2 Down, 1 to Go

There's football in the air, and now that the season is back on, I thought a football analogy would be appropriate

I don't really mean 2nd Down, 1 yard to go. I mean 2 major hurdles down this week, one more big one to go.  

Julie is healing well from the surgery last Friday.  The weekend was slow and steady.  Still a lot of pain, but its manageable.  Hurdle #1: Monday. She bought 3 different wigs.  That was emotionally hard for sure.  Hurdle #2: Today. She had her PET scan. 

If you haven't heard of it or done one, its a procedure where they put radioactive dye laced with sugar into your blood stream, let you sit (so it can get through your body), then put you in a machine (that's a cross between a CAT scan and an MRI) for about 40 minutes  that "reads" if there are any more cancer cells. 

Cancer loves sugar, so the theory goes that if there are cancer cells, they will eat the sugar, then "light up" on the machine. The objective is to have no "light-ups".  Well, no light-ups that aren't normal (like your kidneys or other organs that normally light up on these tests).

Hurdle #3: Tomorrow. Oncology day. 10:00am MT we meet with Dr. Kim, the oncologist. Hopefully we will now have a complete clinical diagnosis that includes:

• Pathology report from original biopsy
• Pathology report from bilateral mastectomy surgery and lymph nodes
• Pathology report from second surgery to remove positive margin
• Pathology report from PET scan (please pray we get this so we don't have to go back again, as it can take up to 72 hours to get results)

All this info gets put into a computer model that helps determines chemo and endocrine treatment going forward. The goal is to walk out of there with a clear plan for chemotherapy, which includes type of chemo cocktail, number of cycles (currently planned at 6 cycles administered every 3 weeks), and start date; and determination of acceptance into clinical trial. Endocrine therapy comes later, after chemo is finished.

Thursday is Birthday Day!  Not that Jules need another reason to celebrate her birthday...but each one has taken on just a bit more significance. Because its also a school-day, we won't do a birthday dinner as a family until Friday, but I am taking the day off to spend with my beautiful bride.

Friday is another meeting with the plastic surgeon to see if she is ready to start re-expansion on the left side.

As promised, here are the big 3 things you can do to help, should God put us on your hearts:

1. Continue to pray for us.  We are asking for specific prayer the oncologist meeting - that every spec of cancer will is gone, the PET scan shows no cancer, and that Julie will be able manage chemo therapy well.  Of course, we are praying that she will remain cancer free forever. 
2. Should you feel led to help with food or whatever, please visit Julie's Care Calendar - enter security code 8146.  
3. We'd love to have as many people walking with us as possible at the Race For The Cure on September 11.  You can sign up here: Oh The Places You Go Team Signup. If you need more info or instructions on how to sign up, visit the previous blog post: Race For Cure Blog Post

We are blessed. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, concern, help and friendship. We love you all!