An experience worth sharing

My oldest brother is 57 years old. He had a colonoscopy 7 years ago and wasn't due for another one for 3 more years. When his wife went in to see her doctor she scheduled a colonoscopy for herself. She mentioned my situation and the doctor became alarmed. He told my brother to schedule a colonoscopy right away.
He had his colonoscopy and called to tell me that they found 4 polyps. 3 came back negative and 1 came back pre-cancerous! I am so happy they found it before it became a problem.
Because now there is a family history and a personal history for him he needs to go in every three years.

There was really no way for me to catch mine early since screening for it doesn't start until your 50.
They estimated that my cancer has been growing for about 8 years. Starting at about age 36. I had NO symptoms until this past year and even they were pretty vague.

If my experience can make others aware and help to prevent cancer in someone else I am truly happy. It brings me great joy to know that it has helped my own brother.

Mother's day blessings

So, I figured I had better put an update on the blog. I have been handling the Chemo pretty well until this last one. This week was a little tough. There is a side effect that affects the hands and feet. I've had it a couple of times before but never as bad as this week. My feet hurt so bad it was very hard to walk. I'm supposed to put lotion on them to keep them from cracking and peeling. As soft as I could I would apply the lotion but it was still painful. It's a burning pain and very tender to the touch. Even today I went to church and my feet were still a little tender in my shoes. It's never lasted this long before. This along with other side effects has made this week a little tough.
I am still grateful for all the little things that come into my life to make it easy to keep going. This mother's day was the best. I spoke to all of my children including my missionary. It was wonderful! I loved listening as they talked and laughed with each other. My kids really do love each other! :))) I love watching them develop into capable, confident adults and enjoy each other's company. This makes me very happy.
Thank you to my family for the best Mother's Day ever!

Hawaii and other updates...

This past round of Chemo brought with it some random side effects. One was that my feet started to really hurt in the middle of the night. The next day they were all red and it hurt to walk. I wasn't sure what it was but after talking to the nurse she said it was related to the Chemo and that they might have to ajust the treatment next time.

Eddie and I were surprised last week with a trip to Hawaii!!! A collection was made and several people from Eddie's work donated money to get us to Hawaii, including plane tickets, a place to stay and all expenses! What a sweet and generous gift! We had a great time. It was nice to see the sun, and just get away. Thank you to everyone who made that possible.

We continue to see blessings in our lives and consider our friends and family to be among the biggest. The love and concern that is expressed by so many touches my heart-even from strangers that I've never met.

Ian shared  our story with his ward and they are concerned about me. I have recieved cards and notes from members of his ward expressing their concern for me and letting me know they are praying for me. While I appreciate the prayers in my behalf  it is so nice to know that Ian, being away from home, is also being loved and supported by such caring people.

Monday is my 4th Chemo and halfway mark. On April 6th I go in for CT scan to see how I am responding to treatments. If it goes well, the plan is to have 4 more treatments.

January 26, 2012 And All That Led Up To It

Beginning early 2011,

my mom had been feeling low abdominal pain.

Really low. She says the pain would come and go and to her,

felt like it could be gas pains.

She would feel tired and not as energetic as she normally is.

Feeling tired like that was not exactly an alarm.

My mom is known to be deeply involved

with various projects and, well, it can make you tired.

Not exactly a red flag.

In December of 2011, which is also the month she turned 45,

she very quickly developed

a lump on her neck the size of a walnut.

My husband and I were living 5 1/2 hours away while he finished his last year in college. He graduated in December and we came home for 4 or 5 days before leaving for Christmas with his family on the east coast. We left and returned home January 3, 2012.

That was the first time I had seen the lump.

I was shocked it was so big because

I did not notice it when we were with her last.

Other odd signs came up in December.
A few times she would become so exhausted while showering
she had to sit down in the shower to rest.
She felt like she would pass out and
did not have energy to hardly stand.
Suddenly every time she brushed her teeth
she would gag and to the point of sometimes throwing up.
She would feel nauseous when her stomach was empty
and at the same time her appetite was decreasing.

January 4th

The first doctors appointment.

Our concerns were the lump on her neck,

the abdominal pain as well as some side pains.

Her doctor was leaving for France so they set up appointments to run tests and then
they would meet again after she came back from overseas.
The doctor suspected a cyst on her thyroid.

It did not seem life threatening.

At the time we were unsure if all of her pains were related.

The doctor ordered an ultra sound and some blood tests
to look further into it.

Life went on...a little too fast if you ask me.

January 6th

She was diagnosed with RP. Retinitis Pigmentosa,

a degenerative eye disease

that has no cure and leads to blindness.

Her peripheral vision is narrowing.

At the time this was the most devastating news we had ever heard.

My mom loves to quilt and create things and has a very artistic eye.

She has a real talent for design in a variety of areas.

The thought of her going blind was unimaginable.

It is because of her sight that she has developed into who she is.

January 9th

She went in for her blood tests.

January 10th

My parents 25th Wedding Anniversary,

and the day she went for the ultrasound.

January 11th

Her son, Ian, my brother, left to serve a two year mission

in San Diego, California for

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She received the results from the tests.

Blood test showed slightly elevated liver function and iron deficiency.
Ultra Sound found that the lump on her thyroid to be a solid mass.
It also showed that her liver was covered in lumps
the largest being 11 cm (4 1/2 inches) in size.

January 12th

She went for the CT Scan.

January 13th

Results from the CT Scan
The CT Scan confirmed the lumps in her liver and her thyroid
and also showed several lumps in her lungs.

January 23rd

She went in for Biopsies of the liver and lump on her thyroid.

January 26th

The world stopped.

She was diagnosed with Cancer.

They do not know which kind yet. They are suspecting colon cancer.

From the biopsies, the tissues pulled from the liver and thyroid

exhibited characteristics like tissue found in the intestine/colon area.

We go in Wednesday, February 1st to meet with an oncologist.

I am humbled and overwhelmed by the blessings I have already seen.
The most important, to me, being,
Garrett and I, living here with my family.
THAT is why we are here. I have no doubt.
The timing could not have been more perfectly aligned.
No other time would we be living with them, for this long.
Garrett graduated in December and begins law school in the fall,
giving us a good 8 months to be in "limbo"
giving us time to be here.
Through that I feel our Heavenly Father's love.