It's sure been a while and that is usually a GOOD thing! Latest visit and update ......

The latest Mammogram shows all clear!

This was Patti's 2nd one since the original diagnoses.

On to other stuff:
Swelling and thick skin on the side of where she had the mastectomy (back of her arm pit and going down the side).  Doc thinks it's lymphedema and she will need physical therapy to release the fluid build up if this diagnosis is correct. We will learn more next week when she sees the specialist who will verify this and determine a plan. She will also find out if a compression t-shirt will help. TBD...

Otherwise, everything else looks good and Patti is getting closer to her first cancer-free birthday!!! More on that in July :-)

Patti says, "They can't do a thing about the muffin tops I now have.  I just have to take the bad with the good the anti estrogen pill gives me!" 

And we'll take that as good.......cuz' we get to keep you here with us!  Muffin tops and age go together.....we'll all be catching up with you sooner or later Patti :-)

"Good news.......don't worry about anything....you are good!"

As most of you already know, Patti has been doing quite well in her road to recovery and has been slowly getting back into her normal routine.

This week, Patti had another set of tests done with 8 vials of blood taken....yes, I said 8!

Tests included FSH, Estrogen tests, and a bunch of other general labwork to take a good look at what is going on inside. 

Naturally, Patti always gets nervous when she sees a call from the doctor or hospital, but this call and message has her walking on air!

She came home from work, began listening to the voicemail, which was from one of her favorite doctors (Dr. Divgi). 


His message was sweet and to the point......and in the words of her doctor: "Good news Patti, don't worry about anything....you are good!"







Can I get a YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blood, Bones and Scans - OOOhhh scary....NOT!

Patti had her body scanned again (similar to the PET scan she had about a year ago) to check for Myeloma, which is some form of cancer in the bone.

 

She also had blood work done as a recheck to something they "thought" they saw in the initial blood work at the beginning of September. 

 

In other words, she is free of cancer from head to toe with that said, she's and good to go.

         Enough said!

     Happy Halloween!!

The results are in!

Patti is celebrating her new birthday (July 28th!)........the day she got the news that there is NO evidence of metastatic disease! (Aka no cancer!)

Enough said - yea!!!!!!

Scan complete.......and so we wait

Patti had her CT scan done on Friday and we wait........

She was very anxious about all of this and rightfully so! With that said, I found a nice distraction while had the hour for this process to set in before the test.......cmh extraordinaire (aka the hospital gift shop!) 

As Patti drank the nasty stuff to light her up on the inside for the test (FYI - never offer her fruit punch again-still-yet)....we shopped and really had fun with what they have to offer! Check out our mod and very oversized matching shades :-)

Stay tuned as we all wait for the results and pray for good results as well!

The best news yet? Just say NO!

To cancer.

Another scary moment and thank God the result is what we hoped and prayed for!

About a week of so ago, Patti had found two odd, but pronounced small bumps above the area where she had the mastectomy. 

Today, Patti met with one of her cancer doctors (Dr. Bove). After a review of the area of concern, the doctor ordered a mammogram and ultrasound.  Luck of the draw, a cancellation had just occurred at the clinic/hospital, which gave Patti the opportunity to get both of these tests done immediately!

The results:

• The mammogram revealed no change from the previous check (almost a year ago!).
• The ultrasound was able to detect the two odd bumps she detected and the doctors say they do not appear to look like cancer (YEA!). They actually look like they may are fluid filled. The margins are very defined and the spots are black (as seen in the ultrasound photos - sorry, we could not take them with us)

Next steps:
Needle biopsy on Monday 7/7/14 to take a sample and determine what these little guys are. We are confident that it is not cancer....but the doctor wants to be 100% with Patti....we sure appreciate it!

More to follow after the biopsy and results (should know by the end of next week).

I took this picture of Patti and I right after this event, as I think it's important to capture her face and feelings when prayers are answered. As they say, a picture is worth a 1,000 words! Need I say more?

This is what "NO Cancer" looks like  - YEAAAAAA!

 

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July!

 



The Relay is on!

Good morning to all!
It's been a while since we posted on Patti's Progress and that is for a great reason.....she is doing well! 

                          Can I get a "YEAAAAA!!!"

Today is a great day for Patti. She had the opportunity to do her usual walk with DJ for a charitable cause. Patti selected W.A.A.G.R. (Wisconsin Adopt A Golden Retriever) in honor and memory of her Gabe and our Rebel......a great organization with fantastic, loving dogs. 

Amazing that a woman like Patti, going through so much in the past year, continues to give back, We can all learn something from Patti's Progress story. You go sista! Keep amazing us!

Have a great day Patti - a relay, a Titus celebration, and an exciting graduation (yea Austin)......it's going to be a long day for you my sista!

I thought it would be great to share photos that I took as I waited for her to arrive at the first checkpoint for the Titus Relay:



Happy Birthday Gracie!

Teamwork!

Thanks for running the event DJ

Nourishment for Patti and Grace waiting at the finish line :-)

Here they come!

Sister support!

A nice day for a relay.....

The end of the walk was in site.......

Patti and Grace are done. Next up? DJ and Jim!

The first of many relay checkpoints completed!