Home....

I decided to wait and update the blog until mom was home....seemed like it kept getting put off but she did go home on Monday. I talked to her last night and she was feeling ok, just tired. She managed to have a UTI and 3 lovely fever blisters from her ordeal. When she went into the hospital on Thursday, her WBC was 98 and when she left on Monday, they were around 1,500. Doc said she almost made the "week" window when the Chemo destroys all the cells and has to make it's way back so the next treatment which is schedule for January 26th won't be as "strong". She may get lucky and bounce back faster this next time. Mom was suppose to have dr appt today but with all our lovely snow, (Thanks to all who love this stuff and prays for it...you know who you are!!!) I think she was going to have to cancel. Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers! Friends and Family are the BEST!!

Almost home...

Sunday, January 16th
I went by the hospital to see Mom this morning...been staying away all weekend with the low WBC (below 500 is low)  but was hoping that they would be up where they were suppose to be this morning. Doc came in while I was there and she wasn't wearing the mask....doing the happy dance here :-)....anyway, counts were 411 yesterday and they were 834 today!! BUT the cultures on urine came back showing something. (What they seen  may have just been a contaminant and not anything wrong with Mom.) So we wait one more day on that. Blood cultures were fine, which is good! Doc is going to take her off the antibiotic, see if she runs a temp anymore today, and then possibly send her home tomorrow on an oral antibiotic if she has a UTI. Mom was complaining of 3 fever blisters starting around her mouth so they are going to give her something that will help shorten their life span.  Thanks everyone for being the best kind of friends for mom and dad....what's the old saying, Friends are the families we choose! Yeh....glad we have such a huge "family"!!! God bless and take care!

First bump in the road...

Mom is spending a couple of days inpatient due to a 104 temp on Thursday. She got IV antibiotics and they are culturing her blood to see if she has infection. Cultures won't be back until Sunday so she is stuck there. Friday morning the temp was gone and her white count was coming up but not good enough for her to go home. She feels fine which is good. I know people would probably like to visit but doctor would prefer we limit them and if you do go-mask is a must!!!! I didn't even hug her when I left because I have no idea what kind of germs I had lurking on me. Prayers PLEASE!!! God Bless!

First Chemo treatment- January 5, 2011

Mom had her first chemo treatment this week on Wednesday. Appointment was at 9:30 and I think she said they left the clinic at 2:30. She has been tired and a little nausea but doc gave her medicine to calm the stomach so it's been manageable. She had to go back in on Thursday and have a Neulasta shot which should help to boost her immune system. Hoping she doesn't have the side effects from that either...bone pain being the worst of it. She goes back in for f/u appt with nurse next week to check her blood count, more blood work on the 24th and then if all is well, her next treatment is the 26th.

She has to stay healthy to receive all these treatments......she has a grandson graduating from highschool and 2 other grandsons making their first communion....all in May. She has to be well and feeling like she can party! :-) Thank you to everyone for the calls, thoughts and prayers! All are appreciated!! Sincerely, the Rehagen Family

Happy New Year!!

Update for this week. Mom had the Smart port put in this week. She did great but it caused some discomfort for swallowing and her chest is still sore where they put it. Deann and Rob are coming home this weekend and we are going to celebrate Christmas and a start of a New Year. Chemo starts this week on the 5th. Just a reminder, Mom needs to try and stay as healthy as possible so some activities while going through chemo may be limited and even a cold may cause her problems. The Rehagen family wants to Thank everyone for all the prayers, support, and thoughts of kindness during Mom's fight! God Bless everyone and hope everyone has a safe, happy and healthy New Year!!

SCANS COME BACK CLEAN!!!

Mom had her PET and CT scans last week and she got the results back today. They were clean so we can hope that means they got it all and it hasn't spread. We had a bit of fun yesterday, the American Cancer Society provides wigs and all kinds of other support for people who are fighting the fight. We got to help mom pick out a wig, hats, turbons, etc....helps to keep things on the fun side.

Also, Mom starts chemo on 01/05/11 and gets the port put in on 12/28/10....told her she will have both arms sore and dad will really have to help her get dressed, maybe even do her hair. She said it might be easier to just wear the wig. :-)

IT WILL BE A GOOD CHRISTMAS!!!! Many things to celebrate! Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers! Power of prayer! Everyone have a safe and happy holiday! And remember we are celebrating the birthday of Jesus and having a great family!! Many blessings!!!

December 1, 2010...oncology visit

Mom had her first appointment since the surgery with her oncologist today. Lots of information. First, she has Stage IIB ductal carcinoma. Not the best but it could be a lot worse. She may only have to do chemotherapy but the doctor is going to check with the radiologist to be sure he doesn't have any new tricks up his sleeve. She is going to still have a CT and PET scan to be sure the cancer isn't hiding in numerous other spots but the doctor is hopeful that it was only contained in the one area. So right now, the plan is for Mom to have FEC (acronym) chemotherapy. It is usually given for breast cancer and is a combination of three chemotherapy drugs called 5Fluorouracil (5-FU for short...nothing like cussing the cancer...LOL), Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide.  These are usually given once every three weeks as slow injections into a vein, as an outpatient.  She will have 6 cycles of this treatment so Mother's Day 2011 will be a true day of celebrating....we hope.

The plan is for Mom to have a port-a-catheter put in which eliminates her getting stuck in the vein numerous times. Surgeon will probably do this right after Christmas and the chemotherapy will start then. Doctor says it's OK to wait for treatment, studies prove that if treatment is started within the 12 weeks after surgery, outcomes are about the same. This will let mom have a good Christmas without the side effects of Chemo dragging her down. One side effect of the Chemo is her white counts may go down, so as a GREAT favor to us Rehagens, please try not to visit Mom and Dad if you are feeling ill in any way....her low counts will make her more susceptible to infections of any kind. So we will be celebrating Christmas with the gift of Mom.

Mom's right hand is getting better and Dad says she is getting back to her grumpy self :-) ....he loves her that way so all is well. She seems to be back to bossing Dad around because as soon as her appt was done today, Dad had doctor's appt she made for him because he is getting hoarse again. I think it's because he has been bossing her around too much but they were going to have it checked to be sure it's nothing else. I think that's all the news from the Mimosa Lane area so everyone take care and Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

I posted on Facebook...Life seems to have it's cycle...your parents take care of you when you are young so when you become an adult, you can return the favor tenfold. But what happens when you become that adult and don't know how to make it better? Hold on tight and pray for the best!!! Seems to be working so far.....Hope everyone has a great Holiday season!