like that very much.
I have copied this email to her and her name is Kathy. Please share her name in your prayer groups and you can send her an email if you wish. She is a wonderful nurse and I also found out she is a hot air balloon balloon pilot.
Thank you for thinking of my new friend.

Kathy you are in my prayers. I'll see you tomorrow and we will keep in touch.

Love to all,
Teressa

11/19/08 After Lumpectomy &Sentinol Biopsy Surgery 1:40a.m.

Of course, I do not remember typing this. I was a little loopy.

I went in at 1:00pm and got home about 12:30a.m.. It took a little longer than expected. They said I stay the night but I wanted to come home.
He injected some kind of radioactive medicine into my sentinol nodes first and I laid underneath a machine so they could take images for an hour looking for "hot spots". Then later they took me into surgery and put in a blue dye that reacts with the medicine to check for suspicious areas in the nodes. I have a 4 inch incision under my arm pit where they took out a few nodes for further testing. Then I have another area where he took out the tumor and I have a drain taped to me that I have to empty regularly. I have a nurse coming to my house daily to change the dressings. Friday I have an appointment to get my results. Of course we already know the tumor is malignant and i will need radiation. Friday I find out if i need another surgery and chemo. I had a lot of pain afterwards and they gave me some morphine and Demerol. I have hydrocodone to take at home so I am feeling no pain right now =).
I just wanted to let you know that I am ok. It'll be ok and i will take what comes and fight it.
I will go crazy at home and with light duty. I guess I will catch up on some movies.
Let me know what is going on at work so I don't feel left out.
Bev is suppose to have a cat scan of her head and neck area tomorrow. She had a bad day today but stayed with me anyways. What a sis!

Miss you guys and thanks for the emails, calls, and prayers.
Love,
Teressa

11/15/08 Email from Beverly

Our Friday, MY APPOINTMENT: Well I had a visit with a new neurologist at St. Thomas Hospital (now this was my best day in months so he has saw me at my best ) . Dr. Fallis thinks that I do NOT have Dystonai. I was so in shock. He thinks that I have injured my neck and that has radiated up into my mouth, tongue and jaw muscles. I have awful neck, shoulder and temple pain along with the mouth. I am just getting some speech back. Yes I probably still have blepharospasms (dystonia) in my eyes but He about Died when he heard I've had 31 shots in my face in three month span. He said for #1 The Doctor should KNOW why I need Botox? Testing....none. Never give botox but maybe twice a year. Mine 31 in three. He could not fathom. Anyhow, I was crying by the time we left there in an uplifting way. He said that He Will get me FIXED ! You think "Do I get hopeful AGAIN .... It's kind of scary but... you have to trust that the Lord is working and has found this man to give you answers and help you. So now He has put me on a pain pill and muscle relaxer all in one to take at night. He said to fix the neck muscles they need rest which I get none of. So we have a Ct Scan planned at St Thomas on the 25th. He was such a nice nice man. I never figured that I didn't have this after the neuro in Louisville. I was totally shocked.....then our day continued....

Friday, TERESSA'S APPOINTMENT: Well we went at 3:30 to Teressa's appointment to hear the results of her breast biopsy. As sure as I was that I had dystonia, I was that sure that my sister DID NOT HAVE BREAST CANCER.... BOY WAS MY DAY WRONG. The guilt that FLEW over my body as he gave her the results was tremendous. I thought all the complaining you've done this year. It was so hard for me to hold in my composure (which I did very bravely) . Dr. Daniels told her that yes she does have cancer. They will remove the lump on Tuesday afternoon and another area to check. She will have to undergo radiation and possible chemo since she's premenaposal. Teressa is the STRONGEST LADY THAT I KNOW OR HAVE EVER KNOWN. HER STRENGTH AMAZES ME AND IT WILL YOU ALSO. She has the best attitude for life and me - Well I'm the baby the whimp. I look to her for Strength. So please please remember my baby sis in your prayers and I know that the Lord will deliver her from this disease and that next Thursday she will hear "Yes Teressa We have got it all ".

So yes our day was a whirlwind - It's ups and downs - The unknowns for both of us.... Your prayers have delievered us this far.... Please continue... Love to All , Bev

11/15/08 (Biopsy Results) Email from Me

(Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Hey Everyone,

Well, Beverly had an uplifting visit today at St.Thomas and I am soooo happy. Hopefully, this medicine will allow her to sleep and rest the muscles in her neck. He doesn't think she has dystonia and that is wonderful. He said she should tell a difference soon but her eyes still may have something with them and he will know later. Now he is focusing on her neck and facial muscles.

We went to my appt and I officially have breast cancer. I will need radiation too. I have surgery for the lumpectomy Tues and also to remove another suspicious area. He will test those areas removed to tell me what stage and if I need chemo also. I should know by the end of next week.

Thanks for all of your prayers and everything will be ok. We'll take it one step at a time until we both are completely well and then we are going on a "sister vacation". She won't fly though so I get to drive her yukon.

Love to all,
Teressa

11/12/08 Surgeon Consultation

(appt. 3:30 and got in about 5pm)

I got to have my biopsy in the surgeons office tonight. He did it while watching that ultrasound/mammo something machine. Melvin got to watch. He did good while they gave shots to numb, and then the cut, and after that I noticed he wasn't standing where he was. I looked around and he was sitting with beads of sweat on his face...ha
Afterwards, we went to Red Lobster for a nice dinner and I wanted a coconut coloda
Anyhoo, I'm bandaged like a mummy and feeling pretty good.
He said it may be cancer and I will know late Fri afternoon.
It's that spiculated mass and irregular margins description...ha
I'm really ok and we will just cut it out. He said I did good by finding it.
OK women...feel your breast in shower. It does a body good.
=)
I'll add and Beverly sees a new neurologist on Friday...woohoo!

11/6/08 Exam Results(Mammogram & Ultrasound)

Hey Everyone,
I picked up my results from today...

I had mammogram:
1) Moderatley dense ductal tissue
2) 1.1 cm spiculated mass on the superior aspect of the right breast - suspicious of primary breast carcinoma - recommend right breast ultrasound

I had ultrasound:
1) 9 X 11 mm irregular nodule, slightly hyperechoic, at the 10 o'clock position in the region of mammographic palpable abnormality - suspicious of primary breast carcinoma - recommend biopsy.
2) Probable 8 - 9 mm lymph node adjacent to the irregular nodule.

I had Chest X-ray:
A ok

I found on the net re: irregular-
If the margins are smooth and the mass is round or oval, it is most likely benign (not cancer). If the edges are irregular, then it is possibly cancer and a biopsy is necessary to determine if cancer cells are present.
Also, re: spiculated mass-
It is true that a spiculated margin is of more concern than smooth margins.
I read about carcinoma.
I don't think I want to search the net anymore....ha

I just wanted you to know I am ok and I will deal with whatever comes. God always thinks I can handle more.
I'm a strong person.
I go to see the surgeon Wednesday.

Love ya'll