The finish line is well in sight.......back to our marathon analogy.........one chemo to go! It's been nearly six months (24 chemo's) of every week to sit in the red chairs. We'll still be going down for infusions of Herseptin (a non chemo protein blocker that inhibits Sheri's cancer from growing) every three weeks, but chemo is done next Thursday. Sheri has a PET scan planned for May 17th and we meet with her doctor on the 21st. That scan will determine the path from here. All cards are on the table, including more chemo, but if the results are good, we will be taking a break for a while. So next Friday we're going to celebrate with my men's group and their wives. Their our cheering crowd at the finish line! We're choosing to celebrate the milestones as they pass, and push forward to the next one. Thank you to all who helped with food, our children, cleaning, and of course prayer. This is a lifelong battle for us, as there is no cure for Sheri's cancer according to her doctor. I don't tell you this to scare you, but to let you know cancer will never be far from our thoughts. Hopefully God will bless us with many years or cancer free living.......we ask this of Him every day. Knowing the reality of the enemy you face, only makes the miracle of being delivered from it that much greater.
Moving forward, and looking up.
Brett and Sheri
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
#3 down, 2 to go......remain flexible
Well 14 days until the last chemo. However, Sheri will continue to visit the nurses and the red leather chairs for a while, as we continue her non-chemo infusion of Herceptin. We'll go down every three weeks for a quick check up and some medicine. That will last for.......well lets just remain flexible......it may go on for years. The Herceptin drug inhibits Sheri's type of cancer from growing, and allows her immune system to fight the cancer back. It is working well thus far.
On the surgery front, we have decided, along with Sheri's doctor, to wait 6 months on a mastectomy surgery. She will be having an overectomy in a month or so, but for now we're holding off on the mastectomy. The whole debate is very complicated and emotional. Since Sheri's cancer advanced beyond the breast to the liver and bones, the doctors are more worried about the cancer there than the lump in her breast. She is responding well to her treatment of treating the whole body, so as the body goes, so goes the breast. If you have time it's easier to explain in person. In short we're waiting on one surgery, and having another next month. We'll let everyone know the dates of things as we know. We go in in a few weeks for some update scans as well. Pray for good results.
Brett (Sheri went to bed early tonight)
On the surgery front, we have decided, along with Sheri's doctor, to wait 6 months on a mastectomy surgery. She will be having an overectomy in a month or so, but for now we're holding off on the mastectomy. The whole debate is very complicated and emotional. Since Sheri's cancer advanced beyond the breast to the liver and bones, the doctors are more worried about the cancer there than the lump in her breast. She is responding well to her treatment of treating the whole body, so as the body goes, so goes the breast. If you have time it's easier to explain in person. In short we're waiting on one surgery, and having another next month. We'll let everyone know the dates of things as we know. We go in in a few weeks for some update scans as well. Pray for good results.
Brett (Sheri went to bed early tonight)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Snow in April
We awoke this morning, on April 20th, to snow.......and lots of it. It is flat out dumping! We judge how hard it is snowing by how far we can see. If we can see across the lake, it's light. If we can still see down town, it's snowing pretty good. We can hardly see the houses 200' from our house, it's snowing that hard! Bryce poked his head up, rubbed his eyes and groggily said, "sledding?." Anyway, we thought it was interesting. Like the weather, life teaches us to remain flexible. What you think is a given, just may not be. Our appointments in Spokane went well. We came away confused, encouraged......and know we need to be flexible. We meet with Sheri's doctor Thursday to sort out all the new info and formulate a plan for the months to come. We'll share that info when we know it. Keep looking up.
Brett and Sheri
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Live from the Davenport in Spokane.....
#4 down, 3 to go. Today was a quick visit to the chemo room for Sheri's off week (no chemo, but herceptin). The end of this (chemo) road is drawing near. We drove to Spokane this afternoon, and tonight we had dinner with Sheri's Aunt Patti and Uncle Jim (he's the one who got us the Wii at Christmas, he manages a Fred Meyer. The kid's think Santa rocks....we know better, Uncle Jim does.) It was great to see them. Sheri's Aunt also had breast cancer, so she's been a great support. After dinner we did what Sheri is calling "retail therapy" .....it involves buying stuff......I was a supportive husband and bought a few things myself. Tonight we're staying at our all time favorite hotel, the Davenport. The best part is they give a huge break to Cougar Alum....I knew that piece of paper was worth something! Tomorrow we have two Doctor appointments with a surgeon, and a reconstructive doctor. The information we gather tomorrow will set our path for the next few months. So there you go, keep moving forward.
Brett
Brett
Sunday, April 13, 2008
...setting surgery dates...
This Thursday we will be traveling to Spokane to meet with a plastic surgeon on Friday morning. Our hope is to coordinate all of the doctors, surgeries and treatments so it goes as smoothly as possible. At this point I need a mastectomy, ovarectomy and then reconstructive surgery. The first two surgeries may be done at the same time or separately. The mastectomy and reconstructive surgery could also be done at the same time theoretically, but I don't think that will happen. The bottom line is we will be meeting with a plastic surgeon now to make the best plan possible. My wonderful oncologist will coordinate it all.
At a later time my doctor will decide whether the next set of scans will be done before or after the surgeries. There is also the possibility that I may continue chemotherapy after surgery, but possibly not too. The good point is that there are options. I liken it to a basketball game. There are many plays the team has practiced, but you wait to choose the right play when you get to that point in the game. My scans, blood tests and surgeries will determine where we are in the game medically.
I will continue to go down for Herceptin every three weeks for ...a long time. We don't know how many months that will go on.
At the risk of sounding completely redundant, we are continuing to pray for a BIG miracle. I know God is ultimately in control. We choose to trust Him and are thankful for His guidance and direction. Thank you for praying with us.
Keep looking up!
Sheri
At a later time my doctor will decide whether the next set of scans will be done before or after the surgeries. There is also the possibility that I may continue chemotherapy after surgery, but possibly not too. The good point is that there are options. I liken it to a basketball game. There are many plays the team has practiced, but you wait to choose the right play when you get to that point in the game. My scans, blood tests and surgeries will determine where we are in the game medically.
I will continue to go down for Herceptin every three weeks for ...a long time. We don't know how many months that will go on.
At the risk of sounding completely redundant, we are continuing to pray for a BIG miracle. I know God is ultimately in control. We choose to trust Him and are thankful for His guidance and direction. Thank you for praying with us.
Keep looking up!
Sheri
Friday, April 11, 2008
Remodel Pictures
Yesterday Was #5 with 4 to go. The end of this chemo marathon is near!
OK. So here are the much anticipated (well maybe not so much).......OK the much asked about pictures of our remodel project. We actually planned this project before Sheri was diagnosed. After a few months of sitting around looking at each other in the evenings.....well lets just say I got bored. We did: All new doors throughout the house with new moldings and lock hardware. We gutted the master bath and installed a new walk in shower, with river rock tile floor (no it doesn't hurt your feet, it feels cool!). We painted and reused the cabinets and installed two sinks and new counter tops and back splash in the master (we had one sink before). In the guest bath we replaced the counter tops, back splash, sink and faucet. There's new paint in both baths. Not bad for two months, and minimal interruptions to life. We actually enjoy this stuff, it's not that stressful to us. I know it's hard to believe. Anyway, there it is, enjoy it for what it is. We will!
New Doors! Cherry Shaker
Guest Bath
Just after the old shower was ripped out
During Construction
River Rock Tile Floor
Master Shower
Master Vanity
OK. So here are the much anticipated (well maybe not so much).......OK the much asked about pictures of our remodel project. We actually planned this project before Sheri was diagnosed. After a few months of sitting around looking at each other in the evenings.....well lets just say I got bored. We did: All new doors throughout the house with new moldings and lock hardware. We gutted the master bath and installed a new walk in shower, with river rock tile floor (no it doesn't hurt your feet, it feels cool!). We painted and reused the cabinets and installed two sinks and new counter tops and back splash in the master (we had one sink before). In the guest bath we replaced the counter tops, back splash, sink and faucet. There's new paint in both baths. Not bad for two months, and minimal interruptions to life. We actually enjoy this stuff, it's not that stressful to us. I know it's hard to believe. Anyway, there it is, enjoy it for what it is. We will!
New Doors! Cherry Shaker
Guest Bath
Just after the old shower was ripped out
During Construction
River Rock Tile Floor
Master Shower
Master Vanity
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
