Liver resection successful!!! Sun is still shining :) :)
I came home Saturday exactly 4 days after my surgery, which my surgeon got a kick out of. He told me 5-7 and I told him 4. So on Friday, he had to count the days, and say YOU were right!!! I told him Yes when I set a goal for myself I try to keep it....and this was part of my recovery plan....to be strong and get home quick!
So.....great news. There was actually NOT as much cancer on my liver than what they thought. So awesome when it goes that way, rather than the alternative. Took the whole right side anyway, as the surgeon said it's the best thing to do and I was in good shape for it. It is better in the long run I guess and the risk for bleeding is diminished. I was in one of the top cancer hospitals OHSU, and the care was amazing! Nurses were all fantastic.
I recovered amazingly fast. I credit it to the Chinese herbs I took prior to, but whatever it was, they, docs and nurses were all amazed how quickly I was up and around and how little pain relief I needed.
Took a shower today after a week....WOOHOO! Feel great, other than sore abdominal muscles ( which you use for just about everything )....and some fatique. Not sure until I go to my follow up what happens from here....just so grateful to be here! I was really kind of euphoric in the hospital. When you think of how much they can do for us now, it is just so amazing. I committed to finding a way to better use my experiences and help others. I was previously volunteering for the ACS at a clinic, but with the limited hours I had to give, was just not too beneficial. Just want to make sure I "pay it forward" and do something with what I've been through that can help others!
AGAIN....so thankful this site was started!!!! And thank you all for the messages I came home to. Wish you all a Very Happy Monday!!!
Comments
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Hooray!!!
Sue,
I have been waiting to hear that you are home and on the mend!!! So glad that everything went even better than anticipated. Such encouraging news and I am so happy for you. The treatment options just keep improving and we can all be grateful for that. Looks like stereotactic radiation is in my future. I start all the preliminary stuff tomorrow. Radiation oncologist is very optimistic that the liver tumor will respond just as well as the original one did. I am putting my faith in her and God. I feel like I was led to her. Don't know why resection wasn't the answer for me...but it will be revealed at some point!
Best to you for continued healing,
Joanne0 -
Thanks for the update JoanneJDuke said:Hooray!!!
Sue,
I have been waiting to hear that you are home and on the mend!!! So glad that everything went even better than anticipated. Such encouraging news and I am so happy for you. The treatment options just keep improving and we can all be grateful for that. Looks like stereotactic radiation is in my future. I start all the preliminary stuff tomorrow. Radiation oncologist is very optimistic that the liver tumor will respond just as well as the original one did. I am putting my faith in her and God. I feel like I was led to her. Don't know why resection wasn't the answer for me...but it will be revealed at some point!
Best to you for continued healing,
Joanne
Joanne, you've been on my mind as well. I don't know much about steroatactic radiation, but I have a strong positive feeling that it's going to zap that little liver spot and put you on the NED road! You are in my prayers and I am sending you healing thoughts.
Please keep us posted.
Liz0 -
Thanks for sharing your great news!
Sue--
It's great to hear from you and know that you are recovering so quickly from your surgery, which went very well. I'm so happy for you and wish you continued recovery and nothing but good news from here on! Take care and keep us updated on how you are doing.0 -
Glad to hear from you Sue
Hi Sue,
So happy to hear from you and for your good news! You sound like a very strong woman with a great attitude. Please be sure to take it easy though and give your body some time to heal properly. Thank God for you successful surgery and good news!
You've been in my thoughts,
Liz0 -
Excellent Joanne! So todayJDuke said:Hooray!!!
Sue,
I have been waiting to hear that you are home and on the mend!!! So glad that everything went even better than anticipated. Such encouraging news and I am so happy for you. The treatment options just keep improving and we can all be grateful for that. Looks like stereotactic radiation is in my future. I start all the preliminary stuff tomorrow. Radiation oncologist is very optimistic that the liver tumor will respond just as well as the original one did. I am putting my faith in her and God. I feel like I was led to her. Don't know why resection wasn't the answer for me...but it will be revealed at some point!
Best to you for continued healing,
Joanne
Excellent Joanne! So today you have the first of how many treatments??? I have not heard of this type of radiation either....but you know I also felt I was led to Dr Billinglsey and his treatment, which was quite different than my oncologist! I beleive these are our "signs" and we have to listen to them, and trust our gut. I mentioned before that it was almost eerie how this all transpired for me and who was chosen to be the guardian angel that delivered the plan to me. I feel very strongly in the power of prayer and positive thoughts....which I am sending your way!!!!!0 -
Thank you and Liz for yourmp327 said:Thanks for sharing your great news!
Sue--
It's great to hear from you and know that you are recovering so quickly from your surgery, which went very well. I'm so happy for you and wish you continued recovery and nothing but good news from here on! Take care and keep us updated on how you are doing.
Thank you and Liz for your kind words and thoughts! I am trying to take it easy.
Liz remind me of where you are at with all this. Now that my head is clear, I can get to know all of you better I hope!!!0 -
Thank you SueSueRelays said:Excellent Joanne! So today
Excellent Joanne! So today you have the first of how many treatments??? I have not heard of this type of radiation either....but you know I also felt I was led to Dr Billinglsey and his treatment, which was quite different than my oncologist! I beleive these are our "signs" and we have to listen to them, and trust our gut. I mentioned before that it was almost eerie how this all transpired for me and who was chosen to be the guardian angel that delivered the plan to me. I feel very strongly in the power of prayer and positive thoughts....which I am sending your way!!!!!
for your prayers and postitive thoughts. Moffitt called yesterday and rescheduled todays procedure for next Tues. So it looks like Thursday the 18th gets the ball rolling. The preliminary procedures will include an endoscopic sonogram, some type of dye injection into the tumor, PET scan, 3 rounds of bloodwork and radiation simulation. It is all very confusing to me but I am going on faith that it is the right route. After all this is done, THEN they will get the plan in place for the radiation treatments. I have no idea at this time the number or duration. I will keep you updated as things progress.
Hope you are continuing to feel better each day.
Warm regards,
Joanne0 -
Where I'm atSueRelays said:Thank you and Liz for your
Thank you and Liz for your kind words and thoughts! I am trying to take it easy.
Liz remind me of where you are at with all this. Now that my head is clear, I can get to know all of you better I hope!!!
Hi Sue,
I finished treatment on 9/11/09. 28 radiation treatments, 6 weeks of 5-Fu daily M-F and weekly Cisplatin once a week for 6 or 7 weeks. Follow up on 12/16/09 amd NED thank God. Per my docs, great response to treatment and unlikely but not impossible that it will return. Feeling good. Aches in right hip (side that tumor was on) and upper right thigh. Stiffness when I bend and try to get up. But all in all, healed very well and profoundly grateful that there is no trace of the beast. Next follow up in late April. Anxiety will begin in early April. In the meantime, I'm grateful, living life and praying each day for continued NED and the same for all my fellow survivors and those struggling through this disease.
Thank you for asking Sue. By the way, nice picture, but I don't know which one is you. If I'm looking at your picture from my computer are you on the left or right? Just thought I'd ask! Also, are you resting????? I hope so.
Warm wishes,
Liz0 -
Joannes TreatmentJDuke said:Thank you Sue
for your prayers and postitive thoughts. Moffitt called yesterday and rescheduled todays procedure for next Tues. So it looks like Thursday the 18th gets the ball rolling. The preliminary procedures will include an endoscopic sonogram, some type of dye injection into the tumor, PET scan, 3 rounds of bloodwork and radiation simulation. It is all very confusing to me but I am going on faith that it is the right route. After all this is done, THEN they will get the plan in place for the radiation treatments. I have no idea at this time the number or duration. I will keep you updated as things progress.
Hope you are continuing to feel better each day.
Warm regards,
Joanne
Joanne,
I'm so glad you have found a treatment that will get rid of that spot. I have been praying that you would get the best treatment possible. Please keep us posted on your tx. I wish you well.
Lori0 -
Hi All. I am the shorterz said:Sues Home
Sue,
I'm so happy your home and healing quickly. I've thought about you often. I hope you continue to heal and that your able to help others as you want to. You have such a positive outlook, it makes me happy. I wish you well.
Lori
Hi All. I am the shorter and older of the two in the picture
The other is one of my 26 year old twin daughters. WE took this pic at the beach right before surgery!
I had shiatsu massage and acupuncture today. Feel great. YEsterday had a little too much family over for too long....and they wore me out. So I just slept from 5 on. Feel much better today!0 -
So glad to hear the abovelizdeli said:Where I'm at
Hi Sue,
I finished treatment on 9/11/09. 28 radiation treatments, 6 weeks of 5-Fu daily M-F and weekly Cisplatin once a week for 6 or 7 weeks. Follow up on 12/16/09 amd NED thank God. Per my docs, great response to treatment and unlikely but not impossible that it will return. Feeling good. Aches in right hip (side that tumor was on) and upper right thigh. Stiffness when I bend and try to get up. But all in all, healed very well and profoundly grateful that there is no trace of the beast. Next follow up in late April. Anxiety will begin in early April. In the meantime, I'm grateful, living life and praying each day for continued NED and the same for all my fellow survivors and those struggling through this disease.
Thank you for asking Sue. By the way, nice picture, but I don't know which one is you. If I'm looking at your picture from my computer are you on the left or right? Just thought I'd ask! Also, are you resting????? I hope so.
Warm wishes,
Liz
So glad to hear the above Liz!!!! My hips bothered me as well, and no one told me it was from the raditaion....well no one at first, so I at least knew it was normal. It has finally gone away. I felt like I was 90 sometimes getting up from a chair at work if I sat too long!!!
Keep up your good thoughts and prayers. THEY WORK~~~~0 -
Yes, your treatment is notJDuke said:Thank you Sue
for your prayers and postitive thoughts. Moffitt called yesterday and rescheduled todays procedure for next Tues. So it looks like Thursday the 18th gets the ball rolling. The preliminary procedures will include an endoscopic sonogram, some type of dye injection into the tumor, PET scan, 3 rounds of bloodwork and radiation simulation. It is all very confusing to me but I am going on faith that it is the right route. After all this is done, THEN they will get the plan in place for the radiation treatments. I have no idea at this time the number or duration. I will keep you updated as things progress.
Hope you are continuing to feel better each day.
Warm regards,
Joanne
Yes, your treatment is not things I am familiar with.....but as long as you feel what they are saying is what they should be doing, than so be it. Will this then, be a second round of radiation???
Where do you live Joanne??? 0 -
PicSueRelays said:Hi All. I am the shorter
Hi All. I am the shorter and older of the two in the picture The other is one of my 26 year old twin daughters. WE took this pic at the beach right before surgery!
I had shiatsu massage and acupuncture today. Feel great. YEsterday had a little too much family over for too long....and they wore me out. So I just slept from 5 on. Feel much better today!
Hi Sue
That's what I thought. Good genes in the familly, you both look so young! It's good to have family around. Sometimes they don't know what to do or say, but their intentions are usuallly good. But when the body is tired, it is tired and time to rest. After all these months, I thought the fatigue would subside. Today I was so tired for no reason. My husband is going for a colonoscopy and we met with the doctor. I think it just brought back memories and I got myself feeling a little down. He has some bleeding but has a history of hemis, so I'm not too worried, but worried enough to stress myself out I guess.
Now I'm going to read a book and try to put my mind at ease.
Sweet dreams,
Liz0 -
Thank you LiZ! I turned 51lizdeli said:Pic
Hi Sue
That's what I thought. Good genes in the familly, you both look so young! It's good to have family around. Sometimes they don't know what to do or say, but their intentions are usuallly good. But when the body is tired, it is tired and time to rest. After all these months, I thought the fatigue would subside. Today I was so tired for no reason. My husband is going for a colonoscopy and we met with the doctor. I think it just brought back memories and I got myself feeling a little down. He has some bleeding but has a history of hemis, so I'm not too worried, but worried enough to stress myself out I guess.
Now I'm going to read a book and try to put my mind at ease.
Sweet dreams,
Liz
Thank you LiZ! I turned 51 in Decemeber, she turned 26 in October
Isn't it just impossible to not worry anymore???? I have to say that is one of the negative traits I have gained through all this. I was never a worrier before. Now it's hard not to think the worse when people have things going on! But luckily, that is rarely the case!
I was a little down myself today....can't pinpoint it, but on the verge of tears and absolutely not a CLUE why. I'm so thankful for the way things turned out, and to be here today, and not on chemo....but I guess at times, I still wish to heck I just was up and "normal"!!!0 -
Hi SueSueRelays said:Yes, your treatment is not
Yes, your treatment is not things I am familiar with.....but as long as you feel what they are saying is what they should be doing, than so be it. Will this then, be a second round of radiation???
Where do you live Joanne???
After doing some research it appears to me that stereotactic radiation is a generic name for some of the fancier radiation treatments. Such as cyberknife, gammaknife, proton excellerator, novalis. I am going to confirm this with the radiation oncologist to be sure. I had the endoscopic sonogram yesterday and they were intending to put "clips" on the tumor somehow. The clips are actually real gold coils (like a tiny spring) that are the diameter of a hair and 1-2mm long. It helps with the imaging somehow. Anyway, once they got the scope down there, the sonogram image was not clear enough to allow for placement of the clips. The Dr. performing the procedure said they called Dr. Hoffe (the radiation oncologist) to take a look and she said, no worries, it will not change my intended course of treatment. I was in that awesome drug induced sleep so I will have to take his word for it. It seems to me that I am just not the norm anyway you look at it. I think my new mantra will be "expect the unexpected". So now it is PET and simulation Tuesday, and the through the groin dye injection on Wednesday. I am not sure when I will talk with Dr. Hoffe again but I am eager to hear from her own mouth the words "don't worry, we are still on target with this". I think I will send her an email. I have had radiation to my pelvis, but this is the first to my liver. I am in Tampa, Florida. Where are you? Good hearing from you. Stay in touch. Hope you are feeling improvement everyday!!!
Regards,
Joanne0 -
Oh I can sooo relate Joanne.JDuke said:Hi Sue
After doing some research it appears to me that stereotactic radiation is a generic name for some of the fancier radiation treatments. Such as cyberknife, gammaknife, proton excellerator, novalis. I am going to confirm this with the radiation oncologist to be sure. I had the endoscopic sonogram yesterday and they were intending to put "clips" on the tumor somehow. The clips are actually real gold coils (like a tiny spring) that are the diameter of a hair and 1-2mm long. It helps with the imaging somehow. Anyway, once they got the scope down there, the sonogram image was not clear enough to allow for placement of the clips. The Dr. performing the procedure said they called Dr. Hoffe (the radiation oncologist) to take a look and she said, no worries, it will not change my intended course of treatment. I was in that awesome drug induced sleep so I will have to take his word for it. It seems to me that I am just not the norm anyway you look at it. I think my new mantra will be "expect the unexpected". So now it is PET and simulation Tuesday, and the through the groin dye injection on Wednesday. I am not sure when I will talk with Dr. Hoffe again but I am eager to hear from her own mouth the words "don't worry, we are still on target with this". I think I will send her an email. I have had radiation to my pelvis, but this is the first to my liver. I am in Tampa, Florida. Where are you? Good hearing from you. Stay in touch. Hope you are feeling improvement everyday!!!
Regards,
Joanne
Oh I can sooo relate Joanne. Every time they found something, they said, well we're sure it can't be this...becuase that would be extrememly rare for an anal cancer, to do such and such......and the tumor on my lung. Can't be cancer, because that would be so rare to have two completely different cancers in one year, and even more rare for the anal to spread to the lung....then the liver...I'm sure they are just cysts....would be very unusual...blah blah balh. Every time I hear that now I cringe knowing if it's unusual, it's me!!!!
Well I hope they have done their research and know this is it for you!!!
I'm in Portland, Oregon, and it is another beautiful day. Unusualy for us to have sun shining...rain and grey skies are so much more common!!!0 -
SueSueRelays said:Thank you LiZ! I turned 51
Thank you LiZ! I turned 51 in Decemeber, she turned 26 in October
Isn't it just impossible to not worry anymore???? I have to say that is one of the negative traits I have gained through all this. I was never a worrier before. Now it's hard not to think the worse when people have things going on! But luckily, that is rarely the case!
I was a little down myself today....can't pinpoint it, but on the verge of tears and absolutely not a CLUE why. I'm so thankful for the way things turned out, and to be here today, and not on chemo....but I guess at times, I still wish to heck I just was up and "normal"!!!
Sue,
Please don't be hard on yourself, your body just went through a major change. I think a good cry is in order. I cried before during and after my treatment. This was very scary and I will probably always worry. But as the time goes by I look at all the treatment I've had and what I've been told, that the cancer is curable. With your liver resection complete and the cancer out your liver can heal itself. The liver is amazing. You will be up and normal before you know it, but for now let your body heal. I have you in my prayers and I wish you well.
Lori0 -
Thanks Lori....always helpsz said:Sue
Sue,
Please don't be hard on yourself, your body just went through a major change. I think a good cry is in order. I cried before during and after my treatment. This was very scary and I will probably always worry. But as the time goes by I look at all the treatment I've had and what I've been told, that the cancer is curable. With your liver resection complete and the cancer out your liver can heal itself. The liver is amazing. You will be up and normal before you know it, but for now let your body heal. I have you in my prayers and I wish you well.
Lori
Thanks Lori....always helps to hear those words from someone who has been there!!!0
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