The inspiration for the The Silver Pen (formerly known as BrooksideBuzz.com) is to document my physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and oftentimes hilarious journey through, with, over and around breast cancer. To clarify: breast cancer isn’t funny. Not at all. However, my journey? Frequently guffaw inducing. Another clarification: I prefer to call breast cancer FBC. The “F” stands prominently for the F-Bomb. I’ve dropped quite a few F-Bombs since the diagnosis so, without being overtly crude, just know that when you see an “F” in my writing, you can safely assume what it stands for. I believe that breast cancer happens within the ecosystem of family, friends and community. Consequently, I decided to take the holistic approach and write about breast cancer with style, a sense of humor and Silver Linings. It is important to me that you hear about this journey from my husband (from this point forward, he will …
Diagnosis: DONE. Next steps: Information gathering and making a PLAN. The Husband and I are planners. Good planners. After a weekend of diagnosis digestion, we set up a series of meetings with doctors in Santa Barbara: oncology, plastic surgery, radiation oncology and “my” surgeon. Pages and pages of notes, full of various opinions and strategies. I was seriously impressed with all of the physicians we met. They were all punctual, professional and articulate: a real Silver Lining. During the information gathering week, I had a PET-PEM scan (a scanning system that provides functional imaging specifically for breast cancer detection [1. http://www.archrad.com] ) to try to figure out what is going on with the lesions in the left breast and an enlarged lymph node. Did I forget to mention that lymph node? Sorry. It jumped out on the MRI, showing activity, and definitely warrants further investigation. The PET-PEM was inconclusive, meaning that …
We have four wonderful children in our family, three of whom happen to be incredible adult men. We have spoken honestly and candidly with the boys (ok, we still call them “the boys”) since the time of diagnosis. Now that we have gathered our information, including diagnosis and surgical plan, it is time to tell our daughter, who is 4 3/4 that Mommy has FBC (though we will leave out the F- bomb in our discussion). As much as I wish this experience were only happening to me and that I could shield my husband and children from the pain, the reality is that cancer happens within the ecosystem of family, friends and community. Children are incredibly intuitive and smart. We adults do not give them enough credit. From the time of a diagnosis, children are keenly aware that something major has happened and try immediately (either on their …
Dear Friends, November 9th. Tuesday. Tomorrow. It’s here. We will be dragging ourselves out of our slumber at 4:30 am to get to the hospital by 5:00 am for surgery, which is scheduled for 7:00 am. Surgery will likely take between 5 and 7 hours. Yes. It’s a doozie. However, I am reminded that as a result, my chest will be as perky as my personality. SL. A HUGE SL to be the first case. This is so great for so many reasons, the least of which is that I will have a jump start on recovery and healing which could hopefully result in an earlier discharge. Thank you for all of your love, support, kindness, humor and generosity. We are so wonderfully overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. Because I will be happily and fully buzzed tomorrow, please look for a full report from the Brookside Husband. With lots of …
Morning! Surgery is scheduled for 7:00 am. Right now (at 6:00 am, after arriving at 5:00 am), I’m sitting on the floor of the pre-registration office…W A I T I N G. I’ve already had three pre-registration phone calls (lasting anywhere from 10-20 minutes each!) and yet, here I sit. Girlfriend and husband are sitting patiently (well, as patiently as the husband can sit). Gigantic SL to be here with them. Husband report will come during and/or after surgery. Have a great day…and enjoy the fresh air, wherever you are!
Woke up at 4:30am to be at the hospital by 5am. Sat in registration area for an hour and a half, went looking for coffee at 5, but cafeteria does not open until 6:30am. Annoying. Reality was very strong this morning for us both. That feeling you get when you wake up and there is the feeling of dread. Watched her get prepared for surgery, all I could do to keep from crying. Dr’s and nurses busy because the registration took so long and the surgery was scheduled for 7am. Dr’s write on her chest what they are supposed to do. A little Versed for her to make her relax. They don’t offer that to the husband, I’ll put that on my comment card along with the coffee dearth at 5am. It’s the worst feeling to see a loved one rolled away for surgery. I watched my sons each rolled off …
First part of surgery complete, about 2 and a half hours left to go for the reconstruction part. Dr. Giuliano said he did need to take some lymph nodes on the right side. Hope to get the complete pathology back by Friday.More when we know.
She came out of surgery approx 12:30pm local time. In the recovery room for a couple hours and then will be transferred to a room. Next key information needed is the pathology report, which will inform chemo and radiation decisions, will not be prepared until Friday at the earliest. Hope to take her home Thursday/Friday. Continued thanks for the prayers and good wishes. Love to all, The Husband
Just saw her for the first time, what a relief, she’s groggy from the drugs and asked for ice chips, but it’s her, with her beautiful smile, I love her so much.
She is in her room and resting. Groggy, nurses coming in and out checking things, co2 monitor beeping, falling in and out of sleep, then the monitor beeps etc etc etc. Gonna sign off now, great appreciation to everyone for caring enough to follow this, and for your wonderful comments, prayers and love. Over and out until tomorrow. The Husband.
