Don't know how often I will be on this site for a while. The test results for me are in & they have found cancer (still can't quite register that in my brain). I will be going to Akron to see a doctor who specializes in Gynecological Oncology next week, expecting surgery & possibly chemo or radiation later - not sure yet. Dan will be placed in a facility on Monday - that hasn't quite registered either. I have so much to do to get his things ready, just boggles my mind. Life is coming at us hard & fast. When anyone says life can change in the blink of an eye, believe it! That's all I can say for now, I've been going on adrenaline, but I think it's giving out now. Close to tears as I write this. When I think of him not understanding what is going on, or why, or anything about it, it just breaks my heart to pieces, but at least I know intellectually that he's will be safe, fed & showered. It's not the ideal place, hope to transfer him eventually to something closer & brighter!
(((hugs))) and take a deep breath. Praying even though the tumor seems to have been growing that it will come back in early stage. Unfortunately until they get in there and pathology does their report, you won't know. If they offer to do pain control via an epidural please consider carefully. A friend went in 1 1/2 years ago for ovarian cancer, used that, formed a blood clot and is not paralyzed.
I know the stress of realizing life changes often too quickly. When I had to have mine 2 years ago suddenly I had to make sure everything was in order in case something happened to me. Art was not as far along as your husband but if I had to stay in the hospital longer than overnight, he would not be able to stay home by himself.
Once you find out more, there is a great support site for women facing hysterectomies with/without cancer involved. It is www.hystersisters.com. I wish I had found them before surgery but they have helped me understand a lot since surgery.
Mim...praying the very best for you! Dan will be fine with 24 hour caregivers. I think they will perhaps be even a little more caring to him knowing what your issues are. They will stand in the gap for you until you can get back to him. Concentrate on you and what you need for now. That will be the best thing you can do for him for now.
I hope for you to be one of the many who has a bout with cancer but comes away free of it. I know several who had breast cancer and two who had a breast removed and they are all still here cancer free. Dianne had cancer as well. In 2003 she had a malignant melanoma. Went to specialist every six months for years. Couldn't go in the sun (redhead). Until we were diagnosed. Then I stopped using any suntan lotion, never mind 75 strength.
elizabeth, I am so glad you are in touch with Mim. Mim, I had breast cancer a year after my husband was diagnosed. Your situation might be more challenging than mine was, due to more invasive surgery and Dan being so far along. But I hope you will find, as I did, that the rigors of this Alzheimer's experience toughens us up and makes us more able to get up and do what needs to be done. I'll be thinking of you.
Dear Mim........ ........I read your blogs and follow your life situation and then go about my own daily routine but I can't quite get you out of my mind. I keep thinking that somewhere there's a wonderful, caring little lady with a loving husband who needs help. ......I'm not a religious person but I do believe there's some higher power that will respond to our prayers because I've experienced it myself, three times .......And I know that with all the prayer going your way, you and Dan are going to come out of this OK...... I just know it. ...........With Love........GeorgieBoy
Thanks to all of you for the kind, encouraging words. Dan went to the nursing facility very peacefully (which actually means innocent & trusting), so it went very well, but heartbreaking nonetheless. It's been only 48 hours & it seems like months!
I have surgery coming on Thursday, the 28th. Excellent doctor, very satisfied with him. Upon studying the CT scan, he kind of disagrees with the original opinion of the radiologist here, will not know till he gets in there whether it's the uterus or ovary. Not exactly what I was expecting to hear, but I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there. I definitely will need chemo, so I think my summer is pretty well planned for me...sigh.
I will see Dan tomorrow, it will be interesting to see how that goes. His first night there he became very agitated, which was expected, so they let him call me. He was asking for me, or about me...why couldn't he go home if I was allowed to go home. I talked to him for a while, stayed calm even when he told me he was going to get his keys, get in the car & come home. I just told him to make sure he told someone there that he was leaving for home...I felt bad for him, so confused. He almost sounded drunk, but we've been noticing that his speech is changing & his voice has become weaker.
So that's the short version (?) of the events that have steamrolled over us this last couple of weeks. Will let you know about things after surgery, or if anything else happens in the meantime (oh, please Lord, no!) Thanks again to all of you - I so appreciate your comment, kind words & prayers.
Oh Mim, I can't believe you and Dan are having to go through this. It must seem like the world has turned upside down. Many hugs. (((((( )))))) And you both are in my prayers.
Mom, I'm so sorry! Sorry for Dan, the first couple days are pretty rough for them. I can't imagine why they don't give them something for assay or so for nervousness. My husband Wallis the floors all night the first nite. He had a pen order for a nerve pill they didn't use. Crazy! I pray all will work out for you, it's been caught early and that is great. Will be praying for comfort and peace Ito the both of you!
Mim - are they checking your CA 125 number or waiting on that? How many rounds of chemo do you have to go through?
My friend whose cancer was stage 4 I think, is still doing it almost 2 years later. They had gone to Yuma for the winter and the oncologist they went to down there used a different combo of drugs but had her CA 125 down to 230. They are back up in the Seattle area and her oncologist there is using a different combo that before going down to Yuma her numbers never went down that low. the puzzle is the CT and PET come back clean, so they have no idea why the number is not down. She is also the one that had an epidural for pain after surgery, formed a blood clot and is now paralyzed.
Praying for a much much better outcome for you. I know the toll it takes on her. (((hugs))) for the next time you feel like crap (which is probably often).
I had my fourth chemo treatment today, by tomorrow I'll really start to feel the after effects. I am scheduled for six, so I've been through more than half! I do not have any results, but they, of course, check my blood every time & I am given a printout. I know the hemoglobin is good (Elizabeth, is that the red & white cells?), & a couple of other tests are good (can't remember the names at the moment). I have no pain, usually, a queasy tummy for several days & I've been having headaches pretty regularly. Don't know if it's our weather or a result of the chemo. Acid reflux (which I've had for a long time) has really been kicked up, so I got a prescription for a new med for that. The next week and a half or so, I'll pretty much be good for nothing...no energy at all, weak, wobbly, not much interest in anything, blah, blah, blah...! I've seen a few people at the Hope Center that are so much worse than I am. One fellow is going to call it quits..chemo is not working (liver cancer). At this point, I have little to complain about. Dan is doing pretty well, they are looking after him & working with him. It's not perfect, but it's the way it is. Of course, his memory can't be improved, but he was actually nice to me, seemed glad to see me (maybe it was the Wendy's chocolate frosty that I took to him!), so I felt better about that. Now if I could only get the Medicaid to be approved....aaargh!!! Thank you for thinking of me....I will post again when I get past the next couple of weeks.