Mary Jo’s oncologist, Dr Gall presented Mary Jo’s case to the breast cancer group on Tuesday morning. It was the groups consensus that an additional surgery to attempt to get clear margins on the cancerous left breast tissues that still remained would only delay the more therapeutic methods of chemo, Herceptin and radiation treatments.
Mary Jo and I met with Dr Luong, her plastic surgeon yesterday at 9:15am for a follow up visit. Dr Luong was prepared to do the first of several additional fills as part of the reconstruction process but decided against doing so since it the procedure could be delayed (less pain) until Mary Jo has completed her chemo cycles. After consultation, Dr Luong suggested two small 50cc fill appointments two weeks prior to the first radiation therapy appointment. Following our appointment with the plastic surgeon, Mary Jo was admitted to Fairview Ridges Hospital at 11:00 to have a purple "power port" surgically installed. This is a small triangular shaped device that is placed under the skin and over the area above the heart. It will be used when IV drugs (chemo) are given or blood needs to be drawn for tests. Special IV needles are inserted directly into this “port” devise so that the it is not necessary for the patient to get “stuck” with a needle in a vein every week. Very convenient and lees painful.
Mary Jo is planning to start her first chemo treatment on Monday in Dr Galls office. She will likely be receiving T-C-H. Taxoter, Cytoxin and Herceptin. Mary Jo's chemo will be 6 cycles, one every three weeks for 18 weeks with Herceptin given every week for 18 weeks and then given once every three weeks for the remaining 34 weeks, 52 weeks total.
After the completion of the 6 chemo cycles, Mary Jo will have the radiation therapy to both breasts and right side lymph node areas. We expect that treatment to be a daily treatments for 30-36 days.
After radiation therapy is completed, Mary Jo will be scheduled to have a complete hysterectomy performed. The final reconstruction breast surgeries will follow after Mary Jo is strong enough to endure the two additional plastic surgeries to complete the breast reconstruction.
Plans seem to change as quickly as I send the news to you so everything is tentative. Please keep her in your prayers.
Mary Jo and I met with Dr Luong, her plastic surgeon yesterday at 9:15am for a follow up visit. Dr Luong was prepared to do the first of several additional fills as part of the reconstruction process but decided against doing so since it the procedure could be delayed (less pain) until Mary Jo has completed her chemo cycles. After consultation, Dr Luong suggested two small 50cc fill appointments two weeks prior to the first radiation therapy appointment. Following our appointment with the plastic surgeon, Mary Jo was admitted to Fairview Ridges Hospital at 11:00 to have a purple "power port" surgically installed. This is a small triangular shaped device that is placed under the skin and over the area above the heart. It will be used when IV drugs (chemo) are given or blood needs to be drawn for tests. Special IV needles are inserted directly into this “port” devise so that the it is not necessary for the patient to get “stuck” with a needle in a vein every week. Very convenient and lees painful.
Mary Jo is planning to start her first chemo treatment on Monday in Dr Galls office. She will likely be receiving T-C-H. Taxoter, Cytoxin and Herceptin. Mary Jo's chemo will be 6 cycles, one every three weeks for 18 weeks with Herceptin given every week for 18 weeks and then given once every three weeks for the remaining 34 weeks, 52 weeks total.
After the completion of the 6 chemo cycles, Mary Jo will have the radiation therapy to both breasts and right side lymph node areas. We expect that treatment to be a daily treatments for 30-36 days.
After radiation therapy is completed, Mary Jo will be scheduled to have a complete hysterectomy performed. The final reconstruction breast surgeries will follow after Mary Jo is strong enough to endure the two additional plastic surgeries to complete the breast reconstruction.
Plans seem to change as quickly as I send the news to you so everything is tentative. Please keep her in your prayers.
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