Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Visit with my oncologist, Dr Sharma

Happy Halloween!

News and notes from today's visit with Dr. Sharma: she was VERY pleased by the treatment effect of the chemotherapy on the original tumor; because of the success of chemotherapy and surgery, I can have my port removed now if I want; I will wait to have it removed when I have surgery to remove extra skin under my arms; I will NOT need radiation; I am ready to start the hormone-therapy drug Femara; I will also start taking Vitamin D and calcium because of the side-effects of Femara; protocol is to take it for five years if everything goes well; I do have some lymph fluid build-up in my chest and underarm that should reabsorb in a few months; I will meet with a nurse next week to understand issues related to lymphedema (lymphatic obstruction), I should continue to take it easy for three months to let my body heal from chemo and surgery - I still have a sore left hand and right foot from Taxol; AND slowly move to lifestyle changes of low-fat diet, increased exercise, and less stress! That just about sums up our visit today. I will see Dr Sharma again in January. Wow, that was a lot of information!!


You probably recognize Dr Sharma on the left, but this is the first picture I have taken with Kim. EVERYTHING in Dr Sharma's clinic goes through Kim - she is the nurse who can make anything happen. In fact, Kim even gave Nancy and me advice for our trip to Vegas in December. She said ' Don't buy into any time-shares and don't take any of the booklets and cards from people on the street!

I didn't realize until today how much I appreciate Dr Sharma and her staff at KU Med. It is a little corny, but I had a strong warm and fuzzy feeling about our visit. It probably had to do with the fact that she directed the treatment plan that has me to the point where I can say 'things look good for me.' I gave Dr Sharma and Kim hugs as we left, I just wanted them to know how much I appreciated the care they gave to me. I first met them on May 29 (the day after Memorial Day) and, now, five months later I feel a certain gratitude to them that is difficult to describe. Part of me wants to say they saved my life, but I just can't write that right now. I know this journey with cancer could change at any moment from the good news that I have to something more challenging. Back to Dr Sharma and Kim - how do I thank them - adequately? Nancy and I both shared our appreciation with them before we left today, but it just doesn't seem to be enough. I know they would say - we're just doing our jobs. But there has to be more to it. I am sure they get their own 'warm fuzzies' in helping people who have cancer. Hopefully, we are all doing life work that gives us those same feelings. Anyway, back to the feeling from today - the warm and fuzzy feeling of 'care and love' for Dr Sharma and Kim. My special 'shout out' goes to them. Thanks ladies for getting me to this point!! I know I have said it a couple of times before on this blog, but I still highly recommend Dr Sharma if you find yourself in need of an oncologist.

Love to all,
Mary Kay

Monday, October 29, 2007

She's One!! Happy Birthday to my grand-niece Natalie Grace Brenneman


Natalie enjoyed her very own birthday cake by sticking her fingers in it.
She didn't make much of a mess. I guess she doesn't take after her father!



What is Dad's job on his daughter's first birthday?
You got it, to document the event.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Need a boost to your morale? Just spend a little time with the folks at LSP


Ben, Candi, and Todd dressed in costume
for the 'Elton John' themed October birthday party.
As organizers of the party,
they certainly set the tone for the event.



Right back at you, Ben!



Mary gave a special birthday hug to Olivia.



Wade was one of the star performers for the party.
He gave an interpretive reading of the lyrics
to Elton John's song "Circle of Life."



Molly (with the red boa) had an October birthday.
Kim said she wanted to be honored, too.



Todd sang an Elton John song to me.


Andrea said "I can sing and dance, too!"
Sue just wanted to hide behind her Foster Grants.


Wade and his daughter



Andy and his family. His birthday was on Wednesday.


Who is that woman behind the mask?

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

No more Drains!

Nancy and I drove to Kansas City on Tuesday afternoon to have my three drains removed. The drive was definitely worth it. Ruth, Dr Connor's nurse, removed the drains with such skill that there was no pain involved. I did not feel the 12 inches of drain tubing that ran from under my arm to my breast bone as she pulled them out of my body. The holes in my skin where the tubes exited my body will take a couple of days to close, but I already feel much better without the tubes. My next appointment is with my oncologist, Dr Sharma, on October 31. I am guessing that I will start the hormone therapy at that time.

Nancy wanted to take this photo as we were leaving the Cancer Center on Tuesday. She loves this glass artwork and asked me to pose in front of it. This piece was at the Cancer Center when it was located in the KU Med hospital, so Nancy appreciated it when they moved it to the new Westwood Cancer Center that is about a five minute drive from KU Med hospital.





Kelly, Sam, and Joey left the Manhattan hospital on Tuesday. I am sure Garrett and Anna (and Grandma Thielen, Great-Grandma Siefers, and Kevin and Sharon) are glad to have them home in Dorrance.

Monday, October 22, 2007

More photos of Sam Thielen


Garrett is a proud older brother!



Great Grandma Siefers and Sam



Sam's mom and dad, Kelly and Joey Thielen

Sunday, October 21, 2007

It's A Boy - Sam Joseph Thielen



Sam was born Sunday morning around 6:45 am in Manhattan.


Isn't he adorable?

Thursday, October 18, 2007

A Special Friday Birthday 'Shout Out' to my brother-in-law Greg Brenneman, seen here with his daughter Jody

Breast Health - Not Mine, Yours!

Ok, so now that I do NOT have breasts, I want to talk about YOUR breasts. Are you doing your monthly self breast exams? A lot of the women I have talked to who have/had breast cancer found it themselves. I found mine by accident as I was scratching under my arm and on my breast. I confess, I did not do monthly self breast exams, but I want YOU to do them!! There is a lot of literature on breast health and self exams. If you are reading this blog entry, I know you have the capability find resources if needed. My 'accidental' finding probably saved my life or at least extended my life by many, many years. Either way, I am happy to be cancer free - it sounds a lot better than saying I have breast cancer. Wow, I like that last sentence!! Anyway, I want you to think incorporating monthly self breast exams into your own routine. Men can get breast cancer, too, so guys this is something for you to think about as well.

I am anxiously awaiting the birth of my fifth grand niece/nephew! Kelly and Joey Thielen, the parents of Garrett and Anna, are expecting their third child any day now. Every time Joey has called me the last week, I think it is about the baby. Actually, I am finding that Joey is having a little fun by calling me several times just to get me excited. He knows when I see it is his number on caller ID that I will think it is to announce that he has a new baby. Very funny Joey!!

Love to all,
Mary Kay

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Post-surgery report and lots of emotions

Update from post-surgery visit with Dr Connor on Monday: overall, my recovery from bilateral mastectomy two weeks ago is going well; still too much volume to take out drains (one came out accidentally Sunday night, so I only have three left); I can get the other three out when they are draining less than 30 cc in a 24 hour period; will probably have additional surgery in six months or so to take care of ‘extra’ skin under my arms; final pathology report indicated NO cancer in 7 nodes (they took 4 sentinel nodes on left side, 1 sentinel node on right side, and 2 non-sentinel nodes on right side); the original tumor site of 3.0 x 1.4 x 1.0 cm had only .2 cm of residual tumor!

What does all of this mean? The chemotherapy worked on the original tumor and almost eliminated all the cancer in my breast. So – if I had cancer in any other part of my body, hopefully that was eliminated as well. I am hesitant to say I am cancer free, it seems as if that would be bragging or testing fate. I just want to say that my tests and reports are all favorable about the effectiveness of my treatment up to this point!!

I have chosen to give people the opportunity to follow my journey with cancer by posting my experiences (both physical and emotional) on this blog. It is just what I have chosen to do – to share my experiences so that others can understand what my cancer journey is like. Other cancer patients might choose to take a very private journey, while others might just share with family and close friends. We just have to choose the approach that is best for us. I am not sure why I am writing this paragraph, but I think it has to do with my emotional state right now. Warning – cancer can cause one to struggle with one’s state of mind!

I have not shared a lot of my personal responses lately on this blog. I think it is because I have been consumed with the actual events of finishing chemo and getting ready for surgery. Now, I feel ready to write about some of those thoughts.

On the ride home on Monday from the doctor’s visit, I experienced a whole range of emotions. I did not have a feeling of exuberance or an ‘I beat it’ mentality, I just felt a little numb about my journey with cancer. In fact, I felt sad and reserved. Nancy told me I looked like I was in a zone.

Ok, I’m back. I just had a big breakdown and cry. I am not sure what it was all about, but I am feeling so many emotions that I can’t make sense of them. I think the physical pain and discomfort from the chemotherapy and surgery has finally caught up with me. I want to heal faster, but my body is telling me that it definitely needs more time to deal with things. Emotionally, I just don’t know where to go with the idea that I have had a good response from my treatment while so many others have not had that happen to them. I know I still have five years of hormone therapy to go before I am finished with my entire treatment plan, but right now I feel like I have finished the Big 2 – chemo and surgery. I guess I need a little time to process that before I can move to the next phase of treatment. In fact, I rescheduled the appointment with my oncologist, Dr Sharma, from Wednesday until the last week in October. I am tired right now and want to rest before I start the anti-estrogen medication. I now understand the meaning of what I have heard other cancer patients say about taking a break from treatment. You just need a little time when nothing is happening to your body that will make you sick or sore.

Why do I feel guilty about sharing honestly how I feel? I think it is because we don’t want to share our authentic feelings when things are not going well or when we hurt or when we are struggling. I want to be able to report that things are great and that I am fine, but I know we all have days when that is not the case. This just happens to be my day.

Love to all,
Mary Kay

Monday, October 15, 2007

Photo of the Day - Apple Pie from my cousins Diann and Ken Goodyear


This apple pie is so good that it deserves to be the photo of the day! Diann and Ken left this pie outside our front door on Monday evening because we did not get home from KC until 6:45 or so. My nephew Matt stopped by Monday evening, so Nancy, Matt and I enjoyed a scrumptious piece of pie during our visit.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Just resting and healing - and watching replays of the Jeff Gordon win at Talladega

Recap - I had a bilateral mastectomy on October 2, preliminary pathology indicated no cancer in any nodes, still waiting on final pathology. My post-surgery appointment with Dr Conner was originally scheduled for today - Thursday, but we rescheduled it to Monday because my drainage rate is still too much to take the drains out. So, hopefully on Monday I will get rid of these nuisance tubes!! I had a couple of difficult days this week (Tuesday and Wednesday) due to an infection that made me feel as if I had taken two or three steps backward. I am feeling better today (Thursday) and the discomfort around the surgery area is much less than it has been. Truly, the drain incisions and tubes are the most uncomfortable part of this whole ordeal!

I was only one of three last weekend on my sports interests. The KC Chiefs and my beloved Wildcats lost last weekend, but the #24 Dupont Chevrolet driven by Jeff Gordon won at Talladega in an exciting move on the last lap. I have watched the replay twice this week. Hopefully, this will be the weekend for the Purple Pride!!




We are having our backyard rejuvenated with the building of a deck and patio area. I thought I would share a couple of photos to update you on the progress. Nancy and I hope to entertain you in the new area!! I have included photos from each end of the project. I can't wait for the hot tub!!

Love to all,
Mary Kay

Photo of the day - Jane and Nancy


I want to give a special 'shout out' to Jane Bieber for taking care of Nancy and me for a couple of days after my surgery. Jane, Nancy's sister from Lincoln, Nebraska, literally took care of everything for us so that I could heal and Nancy could rest a little. I am not sure how much Nancy actually rested, but it wasn't because she needed to do anything around the house. Thanks Jane for your care and concern in caring for us!!

Friday, October 5, 2007

I'm sore, but at least I am home!


Nancy and I arrived home on Thursday at 2:00 pm and were welcomed by Barbara (Nancy's sister) and Kramer - the best dog in the world. I am sore in the chest area (big surprise) and underarm area, but other than that, I feel ok. I am still taking pain pills to stay ahead of the pain and they also help me sleep. The drainage tubes cause a little discomfort in the underarm area where they are attached and there is the whole issue of carrying them around with me. I have to make sure the tubes and drainage bulbs don't get caught on anything. So, they are a bit of a nuisance.

This will be a good weekend to relax because of all the TV sports - NASCAR, K-State football, Chiefs, and more NASCAR. I have been watching NASCAR practice today, yes, I am in it that much!! Hopefully, all my favorites will have a good weekend - go K-State, go Chiefs, and go Jeff Gordon/#24 Dupont Chevrolet!!

Love to all,
Mary Kay

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

I love my support team!


My nieces Jody and Rebecca came through for me - again. They bring so much love and life to me each time they are around and they make me LAUGH. This is my first photo without breasts. What do you think? I think I look pregnant. I have four drains, two on each side, to collect the lymphatic fluid. You can see the red-colored fluid in the lines that run from my incisions to the four collection bottles. The nurse had just emptied them right before this picture. I will have these drain tubes until I see the surgeon on October 11. Hopefully, at that time there will be very little or no drainage at all.


My support team consisted of Nancy, Jody, Debbie, Rebecca, Susan and Mom. I forgot to take a picture of Susan and Mom before they left to return to Dorrance. Drats!!!

I will probably go home sometime on Thursday if all goes well tonight (Wednesday) with pain control. I am no longer on IV pain medicine, but I am taking oral pain medicine. I have been walking the hallways to make sure I am stable on my feet and to speed my recovery. My chest and underarms are sore, but they seem to get better with each passing hour. At the time of this writing, I have only been out of surgery for 26 hours. I guess I am quite fine in my recovery!

This hospital is FULL!! I did not to leave the recovery unit until 2:00 pm today (Wednesday) because the hospital did not have any open rooms/beds. Five other patients and I spent the night in PACU (post anesthesia care unit) because of this. Normal protocol is to stay in the recovery room for 1 - 3 hours, but we stayed for 17 hours!! It was very quiet in PACU until 6:00 am when things started rolling for a new day of surgeries.

I guess you heard in the last post that my nodes were clean! Dr. Connor took four nodes on the cancerous side and one from my right side. She said there will be more pathology on the nodes, but the early tests indicated no cancer. The only restrictions I have on my activity for the next month is no housework such as doing dishes, vacuuming, laundry, and cooking. Can you believe that? Oh yeah, Dr Connor doesn't want me to referee any football games because I can not lift my arms high enough to signal Touchdown!! Double Drats...

That's all for now, but I do want to thank Nancy, Debbie, Susan, Mom, Rebecca and Jody for being with me. My Wednesday 'shout out' and my love goes to them. I also want to thank Nancy, Susan, and Debbie for the guest blog entry from last night.

Love to all,
Mary Kay

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

A Cause for Celebration

GUEST BLOGGERS - SUSAN THIELEN, DEBBIE BRENNEMAN AND NANCY BOLSEN

Imagine that ...Siefers Celebrating today!!!

Mary Kay entered KUMED (KUMC) about 9:30AM this morning and finally at 8:00PM tonight we got to see her.

Good news!! No lymph node involvement in either breast!!! Music to all of our ears! In that spirit we decided to celebrate her good news and Jody McClelland's 26th birthday at the Classic Cup in the Country Club Plaza (on Mary Kay).

Seriously, Mary Kay had quite a day. Dye in the nuclear medicine department first, then surgery prep, etc. and finally surgery started at 2:00PM. Mary Kay is currently giving orders in the recovery room. She will be moved to a room as soon as one is available. She is having a coke, eating ice, throwing off her blankets and we are sure very relieved. She did say that she wasn't sure if she wanted to go home tomorrow.

Also here with us is Velma Siefers, Mary Kay's mom who most of you know and another niece, Rebecca Siefers who lives in the Kansas City area as Jody does.

Our gracious thanks for all your prayers, good wishes and great energy you sent to her and us this day. We will write more tomorrow.

We also want to send a "special shout out" to our visitors-Susan Scott, Jeri Wimer, and Eva Winkler!!! It was good to see each of you!

Nancy, Debbie and Susan

PS We tried to have a picture but Nancy was scolded by the Surgery Nurse for taking a picture. No cameras allowed! We will try again tomorrow.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Surgery on Tuesday, October 2


I want to give an October 2nd birthday 'shout out' to my niece Jody and my cousin Diann. Jody has been extremely supportive of me during my cancer journey by visiting during chemo, giving me lots of cards and gifts, and, in general, just being Jody. She was the catalyst for my birthday book from my nieces and nephews. My cousin Diann Goodyear has provided me 'encouragement' for my journey by giving me one of my favorite comfort foods - homemade beirocks. Thanks Jody and Diann and Happy Birthday!

I am ready for surgery!! I have done a lot of 'work' preparing myself for the bilateral mastectomy as well as work on the emotional and mental aspects of my new body. I have tried to address body image issues and to prepare myself for the emotional and physical effects of the surgery. I know the bilateral mastectomy is the right choice for me and I am anxious to get this part behind me. The only hesitation I have about the whole ordeal is finding out the status of lymph nodes. Has the cancer spread to the lymph nodes or are they clean?

I will have a great support team in Kansas City with me. Nancy, Mom, Susan and Deb will be there for the surgery and Jody and Rebecca will probably stop by after work. It doesn't get any better than that! I am so appreciative to have such a wonderful family.... There isn't much more to say about them, but that I love them very much. I am scheduled to check-in at 9:30 am on Tuesday morning at KU Med, then go to Nuclear Medicine for the 'dye' injection into the area of my tumor and then back to surgery prep after that. In addition to the bilateral mastectomy, I am having a sentinel lymph node biopsy which is intended to remove as few lymph nodes as possible. The dye will drain into the lymph nodes that are responsible for draining the area of the breast that was affected by cancer. If the 'sentinel' lymph nodes contain cancer, Dr Conner might remove more nodes. If there is no cancer, she will probably leave other lymph nodes in place. I am guessing that my surgery (the bilateral mastectomy and the sentinel lymph node biopsy) won't start until 11:00 am or later. Dr. Conner indicated that the surgery would take approximately three hours and if all goes well, I can leave the hospital Wednesday or Thursday. I am hoping for just one day in the hospital. (The arrival time was originally scheduled for 6:30 am, but I received a call from Dr Conner's office that my new check-in time is 9:30.)

Hopefully my support team will post an update after surgery to let everyone know how things are going. Remember, they are rookies with my blog, so if you don't see a post right away, don't worry!