I have been wanting to post a journal entry for some time. people have asked me for updates individually and I so appreciate that. This site is wonderful, along with Facebook, for making it easy to update larger groups of folks at one time.

I had my scheduled mammograph on Monday, January 4, at Mercy’s Center for Women’s Imaging. It was not a pleasant experience. It was painful. I was thankful that Dr. Warner was the radiologist reviewing my case again, as she was already familiar with my condition. There seems to be slight progression in the lymph node under my left arm and some kind of something taking place in my right breast now. I was concerned about my right breast going into the appointment. That being said, Dr. Warner wanted me to see Dr. Friedman (the Director of the Breast Center at Mercy and breast surgeon). I had scheduled a follow-up appointment with Dr. Friedman months earlier and it just so happen to be on Wednesday, January 6, so the timing worked out very well. After we wrapped things up in the imaging center, I headed to Outpatient Chemotherapy for chemo. After chemo, I met with Dr.Rosenshein to discuss the findings of the mammograph. Dr. Rosenshein suggested that we stop chemo and get a second opinion on the treatment plan. He wanted me to see Dr. Armstrong at Hopkins again. He said he would review my initial pathology report as possibly my tumor is of a slightly different type and another type of treatment may be better suited to help me (hormone therapy, clinical trial, etc.). Dr. Rosenshein also pushed up my CT scan by a week. After seeing Dr. Rosenshein we headed home. It was a long day.

On Wednesday, January 6, I went to my appointment with Dr.Friedman at the Breast Center at Mercy. Dr. Friedman felt that not much had changed since my last appointment in September and mammograph in May. But he too wanted me to get a CT scan to help better guide treatment plans.

I had my CT scan on Friday, January 8 (in the morning). The said that my abdomen is stable, which I have taken as good news. There is slight progression in the lymph node under my left arm. And the CT scan report said nothing about my breasts.

So, now… are waiting until Wednesday, February 3 for my appointment with Dr. Armstrong at Hopkins. I am getting bloodwork done on Monday, February 1, and meeting with Dr. Rosenshein. I spoke with my chemo nurse (Terri) on the phone last week before the blizzard and she was happy with the timing of my appointment with Dr. Armstrong. She also told me that Dr.Rosenshein wants a specific Pathologist at Hopkins to analysis tissue extracted from my initial surgery. She is working on getting to Hopkins everything that is needed. I feel good about this, but it has been hard mentally lately as my treatment is in limbo.

I went to a scrapbooking retreat on Friday, January 8 at noon. I was really looking forward to this, not only to scrapbook, which I love to do, but also to spend time with my friends and cousins. The retreat was through 3 PM on Sunday, January 10. Unfortunately, it was cut short for me due to partial bowel blockage again. I made the call to be picked up to go to the ER at 5 AM Sunday morning as I had been in pain since 10:30 PM Saturday. At Mercy, they did an x-ray only as I just had a CT scan done. As I expected, they cut off food and water intake, and gave me pain and nausea medicine along with IV fluids. I was kept there through late afternoon Monday, January 11, after receiving a blood transfusion as my white blood cell counts were low.

So, right now I am trying to enjoy with my kids the time off they have from school. I am also trying to keep up with at least riding my bike on my trainer inside as this greatly helps my head stay fresh. Next week I will have blood drawn and meet with Dr.Rosenshein on Monday, and then meet with Dr. Armstrong on Wednesday. Please keep me in your prayers. – Stef