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