“The idea of having 3 surgeries in a year doesn't thrill me as you might imagine.”
“…surgery is April 15th. Yep, tax day.”
Hello everyone,
We finally have all the test results back and have a plan of action. The benefits don't outweigh the risk. My BRCA test (the genetic one) came back neg. Very good news for my family as a whole. It means I am not at higher risk (70%) for ovarian cancer. I will be on an aromatase inhibitor, an anti estrogen drug, for 5 years. In order to take the best of those drugs I either have to be on an additional drug for 5 years or I have to have my ovaries out. The additional drug is a nasty one that 98% of people that take it have side affects. I will have my ovaries out. It is a day surgery and I will be home by mid afternoon on the same day. It is a simple procedure that is done laproscopically. I won't have any stitches and I will only be off work for about a week. They will send the ovaries to pathology as routine procedure but have no concerns that they will find anything. Within the following 2 weeks they will start me on the anti estrogen drug. Every 3 months, for a year, I will have an ultrasound on my chest to make sure there is no cancer lingering.
The idea of having 3 surgeries in a year doesn't thrill me as you might imagine. The 3rd will be reconstruction. When I think about it I feel very weary, along with some dread. So I am trying to stick with the next indicated step. I won't have reconstruction until later in the year so that my body can recover more fully from the first 2 surgeries. I can still feel the effects of the anesthesia mostly on my already challenged memory. I didn't notice it until I returned to work. If I forget your names in the next few months forgive me.
Our house has returned to normal for the most part and we are all doing pretty well. Jeff is traveling some again and has spent the better portion of this week in Nashville. Cole and I went to Monster vs. Aliens yesterday. He sat on my lap most of the movie. Too bad that can't continue forever. Angie finished her biology class with a B+. YEA AUNT G! Jeff and I are going to South Africa the end of May and are looking very forward to it. That will certainly help me feel like my life, as I knew it, has returned.
Almost forgot, surgery is April 15th. Yep, tax day.
The Ibach household sends its love and blessings to all of you. We couldn't have done this without ALL of you.
Mary
“…surgery is April 15th. Yep, tax day.”
Hello everyone,
We finally have all the test results back and have a plan of action. The benefits don't outweigh the risk. My BRCA test (the genetic one) came back neg. Very good news for my family as a whole. It means I am not at higher risk (70%) for ovarian cancer. I will be on an aromatase inhibitor, an anti estrogen drug, for 5 years. In order to take the best of those drugs I either have to be on an additional drug for 5 years or I have to have my ovaries out. The additional drug is a nasty one that 98% of people that take it have side affects. I will have my ovaries out. It is a day surgery and I will be home by mid afternoon on the same day. It is a simple procedure that is done laproscopically. I won't have any stitches and I will only be off work for about a week. They will send the ovaries to pathology as routine procedure but have no concerns that they will find anything. Within the following 2 weeks they will start me on the anti estrogen drug. Every 3 months, for a year, I will have an ultrasound on my chest to make sure there is no cancer lingering.
The idea of having 3 surgeries in a year doesn't thrill me as you might imagine. The 3rd will be reconstruction. When I think about it I feel very weary, along with some dread. So I am trying to stick with the next indicated step. I won't have reconstruction until later in the year so that my body can recover more fully from the first 2 surgeries. I can still feel the effects of the anesthesia mostly on my already challenged memory. I didn't notice it until I returned to work. If I forget your names in the next few months forgive me.
Our house has returned to normal for the most part and we are all doing pretty well. Jeff is traveling some again and has spent the better portion of this week in Nashville. Cole and I went to Monster vs. Aliens yesterday. He sat on my lap most of the movie. Too bad that can't continue forever. Angie finished her biology class with a B+. YEA AUNT G! Jeff and I are going to South Africa the end of May and are looking very forward to it. That will certainly help me feel like my life, as I knew it, has returned.
Almost forgot, surgery is April 15th. Yep, tax day.
The Ibach household sends its love and blessings to all of you. We couldn't have done this without ALL of you.
Mary
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