Talked with Dr.

Dr. Moller (Gynecologic Oncologist) called me today to check in. I got a few questions answered. She said the combination chemotherapy (IP and IV) would have been for me if I was "optimal status" - no cancer masses > 1cm. They got the masses from the abdomen area, and cut what they could of the lymph nodes, but had to leave some which are > 1cm in lymph nodes on my aorta, so I'm considered "sub-optimal" status. She said they would hit me agressively with IV Chemo containing the drugs Carboplatin and TAxol (Paclitaxel). I may also be a candiate for a clinical trial which would include Bevacizumab (Avastin) for some of the "trialees". If I can, I'll go for the trial.
Dr. appeared optimistic due to my age and health. She confirmed that Chemo would likely start soon after April 3.

Just waiting

Not much new news. I got out the "piercings". Insides still hurt at times. I was told by the nurse that I should not ride my bicycle for at least a couple more weeks - so I stopped riding.

Now I'm just waiting until April 3 when I meet with the Dr. to go over the pathology report and discuss chemo treatment.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and good wishes.

Learning about Blogs

Hi.

I just found out that there are "postings" to the blog, and read your posts. (Hard to believe I'm a Computer Network Engineer! Oh yeah, the Lab labels me a "System Programmer" or something like that.) It is so nice to read notes from many of you. Thanks for so many good thoughts and vibes.

Yesterday I rode bikes with Jamie and Jodi to the playground at Barranca and had a great time. I'm not even any sorer today! (Some friends thought it was a bit soon for me to be bike riding.)

Today we celebrated Jamie's 8th birthday with his classmates. He walked around the "sun" 8 times to represent each year he has lived. Jamie insisted on his friends seeing my chemo port and feeling it through my shirt. I explained that it was a port for the Drs. to put chemicals into my body to kill the cancer.

Tomorrow I go to the Dr. to get my "piercings" removed and hope to get a few more answers about the chemo treatment. I still am not clear as to why they are opting out of the combination intraperitoneal(IP) and IV treatment. I'm told they will just be doing the IV treatment.

Home at last

I'm finally home - got out Sunday around noon. Just read the post about Jodi counting my staples - they are like a bunch of body piercings! I must have really been out of it on Friday when the kids were visiting!
I'm gaining strength and walking as much as I can. Get the "piercings" out later this week. Jodi and Theresa are leaving for Michigan (National Wrestling Tournament) Friday am, Theresa's sister, Barbie (who knows all about belly piercings), will be staying with Jamie and me.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the support, good wishes and thoughts. It means so much to us knowing we have friends and family to lean on.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Don't forget to wear green and watch out for those pesky leprechauns!

Not Home Yet

Cheri was hoping to go home from the hospital today, but the doctor wants to keep her another day. The good news is that she's eating real food now. She even asked for a Frontier roll! I let Jodi and Jamie cut class to go visit on Friday and we ended up waiting for Cheri to get out of surgery. We didn't know that she was going to have to go into surgery to have the chemo port inserted. All they said was that the doctor would insert a tube in her chest before she leaves the hospital. I envisioned a local anesthetic and a little tube like an IV. It's a little more than that. They took her down for surgery at about 10:00 AM and she was back in her room before 1:00 PM. Jodi and Jamie got to visit for a few hours. Jamie was thrilled that there are two TVs in Cheri's room. Jodi counted Cheri's tummy staples -- 28! Jamie was a little grossed out.

Theresa

The Surgery

Tuesday, 3/10/09- My moms (Cheri and Theresa) went to ABQ for Cheri's hysterectomy today at about 8:30. She was prepped and went under the knife around 1:30. The surgery took 3 hours and now she is in the recovery room still out of it. The Doctor said that everything is as expected- she has been de-ovaried and all that other baby-making goodness has been removed. Her doctor confirmed that her cancer is stage 3 and that she cannot leave the hospital until she is able to poop. (sorry I just didn't feel like beating around the bush!) they think they will be out by this weekend. Her brother Steve, sister-in-law Susan, and Theresa are at the hospital awaiting her awakening. (haha that was cool!) Soon she will have recovered from her surgery and then go into chemo therapy for about 6 months- maybe- well I don't really know but I think that's right. Thanks soo much for all of your support we cant do any of this without friends here to help us out!
-Jodi
-By the way, Cheri is in the Presbyterian hospital in room 366B



Wednesday, 3/11/09- Cheri is awake today, and she is handling very well. She was even able to stand up and walk around a little. They plan to take her catheter out today or tomorrow. She is on pain meds, and says she is not in very much pain, but who really knows with her. All signs show that she will be out of the hospital very soon!

Onset of cancer

This may be more than most of you want to know, just skip and scan as you wish.

Symptoms: I had unusual bleeding starting mid-January. By mid-February, started having weird pain and muscle cramps in lower abdomen, so made appt. with Dr.

Wednesday, 2/25/09 - Had a pelvic ultrasound.

Tuesday, 3/3/09 (square root day!) - I got a call from my Dr. (Van Eeckhout) telling me the ultrasound from the previous week didn't look good. Found some masses on my ovaries. She asked me to go to S.F. Wednesday for a CA-125 blood test.

Thursday, 3/5/09 - Dr. Van Eeckhout called to say blood test shows cancer, that Theresa and I should go to S.F. right away and plan to spend the day having tests and getting prepped for surgery.

Friday, 3/6/09 - Met with the Gynecological Oncologist, Karen Moller, and she went over the results and upcoming procedures.
Results: masses on my ovaries about the size of baseballs, some masses on my lymph nodes and abdomen. Probably stage 3 ovarian cancer.
Tuesday I will have surgery in Albuquerque at Presbyterian. She will do a full hysterectomy, remove the masses and check everything out. Dr. says success is leaving no larger than 1cm masses. I will be in the hospital 4 - 7 days. (I'm choosing 4.) Once I recover from the surgery, chemo therapy will begin. I will most likely go with the most aggressive which will require more time and kick me harder. The chemo will take place in Albuquerque.

Tuesday, 3/10/09 - will have surgery at 12:30