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Well, today I had a post-chemo/pre-surgery ultrasound. From what they told me, the tumor didn’t change significantly from the December ultrasound. I was a little sad that it hadn’t shrunk, but it’s still good that it’s less than half it’s original size.

I received some good news while at the doctor’s office. I got a phone call from the geneticist, and I am NOT a carrier of either of the known breast cancer genes. This doesn’t mean that I don’t have a genetic connection; just not one that’s known yet. I still am considered at high risk, so I will have to be checked more often.

I have surgery scheduled for March 7th and am getting very anxious about it. I know it’s what needs to be done, and I’m glad to finally have the cancer removed from my body, but it’s a major surgery, and to be totally honest, I’m really scared. I still have some decisions to make about surgery, so I would appreciate you prayers regarding these decisions.

Here’s what’s coming up:

February 22nd – Blood work

February 29th – Oncology appointment

March 7th – Surgery

Looks like my Fridays are booked up for the next three weeks.  Thanks for all of your prayers!

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I am happy to say that there weren’t the side effects that I was expecting.   Praise!  I am now done with chemo and it’s effects.  My hair is going to start growing back in a few weeks – which I expect to be very itchy!  I should stock up on some anti-itch stuff now. 😉
I have decided not to have an end of chemo party, but rather have a BIG party when this is ALL over.  To celebrate the end of chemo and Valentine’s Day, I bought myself a present.  Sol and I are going to see “Wicked” tonight.  I am really excited.  I love the theater and have heard wonderful things about this musical.

I met with the surgeon on Tuesday and have a surgery date scheduled – March 7th.  That is going to come really fast; it’s three weeks from tomorrow.  I can’t wait to have this cancer out of my body.  I know that we took the best road in terms of treatment, but now it’s time to get rid of it for good!   After surgery, I have to wait 6 weeks to heal and then take on radiation everyday for 6 weeks.   I’ve counted it all out on the calendar and that takes me through the end of May.  So plan on a party sometime in June!  🙂

We are heading to Fresno this weekend to work on the house and hopefully sign a contract with renters.  They saw the house and want to move in right away!  What a praise and relief!  We had the carpet taken out and tile put in throughout the house this past week and can’t wait to see the result.  We are thankful to Sol’s family, especially Oralia, for all their help in getting this all put together.  It means so much to know that they are there helping out with our needs!  🙂

Well that’s about it for now.  I am really thankful to be feeling well and moving on to the next phase of this treatment.  Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement.  It makes this road so much less lonely!

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Well, it’s Sunday night, and I’m feeling pretty good.  I’ve been craving everything sweet and greasy, but not feeling nauseous.  That’s a good sign, although I’m still not positive it’s all over.  Last time I was puking Monday night, so I’m still pretty nervous about what might come.  I am really thankful to have tomorrow off…Lincoln’s Birthday…and plan on resting much of the day.

Tuesday I have my appointment with the surgeon to set up the surgery date and discuss possible courses of action.  I am fearing that appointment because it means that it’s really time to do this.  I have known it was coming, but am really anxious for some reason.  My parents are planning on coming down for the surgery.  I haven’t seen them since Thanksgiving, so it will be nice to have them here to help and support me in this time.

I still can’t believe that chemo is really over.  It doesn’t seem possible!  Anyway, as I write this I am smiling knowing that it IS over!

My heart is heavy with prayers for my friends and family.   Marriages in trouble, hearts failing, scary medical situations, new cancers popping up…the list goes on.  In all of this, God is still God and is in control of everything.  I have seen His hand on my life and been able to smile in the midst of much disappointment and fear.  I know He walks with me.  I don’t understand what is happening or why, but I know He is with me and take comfort in that fact.

Much Love to you all,

Monica

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Well the day that took so long to come has finally arrived.  I had my LAST chemo today!  Everything seemed to go well.  They had to try twice to get a vein, but found one pretty quickly and chemo began.  It was really busy, so they put me and my friend, Sandy, in a private room as long as we behaved!  😉  We watched a movie to pass the time – “In Her Shoes”.  Sol brought us lunch, and it was over before I knew it.  We haven’t planned the party yet, will be thinking about when would be the best time to do it, so keep checking!

A man from Sol’s Bible study was there for treatment on his 2nd cancer.  He survived cancer of the esophagus, and now it was found in his liver.  It’s been pretty hard for him to hear that he has cancer again, so please keep him in your prayers as he battles not only cancer but also his thoughts.  He seemed to be in good spirits.

Now I am at home – resting.  The daycare called to say that Kai has a fever of 101.7, and his eyes are red.  Sol picked him up, and we are all at home passing the time, hoping we all feeling better.

Well that’s it for now, we’ll keep you updated.  Last time the side effects were worse than any other time, so we’ll see what happens this time.  Hopefully nothing.

The next step is meeting with the surgeon on Tuesday at 9:00 to schedule the date.  I am also waiting for genetics testing results (in 2-3 weeks), and an ultrasound is being scheduled (maybe another breast MRI, too, depending on what the surgeon wants to see).

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Monica

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Well Everyone,

My final chemo is in 4 days.  I am both really excited about being done with this part of the process and also very nervous about the treatment itself.  The past two weeks have been difficult as I have been fighting one thing or another with my health.  Currently I am fighting a cold and need it to go away.  If I am not better by Thursday, they’ll postpone chemo for a week.  They don’t want to cripple my immune system when I am already sick, because this cold could turn into something worse.  So please pray I get better fast.

Anyway, here is the schedule of all of the things going on this week for me:

Monday – UCLA for genetic testing to see if I am a carrier of a BRCA gene linked to breast and ovarian cancer.

Wednesday – Bloodwork in the morning.  Pray I am healthy enough for chemo.  I have been sick for almost 2 weeks now and am starting to feel better.

Thursday – Doctor’s appointment, followed by chemo  THE LAST ONE!!!  (They will postpone chemo if I am not well.)

Friday – Final Neulasta shot!  Yea!  If chemo goes on as scheduled.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement.  These last 4 months have been by far the hardest of my life.  I don’t quite know what to expect in the months to come, but I’ve been doing some reading about it all – scaring and preparing myself for what’s ahead.

We’ll be planning an “End of Chemo Party”, so plan on being there!  🙂  My hair will start growing back in about a month!  Some say it will be really curly and possibly a different color.  I guess we’ll see!

Much Love to you,

Monica  🙂

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Well, 5 down, only 1 to go.  Nothing exciting…which is what we want! (They got a vein the first time!)  🙂  A new friend, Sandy, went with me, and we watched “Short Circuit”.  It made the time pass quickly and was very nostalgic.  (Thanks for the movie, Karen) 

I am praying that the next few days are just as uneventful. 

So as for now, I am feeling pretty well, glad that there is only one left.  February 7th is my last one. 

I do have a few appointments coming up. 

Wednesday, January 25th – consult with plastic surgeon about reconstruction

Monday, February 4th – genetic testing consult

Wednesday, February 6th – bloodwork

Thursday, February 7th -Doctor’s appointment and LAST CHEMO!!!

That’s all that’s set up for now, but I need to make a few more appointments (general surgeon and surgery).  I also have a few decisions to make regarding surgery and reconstruction options…but I don’t have all the information that I need, yet to make those decisions.

Thanks for all of your prayers, as I am feeling pretty good right now.

Love to you,

Monica

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Sorry it’s taken me a while to update you all on how I’m feeling.  I wanted Sol’s band to have some air time and get tons of votes.  So if you haven’t voted yet, do it now!  🙂 

I’m physically feeling a lot better.  This last chemo really had me down for about a week.  My symptoms kept me close to the restroom.  Oralia, Sol’s mom, was here for about 6 days and took Kai on many long walks and got up with him many times in the middle of the night.  I know Sol and I both really appreciated having her here.  School resumed on Monday, so it’s back to the grind.  It has actually been a great few days at work.  Praise! 

So physically I’m doing fine, but emotionally it is really hitting me.  I spent most of Friday in tears.  I have spent the last three months just doing what needed to be done, but never really took the time to think about what was happening.  It finally hit me that I have cancer.  I started thinking about everything that I’ve been through and continued grieving the loss of my baby.   I am having a really difficult time letting go and not feeling guilty.  I know that it was the right decision for saving my life and being here for the family I have, but it is so hard.  The road ahead scares me as well.  Two more chemos, surgery, radiation, reconstructive surgery…it all freaks me out a bit.  My mind is on overload and the road ahead is long. 

Please pray for my mind and heart.  I don’t know how I’m going to walk into that doctor’s office on Monday.  It’s going to take strength beyond what I have right now.   My schedule for next week is Monday – doctor’s appointment at 4:00, Wednesday – bloodwork, Thursday – Chemo at 8:45, and Friday – Neulasta shot at 2:00.  It makes me ill just thinking about next week.

Thanks for your prayers and support and for just listening to my ramblings.  It means a lot having all of you out there – just a click away. 

God Bless you all – Monica

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My doctor’s appointment and Chemotherapy were both today. It was one of the roughest ones yet. The doctor didn’t come in to see me for over and hour. However, he did answer many questions that I had. Some of which I am very excited about the answer. Here are a few of the highlight questions:

1. What happens after surgery? NO MORE CHEMO!!! PTL!!! (only two left) After surgery they’ll determine whether or not to do radiation…most likely yes.

2. Do you recommend a lumpectomy (only lump removed) or mastectomy (whole breast removed)? I will still have to have the recommended mastectomy to be sure that it has all been removed. They want to remove a little bit more than the original size of the tumor, which is just about the whole breast anyway. They might just go in and find scar tissue, but will have to remove all of that anyway.

3. When do I need to meet with a plastic surgeon? The sooner the better. He can explain all the options, and we can schedule the surgery for a day that both the surgeon and plastic surgeon are available.

4. Can I shave with a razor (I read it was unsafe)? Yes, but only when my white cells and platelet counts are up. Not the first week after chemo…closer to when I am about to have chemo. (I haven’t shaved since October, but it’s been cold.  You can’t really tell, most of it is gone, but the stuff that is still there is LONG! 🙂

As for Chemo, they had a hard (and painful) time finding a vein. They stuck me 3 times, bringing me to tears, before they found a vein. It was still uncomfortable, but better than being stuck again. Usually I never have that problem, but for some reason today I did. In addition to that, a little more than halfway through chemo, I got extremely nauseous and had to be given more medicine. It was terrible. It’s the most nauseous I’ve felt so far. It wore off as I drifted off to a short sleep.

I am very tired and am going to be hitting the hay, but wanted to let you all know how it went today. I have been feeling better this evening, and we even had friends over for dinner. Now it’s time to take a few pills and go to bed!

Love to you all, and thanks for all of your prayers. You don’t even know how EXCITED I am that there will be no chemo after surgery! 🙂 It’s the best news! Praise the Lord!

4 down, 2 to go,

Monica 🙂

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 We hope and trust that you all had a wonderful Christmas.  It was rather quiet here…just the three of us.  Kai was pretty fussy.  He hasn’t been sleeping well and stayed up way past his bedtime due to the Cortes family traditional celebration.  We are titling our Christmas “Kai’s Cranky Christmas”.  It wasn’t really that bad, but it wasn’t the joyfest of wrapping paper tossing I thought it’d be.   Here’s a picture of Kai on his new tricycle:

Later in the afternoon, after Kai’s much needed 3 hour nap, we went over to the Moure Family Dinner.  We lived with Alice Moure for a month when we first moved down here, and she invited us over for Christmas dinner.  We played games, sang Christmas Carols and they all prayed for me before we left.  It was very touching and special.

That brings me to today and tomorrow.  Today I had blood drawn.  My sugars, I’m sure, are through the roof…good thing they’re not looking at that number!  🙂  I have my doctor’s appointment at 9:00 and then Chemo is scheduled to begin at 10:30 tomorrow.  Oralia is on her way here to be with us for a few days. 

A few specific prayers: 

Sleep – Kai isn’t sleeping, so no one is sleeping.

Nausea – Last time it lasted about ten days.

Fatigue – not Kai related.  It hit me harder last time than any other. 

Courage – I’m really scared and need my postive spirit to return.  Even with the great news (which is still truly great), the tears have been quick to come these days.

Thank you to all of you for your prayers and encouragement.  I have truly been blessed!

Check out the rest of our Christmas pictures under the photos tab.  🙂

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Well the results…the radiologist told me that the tumor is HALF the size it was in October!  🙂  God is good!  What a great Christmas present!  I am really excited about it, and it gives me confidence and a little more strength to keep going.  Also, I finally felt a little bit better today.  I wasn’t as queasy!  Still really tired (which is why I didn’t post yesterday and why this is going to be short)!  I just wanted to share the good news! 

On Christmas Vacation now!  Yea! 

Next Up:

Bloodwork Dec. 26th

Dr.’s Appointment and Chemo Dec. 27th

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