BRCA 1 & BRCA 2, NOT ME, PHEW!!!!

On Friday, I learned that I do NOT carry either the BRCA 1 or the BRCA 2 gene mutations, which indicate a higher risk for Ovarian and Breast cancers. This news is PHENOMENAL!!

My sister is doing well. She has her final chemo on May 20 (my 34th bday). We will celebrate indeed! She will hopefully have the 3 rounds of radiation after that. Her CA 125 counts have been incredibly low, so that's amazing news as well. I can't wait until this is all behind us. I'm starting to believe that it really is going to be okay.

Takin' Care of Business

Apparently, when your sister gets cancer of the uterus and ovaries it means many things for many people. Obviously, the worst is that she is sick. That she has to go through seemingly endless injections of poison in order to make her feel better. And it's terrible to watch her go through this. It's debilitating to watch your Mom as she struggles in comprehending the magnitude of the fact that her eldest daughter is very, very sick.

There are also the silent, selfish thoughts that plague one who's family seems prone to hereditary cancers. The biggest question of all of course being, "Will this happen to me?" It is compounded by the fact that every medical professional encourages one's siblings to be diligent in cancer awareness and screenings.

So, being the psycho-somatic freak that I am, I have decided to heed these words of wisdom.

Here is where I am at in the process:

Yesterday, had the CA-125 blood test. Results expected by Thursday.

Next Thursday (2/13/09)- Sonar Histogram

Next Month- First genetic testing appointment at Strong for my sister and I.

In the extremely rare event that anything comes back even slightly abnormal I will have a laproscopic procedure to explore inside the uterus.

I know there's a connection here, but WHERE??

First: My sister is doing well. She has her first chemotherapy on Tuesday. I have posted a link at the top of this blog page to her "caringbridge" site where I frequently post updates.


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This morning on the way to Gram and Pap's I was explaining to Gabi about the importance of today:

Mommy: Did you know that today is a monumental day in American history?

Gabi: Why?

Mommy: Because a "brown man" (as she calls him) is becoming President for the very first time.

Gabi: (dismissively) Cool.

pause

pause

Gabi: Do you think sharks eat brown people too, or just white people?


HUH??? WHAT???

Sister at Sister's

Still at Sister's Hospital with my sister. I have put a link at the top of the blog entries that goes directly to her Caringbridge site where we post more frequently.

Today is Saturday. We have been here since Thursday. Mom and I have been staying at Hope Lodge which is a gorgeously restored mansion that the American Cancer Society supports. It's such a gift. We are truly only there to sleep and shower. We have been getting in from hospital at 10pm and are right back here by 8:30am.

Unfortunately, the surgery to remove her lymph nodes did indicate that the cancer had spread to them. Two were very large and infested with the cancer. The others were positive, but not as obvious.

This puts her at Stage IIIC Ovarian and Stage IIIC Uterine Cancers. I keep repeating that IIIC in my head. That's what Aunt Annette was. IIIC. Eighteen months and three days after her diagnosis she was gone.

The Dr. assures us that although it is IIIC each case is different. We must remember that.

As I sit here watching her sleeping, I can't imagine the hell that lies before her. She is so brave. I myself would need to be restrained given my "love" of medical procedures that IGNITES my panic attacks to the Nth DEGREE!! I would still trade places with her.

Surgery

Surgery to remove lymph nodes is Thursday January 8, 2009. Updates then.
xxxooo

Dr's Dr's Dr's

Last night Mom, Gidget, and I headed to the Millennium Hotel in Buffalo so that we would be close by for today's 7:00am appointment with the Gynecologic Oncologist. This was the appointment we had been anxiously anticipating as we prepared ourselves to hear the results of the recent CT/PET scan, as well as the findings of the in-depth review of her pathology slides from the hysterectomy.

Today we learned this:

--She has two forms of cancer- uterine and ovarian.

--The PET scan was "positive" which means that cancer was present in her lymph nodes.

--There was also evidence of cancer on her fallopian tubes.

The plan is:

--Another surgery ASAP (within 10 days) to remove her lymph nodes. This will allow for precise staging of the cancer as well.

--Chemotherapy

--Radiation Therapy

It's all so much to swallow. It's just a nightmare with no escape upon awakening.

We did have some "mandatory fun" (per my demands) at the hotel last night. We swam, ate big slices of chocolate cake, mighty taco, and watched Desperate Housewives snuggled up in bed. I think we even forgot that mandatory part for awhile!

From Bad to Worse

We went to the oncologist today in Buffalo. He straightforwardly told us that he thinks it's ovarian cancer, not uterine. Many of you know that our beloved Aunt Annette (who Ellie is named after) died of Ovarian cancer 6 years ago. 18 months after she was diagonsed. She was also stage III but she was at C not A.

This Dr. is very thorough and I'm confident that he is checking all of his options before he comes up with a course of treatment.

His main concern is her age. She is only 36 and he kept stressing how rare this cancer is at her age. He also said there is a chance that she has two different cancers working (ovarian and uterine).

So here is where we are at:

Friday- she see's our OB/GYN here

Wed 12/31- CT/PET scan in Buffalo (full body scan)

Mon 1/5- Appointment with gynecological oncologist to discuss results and treatment

Her pathology slides are being sent to the head of pathology at a hospital in Buffalo for extensive review.

She also has to get more bloodwork.

I can't believe this is real. It's like we have boarded a train that none of us wanted to get on. But instead of having control to get off of it, it's just accelerating to the point where we can't even see the scenery passing us by it's just a blur.

At the Christmas Eve service tonight I had such a flood of emotions. Our family is so complete. Ellie is finally here. I have so much to be thankful for. And then the word "cancer" punches me in the gut.

Uterine Cancer

Stage IIIA.

We are off to Buffalo in the am so that she can see a radiologist. Already. No waiting. They want to see her NOW.

More later.....

Merry Chrismukkah!

Quick update on my sister- she has an appointment on Tuesday for the results of her biopsy from the hysterectomy. Thanks for your continued prayers...I will let you know.

In other news........

Tonight we celebrated the first night of Hannukah. I truly love that our daughters are so richly blessed with two different cultures to experience.

Tis the Season to be....STRESSED!

Ugh. Where to begin? Where to begin?

Last Monday Howie was in a car accident on his way to work. He was not at all hurt, just severely shaken up. Found out today that the car is officially "totalled". Last December when the lease on our BELOVED Honda Odyssey was up, we sadly "down-graded" to a Subaru Outback in effort to save money in gas. I have been quite miserable ever since. It looks like we are going to be getting another Odyssey this weekend, and Howie will likely take the Subaru, but that leaves us with two car payments for the next four years. :(

Yesterday, my sister had an emergency hysterectomy. She has been suffering from severe abdominal pain for the past few months, and it was recently discovered that she had a mass on her ovary. She had exploratory surgery scheduled for later this month. Her pain was so severe that she was back in the ER Saturday evening. The mass had grown from 6 inches to 11 inches in ONE WEEK!!! They decided to go in and do surgery yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, they had to do a complete hysterectomy. We won't know for about a week if she has ovarian cancer. We are of course praying that she's fine.

My Aunt died from this horrific cancer six years ago. She was only 44. My sister is only 36. The good news is that the Dr. is "optimistic" (75%) that it's NOT cancer. She doesn't have any kids, and has always said that she didn't want any.

I find myself grieving more than her for the loss of her uterus. I'm sad that my Mom never gets to see either of her two daughters pregnant. She of course, doesn't care about that, as long as we are healthy.

Here's a THROWBACK pic!!!!

Teri and Gidget circa 1994