SolandMonica.com

Hi Everyone,

I am sorry that I haven’t updated in a while. Nothing has really changed in terms of my treatment. I continue to be treated on a daily basis. It doesn’t take long once you’re in, but sometimes they are running a bit behind. Good thing they have a puzzle. I don’t mind waiting, if there is a puzzle. We finished the tough puzzle and have just about finished the new puzzle. It’s kind of amazing to sit there and think that so many different people work on the puzzle – people who are fighting the beast and their support team.
Treatment seems to be going well. I am a little more pink by the day, and the doctor says it is going to worse before it gets better. I am halfway through the tough part of the radiation. When this part ends, then I’ll have a few treatments directly to the scar. I am looking forward to May 23rd, when all these treatments are behind me. I know that I’ll have to have scans every three months, which will bring on major “scananxiety” (a term I recently ran across), but I trust in the Lord and know that I am in His mighty hands. With that knowledge, comes an amazing, indescribable peace.

Sol is feeling much better, although his tonsils is still sore and inflamed. Please continue to pray for him. Kai continues to be a wonderful little boy! He is so active and adorable. He learns and uses new words every day! It’s amazing to see him grow and learn. The big news there is that he peed in the potty for the first time. He was so proud of himself! He hasn’t done it since, but he’s interested!

The last thing to report is that I have an appointment tomorrow for my prosthetic tatas. Oooh, La, La!!! I’ve experienced the gamut of sizes in my existence, and by far being in the middle is the best place to be. I guess that’s one good thing about this process…I’ll finally have the size I’ve always wanted. It’ll be an interesting experience I’m sure, and sorry, NO photos of this fitting will be posted! It’ll only be in my memory! 😉

Farewell for now. God bless,

Monica

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Well, yesterday began very early with a radiology appointment. It was the first of three pre-radiation appointments that I’ll have. They scanned the treatment area to get a 3-D computer model to plan from. They used a sharpie to define the perimeter for treatment. The marks are still on my body covered with tape, so that they’ll be there the next time I go in. At the next two appointments, they’ll check and double check that it’s exactly what they want to do. When they’re sure about the marks, they’ll make them permanent…yes, that’s right…this little goodie-two-shoes is getting tatooed! Three tatoos to be exact. (Boring little black dots, but tatoos none-the-less) They want to do four, but one will be visible right in the middle of my neckline. The vain woman part of me doesn’t want it showing, so they’ll use a sharpie and darken it daily so it’s not there forever.  I just received a call saying that the plans are done and I’ll be going back in on Monday at 12 to do the second appointment and the third will be on Tuesday at 1:30.  It looks like we’ll be starting radiation next Wednesday and go for 32 consecutive weekdays, approximately 6 1/2 weeks.

Also yesterday, I finally got the car washed and the oil changed.  Sounds like a trivial thing to mention, but it’s been needing to be done for a while and feels good to have out of the way!  🙂

After the oil was changed, I had an appointment with the surgeon.  There was some fluid build up that he took out.  It had showed up on the CT scan and was jiggling around.  Not much fluid, but it was a little annoying.  I feel better now.

On the way home from picking up Kai, my oncologist called to say that he’d spoken with the specialist and that radiation and scans every three months were the recommended course of action.  Not too much of a surprise there.  I originally has an appointment scheduled for Monday 4/7, but we canceled that and scheduled one for 3 months from now.  I’ll have bloodwork and a CT scan the week before the appointment.

Oh yeah, last night we went to the LA Galaxy game.  David Beckham, the famous English soccer player, plays for the Galaxy.  It was opening day!  He scored the first goal.  It was so wild and fun.  We were invited by Sol’s friend George whose company has a luxury box.  In our box was a WWE wrestler (6’8″ with HUGE muscles) and a few boxes over from us was Kobe Bryant and his family.   George even saw Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham) in the hall outside our box.  It was pretty cool.  The Galaxy won 2-0.  😉  We’ve been doing a ton of fun things recently, and they’ve been such great distractions for us.  On Thursday next week, we are going to try and go to Disneyland with Sol’s cousin, Gracie.

Anyway, I’m getting ready to go to Women’s Retreat and need to make sure I’m ready to go when the carpool gets here in a few minutes, so for now, adios friends!

Monica  🙂

Comments Off on Yesterday’s Events

Praise the Lord!  The authorization went through today to see the sarcoma specialist!  After being denied twice, finally word came that it was authorized.  I have an appointment on April 1st at 9:30 am.  I am relieved, but still very anxious to get in to see him ASAP.  I guess I just have to wait and pray.  We can’t do any treatment until I heal, so I guess waiting is what I have to do anyway.

Thank you for all the well-wishes and support.  Many of you wrote to ask when the storming was!  That made me feel so great!  It was nice to have so many of you feeling what I was feeling.  ANGER!  I guess what happened was that the person in charge of authorizations didn’t have enough information.  Many of my doctors were calling and being very persistent.  I gives me comfort knowing I have the right people on my side!

You are all the best.  You keep me going.  Thanks for all the posts in the past few days.  It’s been so encouraging to read them all.

The schedule of events is this:

Tuesday, March 25 – Radiology appointment

Thursday, March 27 – CT scan

Tuesday, April 1st – Sarcoma Specialist appointment

Last night we had a video conference with my parents and Kai.  Kai was so cute.  He could see himself on the screen and kept making faces and showing off his belly button.  He was laughing at himself!  It was adorable.  Seeing him was such a treat.  The first moment he saw us, he put his head down and looked really sad.  We cheered him up, but it was hard to see him like that.  We really miss him around here!

Anyway, that’s it from here for now.  Praise the Lord things are moving again.  It felt like a stand-still for a few days.

Love,

Monica

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Well my CT scan is scheduled for next Thursday the 27th at 9:00. That means I have to wake up at 5:30 to drink that AWFUL stuff.

Please pray that the authorization to see the specialist goes through. It has been denied twice and is being resubmitted once again! There are many people here ready to storm the office and demand authorization; it’s so wonderful to have those kinds of friends and family on my side. We’re just about ready to raise a stink, but the “No” has not been final. My doctors are being persistent and will keep filing. So for now, we are sitting tight, but not for long. This process needs to speed up. Sitting around waiting is not really my thing!

Anyway, tonight we have a Family Fun Festival and Farmers’ Market nearby and will be hanging out with a bunch of friends. It’ll be a fun time. I am also getting a TON of scrapbooking done. That has been a great distraction.

We will keep you informed as to what is happening, but for now we need your fervent prayers!

Hanging in there,

Monica

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  Well, I finally did it.   I purchased a wig.  It might sound a little strange, but I was fine being bald.  It’s the awkward stages of growing it out that frighten me.  So here it is… LONG and Blonde! 

 I had blood drawn today for surgery.  Nothing to report, just a step closer to the big day.  Anyway, Sol and I are going out tonight.  The last free night we have before surgery.   Thank you, Catt for babysitting!  🙂  We really appreciate it! 

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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 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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I just wanted to let you know what has been happening.

First of all, Sol’s band didn’t make it to the next round of the radio contest, but it was fun while it lasted. The thing that frustrates them is that the bands that made it weren’t the “best” ones. I’m sure he’ll write more about it soon.

Secondly, I just had one of the worst nights of my life. I spent most of night violently vomiting. I must have thrown up 20 times. It just wouldn’t stop. I tried taking the anti-nausea pill, but couldn’t keep it down. So in the morning we called the doctor, and he prescribed a different form of medicine (if you catch my drift). Anyway, it worked, and I stopped throwing up. The drugs knocked me out, and it was really welcomed after three days of not sleeping well. I am scared to eat anything, but am starting to feel a little hungry, which is good, I guess. I didn’t go to work yesterday and will not be going in today either. Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will be feeling much better.

Thirdly, Kai and Daddy are at the doctor’s office. When we picked Kai up from daycare yesterday, his right eye was swollen, red and full of goop. He woke up yesterday at 5:00 and didn’t eat much of anything yesterday either, so after calling the doctor last night, we decided to take him in today. I’m sitting here waiting for Daddy to call as I type this.
Today I have an appointment with the plastic surgeon to discuss options for reconstruction. I am really nervous about even talking about it. It means that it is actually going to be happening. Anyway, I’m going to go rest and wait for news.

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