Another Case of the Mondays

Mondays are bad enough!  Mondays after chemo on Friday are horrible!  The Monday after chemo round 3 (June 2), was the worst.  Well actually there was some good news and some bad news.  I'll start with the good news.  The tumor is getting smaller.  When we measure the first time, the larger tumor was 26.5 mm and now it's at 17 mm and in a much more regular form.  In fact, it wasn't the size difference that interested Dr. Bombach the most, it was the density and the regulairty of the tumor.  It's 36% smaller, but the shape means we are really attacking the tumor. 

At that point Shermance was hoping the doctor to say, "in fact, it really isn't cancer afer all, so we can stop treatemnts".  Unfortunately that's not what he said...He said that surgery in December is about the right timing, but that's just for the double ta-ta removal.  Then came the bad news...radiation is required after the double masectomy.  Shermance wanted so badly not to have radiation and to be dont within 2012, but for the sake of longevity due to her age, the size of the tumor, and lymph node involvement she'll need 6 weeks of daily radiation before they can start reconstruction.  That means we have until February or March for reconstruction provided everything works as planned. 

We also had some bummer news from Tyree, a nurse in the surgeon's office.  She said it's going to get worse after each chemo treatment.  Uggh!  We've heard after the "red devil" on July 20th, the next rounds with Taxol would be easier.  We still hope for the best, but Shermance is really not looking forward to losing her finger nails and toe nails which is a possible side effect of the Taxol.

Waiting for Bombach

Prepping for the sonogram to measure the cancer

Shermance and Loraine - a happy surgeon's nurse



Sonogram scan that show the cancer at 17.5 mm by 8.1 mm



Original Sonogram that shos the cancer at 26.5 mm by 12.8 mm

Talking with Dr. Bomback about next steps

Happy Shermance

Another shot of "Cancer Eye"

These items were in draft for a long time.  Just adding in mid-September...
- The Carson's offered to bring by dinner when I saw them come out of the greenbelt a week prior.  A few days ater we received a card in the mail from Teresa (again with an offer for dinner).

- Shermance received the turbine I think from her co-workers (pictured below)

- Shermance received another head accessory, a knitted head wrap from a patient who made it (need a pic)

- The Petersen's bought over their world-famous vegan muffins, which were absolutely delicious.  He laughed when I asked, "Do you know the Muffin Man?"

- Bryan Frederiks gave me a co-survivor bracelet...I've worn it ever since.

Shermance got to meet the girl who offered to donate her hair.  It was the week after Collin moved in and Shermance walked over to Collin's house.

Shermance got a bracelot that reads, "God is Big Enough".

Shermance received a necklace from Doc and Xenia from their trip to Hawaii