The Surgeon

Thursday, November 15th

We made it to my doctor’s appointment with Dr. Chang! A Harvard graduate, author and professor…also a male (hmm, haha)! He’s very nice, patient and knowledgeable. Of course, I used MDNationwide to do a doctor’s background check and everything checked out fine. I also Googled him to find out he has written several books as well! After meeting him, I welcome the change in surgeons!

We didn’t have time to drop Mike and the girls at the apartment so I went to my appointments while Mike took care of the girls at the hospital. My MRI was smooth sailing! Another hour in the capsule, dreaming of getting old and watching my girls get married, playing with my grandkids and giving Mike the spice in life he likes! Haha! With all my weight gain, I hope I fit in there at the end of my chemotherapy! It won’t be my boobs I’m worried about, rather my belly! Ironically, they have you change in to a gown and pants that are 3X! They literally fall off and the nurse said they don’t fit most people, but when they do fit, the people don’t fit in their machine! Soooo, why do we offer 3X pants to everyone! Haha!
Meanwhile, Mike had the challenge of entertaining Alexa, Morgan and Elena. I think I had the easy part! They hadn’t napped or eaten since Aunt Patty bought them McDonald pancakes for breakfast! Let me tell you, they loved those pancakes!! We didn’t get the “no like Donalds” this time!

They had a blast while I was getting my MRI, the lady who checks patients in for testing named Casey made forts with blankets and blew up rubber gloves to make animals! I heard they made the waiting room a little playroom all for themselves. In fact, the technician asked me if I had kids, I said yes, they are in the waiting room. He was like, “Oh, those are your kids! They have stuff everywhere out there and they are having a good time!” Haha… The girls where troopers, they where only at the hospital from 2:00-7:30pm with no nap and a little sleep the previous night!
Dr. Chang and his PA discussed the process of the surgery with me. If I continue with my chemotherapy treatment, I will be ready for surgery the first of the year. I have to wait until my white blood count goes up to prevent infections. At that time, Dr. Chang will make an wide incision in my upper right thigh, cutting through the skin, the fat…(yes, they found some, haha!), the muscle and remove a large tissue area around the tumor. Although it’s pretty deep, he did not foresee any problems with surgery, no pins or bone removal. However, this is based on my first MRI that was done in September. Thus, it could change Monday when I get the results of the MRI I had done Thursday. Due to the large amount of muscle removal, I will need a drainage tube to remove fluids from the open space in the thigh. I will have this in my thigh for 10-14 days. Yuk! At that point, the tube will be removed as well as the staples. I will be on crutches for a few weeks and then limp for some time. (If Mike was here, I could just see the relief that they could spare his leg!! He would look pretty funny with only one, being so tall ya know!Lol!) Dr. Chang said it would be months before I could run again! Whoa, months….they really don’t understand the Biggest Loser contest I have going with Maria! I’m definitely bringing dessert to our Thanksgiving Day dinner, all for her! Lol!

Now here’s my favorite part of switching surgeons! According to him (he is the surgeon! Haha), I would have surgery and the next day they would start physical therapy in the hospital. If there were no complications and I am feeling “ok,” I could be released from the hospital as early as the next day. (Dr. Bearman said I would be in the hospital 4-5 days) But I have to stay in Michigan approximately 14 days due to the drainage tube, follow up appointments and possible complications. After that, I will need radiation for 6 weeks, 6 days a week. But he thinks I may be able to do this in Memphis. Thus, I’m looking for a GREAT certified Radiologist Oncologist in Memphis if you know one!

I’ll have a firm surgery date on Tuesday, November 20th!

More Chemo!!

Yahoo!! Chemo is a go! Two more cycles!

Mike, the girls and I had a great weekend! The kids went to see Santa Claus and they are so proud of themselves,they didn’t cry! How cute! We walked the mall and played in the play land, even went out to dinner as a family! Of course, we went to Sonia’s for dinner Friday while Mike worked late. Saturday was a recovery day for me, I lived the “Eva” life Friday and I was beat Saturday morning! So we just hung out around the apartment. Sunday we went to Sonia’s again. Aunt T (Teresa) flew in from Dallas to help take care of the girls and all the kids had a blast! She brings the kids unimaginable joy with her playful ways and patience! It was also nice for us mommies!! Haha. As for Mike, he was at the Lions vs. Giants football game! Who has cancer? Lol! Maria bought Emad tickets to the game for his birthday and Emad asked Mike to go! So if Mike tells you he’s doing “ok”, make him correct that…doing well! :>)

Today was pretty busy! I started my day at 7:00am. Packing my bag, my lunch and heading to the Cancer Clinic at 8:00. First I had to have my blood drawn. This will tell them where my blood counts are and how I am doing. At 8:55 I was dressing into a gown and preparing for my chest scan. Around 9:30 I headed to Dr. Chugh’s office to be weighed (ugh oh), check my blood pressure and take my temperature and finally be told of the MRI and Chest Scan results. While I waited I prayed. I prayed for good news or news that was hopeful I would survive this. I felt pretty good I would continue chemo (Patients do get some say so!) but I want more than that. I want to live past five years and I want to live past ten but I want to live a healthy, normal life. I believe the most challenging part of chemotherapy is the way you feel day to day. One day you feel “ok” the next day you are so sick, you are crying for God to help, and then another day you feel like a champ! You never know until morning. But I prayed for many healthy years of life today!

I finally see Dr. Chugh and Aaron (her PA). Aaron’s pregnant; she really makes my emotions run! I’m so happy for her but I miss the all the feelings that go with expecting a child. Those were the days when you look forward to doctor appointments, hoping to see your baby in the womb, maybe sucking her thumb or flipping you off! Possibly “mooning” you, oh I miss those appointments! :>) Don't worry, we aren't having more babies, chemo took care of that idea!

My MRI showed the "tumor slightly smaller than the previous study." Great news, I think! :>) My previous measurement was 8.2 x 3.6 x 6.4 and is now 8.1 x 2.5 x 5.7. Thus, it has not shrunk much but you can see how aggressive Sarcoma is, and it’s a scary thought! Dr. Chugh did say, you really can’t go by the numbers too much because it’s really hard to get an accurate number on an image. So who really knows if it really has shrunk but we are going to continue chemotherapy and believe it has!! Yaaaa!! I just wish I had a Corona to drink to that!! Lol!

My MRI also showed "several areas of high STIR and low T1 signals throughout the bone marrow which is more prominent than my previous MRI in Sept." In other words, something abnormal, in my case the possibility of cancer in the bone in several areas of the leg. (Ah shit!) However, it may very well be a result of the Neulasta shot I get to produce more white blood cells. Let’s just believe the later and go away with the feeling I am beating cancer!! Go Rocky! For now, I will believe that and I will take my happy go lucky butt to chemo two more cycles! A test can be done before surgery to tell them if it is or isn’t cancer.

I’m still waiting for my chest scan results. The doctor looked at them and she thought they looked good but we are waiting for the radiologist to write his findings. From our discussion, I think I will stay in stage 3B!! Another big Yahooo!! And “THANK YOU” to YOU for your prayers!!!

I finally started my chemo drugs around 11:30!! Seems I had a full day already! Chemo is going well but it will be a late night. I can’t wait to go home and sleep, I am so tired! Sonia’s kids are sick so Aunt T is taking care of them at the apartment; they were so excited to hang with her today! She had them giggling and reading stories at 8:oo this morning! I think Aunt T may be booking three more flights back to Dallas! I’m so excited I get to see them tonight! They will probably be sleeping but I can watch them sleep and kiss each of them goodnight!