We just found out that my Aunt Susan (my Mom's younger sister) has cancer. She was officially diagnosed with breast cancer on Wednesday and yesterday the dr. told her she thinks it originated somewhere else, so we are in for a long rough road until we find out the origins and how far it has progressed. She has to go to an Oncologist the 21st and will get a portal put in on the 23rd to start the Chemo before they will do surgery.
Please keep my family in your prayers/thoughts while go through this rough time.
Thank you all!
sending healing prayers your way and prayers for comfort and strength.
You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Stay strong.
Thank so much. Not our first battle with cancer, lost my Dad in 2001 to brain cancer, just this one came out of left field...we had no idea there was anything wrong with her until she told us...still in shock.
I'll be keeping your aunt and the rest of your family in my thoughts and prayers, and sending healing energy, as well.
Consider it done. Prayers and good thoughts are being sent yours and your family's way my dear. Please continue to keep us updated on how your Aunt Susan is doing lass.
Minor update...seems my darling mother was confused. Aunt Susan goes to the Oncologist on the 21st (no change there) they will place a chip of sorts to mark the tumor when she is there, then on the 23rd she will be having a full body scan...So heres hoping we get good results from that...
You and your family are still in my thoughts and prayers my dear.
Just talked to my Aunt Susan...her tumor is much smaller than originally thought!!! They thought it was about the size of a grape, but according to the scan they did Friday, it is 1.2 cm and is a stage 1!!! Woo Hoo!!! She goes to talk to the Oncologist tomorrow and they will set it up for her to start Chemo, they want to shrink it before they do anything else. She will have 4 treatments about 3 weeks apart...that is what Dr. Mellilo said, of course it is still subject to change depending on what the Oncologist says tomorrow. But things are looking much better than they were. Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers! *hugs*
Wonderful news, Wyckd!!! I'll continue to keep her and your family in my thoughts and prayers, and we'll all concentrate on making miracles happen!!! I'm so glad they caught it so early!
Huzzah! What wonderful news Wyckd. Thanks for the update lass. You, your Aunt Susan, and your entire family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers my dear.
Thank you everyone! Things are really looking up, of course, we will know more today after she sees the Oncologist...but I am remaining positive until they tell us differently ;D
Please do continue to keep us updated on your Aunt Susan's progress m'lady.
I will definately keep the updates coming...as I get them :)
Have another update.
Yesterday was the Oncologist visit. She will have 6 rounds of Chemo 3-4 weeks apart. Once the Chemo is over they will do the lumpectomy (sp?) then she will have Radiation treatments. We are not sure yet when they will start the Chemo though, she has to set up an appointment with the Dr. that will be doing the treatments to get the port put in first, but she should be getting that appointment set in the next few days...will let you all know more when I hear.
Oh, can ya'll possibly add a little extra to your prayer that the hair loss is not so traumatic for her? She is REALLY having a hard time with the thought of her hair falling out (not that I blame her...I would too)
You definitely have my prayers and good thoughts for your Aunt!
I know what she is going through with the hair loss. My Aunt had chemo for her cancer and she started to loose her hair. So she said enough! She went to the hair salon and had it all taken off. Then she said what is there to worry about now?
Her hair came back, so soft and curly! (I might add, way better than what she had!)
Best to all of you!
irish
Wyckd, when I went through chemo last winter I was told the best thing I could eat during the process was... bacon! High fat, high protein was the way to go, they said. Of course, my treatments were for a different reason, and were not the radical chemo that she'll be going through, but I'm pretty sure it was the bacon that helped me keep just enough hair to at least cover my scalp the whole time, and it never did come out in clumps, but fairly evenly over my whole head.
Oh, and it was the only thing besides fried rice that tasted the way it was supposed to, also...
A couple of really nice things your family might do for her, though...
Get her some warm comfy cashmere socks, and maybe a nice soft snuggly sweater for when she's freezing and shaking because her fever is high. That part was the worst. Extra blankets on the bed help, also.
Frozen fruit bars to ease the mouth sores. They kinda suck, also.
Just knowing you are all there for her will be the most helpful, though, and letting her know that there are people she doesn't even know praying for her and sending healing energy her way can be a big comfort, also. We'll be keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers!
As of 10 am central time, my Aunt is getting her Chemo port put in. She will most likely start treatments next week.
As always your Aunt will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers my dear.
God Bless and God Speed to you and your entire family m'lady.
Thoughts and prayers continue to go out to you and your aunt.
UPDATE:
Survived first round of Chemo yesterday and she is actually on her way in to work today...I knew she was a tough ol' bird...hehe ;D
Thanks again everyone for your thoughts and prayers...
Now to get my 17 mo old nephew through his suirgery today, and we should be ok....has to have tubes in his ears, since one of his ear drums nearly burst last week... :o
Oh, I'm so glad she got through this first one in good shape! Hopefully that will be the case for the whole course. I'll be praying for her continued strength and well being, and successful conclusion as well! I'll include your nephew, also, and be sending them both healing energy and comfort, as well. :)
I'm glad to hear that you Aunt Susan that got through her first round of Chemo alright Wyckd. I will continue to keep her in my thoughts and prayers and I will also say a special prayer for your nephew as well.
God Bless as always my dear.
Sending light and energy your family and Aunts way.
My grandma has it as well and I know how this feels.
I am happy to hear the first round of chemo went well.
I pray to the Goddess for her totally recovery.
Well, seems I was a bit hasty in bragging about how well round 1 went. Friday she went to have a marrow shot and decided to come to work...she got here about 10:30, and by 12:30 was on her way home. She caught a chill and could not warm up. She spent the entire weekend at home and in bed, she says she hurts all over and feels like she is getting a cold too (although that could be sinus/allergies...we live in Houston, Tx, after all). I saw her for a few mins yesterday and she looks like she was hit by a Mack truck...I feel sorry for her, and it kills me that there is nothing I can do to make her feel better. She also is not eating much, because nothing tastes "right". But hopefully it will pass in a few days and she will be at least able to enjoy her food and build some of her strength up.
Thanks again to everyone...I would be a basket case if it wasn't for all of you.
Love to you all!
Oh, I'm so sorry! It really does suck... Lots of warm, fluffy fleece, maybe even an electric blanket (I was freezing the whole six months, and an electric blanket would have been a miracle) and as much water as she can make herself drink in a day. I was told to drink at least half my body weight in ounces every day, and it really helped. You might ask her if she will try the bacon... I know it sounds weird, but my doc told me it was the best thing I could eat while I was in treatment, and it was really the only thing that tasted like it should... besides fried rice, anyway.
I'm praying extra hard for her now, and the rest of your family as well, and I'll keep it up until you give the all clear, hon!
Thanks Rani...she made it in to work this morning, but looks like she feels...I will tell her to eat bacon...she loves bacon anyway, so it shouldn't be too hard to convince her...hehehe
Good! Don't forget the water, though... they told me it's more than 2-3 times harder if you don't drink the water!!!
Oh yes...she already drinks a ton of water, and has really upped her intake. She has gotten to the point that last night when I was talking to her she said she felt like she was going to float away...lol...at least she still has her sense of humor. I also told her about the bacon and she got really excited and said she was going to cook some this morning and see if she can eat it.
Your aunt is my prayers. There are these lovely hand warmers that you can find in the Sporting Goods section at Wally world that are air activated and really keep you hands and feet toasty, and not too pricey. Hunters use them to keep warm in the field. Keep ups posted. (((HUGS)))
Thanks Robin...I have used those hand warmers @ TRF myself...work wonders wo keep "the girls" from becoming ice cubes...lol...I will see if I can get her to use those, don't know why I didn't think about them myself...
Quote from: wyckdblyss on November 10, 2009, 09:20:28 AM
Oh yes...she already drinks a ton of water, and has really upped her intake. She has gotten to the point that last night when I was talking to her she said she felt like she was going to float away...lol...at least she still has her sense of humor. I also told her about the bacon and she got really excited and said she was going to cook some this morning and see if she can eat it.
HUZZAH for BACON!!! ROFL It goes with everything... and the pre-cooked packages are great for when you feel like crap and don't want to stand at the stove getting splattered by grease!
And yes, it does sometimes feel like you'll just float off, or slosh around like a water-balloon!
Bacon does go with everything, doesn't it? Hehe...I have bacon almost every morning fro breakfast...well, every morning that I work...
Your aunt as always continues to be in my thoughts and prayers wyckd. Please continue to keep us updated on how she is doing my dear.
UPDATE:
Aunt Susan was admitted into the hospital last night. They cannot find the source of her infection and are going to run an ultrasound this morning. As of last night, her white cell count was sitting around 700 (for those who don't know, it is supposed to be at the 4000 mark)...Hoping to get her through this quickly and get her home soon.
Praying as hard as I can, Wyckd... and sending healing white light, as well as protective blue. Let your Aunt Susan know we're all thinking about her, and wishing her well. It can only help!
Wyckd I will be praying extra hard that your Aunt Susan makes it through this alright. Stay strong lass cause your family needs you right now.
Hugs and love to you as always my dear.
Thank you all...Staying as strong as I can...close to that point that I am almost at the edge, but they will never know that, because I am the one who is not allowed to break in the family...Just reading ya'lls well wishes and encourgement has helped so much...I love you all...and I continue to tell Susan everyday that she has people in the Renaissance community, who do not know her but are pulling for her and care about her...I know that is helping her...
Quote from: wyckdblyss on November 13, 2009, 10:14:07 AM
Thank you all...Staying as strong as I can...close to that point that I am almost at the edge, but they will never know that, because I am the one who is not allowed to break in the family...Just reading ya'lls well wishes and encourgement has helped so much...I love you all...and I continue to tell Susan everyday that she has people in the Renaissance community, who do not know her but are pulling for her and care about her...I know that is helping her...
Hi Tammy,
Just wanted you to know I am thinking about you and your Aunt and I am sending you and her as much light and energy as I can.
I know what you mean by being the one who doesn't break in the family.
Goddess Bless my sweet one and I remain positive she will get through this!
Just thought I would throw a quick update out there...Aunt Susan had her 2nd Chemo treatment yesterday. So far so good. She had to shave her head the Saturday before Thanksgiving and was devastated by it...but she is in good spirits and so far she has not gotten sick...so I am keeping my fingers crossed...
Me, to!!! Lots of hugs... :)
Shall keep her in our prayers. Hugs for both of you.
Continued prayers for you and your Aunt Susan both Wyckd. Please let her know that we are still continuing to pull for her through this .
God Bless you as always my dear.
UPDATE:
Sorry I have not updated in a while. My Aunt has her last Chemo (fingers crossed) next week. She is doing so well, although the last treatment was rough on her. She has been in good spirits and responding wonderfully. She will go on March 12th for an ultra sound to see if the mass has shrunk enough to do surgery. Once she has the surgery she will start radiation treatments. I want to thank everyone once again for all of your support and well wishes through this trying time in family. I love you all!
So glad she's making progress, and I'll be keeping her in my thoughts through the next weeks and months!
And a Happy Birthday to you, as well!!!
I will second everything that Rani just said Wyckd. Please let you Aunt Susan know that she still remains in my thoughts and prayers as always.
God Bless you and Happy Birthday to you as well my dear.
Thank you Rani and lordwriothsley. I appreciate the birthday wishes, though I must admit I have come to a point where it is just another day...lol. To be honest I had almost forgot that Tues. was my b/day until I got to work and there was a gift and card on my desk...I was actually confused for a moment...hehe ??? ;D
But again, thank you for everything. Everyone here, esp. the two of you have made this journey so much easier, I have found out who my true friends are. You have been more supportive than some of the people that I have considered close friends (I have known them over 20 yrs), and yet I have gotten no support from them...and I have yet to meet you guys face to face and you have been nothing but supportive. I love you all!! :-*