over, under, around and through...

it's a tap dance with
no rhythm.
it's a waltz
counting 3-2-1.
no square dance has
four corners.
the tango isn't
done with one.
the two-step is
out of step.
the last dance
will always be
ashes, ashes
we all fall down.
trying doesn't
feel like doing.
even the leaves
don't make sense.
when they dance 
down the street
it sounds like rain.

30 days hath September...

This one felt like 112.

So...
the oncologist is ixnay on another port. Too risky
for another infection. It's looking like the last chemo
treatment will be mid-November.

We met with the surgeon (same one that did the biopsies
back in March). She has Carol scheduled for an MRI
about two weeks after the last chemo treatment. It will help
her determine how much cancer is left and where. We'll
have another consultation with her in early December and
she'll let us know how extensive the surgery will be and when.

There was another consultation with a plastic surgeon last week.
He will attend the surgeon to do the skin grafts.
Basically, Carol will be getting a total mastectomy plus. 
The surgeon will be removing tissue from just below the collar
bone, several inches beneath the breast, a couple inches into
the center of the chest, under the arm (to include lymph glands)
and part way around to her back. We're not talking one incision
to close with stitches. Thus the skin grafts at the time of surgery.

We also met with the radiologist. He said radiation will be
started about four weeks after surgery/when enough healing has
taken place so as not to add to the risk of complications.
He wants to do radiation twice a day, five days a week for five or
six weeks. The oncologist is in favor of that schedule, too.
Although, the radiologist said he would reduce the treatments to
once a day if Carol decides twice is too difficult. But, that would
extend the radiation to at least seven weeks. He also mentioned
that extra care and special procedures will have to be used
in order to avoid radiation involving her heart.

Reconstructive surgery (to build another breast by using muscle
from either her abdomen or her back) is available to her.
That can't happen for at least six months after radiation to allow
for total healing and more testing to make sure the cancer is
gone. Carol said that she'd be just fine with a prosthetic to plop
into the left side of her bra. I applaud that thought. 



 

UPDATE: Second blip...

dammit.

My sister's new port is infected. Looks much like
the first one - bright red area about 8" diameter, 
skin is hot to the touch, several hard lumps can be felt
in the red area. The incision is scabbed even though 
this port was put in on August 1.
I had her call the oncologist yesterday.
The doctor on call ordered a Rx for antibiotics.
I'm going to make her call again tomorrow when
the office opens, just to make sure that her doctor
gets the info.
The first port was just above her elbow. This one is
just under her armpit, so it rubs against her body.
Plus, this one isn't as deep (bulges under the skin) and
makes it even easier to get irritated from rubbing.
I think the second crew that put in this port were careless idiots.

Her next chemo treatment is scheduled for Tuesday.

UPDATE: Her oncologist saw her Monday. Very concerned
about this second infection. She ordered the port to be removed
immediately. Her chemo, on Tuesday and from now on, will be
done via regular IV. After this treatment, she has to go back to
the lab so they can remove the drainage tube from the port area.
(That's a serious amount of infection/pus built up in just a couple days.)
Wednesday she'll get her regular Neulasta shot... after every
treatment to help keep her blood count good. And then she has a
consultation scheduled with a radiologist the same day. Radiation
happens after the surgery which happens when they decide 
chemo has shrunk the tumor masses as much as it can.
Don't know yet when she'll consult with the surgeon. 
There's going to be a massive amount of tissue removed, 
requiring skin grafts after.
 
Today was a long day. Tomorrow will be even longer.

Things change...

but still remain the same.

This is a poor excuse for a blog.
Will it get better? Dunno.

Sister is doing really well.
Her oncologist is sooooooo pleased with the 
results of the second chemo mix that she will
be scheduling more of the same, which will take
her into late September/early October.

I really should try to scrape together some haiku.
You know, just to fill some space here.
I still haven't ordered the USB cord for my camera
so I haven't bothered to take any pictures.

I'm pretty much a dud. Don't count on me for anything.
Hard to believe there are things missed from the past life.

Warm hugs and thanks to those who still check in.

First blip...

The second series of chemo-cocktails is going well.
It's been suspended, however, because of the staph
infection in the tissue around the port.

They administered chemo treatment #2 in chemo series #2
this past Friday and then sent her to radiology to have the
port removed from her arm. Rx antibiotics for ten days.

We went back to the cancer center yesterday so she
could get the follow-up shot that's given after every treatment
(helps keep white blood cell count where it should be).
I told the nurse the port incision was still draining bloody
pus and the area around it is flaming red and hard.


That's when we found out the lab report from the culture 
named the infection as staph. Apparently no one read the report.
So, the oncologist ordered a massive dose of antibiotics to be
administered by IV and was to be monitored for an hour.
Initial Rx (keflex) to be continued 4x day at home.

Stitches are to be removed this Friday and she has a 
follow-up visit with the oncologist next Monday. If the infection
is gone they will schedule when to put in a new port, 
wait for that to heal, and get back to more chemo.


It's been a reminder that everyone involved is human/not perfect.