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Breast Cancer, reconstruction and riding

Chief

Well-known member
Premium Member
Nov 26, 2007
498
267
63
SL,UT
A little update

Update on Tinks condition and treatment: Tomorrow is the second to last chemo treatment.

The infection she had around one of the tissue expanders that resulted in a second surgery to clean everything out and stop the infection delayed Chemo a month. After the 5th treatment she became so dehydrated, and because of the maintenance drugs related to the cancer she had in the 80’s it wasn’t diagnosed properly, that she became extremely weak with an irregular heartbeat. A couple of liters of fluid and she perked up.

Just a few weeks later she was back into the hospital for transfusion of two units of concentrated red blood cells for anemia. About this point she was ready to quit treatment and only when she told the Oncologist was she get referred to a quality of life specialist to control her symptoms better. Now for the pain the chemo drugs cause she’s on methadone and morphine and most of the time her nausea is kept under control.

Hopefully in a month she’ll be off all the drugs altogether and be getting ready for radiation therapy. We’ve yet to determine how many sessions of radiation she’ll have or the schedule.

Reconstructive surgery may not occur until around Christmas. Perhaps we’ll be able to ride again nearly a year after our overly optimistic (and frankly misguided by the first surgeon) estimate.

Your prayers, comments, and advice have been a great help and give her comfort to know people are pulling for her.

Rich
 

Hotlips

Well-known member
Premium Member
Jan 2, 2008
209
169
43
The tall mountains of north America.
Update on Tinks condition and treatment: Tomorrow is the second to last chemo treatment.

The infection she had around one of the tissue expanders that resulted in a second surgery to clean everything out and stop the infection delayed Chemo a month. After the 5th treatment she became so dehydrated, and because of the maintenance drugs related to the cancer she had in the 80’s it wasn’t diagnosed properly, that she became extremely weak with an irregular heartbeat. A couple of liters of fluid and she perked up.

Just a few weeks later she was back into the hospital for transfusion of two units of concentrated red blood cells for anemia. About this point she was ready to quit treatment and only when she told the Oncologist was she get referred to a quality of life specialist to control her symptoms better. Now for the pain the chemo drugs cause she’s on methadone and morphine and most of the time her nausea is kept under control.

Hopefully in a month she’ll be off all the drugs altogether and be getting ready for radiation therapy. We’ve yet to determine how many sessions of radiation she’ll have or the schedule.

Reconstructive surgery may not occur until around Christmas. Perhaps we’ll be able to ride again nearly a year after our overly optimistic (and frankly misguided by the first surgeon) estimate.

Your prayers, comments, and advice have been a great help and give her comfort to know people are pulling for her.

Rich

Thinking of you today and hoping things are going well for your wife.

TODAY is my 1 year anniversary of being cancer free and I am praying that day will come soon for your wife.. :rose:
 

Chief

Well-known member
Premium Member
Nov 26, 2007
498
267
63
SL,UT
Congrats Hotlips!

One year becomes two, two becomes three.. Keep up with your follow up appointments and, like Tink, you'll one day look back and say "more than twenty years cancer free." We hope, that unlike my darling wife, you never contract a different form of cancer and have to fight the fight again.

Chief
 

Chief

Well-known member
Premium Member
Nov 26, 2007
498
267
63
SL,UT
A year since the cancer was discovered..

Discovered on Nov 10th last year today Tink had the first reconstructive surgery today. This was the big surgery and any that follow should just be to "even things out."

To all those who have added to this thread, prayed for her, or just thought to check themselves to prevent this kind of drastic treatment I thank you.

Tink's breast cancer turned out to be stage III; not found until quite advanced even though she had regular mamograms and self checks. We hope none of you experence the same.

We plan on riding this year but if her strength hasn't returned may just snowshoe. Hope to see some of you on the mountain.
 

Hotlips

Well-known member
Premium Member
Jan 2, 2008
209
169
43
The tall mountains of north America.
Discovered on Nov 10th last year today Tink had the first reconstructive surgery today. This was the big surgery and any that follow should just be to "even things out."

To all those who have added to this thread, prayed for her, or just thought to check themselves to prevent this kind of drastic treatment I thank you.

Tink's breast cancer turned out to be stage III; not found until quite advanced even though she had regular mamograms and self checks. We hope none of you experence the same.

We plan on riding this year but if her strength hasn't returned may just snowshoe. Hope to see some of you on the mountain.

Thank you for the update Chief, I am so happy things are going well. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you and your wife.
 
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