As my cancer journey unfolds.....

jazzy1 said:

Suzanne

Yes attitude has so much to do with getting us to the good part of the journey!!!  Mind over body attitude is always my philosophy.

Had pre-op testing yesterday...not bad but now heart rate is up and so is blood pressure.  Since TSH for thyroid was higher might be some of side affects if thyroid not functioning at 100%....gee!!  Next Monday Sept 9th is the biopsy at out-patient side of hospital.  Not a procedure done at doc office as this node is close to nerves and jugular...why would any of this be easy...argh~  These results go to the facility in Cali who does the assay (is that how it's spelled) to test for proper chemo drug to use plus oncologist wants to know type of cells in this node.  

I've got happy thoughts to know this is just another side step in my journey.  God wants to make me work a bit more for the  life time NED.....I do see it~

Thanks for everyones kind thoughts...

Jan

 

 

 

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers till all the test come back and even though the results and plan of action.  Remember the saying that God only gives us what we can handle and then is by our sides to hold us up and help us though it.  Remember Footprints in the sand poem.

You are such a strong woman with a positive attitude and such a giving spirit to all of us on this site.  You make me a stronger fighter for my journey.  Thanks for all you have shared with me over the course of my journey and giving you all my positive energy through my prayers. ((((Jan)))Praying for you. trish

jazzy1 said:

Suzanne

Yes attitude has so much to do with getting us to the good part of the journey!!!  Mind over body attitude is always my philosophy.

Had pre-op testing yesterday...not bad but now heart rate is up and so is blood pressure.  Since TSH for thyroid was higher might be some of side affects if thyroid not functioning at 100%....gee!!  Next Monday Sept 9th is the biopsy at out-patient side of hospital.  Not a procedure done at doc office as this node is close to nerves and jugular...why would any of this be easy...argh~  These results go to the facility in Cali who does the assay (is that how it's spelled) to test for proper chemo drug to use plus oncologist wants to know type of cells in this node.  

I've got happy thoughts to know this is just another side step in my journey.  God wants to make me work a bit more for the  life time NED.....I do see it~

Thanks for everyones kind thoughts...

Jan

 

 

 

Hi Jan,

I had to have a lymph node biopsy done as an outpatient also.  Mine was a para aortic lymph node and it was behind my kidney right next to the aorta ...so it was a tricky procedure also.  Just wanted to let you know I didn't feel any pain and was back to myself by the time I got to the hospital parking lot.  I must say the drugs to relax me before the biopsy were fantastic!  

Jan:

I have not been on the boards too much lately and just saw your post.   You are a fighter and will continue to do so!    You are also so right about the positive thinking.  I am sorry you have to go through all of this.  I am sending you my positive thoughts and wishes.   Your posts have always encouraged me to continue to think positive and still do!

I wish I could relay my words in a more eloquent way, but I am lacking in that area - lol.  But please know I am thinking of you!

Sending you comforting hugs.

Kathy

Kaleena said:

Thinking of You

Jan:

I have not been on the boards too much lately and just saw your post.   You are a fighter and will continue to do so!    You are also so right about the positive thinking.  I am sorry you have to go through all of this.  I am sending you my positive thoughts and wishes.   Your posts have always encouraged me to continue to think positive and still do!

I wish I could relay my words in a more eloquent way, but I am lacking in that area - lol.  But please know I am thinking of you!

Sending you comforting hugs.

 

Kathy

I, too, spent yesterday thinking about you, jan.  hope the biopsy went well.  Any idea how long the assay part takes.  Waiting is so hard but I guesswe've  all had lots of practice at that.  

What did your daughter decide to do about school and her major?

Jan, I am at a lost for words.  It's 10 months since my beautiful daughter passed and I am still in deep grief and disbelief.  I am now 4 years NED with the same disease as yours and I am quite aware that cancer can come back. You fought it with dignity before and you can do it again ten fold this time and have many years ahead of you NED.

At this time, I can only offer you a Scripture that really helps me.

(Isaiah 41:10) Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not gaze about, for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness.’

  Jan, I feel and know exactly how you are feeling now.  You are not alone! My chest pains for this journey we have all entered, but God will give us peace and will help us to endure.  

jazzy1 said:

Biopsy COMPLETE..yahoo!

Hi All,

Biopsy was successfully completed early on Monday and finally getting back to a normal life...gee!  The worst part, I couldn't take any aspirin/anti-inflammatory over the counter meds for my back issues for 7 days prior to procedure (diagnosed 1.5 yrs ago with bulging disk and feel it's starting to aggrivate me a bit....or could it be stress, ya think I've been under some?).  I was in a world of hurt until Monday when the doc loaded me up with meds for procedure, then after...argh!  

Doc took a "chunk" out of supraclavicular lymph node and sent to company in CA for assay testing, plus tell us type of cancer.  The ENT who did the procedure  will not be one setting me up for treatments, that'll go back to my original GYN/ONCOLOGIST whom I saw briefly before the biopsy.  ONCOL will most likely not wait for assay as it could take up to 4 weeks as they apparently grow cultures and take a while, so get me started on something which he feels is best.  If it's the same cancer from '09, bet he'll use same drugs -- carboplatin/taxol.  

Positive of all this, I've had a good 4 years to get my immune system working strong to fight, plus it's encapsulated in only the lymph system which was with original diagnosis.  

Have brought on board some more guidance with a naturopath-oncologist.  I feel so strongly about keeping our terrains strong, so time to gather the forces to win this next round.  Didn't want to spend the money for this type of specialist, but now is time and gives me thoughts of being more in control.  Putting all the eggs in the basket of the medical community scares me like hell.  

I do believe in the higher power, mine being God.  To the point of "take over God" as I'll let you do your good work and get me thru this journey and come out a healthier person then when I started.

One thing I want to stress to all you warriorettes, listen to your body and if you feel something isn't right or in my case, had some hard spot show up on my neck, check it out.  DO NOT ASSUME IT'S OKAY AND PUT ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.  Even with a CT of chest to pelvic area it wasn't on the written part of the results.  We caught this lymph node when I visited the ENT who noticed it on the picture part of the CT scan.  It really wasn't part of the radiologist area to analyze, but if he/she was really pro-active it would have been on the written part.  In January the lymph node was 1.5 cm and increased to 2 cm in August on PET.  Not a huge increase but what if this was found in January?  

Water under the bridge, but we all need to listen to our bodies and if ANYTHING UNKNOWN POPS UP OR WE HAVE CONCERNS, at least call the doc.  It took me a while to go thru the chain of specialists, but have found what we needed and now get going and correct it.   Can't stress this enough as I've read many people have some lymph nodes which are inflammed or swollen, why guess it's just a cold ....call the doc and let them decide.

That's all I can report today, and will keep everyone abreast of the next steps.  I'm a very strong-willed little gal, so don't expect me to be going anywhere, but coming out the other end of this journey a lot healthier!!!

Anyone have experience they can share of cancer simply in the lymph system?  First time or recurrence?...curious!

Onward and upward we continue to fight....  Thanks to all whom have expressed their concerns and give me the "AT A GIRL" push...love it all~

Big hugs to all,

Jan

 

Hi Jan:

   I am glad to hear that your biopsy is complete and that is done and overwith - you must be so relieved!  

   I had a biopsy done of my thyroid gland a couple of times through the years that is nodules and it is not an easy thing to go through. I ended up having just about all of my thyroid out back in October of 2004 - it was NOT cancer though thankfully and found to be Benign - just a goiter and I had a nodule that eventually would have caused swallowing problems and rather wait down the road, my endo doctor said to me to have my thryoid removed then which I did.  I spent overnight in the hospital and came home the next day. At the time I was working full time so I ended up being out of work about 7 days - and when I went back to work I probably could have used more time off, but got through working okay. I had excellent health insurance at the time and it paid for everything with my hospital stay which was great and one of the anesthesiologists did chip one of my teeth during surgery so the anesthesiologist group ended up paying for all of it and I had to see my dentist afterwards, but it was just another aggravation I had to go through, and my dentist fixed my tooth.  

  I have been on Synthroid for a number of years even before my surgery and will obviously have to be on this medication for the rest of my life since I basically have very little thyroid.  I still see my endo doctor once or twice a year.  He is a top endo doctor in my area so I am in very good hands.

   I wish you all the best going ahead with chemo - just be sure to get plenty of rest the day after chemo which I know you will. Good luck with all your treatments.

   Glad to hear that you are strong willed and that you will fight it with everything you have - you will get through it very well. I will pray for you and keep you in my thoughts.

  I had minimal effects with the chemo and actually made out pretty well going through it although I did need to have a Neulasta shot and a blood transfusion after my 5th treatment as my platelets were very low, but I actually felt much better after having it done.

  I guess with not being able to take your inflammatory medicine before your biopsy had to be really hard to get through.  You have been under stress for sure, but now it is over and behind you.

Hugs,

Cheerful

a/k/a Jane