14 YEARS!

                  Today is my Cancerversary of 14 years!

The First nine years with stage 3, and the last five with stage 4.

I  spent my morning doing an hour of yin yoga and then swimming to "test" out my lung :) I felt pretty good, just a little sore.

‎"you're safe not because of the absence of danger, but because of the presence of God" ♥

Today's Biopsy

Thank you everyone for the prayers today. The short version of today is...It was kind of rough...they removed about 32 oz. of fluid from my lung.... kept me for observation doing a series of xrays to make sure the lung had not been hit or collapsed...it is hard to take deep breaths...but I am home now and on rest for 24 hours :) Chris was by my side every moment that he could be. Please continue to pray as we await the results. 

Waiting for me when I arrived home was a wonderfully clean house, thank you Maria! And some goodies from my  son...Thank you Matt ♥ 

Biopsy scheduled

I received my MRI results from the brain scan today...everything there is fine :) The chest x-ray confirmed the pleural effusion (fluid on the lung) but nothing else new.
TOMORROW morning at 9:30 I am having a biopsy on the lung to get to the fluid. This has been the area of concern. I will also be awake during the biopsy with only a local drug to numb the area.
The risks, as I have been told are; collapsing a lung, bleeding and infection. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to this :(
It means a lot to me to know you are praying for tomorrow, my family and the doctors... as well as the results. Your prayers and encouragement are very much appreciated! Thank you.

Waiting...

Home after 3.5 hours at the hospital. Had the brain MRI , Faslodex injection and chest xrays. They were trying to get the doctor to do the lung biopsy today but he wanted me to have the xrays done. No results...waiting...praying...



"Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work".~ Peter Marshall

Update

 First up is an MRI of my brain TOMORROW at 1:00, followed by my monthly faslodex injection.

My PET scan is being looked at today,  the doctors will now  decide about the biopsy on my lung. Hope to know that answer tomorrow when I am up there.

 Todays fun~ decompression therapy....not exactly the 2 week break I was hoping for :( but....

               With faith, there is always hope. God can move mountains. ♥

Tumour Markers changed everything....

Needing prayer warriors...if you don't mind keeping Chris and I in prayer.

My original tests did come back looking good, however there was a small amount of fluid on my lung. My Onc. did not feel it was enough to biopsy and with my scan looking fine otherwise, he said to just check it in 3 months with an xray.

That was before my tumour marker results came in. They are high, very high. Now the fluid needs to be checked. Two doctors are being contacted to give their opinion on whether they feel they can safely (risk of collapseing my lung) get the fluid for a biopsy. If they say yes, then that is the next step. if they so no, I have no idea what is next.

With my history of headaches, they may also be ordering a brain scan. The lung is the primary concern right now.

I guess the specific prayer request would be for discernment for all the doctors on weather or not to do a biopsy, and if so that this procedure goes well, without complications and that the fluid does not show any cancer. Or better yet, that the fluid is gone altogether.

Also prayers for Chris and I as we are having a hard time wrapping our heads around this again and could use your prayer support.
Will update when I have more news.
Thank you friends & family

Closing with something that brings so much joy to my heart, a picture of my grandbaby boy.

Dear Cancer....

photo found on a facebook page of a little boy, Jonathan, fighting liver cancer, also stage 4

 Friends and Family.... my tests and labs are all fine! Just waiting for the tumour marker results. The PET scan looked good. The one area of concern is some fluid on my right lung. It was there last time ( 6 mo.ago) and has increased slightly. Dr. A says there is not enough to do a biopsy. He said it could be from all the damage from the radiation and there is nothing else surrounding the area to indicate cancer, but we have to watch it.. I will have a chest x-ray in 3 months to check it again.

The day of testing went better than it ever has. I felt calm, did not have any problems with migraine's or even a headache! Much, much better!

Dr. A continue's to remind me that my situation is not ordinary, or as he put's it "your just weird"!  I think he encourages me with how well I have done so far without letting me forget the reality of this disease at this stage.He mentioned a new chemo that will be out soon that is showing promising results for people who are HER2+. He said, "I hope we don't have to have that discussion but it is another tool in our back pocket".

I mentioned that it has now been 5 years since the Stage 4 diagnosis...he gave me a hug and said "I love you guys"!

 Thank you Lord...thank you prayer warriors, friends and family :)

Facing Friday

Six more month's have come and gone and it is that time again for labs, testing and my semi annual meeting with my oncologist.

I will be having a PET scan which is the test I tend to have trouble with. The 24 hours prior requires you to have no sugar, caffeine or exercise. Then no food or drink after midnight.
The lack of food and caffeine triggers migraines for me. This will be the first PET scan since the changes I have made eliminating foods that cause inflammation.

Although I still have some headaches, I have not had a migraine for a while and the headaches are reduced tremendously. We will see how this plays out on Friday.

I will have my lab results and PET results on Friday when we meet with Dr. A. The tumour marker tests take a bit longer to get back so I will have to wait on those.

The last testing came back showing "No evidence of disease", however, the tumour markers were elevated.

We will be praying for NED once again and for all labs to be in "normal" ranges. We would love to have you join us with your prayers, thoughts, well wishes, fingers and toes crossed!!

I feel unusually calm so far, only moments of worry now and then. Keeping my time busy with swimming lessons, Liam and watching the Olympics is helping! I know that God gives me the peace and comfort through all things.

This testing will mark 5 years as a Stage 4 cancer survivor...Facing Friday with Faith.