Cancer Survivor?

Is it too early to say that I'm a "cancer survivor" when I have only known about having bladder cancer for a short time? Never! I had surgery one week ago today (Wednesday, June 24) and Dr. Fretz said that it was cancer but wasn't making any guesses about the grade until the pathology report came back. I waited around all day yesterday for the phone to ring. Nada! Frustrating.

But today.....Dr. Fretz called to give me great news! The cancer was caught early so it was "low grade" and "superficial" (meaning it had not penetrated the wall). I need no treatment but need to be checked every 3 months by Dr. Fretz due to the high probability of reoccurance. I was very blessed!

Shirley Doberenz came by for a visit this morning just as I was talking to the doctor. It was so nice to have a visitor even though I have no restrictions except lifting things. Shirley had no sooner gone when Jeannie Stuckey dropped by. What a wonderful surprise.

After lunch, since Tom had to go teach at Ivy Tech from 6:00 to 8:30, he encouraged me to head "south" so I am writing this from Noblesville. He will ride down here with Brent and the girls on Friday. Elizabeth will head this way after work on Friday. Looking forward to lots of celebrating this Fourth of July!!!

A Gladder Bladder!

"Bladder cancer"! I said these words to myself out loud for the first time today. Since surgery yesterday morning to remove a tumor and two stems which were behind it, I am coming to the realization that I have/had bladder cancer. It is strange to hear the words. Dr. Peter Fretz, my surgeon, will have the complete results, hopefully, by Tuesday. He said that he could guess at many possibilities but it would be silly to make any guesses until he reads the report. He will call.

It is very likely that the tumor(s) will grow back...in which case, we just go back and do this again. We just wait and see.

I haven't had even one pain pill since surgery and haven't had any sleep either. I should sleep tonight. Brent, Elizabeth, Layla and Marley, Kendra and Alexis just left to go home and shopping (Kendra, Elizabeth and Lexi). Tom is outside in the 90 degree heat deciding if he wants to mow anything tonight or not. The kids had pizza here for supper.

I have to be very careful for at least 2 weeks so I don't start bleeding. It could happen easily so I am not to lift more than 15 pounds. I had better empty my purse.

Well, life changes but I am grateful that so far, the cancer was caught at a very early stage (we assume) and I assume that I won't have to deal with anything like chemo etc. So, even with "bladder cancer", I guess that this is the way to go. God is good!

A Beautiful Bladder Which Could Have Been Badder

Well...today was the big "bladder' day. I am typing this from my hospital bed with the computer at a very bad angle. It is 12:15 a.m. and I can't sleep soooooo.....why not blog!

Kendra, Alexis (yes....my baby!), Brent, Elizabeth and Tom were here for the big morning. Sit and wait, sit and wait. Of course, I was worth it (at least that's what they said!)

The tumor was INSIDE the bladder which was the first that I had heard that. I figured that would be bad, but alas!...that is good. If it had been on the outside, that would have meant that it would have pushed through the wall and ....not good. There were also 2 other "stems" behind the tumor that he took. Hope that doesn't mean that I'm fertile for tumor growth. He says they will likely grow back and we'll go through this again. We'll know more Tuesday and Dr. Fretz will know how/if he needs to proceed.

Tomorrow

No it's not tomorrow yet...I'm just up early today! Can't sleep. Today I am suppose to get the call from the hospital telling me what time to come in for surgery. Let's get this done so people quit worrying! I'm not...so why are they!

The only really, really good part of all this is that Kendra and Alexis are coming (wish it weren't because of me having a snip, snip!!!) this evening for a couple of days!!! This will be her first big trip. Jason will go back to work at Chrysler on June 29th so this week he is still home with the boys.

Went to Battle Creek yesterday since my brother and wife from New Mexico are visiting their daughters in Kalamazoo for the week. Daughter Kelly is buying her paren's old house and they came for the closing. However there was a glitch and can't close until July. They will do it using technology. The proper papers are already signed.

I had brunch with Barry, Linda, Keith, Sharon, Debra and Mother. Four of these people are very loud because everyone wants to be "listened to". Not pretty!!! Sometime soon, I'll just bring Mother to my house...just the 2 of us!

After Barry and Linda left, Debra's son David and wife Naomi from North Carolina walked in and will be staying until next Thursday. Haven't seen them in 2 years.

Left Battle Creek at 4:00.

Back Home Again...

I arrived in Goshen at 4:00 this afternoon to see Tom, Layla and Marley. Elizabeth was heading to Indy for classes until Wednesday. I immediately unpacked and began a load of laundry because that is what I do.

Well, tomorrow are all of my pre-op tests. They will take an hour or two. Glad to get this business overwith.

Tom is teaching every morning through June at Concord and Monday and Wednesday nights through June. It is, therefore, very very quiet right now. It's a great night to begin book 4 of the "Heavenly Daze" series.

"Lexi Lou Who"

Having this little girl home is amazing. We forget that she is over 2 months old (nearly 10 weeks) and we aren't sure whether or not she has reached 7 pounds yet. Since she is home, she doesn't get weighed. Kendra will make a doctor's appt. tomorrow. Several appts have been made with specialists but this will be her first with her regular pediatrician.

Lexi has been sleeping so well through the night. She is eating well and is such a good baby.

Nicholas and Blake wake up and ask where Lexi is. I'm not convinced that they think she is really here to stay. They have been very loving and then they go do their own thing. Today has been a quiet, warm, uneventful day. Just hangin' with the kids. Life is good.