Small Delay

Mary Jo had a break from radiation treatments yesterday because the machine had broken down. The engineers and staff got the machine back online in the early afternoon but Mary Jo was not able to do a last minute reschedule to accommodate because she was at the zoo with Laura and Campbell. This unexpected delay will result in Mary Jo’s last and final radiation treatment, which was scheduled for Thursday, to be postponed until next Monday, April 5th because the Ridges Radiation Center will be closed in observance of Good Friday.

Mary Jo is feeling better every day. She is in the last phase of radiation treatments called the Booster Phase which pinpoint targets the pre op site of the cancer tumors and the incisions from the double mastectomy. The surface skin that is exposed to the radiation during the treatments is doing well. Mary Jo continues to use the prescribed topical creams and gels to minimize the burning, redness and tightness (much like bad sunburn) that she is experiencing. These temporary side effects are expected to diminish after the treatments have concluded.

Booster Phase

Mary Jo and I met yesterday with radiation oncologist Dr Kim McCollow for the weekly sit down consultation after Mary Jo’s radiation therapy session. Mary Jo is now in the last phase of her radiation therapy called the “booster” phase. For the first 28 radiation sessions, the daily dose of radiation given is 180 centigrade’s to five fields for a total treatment dose of 5040. The right chest wall from two angles, the left chest wall from two angles and the right subclavicular. In this last phase of treatment, Dr McCollow has prescribed 200 centigrade’s of radiation to a much more focused, very direct area. This is the actual site, pre op of Mary Jo’s breast cancer tumor on the right (breast) chest wall. The decision was made yesterday to also do a booster on the left chest wall (breast) area. Dr McCollow struggled with the decision to prescribe a booster to the left side but we insisted since clear margins were not attained from the initial double mastectomy. Dr McCollow agreed with our decision; however this will add a day or two to the overall treatments as new set up is required to now include the left chest wall.

Mary Jo is feeling good however she is a bit more tired each day from the cumulative effects of the radiation therapy sessions. The other negative side effect that causes discomfort is the skin sensitivity, rash and redness. Mary Jo is such a trooper. She rarely complains. She just tries to keeps the site as moisturized as possible. That’s all you can do and the doctors tell us the side effects should subside and gradually go away after the treatments are finished. Mary Jo and I are pretty excited to be able to travel to Omaha tomorrow with Diane after the radiation session to see our nephew Caleb, perform in his high school production of West Side Story.

First Training Walk

Mary Jo is feeling pretty good today after the weekend break from the radiation treatments. The rash, redness and sensitivity in the “fields” or area she is receiving the radiation has subsided just a bit from last two days off. Mary Jo has only eight more sessions concluding her last radiation session on March 31st.


Mary Jo and I joined Jamie Page and a few other “walkers” on Saturday morning for the first of many “training walks” in preparation for the of the upcoming Susan G. Komen 3-Day (60 mile)Walk for the Cure. Although Mary Jo and I are going to be volunteer helpers, or what they call crew for the actual event in August, we thought it would be fun to walk along with Jamie as she trains for the upcoming 60 mile walk. This first of many weekly training walks was a brisk four mile walk in the Apple Valley area starting at CVS on the corner of county road 42 and Diamond Path. As a group, we walked north on Diamond Path to 140th Street, then west to Pilot Knob, south on Pilot Knob to county road 42 and east along county road 42 back to the starting point in the CVS parking lot. Our volunteer trainer is Chris Brown. Chris and each one of the walkers had a special story to share about why they were involved with this incredible cause to help put an end to breast cancer.

MJ, Jamie and the girls at the first traing walk

 
 
 

Happy St Patty's Day

Mary Jo and I hope all our Irish friends enjoyed St Patty’s day. Mary Jo was feeling well and we celebrated a little bit at Jamie’s with a few friends. Its funny how everyone starts out wearing the green wigs, and after a couple hours they all have to take them off because the wigs are just too darn hot. Now we understand a little bit of what Mary Jo goes through every day. MJ is wearing a wig all day, every day, until her real hair grows back from the chemo treatments.


Mary Jo has developed a rash from the radiation treatments. Dr McCollow, radiation oncologist suggests using hydrocortisone cream for the rash and continued use of Aquaphor healing ointment for the skin sensitivity from the daily radiation treatments. Mary Jo has radiation treatment #24 today.

Radiation Room Tour Video

Mary Jo was given her (once every third week) Herceptin treatment today at MOPA in Burnsville. The lab draws blood before each treatment to track Mary Jo’s Hematology numbers. Mary Jo’s total white count numbers and neutrophils improved slightly this week, increasing Mary Jo’s infection fighting capabilities. Her total white count and neutrophils numbers continue to be in the low range, but any improvement is a good sign.

MJ in the "chemo chair"

Mary Jo had her daily radiation treatment at the Ridges Radiation Therapy Center scheduled right after the Herceptin treatment at MOPA. I was invited (for the first time) by the staff to come back and watch the procedure.

First, Mary Jo changes into a hospital gown and lies down on the movable platform table in the radiation room. The nurses use lasers to match up the five radiation fields with the “tattoos” (permanent blue pinpoint dot markers) on Mary Jo’s chest. After the measurements have been inputted into the computer’s memory, we leave the radiation room and monitor the procedure from the safety of the control console. From the console, the computer perfectly positions the radiation “fields” for the precise dosage to each field. Mary Jo is required to remain motionless throughout the procedure as the massive machine moves around her on a pivoting gimble. Each Field requires a unique dose and duration of radiation from a precise angle. The duration of the actual procedure takes less than 10 minutes after each of the measurements have been measured and inputted into the computer.

Mary Jo is starting to feel the cumulative effects on her body from the past 22 radiation sessions. Her skin on her chest area is becoming a little sensitive and red and Mary Jo is a little more tired than usual. Her skin looks like it has fairly significant sunburn today. Radiation Oncologist Dr Kim McCollow had warned us that these side effects were to be expected but it is a often temporary side effect during treatment.

Number 21 Today

Mary Jo and Campbel

Mary Jo and I enjoyed the nice unseasonably warm weather this past weekend. We even went for a few walks around Cobblestone Lake as the snow is all but melted now and the sidewalks and paths are becoming clear and dry. Mary Jo starts week five (session 21 of 33) of radiation therapy today. She really has not complained of any side effects and is tolerating the sessions well. We have just twelve more sessions to go after today, a couple weeks off and then the hysterectomy on April 16th.


Mary Jo’s has chosen to most aggressive approaches to battling the cancers associated with the BRCA2 gene by electing to surgically remove the effected breasts and attempting to eliminate the possibility of developing ovarian cancer with a prophylactic hysterectomy.

We received the news last week regarding the results from Mary Jo’s elder sister Ann, regarding her BRCA2 genetic test. Ann tested positive. Amazingly, all six siblings have tested positive for the cancer gene mutation. Genetic counselors had told us prior to testing that with a positive test of a parent, each offspring would have a 50/50 chance of carrying the BRCA2 gene mutation. Being a carrier of the BRCA2 gene does not mean you HAVE cancer or WILL GET cancer but it does dramatically increase the odds of developing several serious types of cancer associated with the gene mutation.

Ann and (Ann’s husband) Tracy are learning what options may be best for them and have not indicated what path they will take regarding Ann’s possible treatment or more vigilant observation.

Mary Jo’s eldest sister Teresa is scheduled for her double mastectomy (she already had a hysterectomy) with reconstruction on April 13th.

Mary Jo’s youngest sister Michelle was schedule on April 2nd for a double mastectomy and total hysterectomy but Michelle and Brian are likely going to reschedule for a few weeks later.

April looks like it’s shaping up to be a very busy month in hospitals and waiting rooms for the family. Please pray for Mary Jo and her sisters. Prayer is powerful and so is knowledge. We are so blessed to have this technology be available today so these women can take a proactive role in combating the cancer before its too late.

Counts Still Low

Mary Jo and I learned yesterday the results from the recent blood smears that we had been anxiously waiting for. Nurse Trish from Dr Gall’s office called yesterday afternoon and confirmed that Mary Jo’s total neutrophils and white blood count numbers are still in the same low range. This confirms the blood lab tests were accurately reported in the past two lab tests that were done in the Burnsville MOPA office.

There are a couple explanations for a continued low neutroplil count and a low white blood cell count. Dr Gall is continuing to research the effect of the new drug combinations being prescribed to Mary Jo because these combinations of drugs could likely artificially and chemically be suppressing the important infection fighting blood counts. Dr Gall confirmed yesterday that the low counts are NOT a symptom of a much more serious condition, bone cancer. He is confident that the effects of chemo therapy and intense radiation therapy sessions along with a new combination of meds are the culprit and he believes the passage of time to allow healing along with a new change up in meds should alleviate the current condition.

Mary Jo is feeling better and stronger each day. Her hair is really starting grow back now. It is so soft. It is about a ¼ to a ½ inch long now and her eye lashes that fell out during chemo are just starting to come back. These are all positive signs, just like the signs of spring time in nature. We get so excited for the smallest things after you have been in the cold and dark for so long.

Have a great weekend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!  We love you.

Mary Jo and I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to my big brother, Chris who recently returned from Iraq and turns 49 today.

Low Immune System

Mary Jo at Dr Casey's office

Mary Jo had her 18th of 33 radiation treatments today so she is now more than half way through this important phase of treatment. She has a little skin sensitivity and redness but nothing severe at the radiation field sites.

"I feel like a bandit"

We are still waiting to hear the results from the last blood test performed at MOPA.   Mary Jo's neutriphils and white blood cell counts were both well below where they should be at this point in her treatment.  Both stats are in the very low range. Dr Gall is researching whether this could be the direct result of a combination of the medications having a negative effect on her bodies white blood cells and Mary Jo’s infection fighting capabilities. Mary Jo has been advised by her doctors to be cautious around crowds and people with symptoms of a cold or flu as her immune system is still compromised.

Opie does his part to help his Mama

Hello MJ

The DaVinci

Mary Jo and I met with Dr Catherine Casey, MD of GYN Oncology for Minnesota Oncology at her Woodbury clinic yesterday afternoon for an initial consultation regarding Mary Jo’s surgical options for a Prophylactic Hysterectomy/Oopherectomy. Mary Jo will have a prophylactic hysterectomy performed because she is BRCA2 positive (a genetic mutation which increases her odds of developing breast and ovarian cancers). The best and most advanced option for Mary Jo is a highly advanced and relatively new procedure that Dr Casey helped pioneer in the state of Minnesota. The procedure is called a “robotically assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy” or the DaVinci Hysterectomy. Dr Casey breaks it down this way.


Robotically Assisted meaning the DaVinci surgical system.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy meaning the removal of the uterus and cervix through small incisions made in the abdomen.
Bilateral Salpingo meaning both fallopian tubes
Oophorectomy meaning the removal of the overaries.

Dr Casey has scheduled Mary Jo’s surgery to be performed on April 16th at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. The hospital stay is expected to be overnight with an auto release the next day if all goes as expected. Mary Jo is feeling good today and as always, she has a very positive attitude about her next surgical procedure. We both feel so blessed to be in the care of such a good team of doctors.
Dr Casey has been doing this highly advanced robotically assisted minimally invasive surgery in Minnesota for about three years now and has performed over 300 DaVinci’s. For more information on the DeVinci surgical procedures and to watch live surgical webcasts, go to DaVinci Surgery.com

Clowning around at the GYN

We Signed Up For The Walk

Mary Jo has been fighting a sore throat for the past few days. We knew that she was susceptible to bacterial infections because of her low neutrophil Count and white blood cell count. She had been trying to be very cautious to avoid crowds and people with obvious symptoms but somehow she picked up a bug and her body is trying to fight with a pretty compromised immune system. She continues with her daily radiation treatments at the Ridges Radiation Treatment Center. Today at 11:40 Mary Jo will have treatment number 12 of 33. The radiation side effects are still minimal and Mary Jo rarely complains of any discomfort. She is such a strong girl. I admire her in so many new ways.


Last night Mary Jo and I, Jamie Page and Mary Jo’s mom Diane attended an informational meeting for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk For The Cure. Jamie registered up to be a walker, Mary Jo and I and Diane all registered as volunteers to be “Crew”. Everyone’s goal that is connected to this origination has the main goal of fundraising dollars for a cure to end breast cancer. Jamie, as a “walker” is required to raise a minimum of $2300 in her fundraising efforts to be able to walk in the 3 day/60 mile event and Mary Jo and I have an ambitious fundraising goal of $5,000. I know these are economically challenging times for everybody these days but I am still going to try to hit my goal. I know that the money raised from past events has contributed to incredible advancements in breast cancer treatment that would not have been possible without the massive cash infusion from fundraisers such as Susan G. Komen events.

I encourage you to give. I am hopeful that everyone will contribute $100 each. Donating is simple online. Click, click and you’re done. Better yet would be if you, like Jamie, decided to register as a walker and raise the minimum of $2300 yourself. However we get the money, it makes no difference. It all goes to find a cure.

3 Day Walk Video