Journey with Mary D

Today has been a busy but GREAT day!  We started the morning off early with a drive to Nashville to get my immunotherapy.  There is just one more immunotherapy  treatment to go, which will be in 6 weeks.   Next, we headed back to Cookeville for my  LAST radiation treatment.   YAY!   I’m so glad I was able to have my radiation treatments  locally at Cookeville Regional Cancer Center, because I had to go every weekday for 21  treatments and they took such great care of me.   We ended our day with a celebration  dinner out with my favorite people.   I have had such great support through this  especially my husband who has been my rock through it all.   I am truly blessed.

I have not posted an update in a while because I have been in a holding pattern.  First off, I have been doing great and am back working in person. Yay, life is starting to get back to normal.  I have been feeling pretty good, but I am still battling with neuropathy in my feet. My hair has also started growing back so I am sporting my new do which is gray and bit wavy. Not sure what my plan is with it yet, just letting it do what it wants for now. So now to explain what the holdup has been. I had one spot from surgery that just wouldn't heal. We finally had to go back for an in-office procedure. There were a few stitches that my body couldn't/wouldn't dissolve so they removed the affected area which was about a pea size. Finally, the area has healed up, and I started radiation this morning (June 12).  I am only 6 weeks behind schedule but who is counting. The plan is 21 sessions (days) which means going every weekday for my treatment. Luckily, I am getting to do these treat

Surgery took place on March 22 nd .  It was an early morning, with our first stop at a hotel near the Nashville airport to pick up my sister who flew in to be here for me. Then we headed to the hospital. We knew it would be a long day with three procedures. First up was the needle localization. This procedure helps guide the surgeon to exactly where the cancer originated. Next, we visited with my surgeons, nurses and anesthesia team. We were ready to get this cancer out of me and they were taking me early yay. During surgery they removed the cancer, removed one lymph node to be tested (procedure 2) and the plastic surgeon did the reduction to make sure that everything was symmetrical (procedure 3). I have been doing good with recovery, just taking it easy.  I have been to the plastic surgeon, and he says I am healing nicely. The general surgeon let us know that the lymph node came back clear, and the cancer has been removed and all margins are clear. Praise God. I go to the oncolog

Sorry for the delayed update, but we hit a few bumps in the road.  So, I had my MRI February 16th as planned.   I then went to my oncologist on the 20th and the surgeon on the 21st.   Those appointments were a little tough since the MRI had not been read.   The oncologist explained I would see her every 6 weeks until August to check in and have my immunotherapy.   I couldn’t have the immunotherapy that day since it is a new year we had to wait until the insurance approved.    Next, we had the appointment with surgeon which was informative as he gave us the options for surgery.   It was decided that a lumpectomy and reconstruction followed by radiation was my best option.    We quickly had it scheduled (for the next week) pending the MRI results.   Well, you guessed it, here is where we hit the bump in the road.   The MRI report was in, and they could see a new spot on the other side.   A biopsy was scheduled for the next week and surgery was canceled.   We needed to find out what t

January 30th was my last round of chemotherapy.  I got a certificate and rang the bell and everything.  I am not done with treatments, but I am done with CHEMO, especially the dang red devil, so that is something to be very happy about.   I just need to feel good enough so I can celebrate.   I will go for immunotherapy until July or August. But that is not as hard on me.   So now what: Fe bruary 16 th an MRI. February 20 th an appointment with the oncologist and immunotherapy. February 21 st an appointment with the surgeon to see what my options are. Hopefully by the end of the month we will have the next plan of action. 

Finally, someone recognized me in public!  I received my wig back in November and put it on right away.  It was my hair but not my style, no bangs. I have had bangs for 14+ years.  So, the plan was for my niece to style it in December when we went to visit mom in Florida.  Well guess what, I didn’t get to go since I was feeling crummy.  Such is life, so my sister quickly scheduled flights for her and Ashley to come to TN for the long MLK holiday weekend.  My kitchen turned into a beauty shop, and everyone agreed that the wig needed bangs.  Ashley prepped the wig for the cut.  The plan was to go slow and steady and not cut too much, because there is no turning back once THE cut happens.  With a plan of action, we were ready to go, and we all held our breath during the first cut of the scissors.  It was crazy!  After that first snip to add bangs, I looked in the mirror and wow what a difference.  She made a few adjustments and now the wig is perfect.  I’m me again!! The story of my

Happy New Year! I hope everybody had a wonderful holiday season. We took it easy this year, as you can imagine, but it was nice.  We spent Christmas Day at my mother-in-law Helen's with all the local family. It was fun to see everyone, but it took me days to recover from being around people, since I don't get out much. I know I've been quiet lately, but it's because this second round of chemo has really been kicking my butt. The red devil, as they like to call it, is not my BFF.  It takes me down for several days. Lyle continues to be my rock through this. He has talked to the nurses and pharmacists to make sure we could control the nausea.   Thankfully he has us a good system. I had my 15th treatment on Tuesday, January 4th.  Treatment had a few bumps, but I managed to push through.  There was only one loud talker this time, but I slept through most of her time there.  I will say that the red devil is consistent, and it knocks me down for several days again. And no, i

This second round of treatment is kicking my butt.   I do ok the first few days, but then it takes me down for the count for several days.   I don’t throw up but am very nauseous.   I am also exhausted, even taking a shower wears me out.   I now understand why they call it the Red Devil, I have called it a few other names too. I went to the endocrinologist since my doctor was concerned with some of the blood test results. It was determined that the steroids are the culprit of that.   He also said the swelling in my face and the rash are all due to that.   He said there wasn’t anything he could do for me other then to tell me to stop taking steroids, which I have.   It will just take time to get back to normal, so basically that means hurry up and wait. For the remainder of my treatments, I get to see the doctor.   I have just 2 treatments left, Lyle will get me there kicking and screaming.   Lyle is my rock; he is getting me through the crummy days. Funny story from my treatment

First up this week was blood work and then vitals.  Then I got to see Dr. Hamilton.   She gave us the results of the scan from last week.   She says they do not see anything on the scan, so what we are doing is working.   I told her my neuropathy has gotten worse, and she wasn’t happy with me that I hadn’t told her.   She has put me on medication to try and help that, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.   This week starts the 2nd round of treatment.  It will last for 12 weeks, and I will now go every 3 weeks for treatment.  So that means I only have 3 more treatments to go.  I am starting new CHEMO drugs.  One of them is known as the red drug.  It looks like they are putting red Kool-Aid in me, which is crazy.  This week has been hard adjusting to the new drugs.  I am very tired and just feel weird, but I am lucky and thankful that I am on the right path to beat cancer.

This Monday started out differently. I had to go at 8am for a chest scan. Because of this, we had to adjust my treatment time… ugh here we go with messing with my routine. The scan was quick and painless, and we were able to grab breakfast since I had to fast for the scan. We arrived for my treatment and of course the lobby was filling up quickly, especially with loud talkers. Good news though; masks are now optional, so that made Lyle happy. I got my blood work drawn and was sent back to wait to be called back for treatment. Well wait is what we did. I finally had to ask if they forgot me. They didn’t really forget me, just coded me wrong. So, they took me back to a VERY full treatment room! I claimed a chair, barely, and then continued the wait. I think they overbooked ☹. Well finally at 11am (my appointment was at 10am and we were there early) they started, my premeds. Treatment went fine, and we were off for the commute home. It was quick without stopping for lunch tod

Monday’s treatment was quick and easy, yay.  Still having more good days then bad.  I found out that the MRI has been denied, gotta love insurance.  So, they have ordered a CAT scan instead and that will happen Monday.    On to other news, John Lucas is part of the fantastic Cookeville Children’s Theater production of Beauty and the Beast.  I don’t get out much these days, but I can’t miss seeing him on stage.  I have already seen it twice and plan going a few more times.  Wow what an amazing production with such amazing talent.  He plays Maurice, who is Belles Dad.  He does an amazing duet with Belle, played by his friend Ella Choate, and it is SO good.  The name of the song is No Matter What.  Here is just a little of the lyrics: No matter what the pain We've come this far I pray that you remain Exactly as you are There are shows this weekend and next. You need to go see it; you will not be disappointed.   Just so you know, John Lucas never lets us hear him before