My Day and More Test Results

After 11 this morning, I started to get ready to leave. No sub at 11:30. Still no sub at 11:45. I started to become curious and called SubFinder and nobody had accepted my job for a sub. I sent a note across the hall explaining this and she said to call the office. I did, office said the district was short 20 subs for the day. They asked if my two partners would be willing to split my kids, and they said no. Between their fools and fools, it would be disastrous for them. Told the office they said no, so they found somebody else to come up. My kids were working on their social studies assignment and were told, all had to have it done before going home. Knowing my kids, not all will have it done. I left school about 12:20 pm.

I had a 12:45 appointment with my Onc. I already knew there was no cancer in my lymph nodes. The polyp tested negative for cancer also. The stains they ran on my lymph nodes for bacteria and fungus also came back negative. My onc is curious as to what is going on since there is no cancer. He ordered blood work. I will call next week for the results and go from there. I will have CT scans of my neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis areas on Monday, August 22. I will get the results the following Monday. My onc did say that from the test with my polyp, there were cells that were starting to change. He said I will will be given more info from the GYN next week when I see him for post-op.

My left armpit area has been bothering me all week off and on. Monday and today it was checked by the nurse, and very little fluid was taken out. The pain is due to healing...

When I left the both doctor offices, I went over to Akron U to buy my cap and gown. Since I am getting my master's degree, I could wear a cap or a hood. I did purchase both the cap and gown and brought them home. They did not have anymore hoods. They had to order one, but I did go ahead and pay for it. I am so excited about all of the good news I have received this week.

Still Cancer Free!!!!!

I stayed home from school today. My left arm and underarm is still uncomfortable. I called the doctor's office to schedule my post-op appointment and to talk a nurse about my left arm. She scheduled an appointment for me to come in this afternoon and for her to look at my underarm. About noon, the nurse called to give me the biopsy news of the lymph nodes. None of my lymph nodes have cancer in them! I am still in remission! The lab is still running tests on the lymph nodes. They want to make sure there is nothing there of any sort. It will be awhile til I get those results.

I went into the surgeon's office to see the nurse, and I wasn't there very long. She looked at my underarm and said it was slightly swollen. She removed the bandage and used a syringe to remove fluid. Barely any fluid came out. That is good. She also took the bandage off of my neck. The third bandage will be removed later this evening.

I still see my onc this Friday, and both of my post-op appointments with the other two doctors are on May 5. One at 2 pm and the other at 4 pm. I will take a half day at school. I can only lift a couple of pounds.

After seeing the nurse, mom and I went over to the school so she could carry my totebag up the stairs to my classroom. It is very heavy.

Surgery

My mom's best friend came along to sit with mom all day. We got there about 8:30, and almost after I signed in I was called back. Teena got there before us and it was good to see her before I was called back.

The nurse had to call and get a doctor's order to access my port. My bp seemed high 147 over 90. April 1, it was really low, compared to it was after school. The nurse accessed my port, and at first no blood return. I took a few deep breaths and started to turn my head to the left, and there was blood return. The IV was started. My mom, dad and Pastor Bob (pastor of my parent's church) came back. That was around 9:30am. Pastor Bob prayed with us. I was taken to OR around 10 am.

I saw both the anthesologist and Dr. Williams, the surgeon before hand. I told him, about the enlarged area on the right side of my neck, that was discovered during my massage on Monday. He'd wish I had called him, instead of Dr. Patel. I had the area from my neck, lymph nodes from under my left arm and left pelvic area removed. Also removed was the polyp. Both doctors came out to talk to my parents afterwards. Mom said they seemed upbeat, and didn't think anything looked cancerous. What was removed from my neck was just fatty tissue. I was moved to recovery about 1 pm. I ended up in surgery about 3 hours, longer than they expected.

Sometime after 3 I started to become more awake. At first most of the paid was under my left arm and my throat. My throat still hurts, and it is due to the tube that was put down my throat for surgery. Underneath my left arm is sore.

Left about 4 pm and got home around 5 pm. I have two post-op appointments in two weeks.

God's Word

After taking a break, I am reading through Psalms twice this year, and the book of Proverbs every month. I have three different versions of the Bible in my bedroom, and I use a different one every month. This month, I am using the Living Bible. Today, was Proverbs 20. I have read that chapter 3 other times this year. This morning, verse 24 stuck out at me.

"Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?"

That verse just struck me. I keep telling God I don't understand why. I don't understand why he let me be diagnosed with Melanoma 4 years ago, and why is there a good chance it is back now. This morning, God answered my prayer,through this verse. I do not need to understand everything that is going on. I know God will be glorified at the end of it all. I just need to trust God, He knows what He is doing.

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I am starting a new Bible Study next week. It is only six weeks long. This study was written by Blackaby and his son. They wrote Experiencing God. This study is about knowing and hearing God's voice. I am doing each day's study with my devotions. I can because I am on spring break. I am only in week one. I have to learn a verse every week. Here is this week's verse.

Deuteronomy 8:3 "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

First Time in a Year

I was scheduled for blood work this afternoon at 4 pm. My port was accessed, did some saline and got blood return. The first thing of blood is always the waste, and after that, there was no more blood return. The nurse had me stand up, tried more saline, and finally around 4:50 gave me a dose of the clot buster drug. Around 5:25 pm, a different nurse tried to get blood return nothing, nada. I waited til about 6 pm, at first the nurse had a problem, but was able to get blood so it could be sent to the lab. I haven't had the clot buster drug in a year. A couple of times, the nurses thought they would have to give me that drug, but were able to get my port to co-operate and return blood before it was needed.

I'm praying that there is no problems with my port next week, when I have my procedures done. Also praying that I get over this cold soon. I took yesterday off from school to rest. My cold has moved to my sinuses. I will be able to continue taking Dayquil after tomorrow.

My Weekend

I've had a pretty good weekend, even though I do not feel well. Left the house about a quarter to 9 am yesterday, went to Curves for the first time of the week, afterwards, to Walgreens to buy some cold medicine. Then I got a massage, went to CJ Banks to look at clothes and bought some. Got some lunch, then headed down to North Canton to meet up with two friends. We got pedicures, a Christmas present from one of my friends. After the pedi, went to my sister's house to sit and grade papers. Met up with friends from church at Pizza Hut then bowled two games at the bowling alley. My first game I bowled a 125 and almost bowled a Turkey (3 strikes in a row.)

I skipped church today and went to the Wellness Center/Emergency room about 3 miles away to see a doctor, instead. My throat hurts a lot! I've been coughing more for the past 5 weeks. With my two medical procedures coming up in 11 days, I can't be sick. I just have a bad cold. I will call my onc tomorrow to let him know, and I am taking a sick day tomorrow. Going to stay home and rest. I took a couple of naps today.

First Win of the Season

The Cleveland Indians go their first win of the new season this afternoon. They beat the Chicago White Sox, by avoiding a sweep. Justin Masterson pitched 7 innings. Carlos Santana, and both Cabreras participated in a Triple Play. The final score was 7-1.

Opening Day

Today was Opening Day and Season Opener for the Cleveland Indians. We lost. By the top of the 6th inning the score was 14-0. Not in our favor. The final score was 15-10. We lost. Fausto, The Ace, only lasted 3 innings, was pulled in the 4th inning. We used 4 pitchers. There was a good play by third baseman and the first baseman. We did hit two home runs and two doubles. Our pitchers did strike out quite a few White Sox players.

Pre-Op Testing

I was scheduled at 4 pm for pre-op testing. I answered a bunch of questions, was weighed, had my BP taken. Surprisingly, my bp was low, 103 over 68. After my day, I'd thought it would've been higher. I had en EKG taken, which took longer to hook me up that it did to take the EKG. The nurse wanted to do blood work, but she was not able to access my port. She couldn't get in touch with Infusion Services over at the cancer center, so on Monday, she will call to schedule me an appointment for either April 11 or 12 at 4pm.

My two procedures are scheduled for 10:30 am and 11:30 am on April 21. I will get the biopsy results on Friday, April 29. I am taking a half day at school so I can get the results.

I have been coughing more this past month. I've had coughing fits two days in a row during class.

Surgery Date

I picked up the kids from lunch to have a message in my mailbox, saying the surgeon's office had called. I called them back during recess.

Both the biopsy and the LEEP will be done on Thursday, April 21. That is the Thursday before Easter. Which is also towards the end of my spring break. I was hoping for it be earlier in the week, or the end of the week before, so that I could have all of spring break to recover before going back to school. I will get the results of the biopsy the last week of April.

Blast from the Past

This afternoon, I was the House Manager at Weathervane Playhouse. (This was my first time to be House Manager.) I saw somebody who I thought I knew. I asked her if she taught at Revere? Turned out, she was my typing (keyboarding) teacher in high school. It was good to see her. She had both my sister and myself. She retired in 1995.

Saw the Surgeon

I saw the surgeon this afternoon. He looked at the PET scan report. He felt for lymph nodes under my left arm and my right pelvic area. First he started talking about removing lymph nodes from under my left arm and my right pelvic area, but according to the PET scan, there is more activity in the left pelvic area. (I do have lymph nodes in my right pelvic area). So lymph nodes will be removed from the left pelvic area and from under my left arm.

No surgery date has been scheduled. His office has to talk to the GYN to coordinate with him, so that both procedures can occur on the same day at about the same time. I will call the surgeon's office Monday afternoon, to see what has been scheduled. I do not know if the LEEP procedure wills till be April 15 or not.

PET scan results

I got hold of my oncologist this morning and spoke with a nurse. I was told that nodules in my left lung popped up on the PET scan. My oncologist wants to have a biopsy today. Lymph nodes will be removed from under my left arm. I do not know when the surgery will be scheduled. I will know more after I see the surgeon Friday, March 25 at 4 pm. I will see my oncologist again after the biopsy.

It is looking frightening as if my cancer is back and it has spread. It might just be a scare and just stress causing the enlargements. But it sure is scary.

I know that someday I will be thankful for all of this, but right now, I am not. Don't see how this is to prosper me or is for my good. All I do know is that God will be magnified through it all.

Today's PET Scan

Between 8 am and 1 pm, I drank about 7/8 of a gallon of water. I took a gallon water, from home, to school this morning. I left school about 12:30 pm. I get to the cancer center, and I tell the guy I want my port used, he wasn't expecting that. He said they would only use the port if they can't access a vein. I said I want my port used. I do not have good veins, not easy to access. I go upstairs to Infusion Services and they are very busy, so I am taken next door and a nurse from my oncologist office accesses my port. I go back downstairs and I am taken out to the trailer. My blood sugar is checked and it is 69. They had to make sure that was good.

I am given the drug via my port, then go back inside to sit and wait. Somebody gets me about 2:30 pm. The scan was from my head to my toes, a full body scan. My waist on down was done first, that took about 20 minutes. My feet had to be kept together. After that was done, another restroom break. (I went to the restroom a lot between 1 and 4 pm.) Then my head to my waist was scanned. My head was done first. I was done about 3:40 pm. I went to Curves before heading for home.

Date Change

I am no longer having LEEP (the medical procedure to remove the polyp) on Friday, April 1. I am now having it done on Friday, April 15. I have to be at out patient at noon, and the procedure will be at 2 pm. That will be a rough day, no food after midnight. I will have pre-op testing on Friday, April 1 at 4 pm. Spring Break is the week of Easter, so I will only have to miss one day of school.

GYN Oncologist visit

I saw the GYN Oncologist this afternoon. He asked some questions. My polyp is on my cervix. He tried to take it out, but couldn't. The doctor did say that sometimes the polyp could be completely attached and difficult to removed in the office. Or if it looks like there would be a lot of bleeding (these are the two reasons for...) then a short surgical procedure will be done to remove the polyp. As I said, the doctor couldn't removed it this afternoon. I will have it done in the operating room on Friday, April 1. The procedure is scheduled for noon, and I have to be there by ten am. This will be an out-patient procedure, and I will go home later in the afternoon. I will not be allowed to drive for 24 hours.

Depending on how I feel, will determine if I go to church on Sunday and school on Monday. I was told that I could have a heavy feeling in my lower pelvic area for a few days.

Until I am told otherwise, I will be hanging onto the thin rope of hope that I am still in remission.

President's Day CT Scan results

I saw my oncologist this afternoon. As of now I am still in remission. The results were not too good. I have nodules in my lungs (explains my cough I have had off and on since I was a kid). There is one in my left lung that went from 3.2 mm to 5 mm. It is still very small. A lymph node in my left pelvic area is enlarged. (Last year, I had a couple of lymph nodes enlarged also.) I also have a cyst on my right ovary. One other time, I was told there was a cyst on one of my ovaries also. I did have some cramps last Monday afternoon, with my stomach bothering me off an on during the week. And because of my polyp, my onc is playing it safe. We have decided instead of waiting 3 months and doing the CT scan again, next Monday, March 7, I will have a PET/CT scan at 1:30 pm. This will be at the cancer center.

I am seeing a GYN oncologist this Thursday afternoon about the polyp. After these two appointments will go from there.

I was at my onc's office for 90 minutes and when I left it was about 5 pm. I didn't go to Curves this evening, I came home. Before I left the parking lot, I did cry and I yelled at God. I told Him I didn't like, didn't understand why. I also brought up Jeremiah 29:11. I asked how can this be for my good?

Took Two Needles

I had a CT Scan this morning. I was scheduled for 10:30 am . I got called back a little after 11 am. I was given ice to numb the area on my chest where my port is. I am lying down, and the nurse tries to access my port. She couldn't do it. I suggest that I sit up. I sit up, and she gets a second needle and gets it into my port. After the needle is in, at first, nothing. Oh, no, I start thinking about having to walk over to the cancer center, so I can get the clot buster drug, and my CT scan won't happen until after 1 pm. The nurse pushes in a bit of saline solution and is able to get a good blood return. Yes! I was praying that there would be no problem with accessing my port. I haven't had any problems in about 9 months. I was done around 11:40 and was even able to work out at Curves before they closed at 1 pm.

Graduation Update

On the 4th, I was able to contact somebody from Akron U to get my questions for Comps. I didn't do it on the 4th, since I have no specials on Fridays, and I was out for a half day training. I finally called over to Akron U on Thursday. I found out that I can sign a paper saying that I elect not to take comps. Which I will be doing, and it has to be at Akron U by the 15th. I will do it on Monday, Valentine's Day, after tutoring, which is after school. I will find out then, if there is anything I have to do instead. I even talked to my advisor, and I do not have to take any more classes. He is going to fill out the modification form saying that I have completed all of my requirements for my classes. That means I will be graduating with my Master's Degree in May!! Yeah!!!!!

Update

I talked to the nurse at my doctor's office this morning. My pap smear came back good! That is a praise. I called the gyn during library, and was on hold for about 10 minutes. I am scheduled to see him on Thursday, March 3 at 2 pm. I will take a half day from school. I will not be surprised if I have some lymph nodes enlarged, when I get my CT scan on the 21st. I have to let my Onc know about this when I see him on the 28th. As of now, I am still NED!