July 29, 2009

I had my first treatment for the new chemo yesterday, and it went well. We were in Indy for the whole day, so it made it long, and I was tired when we got home. There aren’t too many side effects for this chemo, so we’re excited about getting it started.

We were told by the doctor’s nurse that my participation in this study came together at the last minute of the last hour, and she told us we were lucky to get in. There are only 9 other women in the study, and I’m in the third group to get started. I told the nurse that it wasn’t luck that got us in to the trial…it was our own miracle from God and the prayers you are all sending on our behalf. God keeps providing situations and conversations to share what he’s done for us, and I’m grateful we can do this and give Him credit.

This Friday I am set up for another outpatient surgery to place a uretal stent between my bladder and kidneys so the fluids can drain properly. The bone scan last week showed a blockage in this area, and they are pretty sure it is related to the cancer and not a kidney stone. This might also be why my lower back has been hurting so much, especially on my right side.

Keep praying for strength and energy to keep this up. I’ll be going to Indy every three weeks for this treatment, and they couldn’t say when it will end…maybe never.

We love you all.

Sandy

July 27, 2009

We have our first appointment in Indy for the new treatment tomorrow (Tuesday). It will include talking with the doctor and then chemotherapy will be given for the cancer. I think I’m one of only 6 people in the state that were approved for this trial, so your prayers are working!!

One of the scans I had on Friday showed another blockage around my bladder, and the doctor wants to put in a stent to help the area drain like it should. I don’t know when I’ll have this done, but it will be another outpatient procedure.

This hill I’m climbing to keep my head up is getting steaper every day. I’m cutting my hours back from work this week because I’m too tired and groggy to do much worthwhile anyway. We are urgently praying that the new chemo will begin to resolve the pain and nausea symptoms that I’ve been experiencing right away.

Thanks again for your support for me and my family.

Sandy

PS– Shelby’s at camp this week at Lake James Christian Assembly, and she was pretty leary about seeing us leave for the whole week. Please keep her in your prayers also.

July 21, 2009

I spent the weekend in the hospital because I had an infection that caused a high fever and severe vomitting. They got me going with fluids, antibiotics, and pain medicine, and it all felt better by Sunday so I could come home. I’ve been working this week, but I’m not making it the full 8 hours. Yesterday and today I’ve gotten too tired to continue after lunch, and I’m going home early. My office is supportive of this schedule, and I’m still getting a lot done when I am here.

The doctor from Indy called today about the drug trial that I’ll be enrolling in. I have 2 major scans to do at Parkview on Friday that will take all day. The results will be sent to Indy, and then we’re hoping that treatment will begin the next week (end of July). Please pray that I’ll be healthy enough to be accepted into the trial and receive this new treatment. It will mean more trips to Indy for care, but it’s absolutely worth it if this helps me get better overall.

I’m very tired most of the time, and I’m still fighting pain everyday; even with the increased strength of my pain patch. The bleeding has stopped, so we may not need the hysterectomy, and that is great!

We’re still fighting this disease and trying to live life to its fullest. Thanks for your support in so many ways.

Sandy

July 10, 2009

This week has been another long trial. I saw my Oncologist on Wednesday after the PET scan that was done, and we didn’t get good news. I have been feeling great on some days, and then it turns to awful a day later. She ordered a brain MRI which was done today.

The PET scan showed several new areas of cancer in my body, but we didn’t get much detail. There were cancer cells in my throat, adrenal glands, and other areas. The brain MRI was clear, at least.

With these test results, Dr. Aggarwal recommended that we see another Dr. in Indy, Dr. Kathy Miller, that we met two years ago. She may be able to include me in a new drug trial that is having great results, so we see her next Wednesday. My first trip this month to Indy was most likely a waste of time, because now Dr. Miller is working with dr. Aggarwal to get me started on treatment ASAP. Surgery is being held off for now.

We’re somewhat scared about the new cancer, but we’re excited to see Dr. Miller again. Please pray that I’ll be accepted into the trial and start treatment ASAP.

We feel your prayers through this battle, and we’re confident that your strength is helping us survive these tough times.

We love you,

Sandy and Mark

July 2, 2009

Dr. Sutton, in Indy, met with us today and recommended a hysterectomy to remove the latest spread of my cancer. The procedure was scheduled for August 24 in Indy at St. Vincent Hospital because the doctor will be leaving on vacation and doesn’t have any earlier openings. He also increased my pain patch medication to help me get through this time. We weren’t thrilled with this wait time, so he recommended we talk to Dr. Aggarwal to see if she has any other options or doctors in FW who can do this procedure. After the holiday, we’ll contact her for an appointment.

I felt pretty calm today, compared to last week, and I’m sure that it was the result of all of your prayers on our behalf. You can pray specifically that God will provide an earlier date for the hysterectomy. The doctor in Indy also told us that when they have the uterus to examine, they’ll know how much it was affected and give us an answer on how serious situation is. He’ll also be able to help Dr. Aggarwal determine the future of my treatment.

Praise God for our stretcher-bearers again! We love you.

Sandy and Mark

July 1, 2009

We saw Dr. Aggarwal yesterday, and she confirmed that the new cancer they found is in my uterus, and it’s a spread of the original breast cancer. We’re still going to Indy tomorrow to meet with the doctor who specializes in female-oriented cancers, so we don’t know what the options are yet.

I had a great time with Savannah at camp, but we came home a little early because my pain has been increasing– even on the 24-hour patches.

Pray for some answers and a recommended treatment plan from our visit tomorrow, and please include my whole family in your prayers. This has been really tough on my mom, but she’s been an angel to us!

Sandy

June 25, 2009

Mark and I visited with the Gastro doctor that took care of my gall bladder problems and directed the shunt insert procedure. He showed us scans from the procedure and explained that the passages my body needs to drain bile are very narrowed, and they may not ever effectively perform their function, even with the shunt. He also told us that if I start to have problems with Jaundice in my liver (not just in the bile ducts), there won’t be anything they can do and it would be bad. I have an appointment in September to replace the shunt in the duct, which will need to be done on a regular basis.

We also have an appointment next Thursday to visit Dr. Sutton in Indianapolis, who was recommended by my OB-GYN doc. Dr. Sutton specializes in OB-GYN Oncology, and he’s already received my records to review, but this is the earliest we could see him. More cancer cells were found during the procedure I had done at Parkview last week, so he’ll be working with my Fort Wayne docs to determine a treatment that would help us. We don’t know any details about this diagnosis yet, including the stage or severity of the problem.

These two new occurrences have knocked both Mark and me back quite a bit. Today’s appointment with the gastro doctor was not encouraging. We don’t have solid answers or information yet, but the potential for seriousness is very high. I’m also in more pain every day, so we’re going to start using the 24-hour pain patches again to keep this under control.

On a much happier note, I’m taking tomorrow afternoon off to take our girls, their friends, and my sister-in-law and her kids swimming! They’ll all finish a week of Vacation Bible School, and they deserve a reward. I’ll also be going to church camp at Lake James from Sunday-Wednesday with Savannah, and I’m really looking forward to the time and 24-hour lake/worship access with her. I plan to attend camp with Shelby, too, in late July. I also went last year with both of them, and this has been one of the greatest times we’ve had to bond together.

Please keep praying  for strength and hope.

Sandy

June 22, 2009

Still waiting on test results from the procedure last week. I’ve had a rough weekend with very little sleep, but I started feeling better last night and today. I’m at work today and doing okay. We just don’t know what happens next until we get test results back.

Sandy

June 15, 2009

I had another bad weekend, and I’m really struggling to stay positive. I’m completely exhausted and still have pain and itching.

Thursday is my next procedure to find out what might be causing my female problems. The Dr. told us he found cancer cells during my exam, but we don’t know anything more yet.

Please pray without ceasing.
Sandy

June 9, 2009

I’ve actually been avoiding this post because I’m so frustrated, and I have trouble with positive thoughts these days. Last week we saw my gynecologist, and he has scheduled me for more testing to determine the cause of problems he saw in an ultrasound test. This procedure will be on June 18. Not sure if it’s related to cancer or age!

The very next day, I was not feeling well at all, and my itching, pain and lack of appetite was getting worse. Mark and I went to see my oncologist, Dr. Aggarwal for some answers, and after a very long appointment (2+ hours), she set me up for a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis the next day. [I've asked God several times to bless my doctors for acting so quickly when I'm in trouble, and he's not failed me.]

The CT scan revealed an obstructed bile duct that was causing my digestive bile to back up into the liver and have these crazy symptoms. Dr. Aggarwal sent us to a Gastro-Indigestion doctor on Monday, to get his opinion on how to treat this blockage, and he determined that I need to have a procedure done that will remove the blockage and allow them to look around to see if I have any other problems near my liver. At the visit with this doctor, I could barely sit up because I’m so irritated by pain and itiching. Every inch of skin on my body has been itiching for the last week, and my nerves are on VERY short circuits. We’re waiting for the procedure to take place on Friday, and we’ve been assurred that the symptoms will clear up quickly after the obstruction is removed.

If you’ve been reading these postings or known me for very long, then you know that I try to be tough and positive about this battle and give God the glory for any positives. We still believe…but we’re growing weary under the trials over the last two weeks, and I know it’s had an affect on the girls.

Pray for strength and for skilled doctors who keep up the fight with us. We couldn’t do this at all without our family and your support.

Sandy