MRI Resutls

I just got a call from my doctor. The MRI shows no cancer in the left breast (that is for you Jeff). It also does not show anything abnormal under my right arm. They look under the arm for abnormalities in the lymph nodes. It did show something abnormal, or a "hot spot" in one rib under my chest close to the cancer. I told her about my breaking some ribs in the same area and she thinks that the MRI is probably picking that up. They have ordered a bone scan to be thorough.

Group Fast

We moved the surgery up to the end of this month. June 25th at 8:30 AM. There is no time to wait for a fast sunday to come around so we are going to fast this Sunday.

I have my final test on Thursday. A breast (or peck - just for you Jeff) MRI. This should give the doctors a better idea about my lymph nodes before surgery and see if there is cancer on the other side that can't be felt yet. If there is cancer, they will do both sides on Friday. We don't think that will happen.

I look forward to having a cancer free chest the will forever be winking. ; )

I'll let you know if anything else changes.

Surgery Scheduled

More tests have come back. I am negative for HER2 and positive for estrogen and progesterone which means I will respond well to hormone treatment. The PET-CT scan came back showing no other cancers in my body and nothing under my arms in the lymph nodes. I will have a breast MRI next Thursday for more definitive look at the lymph nodes before surgery and a closer look at my other breast. 30% of people who have breast cancer have it in the other breast and it is not able to be felt. If that comes back showing cancer in the other breast, I will have a double mastectomy. That surgery will be on Friday the 25th of June at 8:30 AM at Banner Gateway Hospital.

We are consulting with a breast cancer specialist at St. Josephs hospital in Phoenix. He is providing a 2nd opinion.

Better pictures

I got digital copies of the mammogram and ultrasounds today. These are better pictures and you can see the cancer better in relation to the nipple.

This one is the Mammogram

This one is the ultrasound.

These were both done on 5/24/10. The size of the tumor at that time was just under 1 centimeter. The stage they think I am in is Stage 1. The definition for that stage is: The tumor is small (less than 2 cm) and well-localized (has not spread to the lymph nodes).

At this point they do not think that it has spread to the lymph nodes. If it has then I would fall under Stage 2. There are a total of 5 stages.

This week I will have a few more tests:
Tomorrow (Wednesday): PET-CT scan
Thursday: Meet with Oncologist, have an EKG done and a Chest Scan.
Friday??: Meet with an Genetic Counselor. My doctor wants testing done because it is extremely rare that a male my age will get breast cancer. This can help for my kids in the future as well as studying genetic markers that will help identify cancer in others. From what I understand, they just want my blood.

I will also have a Chest MRI done. This will take a closer look at the lymph nodes and try to determine if there is cancer in them before surgery. I don't have that scheduled yet.

After all this is completed, we will then look for a second opinion. Assuming everything is as the doctors think it is and the 2nd team of doctors agree, we will have the surgery sometime in July.

I will post more information as the test come in. Here is a link for the type of cancer I have, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

Man-O-Gram

Here is what my cancer looks like. It didn't scan very well. The cancer is directly under my nipple.

I updated the picture to explain it a little better.

I went to the doctor today. I have an appointment with an Oncologist later this week. We will get his opinion and the opinion of another doctor before surgery. The surgery will probably happen the middle or end of July. Everything still looks good. I will post the results from future test if they change things. Before surgery I have to do an EKG, Chest Scan and some blood work to test for genetic markers.

Gila Valley Temple

It was a beautiful day as we drove with Brent & family to the Gila Valley Open House. Because of all the rain, everything was so green - greener than it's been in a long time.
The weather was beautiful - actually April & I were cold! Just when the wind was blowing which was all the time.

I know it's hard to see them in the picture but I wanted the whole thing.

As we were walking up to the Temple, I heard someone calling my name. It was Carol & Anna!!! They were on their way into the Temple, we were on our into the church to begin the tour.

It is beautiful! I think the most memorable thing for everyone was the magnificent (and that is the only way to describe it) chandelier in the Celestial Room.

After the tour we headed over to Casa Mañana in Safford for some yummy Mexican food!! Carol stopped by & we visited & then headed over to Rhett & Alisha's home & visited some more. They live in Thatcher. Then we followed Carol on to Pima, passed the Temple to Stephanie's home & visited some more. The kids had fun playing with cousins.
Too soon it was time to head for home but not before we stopped at Tastee Freeze for some ice cream!!!
Thanks Brent & April for a wonderful day!!!

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, NO, Logan is NOT as tall as I am without my shoes on!!!
I still have at leased an inch on him!!!

Family Reunion - William John Thoma & Orinda Ann Karren

They came from near & far for the Reunion & a good time was had by all.
Chuck was late & didn't make it in the picture & Helen wasn't able to come.
Pictures are better than words but since there aren't pictures this is who was there: Mary Thomas, Valarie & Sarah & families, Josh Winston & sons, Debbie, Diane, Peter, Alice, Liz & Marcus & families. Brent & family. Herrings - Mike, Stephanie, Rindy & Bridget & families. The Mannings: Aaron, Jonathan, Maria, Kristina, James & Families. The Moyers Plus Jeff & Daniel & their wives. Michelle favored us with a couple of songs - she is really talented!!
These are the Steels - dad's cousins. Cheryl, the one in the blue hosted the reunion at her home. Many of their families were there too - I just don't know all of them but Melanie - Megan Reed Adair was there with her cute baby.



Mason & Logan & Sabrina (no picture) got to ride the horses & I think they went a hay ride too.
It was decided to have the Second Reunion in 2 years. The weather was perfect.