First Dr. Visit

December 28, 2010

Several of you have asked me to keep you posted on my “situation”. So, here’s the latest.

Yesterday I went to the surgeon for my 2 week check-up. She released me and said all was healing well. I feel great! I was depressed after that appointment because that was all there was supposed to be – a short recovery and life would go on. But, that’s not what the Lord had in mind.

So, today I went to the gyn/oncologist. She said my case is a bit confusing because the stage of my cancer appears to be the earliest possible stage. But the tumor was the worst possible kind. So, even though it was caught early, the treatment needs to be the same as if it were later stage. The tumor was totally contained – which is still miraculous. She said she rarely sees people in her office at lower than stage #3. Based only on the pathology report from surgery, it appears I’m at the earliest stage – Stage 1.

Sooooooo the short story is I should do chemo as soon as possible. I will then have surgery to remove the uterus out and some lymph nodes.

I have an appointment at Mayo Clinic on January 20 for a 2nd opinion, but I really don’t want to wait that long. So I asked the Dr. if she could get me an appointment at Wash U (in St. Louis). And she did. I am going there on January 6. They are #17 in the U.S . in cancer treatment so I will feel good to get their opinion.

I feel peaceful about all of this. The Dr. said that most of her patients do well with chemo. She said I am healthy and YOUNG (she said that twice – makes me question her eyesight, but it made me really like her!) and she thinks I will do fine. So I am ready to do this. I don’t look forward to it, but it is what God has chosen for me to do to celebrate my 60th birthday. So, I will do my best to be thankful during the next few months.

God has his hand on me or this wouldn’t have been caught so early. I’m confident He will give me the strength to get through this. Like I told my friend, Vicki, the Bible says “His strength is made perfect in my weakness” so this is His chance to shine because I’m definitely weak! :-) It wasn’t my goal in life to look like my bald headed brother, but I guess there are worse things!?? :-)

Thanks to all of you for your love and prayers.