Last week was a busy week.  I went in Wednesday and got my staples and catheter removed.  Thursday I went into robotics camp at 8:00 and then went to lunch.  One the way home from lunch I was cold, in 90 degree weather.  I knew that was a bad sign.  That typically means a fever is on the way.  I laid down, under three blankets for a nap and woke up at 4:30 with a 102 degree fever.  I called my gynecologic oncologist and they directed me to head into the ER due to my previous bladder issues.

We got to the ER around 5:15 and I was in a room by 5:30.  I had a very frustrating ER visit.  They never called my oncologist and I got put on the general internal medicine doctor's caseload.  At 11:20 they came in and said they were putting me on the 5th floor in a room.  The 6th floor is the cancer floor.  I was in a hole of a room with no cell service so JR took my phone and called the on call oncologist.  She said she hadn't even heard from the ER so she wasn't sure how I was being admitted to the hospital and that I should be on the cancer floor.  I had the internal medicine doctor call my oncologist and they settled on the 5th floor for one night.  They diagnosed mild sepsis and a bad kidney infection.  During this time they did a CT scan with contrast to ensure there was no internal issues.

At 11:40 he came back in the room and said the oncologist agreed to the 5th floor and oh, by the way, no eating after midnight in case urology wants to do a stent exchange tomorrow to help clear the infection.  Lets recap, I got at the hospital at around 5:15, had lunch at 12:15 and it was now 11:40.  I needed to eat something if I was just going on nothing by mouth diet "in case" I had a surgery.  So they scrounged up crackers and cheese and JR got me a tasty pudding sundae from the cafeteria.

Friday:  I saw the on call doctor for my oncologist office at about 7:30 on Friday mooring.  I asked to move to the 6th floor, the cancer floor.  So she worked some magic and got me moved to the 6th floor.  It was like being home again.  I spent so much time on that floor last summer that I knew several of the nurses and preferred those rooms.  I was happy when I got moved.  Friday I spiked my last fever at 100 degrees.  The highest it got was in the ER at 103 degrees.  The broad spectrum antibiotic they had me on was working.  At around 8:00 pm I went down for surgery.  It was time for my stent exchange.  

Saturday and Sunday I felt pretty good, no fevers.  I was just waiting for the cultures to come back so they could put me on the correct oral medication to bring home.

Monday they finally got the cultures back.  They determined the issue was a bad kidney infection.  The stent exchange and antibiotics worked.  Monday when I met with my team of oncologists they informed me they reviewed my CT with contrast scan results from my ER intake with the cancer board. I also found out that there is still cancer.  We are looking at radiation, I of course want to start immediately.  They said I have to wait for the surgery recovery period to be completed.

So, five days after being admitted I got to come home.  Home to my life and my family.  Home to wait for more treatment, but home.  I'm not cancer free like I'd hoped, but I'm here.  

This hospital visit hit me extra hard.  On Thursday my son was suppose to be home for the first time since my surgery but I had to reschedule.  It broke my heart to have to reschedule on my son.  My baby sister picked him up Friday and brought him to visit me in the hospital.  There was terrible traffic so they actually only made it as far as my house on Friday.  Saturday morning brought a bundle of sunshine into my room when Hallie and my nephews, Shelby, and Wylee made it up to the room for a visit.  My oncologist came while they were there and Wylee talked to him about his job and that he "killed cancer" as his job.

Tuesday Wylee came home and it is almost time to start school.  I go back on partial days tomorrow and he starts Wednesday.

My surgery stay was most uneventful.  There was a lot of pain associated with this surgery.  It was very extensive.  As you may have seen they opened up my abdomen.  The incision is from just below the sternum to just below my belly button, approximately 9".  They then had to go approximately 1/2 way through my body to get to the lymph node.  The lymph node they took out had grown to 25 mm, approximately the size of a quarter.  It was determined to be the same strand of cancer we have been battling since 2012, cervical cancer adenocarcinoma.  When they were doing the exploratory portion of the surgery it was determined that a portion of my bowel seemed thin so they brought in a general surgeon in and stitched on a layer to the bowel.

I feel fortunate, I'm fortunate that this surgery was an option.  This is my third fight with cervical cancer, which is rare.  The second fight typically doesn't end well so I am thankful that mine worked out well, even if I was only cancer free for a few months.

The doctor felt like the surrounding lymph nodes were clear, as determined by the exploratory surgery.  He suggested we would need a scan in about a month and would determine if we needed to do additional treatment.

I went, along with my husband and mother, to see the nurse at my gynecologic oncology office on July 22nd and had the 24 staples removed from my abdomen as well as having my catheter removed.  I went home with my catheter after my five day hospital stay due to the fact that I couldn't void urine.  The 22nd I had to stay close to the office and prove I could void on my own.  If not, I was going to have to get my catheter put back in.  Thankfully, I was able to!  I also got clearance to work partial days which is big.  This surgery is a 6-8 week recovery.  The agreement was that if I went back to work it had to be on a more clerical basis during this recovery time and only partial days.

On Monday my doctor will take my case to the cancer boards again and discuss if further treatment is needed.

My surgery day started out pretty normal.  They took me back and started the surgery prep.  After about an hour I mentioned how it was odd I didn't have my wristband on yet.  The nurse said "Well, we normally wait until we stick you with the IV so we know which arm to put the band on."  I said "well that should be easy, we aren't doing an IV, I have a port.  We are going to access my port."  She said that meant we had to get orders from the doctor.  So we waited.  I was not going to let them access me via an IV when I was having to stay for the next several days and I had a port for a reason.  They accessed me via my port after the doctor approved it and it all went as planned.

The incision is approximately 9 inches going from just below my breast to just below my belly button.  They removed a quarter size lymph node which tested positive for cancer.  It was determined to be the same type of cancer which we have been battling thus far.  My stay at the hospital went pretty well.  Surgery day went well.  My nurse was lovely and posted this lovely message on my board.  My great family and friends even decorated the room for me in celebration of my 30th birthday.

More information about my surgery, recovery, and future battles to come.

This isn't how I planned to turn thirty.  That is the thing about cancer, it doesn't care about your plans.  Cancer comes, it disrupts life.  It is officially my 30th birthday now.  I have an alarm set for 4:30 am today so that I can get up, shower in the special surgery soap, put on my cream to numb my port, and head to the hospital for my surgery.  This surgery is an attempt to manage my third occurrence of cervical cancer.  I was diagnosed at 27, 28, and 29.  This is the year I don't get diagnosed!  Thirty is going to be my year.

Plans.  In March when I got my all clear scan I felt like it was safe to start making plans again.  I scheduled a summer robotics camp for my kids at school.  I got approval to attend a training to learn more about robot programming.  I had ideas for an epic 30th birthday party weekend.  In May we found the new cancerous spot.  Like I said, cancer doesn't care about your plans.

I have had a special week this week.  On Sunday I went and had pictures taken by the fabulous Cindy Johnson, before they carve my stomach open later today.  On Monday I had met with two fabulous empowering woman who are cervical cancer survivors.  We developed a plan to bring cervical cancer awareness to Indiana and officially started Hoosier Cervivors.  On Tuesday my husband had the whole day planned out for me in celebration of my 30th birthday.  He started by getting up and taking our dog to the groomer and scheduling for our house to be cleaned.  He took me to a fabulous breakfast at a local diner, BBI.  Then we headed to a secret location, which ended up being Woodland Bowl.  It seems like JR moved mountains to make my celebration happen.  He had scheduled canoes but we woke up to the rainiest day ever!  He swiftly redirected all our friends, without me knowing and they came in waves to the bowling alley.  After a day full of hours of bowling with old and new friends we played laser tag (something I have never done).  He had even built in a nap time for me!  After a quick nap we went to KSR, a local bar I used to work at.  It was a night full of surprises with wonderful company all evening.  I am so blessed to have a strong group of support, I felt that support even from my friends and family who were not able to make it up for the celebration.

Today started when I woke him up at 8:30 to go and get me McDonald's breakfast.  I had to start my pre-surgery bowel prep at 9:00 so I wasn't going to be able to eat starting at 9:00 am.  I woke to find a special woman had lost her fight against cancer last night, she was one of the first women to reach out to me once I was diagnosed and let everyone know.  Today has been a strange day.  I've spent most of it watching tv and talking with family and friends on the phone and Facebook. 

As I sat in my shower I reflected on what it means to me to be thirty.  What it means to be battling cancer, again.  I am hopeful.  As I said, this is the year.  This is the year we beat this cancer once and for all.

Thank you for your continued support.  This is an extensive surgery, the doctor will make an incision from approximately my belly button and go down 6-8 inches.  This incision is in an area which has been previously radiated but this was the best course of action to try and eradicate this disease from my body.  My gynecologic oncologist will be doing an exploratory laparotomy and resection of retroperitoneal lymph node.  The explanation I got is basically the incision will go down approximately 1/2 way through my body so they can get to the impacted area.  Typically this surgery last 2-3 hours and I will be in the hospital 2-4 days.  As I mentally prepare for this surgery and recovery I continue to be ever hopeful.  We will prevail.

Although my 30th birthday definitely didn't go as planned, my celebration was spectacular.  I will always remember this day, the actual day of my 30th birthday.  Today is the day I am going to be given the gift of life.  This surgery is going to save my life.  That is what I have to focus on.

I am thrilled today to share with you two important pieces of cervical cancer awareness.  First, a link to the national Roche website.  I have made a web of connections which all started with a friend of my husband's from high school who works locally at Roche.  Today my story went live on the national Roche website.  I am thrilled to be a voice for cervical cancer advocacy.  Please take a look here at my story (which would then link back to my blog).    I can't wait for the testimonial video I filmed here locally to be available for viewing.

Secondly, there is a very important video: Someone You Love:  An HPV Epidemic.  This video is currently available in digital format for $1 and is a must see.  Are you a woman?  Do you have a daughter?  Do you have a granddaughter, niece, cousin?  Do you have a son?  Are you a mother?  Are you a father?  Basically, are you a person?  If so I fully belive you should watch this video and inform yourself.

I'm available to answer any questions you might have if you take the time to watch the video.  Please comment here if you take the time to watch the video.  It is one and half hours but is worth every minute.  If you get emotional, be ready with the tissues!  It chronicles the stories of five fabulous woman and each individual battle with HPV and/or cervical cancer.  They come from a variety of backgrounds and you will be able to connect with at least one of them.  I have much more to tell about my upcoming surgery but that is another post all together.