2nd Surgery

I had a little "clean-up" surgery this morning; hopefully the surgeon got the last of the "dirty margins." (A few little cancer cells that eluded her during the first surgery.)

I was home by about noon, had a cup of coffee some soup, and my wingman is now shooing me up to have a nap before our cherubs our delivered home by our friend Carol.

More later .... should have results from this little job at the end of the week.

By the way, thanks to each of you for the emails, cards, phone calls, offers of help, (and the list goes on...). Also keep the good vibes (I feel all of them!) and prayers coming!

Much love,

Linda

Going Strong

I'm slow at getting information out this week... icing a breast and arm pit and elevating an arm in between runs to and from school and an occasional coffee with a friend... perhaps too much information, but know that I'm going strong!! ;)

The pathological report was good: Only ONE lymph node was affected! Yes, that left me dancing and jumping around in the kitchen. She removed 8 total (and I'm feeling the numbness/achy weird feeling from that part of the surgery.) Unfortunately that one BURST, so I will have to have radiation to that area after chemo. Had it not burst, I would have only had to have radiation to the breast area.

Didn't get clean margins on the tumor excision, so I will go in again for a shorter surgery to finish that little job -- next Tuesday the 25th.

Brain surgeon -- OMG that typo is so funny I have to leave it there... (Obviously, when I get to this part of the day I'm ready for a little rest.) BREAST surgeon & chemo doctor have verified that it is Stage IIa -- that's one level above Stage I, the earliest stage of cancer.

Met with chemo doc yesterday for an overload of information and set up many tests, screenings, etc. for the coming weeks in prep. for chemo in the fall.

:)

Much love, Linda

Quick Update

Just wanted to let you know that it's been a good week! I stopped taking the heavy duty pain meds Wednesday and am doing fine with a little Advil. I was able to take the big bulky bandages off Thursday and am sooooo looking forward to a shower tomorrow!

My friend college friend and her 13-year-old son from Iowa were here all week helping out. The boys had a great time with her son -- it was like a mini-vacation for them with him here. They want to know who's coming next... :)

I'll get results back from the lab next week and that will determine what's next and when.

Have a great weekend... Linda

The News

This is the kind of conversation to be had in person but we are in full swing of summer – playing outside, golfing, biking, going to the beach, and splashing in the rain puddles. My "private phone time" is pretty much limited to 1/2 hour between when the boys go to bed and when I go to bed. So I apologize for emailing this news...

I have been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. On Tuesday, August 11th, I will have surgery, a lumpectomy, to remove two smallish tumors and 8 – 12 lymph nodes, as it appears to have just gone to a couple lymph nodes.

We are taking this moment by moment and feel blessed with the doctor we've found and with the friends and family we have. My doctor's first words were "it's treatable and it's curable." After pathologic results, we'll make a plan for further treatment for this fall, which will include chemo and radiation.

The boys will be in school full-time and friends have flooded us with offers to help. It feels a lot like what I remember from growing up in Iowa – “neighbors” that come out of the woodwork when you need them most.

We will have our tough moments, but we are strong and we will get through this. We are living in the moment and enjoying every moment. This is a part of our lives now, but it is not ALL of our lives. We haven’t lost our sense of humor – thank God He gave us each a big dose of that! So, I am still Linda, the same ole me, with an added issue. :)

Whether you are a pray-er or a good vibes kind of person, send either or both our way!

Staying strong,

Linda