bdutts
- Houston, Texas
Sorry to hear that. Hope your wife has a full recovery.
My world has been rocked
Thanks. All the same to your wife, you and your family.
They do have a tv in the cubicles. I am not sure if she didn't realize it or didn't want to watch it. The waiting room was tuned in to some version of "This Old House" or whatever they call these makeover programs today. After 4 or 5 episodes of the women screaming when they came back and saw the house for the first time got to be really annoying even though i was not watching.
It's been awhile since I updated anyone.
My wife went through her first round of chemo treatments. She had surgery to remove the tumor. We've had follow ups with both the surgeon and today, the oncologist. At today's session he told her that chemo killed 90% of the cancer cells. Twice they checked nymph nodes. 3 with the original exploratory and another two with the lumpectomy. All were clean.
Next up is another series of chemo treatments. She is HER2 positive so the protocol is more chemo. 14 more sessions. That will take us through December. The good part is it is only one chemo bag instead of 3. Might not need the additional infusions such as the anti-nausea med. This type of chemo isn't the kind that makes her hair fall out so hopefully it will grow back soon. She is looking forward to that.
She also starts radiation treatments in a few weeks. 5 days a week for 4 or 5 weeks. The radiation doesn't last long. About 15 minutes but the whole process is around an hour.
We are both very happy this evening. We keep on marching along.
My wife went through her first round of chemo treatments. She had surgery to remove the tumor. We've had follow ups with both the surgeon and today, the oncologist. At today's session he told her that chemo killed 90% of the cancer cells. Twice they checked nymph nodes. 3 with the original exploratory and another two with the lumpectomy. All were clean.
Next up is another series of chemo treatments. She is HER2 positive so the protocol is more chemo. 14 more sessions. That will take us through December. The good part is it is only one chemo bag instead of 3. Might not need the additional infusions such as the anti-nausea med. This type of chemo isn't the kind that makes her hair fall out so hopefully it will grow back soon. She is looking forward to that.
She also starts radiation treatments in a few weeks. 5 days a week for 4 or 5 weeks. The radiation doesn't last long. About 15 minutes but the whole process is around an hour.
We are both very happy this evening. We keep on marching along.
She's been a real trooper. I am so proud of her.
Giving up watching our grandsons was the hardest part. The little boy turned one a couple of months into the process. He doesn't remember her as well as big brother does. We were there for Christmas. When she went to get him up, he cried because she didn't look right. It took a while for him to warm up. I was playing "airplane" with him and dropped him in her lap. She started playing one of their games and singing to him and it all came back.
Yesterday was a big day for us. She finished her radiation treatments. 20 treatments over a 4 week period. It was a grind. I liked leaving the office early every day but the reason stunk. The staff at the radiation clinic were amazing. Always positive, encouraging and uplifting. I don't know how they can do it every single day with every patient.
Our doctor has an amazing story of his trials and tribulations to simply get to the US. What he had to endure to get his US degree was astonishing. (He already has a degree in radiology in his county but had to earn one here as well.) He said he gave up everything to come here. His wife didn't want to emigrate. He volunteered at a local hospital while going back to medical school just so he could be near medicine. He told them he would do anything even shine shoes if he could be there. He said he met a cardiologist that he went to school with in his country. The other doctor was mocking him. That motivated him to excel. He drove Uber to support himself. It is people like this man who made America great. Not politicians with their sound bites and slogans.
Back to my wife. She still has chemo treatments until December. People in the oncology world will hate how I describe it but it is a "little" chemo treatment. Her first series was 3-4 different drug concoctions. Now she is down to just one. A different one that what she was given before. It has it's side effects. Nausea and achy joints are the main two. The good news is her hair is growing back. S-L-O-W-L-Y! This morning she almost had a 5 O'Clock shadow. Maybe it's more like a 1:15-2:30 shadow. That's exciting for her. We've heard both the oncologist and radiologist tell her she is "cancer free"!
She bought a tshirt last week.
It's humbling.
I plan to buy her a pink diamond pendant in December. SHH.
Our doctor has an amazing story of his trials and tribulations to simply get to the US. What he had to endure to get his US degree was astonishing. (He already has a degree in radiology in his county but had to earn one here as well.) He said he gave up everything to come here. His wife didn't want to emigrate. He volunteered at a local hospital while going back to medical school just so he could be near medicine. He told them he would do anything even shine shoes if he could be there. He said he met a cardiologist that he went to school with in his country. The other doctor was mocking him. That motivated him to excel. He drove Uber to support himself. It is people like this man who made America great. Not politicians with their sound bites and slogans.
Back to my wife. She still has chemo treatments until December. People in the oncology world will hate how I describe it but it is a "little" chemo treatment. Her first series was 3-4 different drug concoctions. Now she is down to just one. A different one that what she was given before. It has it's side effects. Nausea and achy joints are the main two. The good news is her hair is growing back. S-L-O-W-L-Y! This morning she almost had a 5 O'Clock shadow. Maybe it's more like a 1:15-2:30 shadow. That's exciting for her. We've heard both the oncologist and radiologist tell her she is "cancer free"!
She bought a tshirt last week.
It's humbling.
I plan to buy her a pink diamond pendant in December. SHH.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Your post just made my day bro.............The physical side to what she is going through is daunting , but the mental side is taxing also.......I hope and pray that your success continues until everything in your life is back to as normal as can be....Yesterday was a big day for us. She finished her radiation treatments. 20 treatments over a 4 week period. It was a grind. I liked leaving the office early every day but the reason stunk. The staff at the radiation clinic were amazing. Always positive, encouraging and uplifting. I don't know how they can do it every single day with every patient.
Our doctor has an amazing story of his trials and tribulations to simply get to the US. What he had to endure to get his US degree was astonishing. (He already has a degree in radiology in his county but had to earn one here as well.) He said he gave up everything to come here. His wife didn't want to emigrate. He volunteered at a local hospital while going back to medical school just so he could be near medicine. He told them he would do anything even shine shoes if he could be there. He said he met a cardiologist that he went to school with in his country. The other doctor was mocking him. That motivated him to excel. He drove Uber to support himself. It is people like this man who made America great. Not politicians with their sound bites and slogans.
Back to my wife. She still has chemo treatments until December. People in the oncology world will hate how I describe it but it is a "little" chemo treatment. Her first series was 3-4 different drug concoctions. Now she is down to just one. A different one that what she was given before. It has it's side effects. Nausea and achy joints are the main two. The good news is her hair is growing back. S-L-O-W-L-Y! This morning she almost had a 5 O'Clock shadow. Maybe it's more like a 1:15-2:30 shadow. That's exciting for her. We've heard both the oncologist and radiologist tell her she is "cancer free"!
She bought a tshirt last week.
It's humbling.
I plan to buy her a pink diamond pendant in December. SHH.
I love that tee shirt ........you are a lucky man to have such a loving wife and she is so lucky to have a husband who put's her health before everything else........
Illiniblueorange
- Pontoon Beach IL
Love it brother !Yesterday was a big day for us. She finished her radiation treatments. 20 treatments over a 4 week period. It was a grind. I liked leaving the office early every day but the reason stunk. The staff at the radiation clinic were amazing. Always positive, encouraging and uplifting. I don't know how they can do it every single day with every patient.
Our doctor has an amazing story of his trials and tribulations to simply get to the US. What he had to endure to get his US degree was astonishing. (He already has a degree in radiology in his county but had to earn one here as well.) He said he gave up everything to come here. His wife didn't want to emigrate. He volunteered at a local hospital while going back to medical school just so he could be near medicine. He told them he would do anything even shine shoes if he could be there. He said he met a cardiologist that he went to school with in his country. The other doctor was mocking him. That motivated him to excel. He drove Uber to support himself. It is people like this man who made America great. Not politicians with their sound bites and slogans.
Back to my wife. She still has chemo treatments until December. People in the oncology world will hate how I describe it but it is a "little" chemo treatment. Her first series was 3-4 different drug concoctions. Now she is down to just one. A different one that what she was given before. It has it's side effects. Nausea and achy joints are the main two. The good news is her hair is growing back. S-L-O-W-L-Y! This morning she almost had a 5 O'Clock shadow. Maybe it's more like a 1:15-2:30 shadow. That's exciting for her. We've heard both the oncologist and radiologist tell her she is "cancer free"!
She bought a tshirt last week.
It's humbling.
I plan to buy her a pink diamond pendant in December. SHH.
Very happy to hear
Great to hear some very positive news in a World of negativity .
Thanks.
I've never kidded myself. I'm the lucky one. She picked me before I even noticed her.
I'm the one that has been blessed beyond measure. The Lord has poured out a blessing and all I can think is, "Why me"? There are so many people in this world that are far more deserving than I am.
I appreciate it. The positive makes up the vast majority of what happens. It's shouted down by the negative.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
You must be doing something right brother , so say " Why not me " and enjoy your bountiful life for as long as is humanly possible.....
There are numerous peeps in this world that wish they were in such a wonderful situation as you are in ........
Life is short and with your latest scare , just double up your quest for life ..........we got your back.............................
LFG!!!
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
That's amazing. I know I'd be like you if my wife ever had to go through all that, too. I'd rather go through it than her. That's how much I love my wife. It's great you both seem to be having a happy ending.
Thanks to everyone for your encouragement.
GG, it's surprising how few husbands/significant others are there for the whole process.
I don't think I've done anything that isn't my duty/responsibilities. And yet, the waiting room was empty when I was sitting there while she was getting her infusions. 4-6 hours. I wasn't allowed to be with her. COVID protocols. I saw couples together for doctor consultations but not treatments.
I don't know if I mentioned in one of my early posts but on her first treatment I planned to sit there for 6 hours. I brought food and water. A book to read. I cleaned up my email. The nurse came out and "chased" me to the dining room. My daughter in law is a P A was text nagging me. My kids egged her on.
I would have sat there the whole time.
When we set up appointments she would ask me what was on my calendar. I told her there's nothing on the calendar. I only care about her. Everything else can wait.
bdutts
- Houston, Texas
That is great news indeed! Keep on fighting!Yesterday was a big day for us. She finished her radiation treatments. 20 treatments over a 4 week period. It was a grind. I liked leaving the office early every day but the reason stunk. The staff at the radiation clinic were amazing. Always positive, encouraging and uplifting. I don't know how they can do it every single day with every patient.
Our doctor has an amazing story of his trials and tribulations to simply get to the US. What he had to endure to get his US degree was astonishing. (He already has a degree in radiology in his county but had to earn one here as well.) He said he gave up everything to come here. His wife didn't want to emigrate. He volunteered at a local hospital while going back to medical school just so he could be near medicine. He told them he would do anything even shine shoes if he could be there. He said he met a cardiologist that he went to school with in his country. The other doctor was mocking him. That motivated him to excel. He drove Uber to support himself. It is people like this man who made America great. Not politicians with their sound bites and slogans.
Back to my wife. She still has chemo treatments until December. People in the oncology world will hate how I describe it but it is a "little" chemo treatment. Her first series was 3-4 different drug concoctions. Now she is down to just one. A different one that what she was given before. It has it's side effects. Nausea and achy joints are the main two. The good news is her hair is growing back. S-L-O-W-L-Y! This morning she almost had a 5 O'Clock shadow. Maybe it's more like a 1:15-2:30 shadow. That's exciting for her. We've heard both the oncologist and radiologist tell her she is "cancer free"!
She bought a tshirt last week.
It's humbling.
I plan to buy her a pink diamond pendant in December. SHH.
Illini92and96
- Austin, TX
Keep the faith WPR. My mom is a 30 year breast cancer survivor and my sister a 20 year ovarian survivor. Each of them got crazy healthy with diet and exercise and it seems to have served them well. Encourage your wife to be the healthiest version of herself she is capable of.
Looks like we made it!
Today was Rhonda's final chemo treatment.
SHE RANG THAT BELL!
This process has taken more than a year to complete. We went through:
First the shock of the diagnosis.
Then what I call the "Big Chemo" treatments to kill the cancer cells. They used 4 and 3 different chemo drugs. Each treatment lasted 4-6 hours. The hospital was on COVID lock down so I sat in the waiting room while she was being treated. It was 90% successful.
Surgery to remove the tumor.
Radiation. 5 days a week for 4 weeks. It doesn't seem like much but it was a grind for both of us.
Because her receptors were triple positive (estrogen, progesterone and HER2) she had to go through what I call "Little Chemo". It was only one chemo drug and it targeted the HER2. Slowly but surely it destroyed the protein. Slowly but surely she got more and more fatigued. 14 treatments. They were usually every 3 weeks.
There were 3 times her treatment was pushed back. Three times her port was malfunctioning.
This past month or two she slept as much as a newborn does. It was frustrating to her but that is what happens when you don't have any protein in your body. She has no appetite. She is down to eating just cottage cheese with peaches and yogurt.
Before the chemo infusion she is given steroids to counteract the swelling the chemo causes. The steroids keep her up at night. Typically she does not sleep at all the day of her treatments no matter how tired she is.
Any plans for a celebration are on hold. She is heading back to bed. Hopefully she will gain her strength over the next few months.
She didn't want to do a gift exchange with me. That's fine, we really don't need anything. If we do, we don't wait for a birthday or some significant day to get it, we just buy it then. Last week I did find something online that I wanted to give her. A scented candle with an elderly couple walking together. The sentiment was about our journey together. She was a little upset because she didn't get anything for me. I told her the candle sums up our lives together, especially this past 16 months. She agreed. She liked the scent (Good for me. I never even thought about it.) and it did sum up our "adventure.) The next day I brought out her second gift. Another candle. This one says, "I'm sorry your boobies tried to kill you." I laughed. She laughed and said it was appropriate.
Today I gave her a third gift. A necklace with a pink tourmaline stone. The sales clerk at the jewelry store said it is the same shade of pink as breast cancer awareness.
I am so proud of her.
While treatments are over the healing process is going to take time.
I think I need a nap.
Today was Rhonda's final chemo treatment.
SHE RANG THAT BELL!
This process has taken more than a year to complete. We went through:
First the shock of the diagnosis.
Then what I call the "Big Chemo" treatments to kill the cancer cells. They used 4 and 3 different chemo drugs. Each treatment lasted 4-6 hours. The hospital was on COVID lock down so I sat in the waiting room while she was being treated. It was 90% successful.
Surgery to remove the tumor.
Radiation. 5 days a week for 4 weeks. It doesn't seem like much but it was a grind for both of us.
Because her receptors were triple positive (estrogen, progesterone and HER2) she had to go through what I call "Little Chemo". It was only one chemo drug and it targeted the HER2. Slowly but surely it destroyed the protein. Slowly but surely she got more and more fatigued. 14 treatments. They were usually every 3 weeks.
There were 3 times her treatment was pushed back. Three times her port was malfunctioning.
This past month or two she slept as much as a newborn does. It was frustrating to her but that is what happens when you don't have any protein in your body. She has no appetite. She is down to eating just cottage cheese with peaches and yogurt.
Before the chemo infusion she is given steroids to counteract the swelling the chemo causes. The steroids keep her up at night. Typically she does not sleep at all the day of her treatments no matter how tired she is.
Any plans for a celebration are on hold. She is heading back to bed. Hopefully she will gain her strength over the next few months.
She didn't want to do a gift exchange with me. That's fine, we really don't need anything. If we do, we don't wait for a birthday or some significant day to get it, we just buy it then. Last week I did find something online that I wanted to give her. A scented candle with an elderly couple walking together. The sentiment was about our journey together. She was a little upset because she didn't get anything for me. I told her the candle sums up our lives together, especially this past 16 months. She agreed. She liked the scent (Good for me. I never even thought about it.) and it did sum up our "adventure.) The next day I brought out her second gift. Another candle. This one says, "I'm sorry your boobies tried to kill you." I laughed. She laughed and said it was appropriate.
Today I gave her a third gift. A necklace with a pink tourmaline stone. The sales clerk at the jewelry store said it is the same shade of pink as breast cancer awareness.
I am so proud of her.
While treatments are over the healing process is going to take time.
I think I need a nap.
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Amazing news brother. The past couple days have been quite the rollercoaster of emotions, but this news is the cherry on top of what turned out to be a pretty good day. Best of luck to you both as she continues to heal.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
I am sooooooo happy for you both to have such great news.....I know it's been an arduous journey for you guys and so glad you have been there for her as she fought this terrible disease....
I am going to ring my bell tomorrow when I go downstairs and thank the higher power for walking with you guys through this life path.....
Please stay strong for her as she regains her strength and appetite....
This news has made my day brother.....it really really has....
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Thanks for sharing your journey. So happy to hear she’s on the mend. You two have such a beautiful relationship. It’s inspiring to read about. Your Illini friends will be praying for a speedy recovery from here.