Yay! Out of the hospital and staying at Becky and Jared's tonight. I have a post-op appointment tomorrow with Dr. Kiener, my plastic surgeon. I have four drains still attached that will stay until there is little or no fluid left to drain. This is why I will be closely monitored by the plastic surgeon for a while.
The general surgeon, Dr. Harris, is going to get me set up with the oncologist for a consult appt. He said we will let the surgery heal for a while before starting any additional therapy. Also, as Scott mentioned in the last blogs, we will hopefully find out the final results of the lymph node biopsy tomorrow(Friday) or Monday at the latest.
I'm just so glad the major surgery is over!
I can't even begin to find words to explain how thankful I am to ALL of you for every prayer, good thought, card, flowers and just pure LoVe that has been sent my way! I have felt it all and I know I would not be doing nearly so well without all of it! So from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you! And... Keep those prayers a-coming! I am so blessed.

Just another note. Dr. Harris said the initial test of the lymph nodes were negative and they will have final results on Friday. They took three others as a precautionary measure so they should never need to go back.
Mary that is an incredible story. We love those.

Well after a 4 hr. wait she finally has a room. Tahoe tower 417 or T417 for short if you call tomorrow. She is doing ok but still pretty out of it. They sugested no visitors or calls tonight. I'm sure she will be ready to talk to everyone in the morning.
Scott

For all of the wonderful family and friends. Lois is in recovery and doing fine. The lymph nodes were negative (thank god) and surgery went well.
Thank you all so much for all you support, thoughts and prayers. I am so proud of my lovely wife for her strength an courage through all of this. I know her battle isn't over yet, but with your continued support I know she will have a complete and full recovery. I will send more when she is comfortably resting in her room.
Thank you all again.
Scott

On our way to Reno for my surgery. Scott will try to post something here as soon as he hears from the surgeon after my surgery. It is scheduled for noon, so hopefully it will start on time!
Thanks again for ALL the wonderful thoughts, prayers, good thoughts and everything else that will see me through!

Trying to stay calm and positive in light of the fact we are desperately trying to avoid some sort of bug. On Friday, I was feeling something coming on and had a little bit of a fever. It only lasted about 24 hrs and I seem to have gotten rid of it. Now Scott's stomach is not feeling so good. :-( maybe its just nerves... Ugh- bad timing.
I just want to get through this surgery on Tuesday and start the healing process.
I just really don't want the surgery postponed. Trying not to entertain that thought, but not sure what the protocol is for that.
Kinda sounding like a "Debbie Downer" here, but felt the need to purge that and hopefully now that I released it, the worry will be gone!
Tomorrow will be a better day, and
This too shall pass!
Thanks again to all who read this and send me prayers, good thoughts and vibes and all the love! I do feel it all and feel so very blessed! Now that's where my focus really needs to be!
See, I feel better already! :-)

Met with the plastic surgeon today to go over everything before the surgery. Ok, yes, basically to pick out my new breasts! Gotta have something to look forward to with all of this!! Ya, so I went ahead and ordered some Double Ds! Haha... Just kidding! Nothing too extreme here!
Anyway, I gotta laugh or I might cry! I will likely be very sore afterwards. I will have drains for several days. I will be making frequent trips to the Dr.'s office the first week or two. I am going to do my best to follow the post op instructions so I will heal quickly. May need to stay a little closer to Reno the first day or two after I get out of the hospital. We'll play it by ear though.
So, I guess I'm pretty much ready... Is it Tuesday yet?!?
My very dear friend, Kristy, has volunteered to stay with the pups while I'm in the hospital. Scott will be staying over at the hospital too. They have motel rooms right there at Renown, which makes it so easy.
Don't know how I could do this without all you wonderful people in my life!
Thanks y'all!

Friday morning, 1-11-13, the tumor board reviewed my case. This group is led by my nurse navigator, Laurie, and consists of about fourteen different physicians from all different specialties to review current or new breast cancer cases. Laurie called me to let me know how it went.
So I guess after my surgery I will be meeting with an oncologist to discuss the next course of treatment. Because I tested positive for the HER2 receptors, it is recommended to have a type of chemotherapy that specifically targets those receptors. (Herceptin is the name of this drug, for you medical people reading this!) I guess if it is used alone, it doesn't have the same side effects that many chemo drugs do. The bummer part is that the usual regimen is once every three weeks for 52 weeks.
Also, given that my KI 67 score (another test from the biopsy which predicts the chance of recurrence) was 51%, this also is criteria for being more aggressive with treatment.
Again, until I have the surgery, we won't know if there is lymph node involvement. I'm still very hopeful there is not! If there is,however, I may need another type of chemo drug along with the herceptin. So still need lots of prayers on that one! Thanks!
Genetic testing was also recommended from the board. Just as a precautionary measure for offspring and siblings. However, irregardless, ALL of you gals should be getting screening mammos at the appropriate time! If I had waited on this one, it could have been much more devastating considering the nature of my particular cancer.
So that was part of my roller coaster ride yesterday.
I also went in and got preregistered at Renown for the surgery.
Now I just need to find someone to stay with the doggies while we're gone for a day or two! My usual pet sitters both have jobs now!! Yay for David and Chris!!!'
And so it goes...<3

Finally got the news I hoped and counted on getting: the scans were negative! Dr. Harris' nurse called me back today to give me that news. So that's one less thing to worry about for now!
So thanks again, ever-so-much, for all the positive thoughts, prayers and healing you all are sending my way! It makes a big difference! <3

Well, I have a surgery date, though not as soon as I was hoping for...
The surgeon's office called this afternoon and told me they scheduled me for Tuesday, Jan. 22 at noon at Renown. I had wanted to go to St.'s, but Dr. Harris is already in surgery at Renown that day. I would have to wait even longer if I still opted for St. Mary's.
The plastic surgeon is on vacation this week, so that put it out a bit too. I have a Pre-op appt with him on the 16th.
I must admit, I felt pretty upset when they called, but what are ya gonna do?!?
I just have a hard time not letting my mind wander to that place of wondering if those cancer cells are finding their way out of the breast and traveling elsewhere. I just want it done. I guess that's the worst part of having this beast... The waiting and the wondering.
All I can do at this point is learn to be more patient and know that God walks before me.
Hmmm... Kinda sad, but I was supposed to be laying on a warm sunny beach in Hawaii on the 22nd...