Cancer Sucks

Well we went and saw Dr. Frame, the Oncologist Wednesday and I want to say we have a few answers, but still waiting for more.

It is not the cancer that the ER doctor thought it was, but Metastatic Melanoma.  This is the same cancer that I had in my eye and it has spread.  He said that I am a test book example of the eye cancer coming on in 4, 5, or even 6 years later. The type that the ER doctor thought it was is cancer in the bio duct, so I don't have to deal with that.

I asked about the liver function tests that I have done regularly, he said that it has grown quickly, and that there is still a lot of normal liver to keep processing the toxins and function as it should.

It is possible that there are cancer cells in other area of the body, however often times it is confined to the liver. I am going to have a PET scan to determine if it has spread anywhere else besides the liver. This is scheduled for June 14th.

Dr. Frame is sending my biopsy to analyze them to see if they have mutated to decide on the best treatment.  Our first priority is to shrink the mass that is about 10cm currently.  It is currently too large to go in and have surgery to remove it.  So after the results of the biopsy we will know the best treatment.  We are moving promptly, don't want to wait too long, if there is mutation, we will start with pills as a first treatment, if not,  we will start with intravenous immune therapy treatment through the port every 2 weeks to control the cancer.  After 2-3 months, we will repeat scans, if there is improvement, then more serious consider the surgery or liver directed therapy.

I asked about the side effects of the immune therapy and Immune therapy, 80% has very few or no side effects, 20% has serious side effects that would be treated with blood tests and maybe steroids

There are a lot of new cancer treatments in the last 6 years.  There are plan A, B, C, D.

He was very clear that what I have is a very serious condition and that I have a long hard road ahead of me.  It is scary for my as I don't know what to expect, what does the hard road have in store?

Love, Prayers and Biopsies

Love is an amazing thing and  there is POWER in prayer!

My family and I have felt such an outpouring of love and the strength that comes from prayers this last little bit and it has truly given us strength to continue on each day as we wait for answers and I deal with pain.  Family and friends have brought food, and more food and more food.  Some have brought beautiful flowers and some a beautiful vase with such meaning.

All week I just wanted to get the strength up to go to work for a couple of hours if nothing more than  to be distracted a little.  Yesterday, I was finally able to go for a couple of hours and it was great to sit and be a little productive, laugh till it hurt and cry a little with co-workers that mean so much to me and my family.

Today was my Biopsy at LDS hospital.  It was a strange feeling driving to get a test performed to find out what kind of cancer I have.  The nurses were great and took great care of me (and brought Troy Diet Coke)
After the IV was in, they confirmed that they could see the lesion with the ultrasound machine.  I asked how big it was and was told around 7cm x 5cm.  That is a pretty big spot.  I had a little bit of medication to just relax me, I requested not much of the pain medication as it makes me so sick and I was not ready to go back to throwing everything up.  The procedure when pretty fast,  they took 5 samples of the lesion. I wish there was a mirror so I could have watched.  I did have the Dr. show me the needle and tools used.  The pathologist said he got what he needed so now we just WAIT more.
After the procedure, I got to order off the menu! I go a chef salad and potato soup.  I requested just a small salad, but it ended up being large.  I was able to eat a bit and it was so good.

Life CHANGES

Life can sometimes get comfortable and then BAM something happens that changes your life, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the harder.  I feel like that is where we were.  

As Relief Society president, I see so many sisters with struggles and trials. Not one person is without struggles, even though many try to hide them and I have often though how blessed I am.  I know my family has gone through trials and difficult moments, I have always thought that I would never want to trade my trials with anyone else's trails.  I was also thinking recently how good we have life, however when I had that thought I told myself I better be careful what I say as I know that things can change very quickly.  I also know that this life is not meant to be easy but it is a trial and a test to see how faithful we are.  

Ok, back to my BAM story.  The last few months I have been sick and experiencing different symptoms.  The top of my shoulder would hurt when I took a deep breath or sneeze or yawn.  I thought, well maybe I just made it mad by working at the concession stand at the Monarchs stadium. I would take it easy and some days it would be better and others worse, no rhyme or reason.  Finally I decided to go to the surgeon that did my shoulder surgery last April.  I think they thought I was crazy when I explained it only hurt when I took deep breaths and yawned etc.  So I went away with out any answers.  Then the next symptom was that I was nauseous periodically.  Mostly in the morning.  I tried not taking my multi vitamin, and all kinds of different things.  I never knew when I would feel sick or not.  Finally Brieanna talked me into going to the Dr.  As I explained my symptoms she said it sounds like your gallbladder.  I though Oh ok, lets get it tested and get that thing out, however after an ultrasound and a HIDA scan we discovered that the gallbladder was normal and functioning just fine.  Ok, that is good I guess, but it doesn't help me know why I am so sick.  I ended up feeling a little better and worked a full week and was thinking ok, maybe I'm getting better.  Then Friday May 24th when I went to bed, I felt pain in my abdomen like I have never felt before.  I think it was worse than childbirth (and I had 2 of my kiddos naturally) Finally I had Troy take me to the ER.  It took 2 doses of morphine to ease the pain.  They performed a CT scan and did lots of blood work that looked pretty normal.  Then they decided to do an MRI and there they found some abnormality

on my liver and informed Troy and I that I have Liver Cancer.  

With that said, you can imagine how our minds went to work.  I have felt so many different emotions the last 

Life Update

I know it has been a long time since I have posted anything, but here is a little of our life's update:
Tyler is now married to a beautiful companion Whitney, we call the the Twitlers.  They got married in the Salt Lake Temple August 9, 2018.  They are happily married and live in Syracuse, working and going to school and just figuring out life.
Brieanna is the beautiful girl she has always been and working at a school for special needs children and enjoying her soccer and being at home with family.
Kynleigh has grown up and not my little girl anymore, plays soccer for Sparta and loves her phone I think sometimes more than she loves me haha.
I am blessed to work at Far West Roofing, I think the best job ever and the best owners ever.  They teach me daily about the love of my Savior and how important it is to give and serve those around me.
Troy has now gotten his degree in Forensic Accounting and has had a few jobs getting experience.  He is enjoying being a dad and husband.  He is currently looking for job.

We have sold our home in Syracuse after Troy lost his job.  We made a pit stop in Sandy and rented an apartment and now live in Herriman closer to family.  We bought a townhome right next to the Monarchs stadium.
Troy and I are able to serve in our new ward and loving the opportunity to get to know the members and serve them.  I am the Relief Society president and Troy is the finance clerk.  We love our neighborhood making new friends.    Oh I almost forgot about Darby.  She is just as much part of our family.  We got her 4 years ago and she has been the best dog.  I think Heavenly Father knew I needed a good dog.  She is sweet and a little princes in her own way and loves her people family especially her mom.