I talked with Eve this afternoon. She's up and walking and in great spirits. This recovery will take some time, but she's determined to get home soon and move on with life!
I want to clarify one comment I made yesterday, Eve did not have a scan yesterday, she had a scope. During the surgery, they peeked around and bit and found no sign of cancer. Even better news than not finding anything with a scan!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A success!
Eve's surgery today was a huge success! After a long wait for the surgery to start, doctors were able to quickly return Eve's body to normal and remove the stoma. ALSO, scans of her body show NO sign of cancer!
Eve is resting at Stanford Hospital and is expected to be there for three or four more days. Please pray for a speedy recovery.
Eve is resting at Stanford Hospital and is expected to be there for three or four more days. Please pray for a speedy recovery.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Goodbye My Friend
Tonight is my last night with my bag. It’s strange - I feel almost sad.
I can’t believe that it has been 8 whole months since they put it on me. When I woke up from surgery on July 28, I’ll never forget how distressed that I was that it was there. I begged them to take it off quickly. Although they could have done so after 2 months, I was talked into waiting so that we could get a lot of chemo into my body. (You have to take a 3 month break around surgery to avoid some pretty scary complications.)
As I prepare for tomorrow’s surgery, I keep reflecting on the past 8 months. I thought that the bag would slow me down, but it didn’t. I have had adventures, worked full time, actively promoted cold cap therapy to help other cancer patients save their hair during chemo and have enjoyed my children thoroughly.
So here we are. The night before I say goodbye to my bag. Having this attached to my body has been a constant reminder of the battle that I am waging. It protected my colon for the last 8 months, allowing it to heal and grow stronger. It has been good to me, but now I am ready for it to go.
Tomorrow, at the crack of dawn, Pat and I will head down to Stanford for my 7th stomach surgery in 7 years, the 5th one that has been associated with cancer. I plan to have this be my last surgery (except for my facelift when I hit 70).
At 9:30 am PST, I will be under the knife once more. The surgery is scheduled to last until 11. Please send up a little prayer or positive thought that the surgeon won’t find any cancer and that the bag will be gone…forever.
I can’t believe that it has been 8 whole months since they put it on me. When I woke up from surgery on July 28, I’ll never forget how distressed that I was that it was there. I begged them to take it off quickly. Although they could have done so after 2 months, I was talked into waiting so that we could get a lot of chemo into my body. (You have to take a 3 month break around surgery to avoid some pretty scary complications.)
As I prepare for tomorrow’s surgery, I keep reflecting on the past 8 months. I thought that the bag would slow me down, but it didn’t. I have had adventures, worked full time, actively promoted cold cap therapy to help other cancer patients save their hair during chemo and have enjoyed my children thoroughly.
So here we are. The night before I say goodbye to my bag. Having this attached to my body has been a constant reminder of the battle that I am waging. It protected my colon for the last 8 months, allowing it to heal and grow stronger. It has been good to me, but now I am ready for it to go.
Tomorrow, at the crack of dawn, Pat and I will head down to Stanford for my 7th stomach surgery in 7 years, the 5th one that has been associated with cancer. I plan to have this be my last surgery (except for my facelift when I hit 70).
At 9:30 am PST, I will be under the knife once more. The surgery is scheduled to last until 11. Please send up a little prayer or positive thought that the surgeon won’t find any cancer and that the bag will be gone…forever.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
A Day At Stanford
Last Thursday, Pat and I spent a very long day at Stanford preparing for my surgery next Wednesday.
I started off my day with a barium enema. Let’s just say that this is not a pleasant way to start your day. The purpose of this procedure is to check to make sure that the colon is ready to work again. Fortunately, my colon seems ready to go back into use.
Then it was off to get blood work done before meeting with Dr. Fisher. I think that I had the best phlebotomist on the planet that day (trust me – I have had more than I care to count). She was funny and sweet, but most importantly, she was fast and I barely felt anything. I think that my veins are recovering and are now much easier to access. (As you may recall, they were pretty bad after all of the chemo that I’ve pumped through them.)
We then met with Dr. Fisher and Margreet, who walked through the various scenarios for my path forward following Wednesday’s surgery. They range from finding lots of cancer (we would probably try a new chemo) to finding no cancer (we would probably reduce my chemo to just one drug). So – although the surgery is not a difficult surgery, I am still very nervous about what I’ll wake up to.
But – my blood work was GREAT! Everything was normal. My CEA count was 1 (this test is used as a cancer indicator). 5 and below is normal. Some folks’ CEA numbers are in the hundreds.
Then I went on to meet with Dr. Shelton, surgeon extraordinaire. He said that the surgery and laparoscopy will be only about 1 hour. Apparently, it’s a fairly simple procedure to put my body back together. You gotta love surgeons – the confidence just oozes from every pore.
We then met with the anesthesiologist which was really quite unremarkable.
To end our day of fun at Stanford, we attended a huge colon cancer event (in honor of colorectal cancer awareness month) that was headlined by my own Dr. George Fisher. The 400 people in attendance (many of them patients or former patients) were treated to a lovely reception and evening of learning from the various doctors/scientists at Stanford about the advances that are being made in colon cancer. It was so exciting to hear what is being done. They are using words like “cure” as they discuss their research. One item of particular excitement for me was that there will be a Stanford trial that will be underway at the end of the year which will focus on changing the immunological response to cancer. It was very complicated, but what kept blaring through my head as the doctor was talking were the following thoughts: “THERE IS A POSSIBLE CURE FOR COLON CANCER” and “HOW THE HECK DO I CONVINCE THIS DOCTOR TO INCLUDE ME IN HIS TRIAL IF IT INCLUDES PEOPLE IN REMISSION?”
So, directly after the presentations, I bee-lined toward the poor doctor (he had no idea what was going to be coming at him) and in my most charming voice asked him how I would go about being considered for the trial. He responded that George Fisher would be making those decisions. Hearing that – I went straight to Dr. Fisher to charm him. Unfortunately, he told me that the biggest challenge for them was finding a hospital that would be willing to underwrite the costs of the trial. They are looking to conduct the trial on 10 people at $500,000 per patient. Needless to say, it is not a small undertaking. So – if anyone reading this blog has an extra $5 million burning a hole your pocket – please let Stanford know….
What was also special that evening was that I met another colon cancer patient and her lovely family who apparently have been reading my blog. They were kind enough to tell me that my blog had actually helped them as she was starting her cancer journey. Wow. To hear that someone who doesn’t know me or my family has found this blog to be of value to them meant more to me than I can possibly express. She is young, otherwise healthy (she is a marathon runner), has a young child and just had a baby 5 months ago. I saw the fear in her eyes, but there was a strength there as well. As I was talking to her, I remembered what it felt like when I was first diagnosed. Primarily I remember the constant fear. I then realized that I no longer feel that constant fear. I am not saying that I don’t have my moments – but fear no longer dominates my thoughts. I welcome the day that it will no longer overshadow hers as well. She has now joined our club of cancer warriors - the club that no one wants to join.
So, as I head into next week, I am calling upon you, my teammates in this cancer fight, to join me once again to come together to get me through this surgery. Please put a tickler on your calendar on Wednesday morning to send a little prayer or positive thought my way. And hopefully I will wake up with a new body and the knowledge that there was no cancer within.
I started off my day with a barium enema. Let’s just say that this is not a pleasant way to start your day. The purpose of this procedure is to check to make sure that the colon is ready to work again. Fortunately, my colon seems ready to go back into use.
Then it was off to get blood work done before meeting with Dr. Fisher. I think that I had the best phlebotomist on the planet that day (trust me – I have had more than I care to count). She was funny and sweet, but most importantly, she was fast and I barely felt anything. I think that my veins are recovering and are now much easier to access. (As you may recall, they were pretty bad after all of the chemo that I’ve pumped through them.)
We then met with Dr. Fisher and Margreet, who walked through the various scenarios for my path forward following Wednesday’s surgery. They range from finding lots of cancer (we would probably try a new chemo) to finding no cancer (we would probably reduce my chemo to just one drug). So – although the surgery is not a difficult surgery, I am still very nervous about what I’ll wake up to.
But – my blood work was GREAT! Everything was normal. My CEA count was 1 (this test is used as a cancer indicator). 5 and below is normal. Some folks’ CEA numbers are in the hundreds.
Then I went on to meet with Dr. Shelton, surgeon extraordinaire. He said that the surgery and laparoscopy will be only about 1 hour. Apparently, it’s a fairly simple procedure to put my body back together. You gotta love surgeons – the confidence just oozes from every pore.
We then met with the anesthesiologist which was really quite unremarkable.
To end our day of fun at Stanford, we attended a huge colon cancer event (in honor of colorectal cancer awareness month) that was headlined by my own Dr. George Fisher. The 400 people in attendance (many of them patients or former patients) were treated to a lovely reception and evening of learning from the various doctors/scientists at Stanford about the advances that are being made in colon cancer. It was so exciting to hear what is being done. They are using words like “cure” as they discuss their research. One item of particular excitement for me was that there will be a Stanford trial that will be underway at the end of the year which will focus on changing the immunological response to cancer. It was very complicated, but what kept blaring through my head as the doctor was talking were the following thoughts: “THERE IS A POSSIBLE CURE FOR COLON CANCER” and “HOW THE HECK DO I CONVINCE THIS DOCTOR TO INCLUDE ME IN HIS TRIAL IF IT INCLUDES PEOPLE IN REMISSION?”
So, directly after the presentations, I bee-lined toward the poor doctor (he had no idea what was going to be coming at him) and in my most charming voice asked him how I would go about being considered for the trial. He responded that George Fisher would be making those decisions. Hearing that – I went straight to Dr. Fisher to charm him. Unfortunately, he told me that the biggest challenge for them was finding a hospital that would be willing to underwrite the costs of the trial. They are looking to conduct the trial on 10 people at $500,000 per patient. Needless to say, it is not a small undertaking. So – if anyone reading this blog has an extra $5 million burning a hole your pocket – please let Stanford know….
What was also special that evening was that I met another colon cancer patient and her lovely family who apparently have been reading my blog. They were kind enough to tell me that my blog had actually helped them as she was starting her cancer journey. Wow. To hear that someone who doesn’t know me or my family has found this blog to be of value to them meant more to me than I can possibly express. She is young, otherwise healthy (she is a marathon runner), has a young child and just had a baby 5 months ago. I saw the fear in her eyes, but there was a strength there as well. As I was talking to her, I remembered what it felt like when I was first diagnosed. Primarily I remember the constant fear. I then realized that I no longer feel that constant fear. I am not saying that I don’t have my moments – but fear no longer dominates my thoughts. I welcome the day that it will no longer overshadow hers as well. She has now joined our club of cancer warriors - the club that no one wants to join.
So, as I head into next week, I am calling upon you, my teammates in this cancer fight, to join me once again to come together to get me through this surgery. Please put a tickler on your calendar on Wednesday morning to send a little prayer or positive thought my way. And hopefully I will wake up with a new body and the knowledge that there was no cancer within.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
ALL CLEAR!
This afternoon, I went to the City to meet with my fabulous oncologist, Dr. Garrett Smith to check in about my treatment. I'm delighted to inform you that I received great news - no evidence of disease (you probably already guessed that though because of the title of this blog).
I'm extremely relieved. This means that we will proceed with the surgery next Wednesday. While I'm not looking forward to yet another surgery, as Ellie would say "this is a good surgery."
Thank you all for your love, prayers and wonderful positive energy.
I'm extremely relieved. This means that we will proceed with the surgery next Wednesday. While I'm not looking forward to yet another surgery, as Ellie would say "this is a good surgery."
Thank you all for your love, prayers and wonderful positive energy.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Oh What a Night!
My sister periodically reviews my blogs before I post them. After reading this blog about my recent trip to Chicago, she told me not to post this. She felt that it was not relevant for my readers, because it wasn’t directly about my cancer. But I feel like this experience was a key part of my cancer journey. I would not have had this incredible opportunity had it not been for the cancer. So – I’m going to overrule my sister and go ahead and post this. For those of you who are only interested in my day to day battle with cancer – please feel free to push delete now. I promise I won’t be hurt.
You may remember from previous blogs my mention of the hair product company Kenra Professional, which has decided to devote their charitable giving efforts over the next several years to helping cancer patients keep their hair during chemotherapy. They are now in the process of launching that effort and getting the word out about this will be critical to the success of the project.
Cut to last weekend. For those of you who are not in the beauty industry (and I’d guess that’s about 99% of you), each year stylists from throughout the country vote on their favorite hair care products and celebrity stylists. The results are announced in an Oscars-like fashion to thousands of hair care professionals at the Annual Behind the Chair (BTC) Stylist Awards. This award show comes in the middle of the American Beauty Show (ABS), a HUGE trade show for the hair industry.
The BTC Stylist Awards was a show unlike any other I’ve ever seen. Between grand announcements of winners in each category (there are a surprising amount of types of hair care products), there were New York Fashion Week style catwalks, outrageous performances, comedy routines and celebrity presentations.
While the standard speech from the winners was how thrilled they were to be receiving this award and thanking those that helped make it possible, Kenra decided to use this opportunity to educate this key audience about cold cap technology and encourage them to learn about it so that they can help spread the word.
To do this, Kenra flew me and the two founders of the Rapunzel Project to Chicago to attend the Stylist Awards. Their plan was to have us accept an award on their behalf and plug cold cap technology should they win. As the night wore on my anxiety level increased – how about if they didn’t win? Of course, their hairspray has won best hairspray for the last 6 years, so they felt very good about their likelihood of winning – but I know that at least I was on pins and needles.
BUT THEY WON!!! As they named Kenra the winner of Best Hairspray (it really is phenomenal hairspray), we proceeded to the stage to speak to the thousands of attendees regarding saving your hair during chemotherapy, with the Kenra folks screaming their lungs out behind us. Oh what a night….
You can only imagine what the trade show was like the next day. The CEO of Kenra, Tim McKeenan, described it as “extreme sensory overload.” With catwalks everywhere, scantily-clad models, celebrity hairstylists giving demonstrations and music blaring from every booth, it was an event to be remembered. Let’s just say that I am sorely disappointed now with every transportation-related trade show I’ve ever been to.
What was far more meaningful than the Stylist Choice Awards or the ABS was getting to spend time with the wonderful folks at Kenra Professional. Their love and compassion for cancer sufferers astounded me.
So – once again, cancer has enabled me to meet people and experience things that I would never have met or experienced. That has been a blessing to me.
For those of you hoping to hear how last Friday’s scan went – I still don’t have any official news. Hopefully, I’ll be hearing that they didn’t find anything either tomorrow or Tuesday. This week is a busy week for me on the cancer front – I have an appointment with Dr. Smith on Tuesday and Drs. Shelton (my surgeon) and Fisher on Thursday. My Thursday appointments will include all of the pre-op work to prepare for my surgery on March 30th. Thank you all for your wonderful prayers and positive thoughts last Friday.
This last week, the love from the Kenra folks and the love from all of you as I was heading into my scan has once again made me realize how incredibly fortunate I am. I hope to provide all of you with an update soon on the results from Friday. Keep those fingers and toes crossed (unless you’re walking the catwalk…)
You may remember from previous blogs my mention of the hair product company Kenra Professional, which has decided to devote their charitable giving efforts over the next several years to helping cancer patients keep their hair during chemotherapy. They are now in the process of launching that effort and getting the word out about this will be critical to the success of the project.
Cut to last weekend. For those of you who are not in the beauty industry (and I’d guess that’s about 99% of you), each year stylists from throughout the country vote on their favorite hair care products and celebrity stylists. The results are announced in an Oscars-like fashion to thousands of hair care professionals at the Annual Behind the Chair (BTC) Stylist Awards. This award show comes in the middle of the American Beauty Show (ABS), a HUGE trade show for the hair industry.
The BTC Stylist Awards was a show unlike any other I’ve ever seen. Between grand announcements of winners in each category (there are a surprising amount of types of hair care products), there were New York Fashion Week style catwalks, outrageous performances, comedy routines and celebrity presentations.
While the standard speech from the winners was how thrilled they were to be receiving this award and thanking those that helped make it possible, Kenra decided to use this opportunity to educate this key audience about cold cap technology and encourage them to learn about it so that they can help spread the word.
To do this, Kenra flew me and the two founders of the Rapunzel Project to Chicago to attend the Stylist Awards. Their plan was to have us accept an award on their behalf and plug cold cap technology should they win. As the night wore on my anxiety level increased – how about if they didn’t win? Of course, their hairspray has won best hairspray for the last 6 years, so they felt very good about their likelihood of winning – but I know that at least I was on pins and needles.
BUT THEY WON!!! As they named Kenra the winner of Best Hairspray (it really is phenomenal hairspray), we proceeded to the stage to speak to the thousands of attendees regarding saving your hair during chemotherapy, with the Kenra folks screaming their lungs out behind us. Oh what a night….
You can only imagine what the trade show was like the next day. The CEO of Kenra, Tim McKeenan, described it as “extreme sensory overload.” With catwalks everywhere, scantily-clad models, celebrity hairstylists giving demonstrations and music blaring from every booth, it was an event to be remembered. Let’s just say that I am sorely disappointed now with every transportation-related trade show I’ve ever been to.
What was far more meaningful than the Stylist Choice Awards or the ABS was getting to spend time with the wonderful folks at Kenra Professional. Their love and compassion for cancer sufferers astounded me.
So – once again, cancer has enabled me to meet people and experience things that I would never have met or experienced. That has been a blessing to me.
For those of you hoping to hear how last Friday’s scan went – I still don’t have any official news. Hopefully, I’ll be hearing that they didn’t find anything either tomorrow or Tuesday. This week is a busy week for me on the cancer front – I have an appointment with Dr. Smith on Tuesday and Drs. Shelton (my surgeon) and Fisher on Thursday. My Thursday appointments will include all of the pre-op work to prepare for my surgery on March 30th. Thank you all for your wonderful prayers and positive thoughts last Friday.
This last week, the love from the Kenra folks and the love from all of you as I was heading into my scan has once again made me realize how incredibly fortunate I am. I hope to provide all of you with an update soon on the results from Friday. Keep those fingers and toes crossed (unless you’re walking the catwalk…)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lots to Write - But No Time To Do So
I have sooooo much to tell everyone. I just returned from the American Beauty Show and Stylist Choice Awards in Chicago where Kenra won Best Hairspray and used that opportunity to talk about cold cap technology. However, I'm exhausted and will plan to blog about this incredible experience over the weekend. (Trust me - it deserves its own blog entry)
Although I normally would wait to blog until I had time to do so - I feel compelled to blog today because I need your help. On Friday, I will be having a CT scan to simply check to make sure that I remain cancer free. If I get the "all clear" then I will be having surgery on March 30th to take down the stoma. Basically, this surgery will remove the bag and return my body to normal.
I'm on pins and needles waiting for the CT scan. That is why I am blogging. I am asking all of you for your prayers and positive thoughts this Friday. I'm hoping that the luck of the Irish will carry over an extra day for me....
Although I normally would wait to blog until I had time to do so - I feel compelled to blog today because I need your help. On Friday, I will be having a CT scan to simply check to make sure that I remain cancer free. If I get the "all clear" then I will be having surgery on March 30th to take down the stoma. Basically, this surgery will remove the bag and return my body to normal.
I'm on pins and needles waiting for the CT scan. That is why I am blogging. I am asking all of you for your prayers and positive thoughts this Friday. I'm hoping that the luck of the Irish will carry over an extra day for me....
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