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Mom is doing great 4 1/2 years after diagnosis.In the BeginningJust before her family reunion in June 1999, Mom had a needle biopsy of a suspicious cyst. It was diagnosed as Infiltrative (Invasive) Ductile Carcinoma, it's the most common type of breast cancer. (The more common, the better; that usually means more research has been done and the doctors know more about it.) It's fast growing, so the oncologist (Dr. Mary Lou Mayer) is giving her chemo first to shrink the cancer, and the surgeon (Dr. Lottich) will do a lumpectomy later. The cancer is Stage 2, Grade 3. The surgeon said she doesn't think there is any lymph node involvement. About Mom's therapy: At her chemo treatments Mom is given Cytotoxan (it will cause her hair to fall out) and Adriamycin, in addition to anti-nausea medicine. These drugs are given to her intravenously, and it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Because she will probably be tired and nauseated for a few days following the treatment, she takes anti-nausea pills. The chemotherapy shuts down cell growth, so injuries (cuts, sunburn, bruises) will be difficult to heal. Mom needs to wears sunscreen and a hat when she goes out side for any length of time. I sent her a garden gloves and a wide brim hats, so when she is working in the
yard/garden she won't cut her hands or burn her face/head. |
Pictures from Mom's Second Treatment (7/14/99) |
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| Click pictures to see the complete picture. |
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During the treatment Mom was in a nice room with a TV, VCR, and a comfortable chair, and all of the wonderful, nice people (especially Karen) at Dr. Mayer's office. | |||
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Karen is checking Mom's blood pressure before treatment. |
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Karen placed a warm compress on Mom's arm to help the IV needle slide in. |
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Dr. Mayer placed an IV needle in the top of Mom's right hand and started the saline bag with anti-nausea medicine. |
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Mom lost her hair after her first treatment—here she is with a very complimentary wig. |
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Karen slowly injects the Adriamycin into the IV. It takes several minutes to inject. |
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Mom must drink lots of water during the treatment and afterwards. |
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Cindy and Jeremy came drove down from Northern Indiana for Mom's treatment. |
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Jeremy slept during most of the treatment. |
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More water for Mom. |
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It's just about over.
It was a full house for her second treatment: Cindy, Jeremy, and Valerie. |
Pictures from Mom's Fourth and Last Treatment (8/27/99) |
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Mom's last treatment has even more visitors: Mom's sister Edith, Grandchildren Abby and Jack, and daughters Pat and Val. |
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Abby was very interested in the IV and watched very closely as Karen inserted the IV into Mom's hand. |
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Edith came to visit for week and was a great help. |
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Mom and Abby. |
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Several days before each treatment, Mom has several tests performed to make sure she is healthy enough for the next treatment. |
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Pat and Jack. |
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Karen injects the Adriamycin into the IV. |
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The fourth treatment was much harder on Mom. The next day she felt weaker and more tired. |
Next Step: Lumpectomy on 9/27/99) |
