Today we visited with Dr. Chow and yesterday we saw Dr, Fredric. Both are pleased with my progress. The good news is Dr. F thinks the route to go is hormone therapy and pills to keep the bones strong. Needless-to-say, I am delighted not to have radiation therapy in my future. This is being composed in the midst of chaos, since I will move to Judy’s and Leigh until probably til Wednesday or Thursday since the flooring is being replaced in my apartment starting tomorrow. This is being composed as Judy takes my apartment apart and prepares for my move. I will be away from my home phone so you can reach me through Judy or my cell phone. Also I won’t have my computer available until I’m back home. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers - you have made this all possible
October 8, 2009
September 28, 2009
All went well and I even went to church the day after surgery(sadly to discoverMerlene had died that morning.)
Since then, I've been to the funeral Thursday and had the fiinal drain removed last Friday. The best news is I finally ws able to take a real shower Saturday. All in all, I tink I'm doing well and am ready to have final stitches removed on the 8th of October wen Dr. C. returns.
Agan,thank you all for yor prayers and good thoughts.
September 20, 2009
Radiation Therapy Links
September 13, 2009
Report From the Surgeon from Judy via David
Well David and I took Mom to the surgeon today and got some good news and some that was not as good. The right side is healing very well and the drains on that side have been removed! There were some abnormalities in the tissue on that side but not cancer. The left side was not doing as well but that was not a surprise since there was a second surgery on that side. Those drains will have to stay another week as will the stitches.The pathology on one of the nodes on that side did come back positive with a very small amount of cancer.
So where do we go from here? Not sure yet. Dr. Chow the surgeon will consult with Dr. Frederic and they will come up with a plan. Mom will go back next Thursday evening to see Dr. Chow and have her stitches removed and probably the drains. I don’t know if she will tell us the plan at that time or if we will have to wait until the following Thursday morning (Sept 24th) when we will see Dr. Frederic. Mom is a bit disappointed but seems fine. Her health and spirits in general are quite good considering all she has been through.
Thanks for all the love and support all of you have given us through chemo and surgery. It has been wonderful to know that all of you are there for us.
Love to all,
JudySeptember 8, 2009
The Surgery and Recovery
Dear Friends and family,
Sorry it has taken me so long to update you on my surgery and recovery but being surrounded by loving family there was little time to sit down and concentrate.
Son Allan, Barbara, and daughter Mikha were here weekend before last. Mikha is beginning a Masters in Library Science and had to be in Denton Saturday for a class. It was wonderful to visit with them and here all about their doings. Barbara is working on a display for her library and has been asked to present her work at a state library meeting. Ben (their son) is back in Providence and is working on a project for physics. There were pictures on face book, but I was glad Allan was here to explain it all to me.
The next Saturday, Jill arrived and Judy and I picked her up at the airport and had lunch at Uncle Julio’s on the way Home.
Sunday, we went to church and the four of us and Judy’s two girls had lunch at P.F. Changs. By the time we finished John and Son William had arrived. I could go on about the wonderful times we had, but I’d better tell you about he surgery, etc.
We arrived at the hospital Tuesday morning at 5:30am. By 7:00 they took me to radiology where Dr. Chow met me and injected me with dye which would stain and help identify any cancer cells in the lymph nodes. She left for another surgery and the family (Judy & Jill) and Frs. Fred and Bill followed us to holding. They left for the waiting room and I was greeted by my friend Ruth who works there. After several interviews by surgery and anesthesia, Dr Chow reappeared and I was taken back to surgery.
All went well, and I was back in my room sooner than I thought.
All had gone well and a cursory look at the nodes showed no sign of cancer. The only glitch was that night, it was discovered I had a bleed on my right side . after two pints of blood, I returned the next night to surgery to check for any bleeds. All again went well and I went home the next afternoon in good shape with very little pain meds. And have been doing well ever since.
More latter
August 22, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
It will be a five hour surgery so my family will have along wait, so come visit them in the surgery waiting room.
If all goes well, I’ll get out on Thursday and will be at home for the next 10 days, at least. Radiation will follow after that, if necessary. Will try to keep you posted.
August 12, 2009
Note from Judy Cariker about Jane's appointment
Dear All,
Well for all of you waiting to hear the date for Mom's surgery.... You'll have to wait another week! We did meet with Dr Anita Chow this morning but we won't know the surgery date until next Monday or Tuesday and then it will likely be about 10 days after that. Mom will have a bilateral mastectomy with a sentinal lymph node biopsy and possible dissection. There will be a 2 day post-op stay at Baylor All Saints. That is about all that we know for now.
Mom's count seems to finally be coming back up but this last round of chemo was definitly the hardest.
Keep those prayers, cards, emails and phone calls coming!
Love to all, Judy
August 3, 2009
Tuesday, Augst 3, 2009
Her name was mentioned to Jackie, our vitamin therapy nurse, and she was thrilled!
Her sister had used Dr. C. for her doctor and the good doctor sat down with all the tests and explained everything in them and what her steps would be. She gave plenty of time for questions. Best news of the day-will spread the news when the date is set.
July 30, 2009
With Mom's readiness to prepare the celebration, I wanted to be a participant in the joy. So here's to joyful forward-thinking! Here's to the wisdom of the divinely given human spirit--neither "green" nor "dopey"--just in touch with whippoorwills and bright canary yellow skies.
July 28, 2009
Yesterday I saw Dr F. He was most pleased with my progress. I’ll see him next Monday and we’ll be discussing my seeing a surgeon. He wants to get that done, so by the time I’ve finished the last three weeks of chemo, I can be ready to set the surgery date. Eill keep you informed.
I’m looking forward to finishing my chemo and getting on with the surgery. It would be wonderful if there was no further sign of cancer in my biopsy from the surgery. That would mean no radiation. Please pray for that! Radiation is much better than it was 20 years ago, but I’d still like to avoid it if possible.
Once this journey has finished, I plan to celebrate. Joachim and Silvia from Germany sent me a bottle of ice wine, now keeping cool in my fridge. Will invite you all
to celebrate with me when the time arrives.
July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Get ready to celebrate! One week from today is my final chemo. Then when I’ve recovered from that, it’s on to my surgery. Don’t have the details, but will probably have a better idea in three weeks to a month from now.
Yesterday I had to go in for one more shot to boost my white blood cells. I was possibly scheduled for today and tomorrow, but the blood work yesterday determined I didn’t need any more. Wish they would have discovered that before giving me yesterdays shot!
That afternoon and evening I was reminded of how achy you can feel. I resorted to Tylenol before bedtime so I slept well.
I think last week was my lowest spot as far as emotions went. I had felt well until I discovered I needed more shots this week to boost my white count. I’d felt so well, I was sure I didn’t need more, but a blood test proved otherwise. Isolation was beginning to get to me. Thank goodness my roomie from Kanuga called having just returned from her trip to Europe. She had had a marvelous trip and spiritual experience. For the last two years since her husband died, she had been unable to pray. In a church there she opened up and prayed for the first time. Her experience reminded me that we all go through dark periods and mine was so small compared to hers.
Many lessons still to be learned; so keep those thoughts and prayers coming my way = and thank you for your support.
July 4, 2009
I’ve been busy doing nothing and thoroughly enjoying it! Deanna Smith from Trinity has shared her Mrs. Reed books and tapes with me along with some VHS programs of Miss Marple and some about Celtic saints. Have been enjoying all of them.
Monday I see my Dr., have vitamin therapy and get a massage before chemo the next morning. My sister is taking me to Chemo. It is always fun to see her!
With the hot weather, I’ve been staying inside so not as much pool exercise as usual.
Today, I’ve been trying out some recipes in a Cancer Cook book I discovered at the Dr.’s office: two chicken recipes and a banana pudding recipe. I thought I’d stored up things in the fridge and freezer for when I don’t feel like cooking.
Speaking a cooking, last Sunday some of my friends from Trinity brought lunch after church and a bag of goodies. The food was marvelous and the goodie bag such fun!
It’s great to have friends like this. Tomorrow I’ll go to church to thank them and to seen our new curate. Hope to see all of you soon. This next treatment and one more – and then surgery. And hopefully soon after that, I’ll be ready for my old routine!
June 24, 2009
June 18, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday was Chemo day, and Sister Judy took me to and picked me up when I finally finished. It takes time to have your blood drawn, sent to the lab and then wait for the pharmacy to fix the Chemo bags. Fortunately, I had a book sister had loaned me about Southern belles and their manners and attitudes. While being humorous, it sheds good light on cultural differences here in the States. If we have problems understanding others, we need to look at their heritages and backgrounds.
This also gave me time to think about what I‘ll I do for my grandchildren this Christmas. I hope to write my on “Guidepost” stressing their roots and wings. I hope it sends them to assessing where they’ve been and where they might be heading.
Wednesday was another day of shot for me to warding off the drop in my white count. I’ll do this daily through Friday. Then errands: to my internist office to drop off a list of my present meds changes. He was not in, but had a good talk with his staff. He is from Iran, and had planned a trip, but cancelled because of the political situation. If he needs to see me, there is time next week. Next off to do a couple of errands – replacing wiper blades on my car and to the liquor store to find some wine for Leigh for Father’s Day. This is a good time to thank him for being such a good landlord. Still feeling fine, I was off to the church to drop off my UTO offering since they are collecting Sunday. I spent time visiting with Jackie. She had breast cancer twenty years ago, as a young mother- quite a struggle. I’m glad to have the benefit of those twenty years of learning --- and no little ones to care for. Jackie was blessed with good friends and church family for support; something we each need. Thank to you, my friends and family for your great support for me. It truly has been very good. Then I had a great talk with others in the church office – got a good people fix to carry me through my next isolation. All are welcome t visit The phone calls, emails and letters are a good boost, too.
One more thing, I forgot to mention; some of the women who work with Judy at the Women Club, her hospitality committee, sent me fresh fruit and kind notes with Judy, another act of kindness and support.
