This morning Jill had her drain tubes removed. It appeared to be a very painful thing. They basically grab a hold of the tube and yank. However, after it was done Jill was very happy to no longer have tubes and containers attached to her body.
We got the results of the biopsy from the surgery. There were still some cancerous cells in breast and lymph tissue. At a core emotional level, this really was hard to hear. However, it was always expected. From the start we were told that we have chemo for 4 months. Then surgery. Then radiation for around 6 weeks. Then other breast removal. Then at some point reconstruction. The chemo kills most of the cancer – it shrinks it way down. It did that. It could not be found on scans. Just in a biopsy in some cells. Unless the cancer was 100% gone, we would need radiation. We were only recently even told that we might not need radiation if the biopsy came back clean. Of course, we secretly hoped for that . . . but in reality we are exactly where we thought we would be as part of a successful course of action.
Once will is recovered from the surgery, she will start radiation. We have not met with that doc yet, so we have no details. We will meet with the Breast Surgeon in a week or so. Today we met with his nurse who gave us the results. Our surgeon will help us pick an radiation doc. Then we will meet with them and get started.
There are still many unknowns. Like if Jill will have left breast removed before reconstruction. It is recommended that she wait 6-12 months from the end of surgery until she gets reconstructed . . . and we are not sure we want the left breast that long due to Jill’s predisposition to breast cancer. But we will discuss that with the doc soon. This all means that will not be fully rebuilt and done with this until probably summer or fall of 2012. But as long as we are moving forward, that is just part of this deal.
Thank you for the update! Glad to hear she was able to get the tubes removed! Hang in there...you anticipated this path; and this path will help make sure that all cancer cells are gone. That is what you will hear after radiation and that will be the most exciting news! We are going to believe it! Just remember that WE are here for the full JOURNEY! Prayer and assistance any way we can. So when you guys are ready for meals again, please don't hesitate to ask because you have a lot of people who care and WANT to help! :-)
ReplyDeleteI feel like laying on the floor and pounding my fists in a tantrum because I didn't get exactly what I wanted! Just another bump in the road to recovery!!
ReplyDeleteSpeechless. But agree that this is what you had anticipated, just was I'm sure very painful and disappointing to hear.
ReplyDeleteHang in there - :) We'll all keep those prayers coming.
xo
Mo
Still on the journey. DON"T be discouraged. The chemo did it's job. Now you will have the radiation do it's job. Hang in there. Still lifting you guys in prayer!
ReplyDeleteJill there isn't a day that goes by that I don't pray for you and your family. You have come so far with such an inspiring outlook. I know you still have a long road ahead of you, but it seems like all of you know to take this one day at a time. I will continue to pray for all of you.
ReplyDeleteGreg and Jill, I pray for Jill everyday. My father-in-law also has cancer and Jill and dad are the first people I pray for each day. I am sorry to hear this latest report but I am trusting in God that he will heal you back to 100%. You have come a long way already and I am sure it is hard to look at the next course of treatment that you have to go through. I will continue to lift you up to God and ask for eventual complete healing so that you can live a long life free of cancer. May God hold all of you in his hands and comfort you when you need it.
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