Oncologist Visit

After a very long day at the Provo Hospital (from 11 am to 6 pm to be
exact with a short break for lunch) I have been scheduled to start
Chemotherapy treatments this coming Friday May 4th. This has been the
tentative date for a while but I actually have an appointment time
now. So, 9:30 am this Friday I will start treatment. I can't say
that I am all that calm about it, I know doctors aren't the best at
assuring you when they are obligated to tell you that nothing is
guaranteed and that the statistics are yada, yada, yada. I was given
the basics of what to expect though and they are going to drug me up
with lots of anti-nausea meds since I seem to get queasy over just
about everything these days so hopefully that helps things go more
smoothly. Here is the breakdown.

My Chemo treatments will take five hours. The reason they are so long
is because a lot of the drugs need to be given individually so they
are done back to back. Not all chemo therapies are this long but the
specific drugs I am going to be on do take this long. So Friday is
going to be a long day and I don't know what I am going to do to keep
myself occupied. I wish I could say sleep but I don't think that will
work, I am going to be too nervous.

They say that days 2-5 are the hardest as far as fatigue and nausea
are concerned. Day one being the day I receive Chemo. Then days 7-14
are when my immune system will be at its lowest, that said I need to
be careful everyday to steer clear of any obvious situations where I
will be exposed to things because my body will not be able to cope.

Days 14 - 21 are the days where I start to rebound a bit but then on
day 21 I receive Chemo again and start the process over again. I will
be receiving anywhere from 3-6 treatments depending on what the board
discusses. I have a split decision as of now. My surgeon feels that 3
is perfect and that there is not a recognizable benefit to having six
whereas the oncologist that is giving me the treatments feels that if
I want to be as aggressive as possible I should do 6. It is hard to
know what to do when both doctors seem to be so knowledgeable so I am
going to hold out to make the decision until the board discusses it
and then I get 7-10 more doctors opinions on it.

Oh yeah and my hair will start falling out in about two weeks and will
most likely be completely gone by the end of May. No biggie. I just
don't want any one's jaws to drop in surprise when they see my
undoubtedly gorgeous egg shaped head for the first time! I know so
many of you will be envious but I will try to not rub it in too bad,
especially if you happen to be having a bad hair day!

That is the rundown as of now. I am hoping for the best as far as
symptoms go and have several numbers to call if I have a bad day.
Thank you for being so supportive and helping me and my family. I can
not even begin to express the gratitude I have for all the service
that has come my way. I honestly do not know how I could have
survived til now without the support of my family, friends and my ward
family. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

~Rachelle

Update

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to give any updates, I really
don't even know where to start. I have been home since Easter Sunday
now and I have been improving a little bit each day. It is hard
because I am still so far from where I want to be as far as getting
back into the normal routine of things. It may sound strange but I
really do miss chaning my baby's diaper and getting my kids ready for
school in the morning and to bed at night. I also really miss Relief
Society and being able to serve in my calling but I am hoping that
within another week or two I will be able to start resuming my normal
activities...at least until Chemo starts the beginning on May but I
will take that hurdle when it comes.
 
Thank you for all of you that have been praying for me and have been
helping my family while I have been recovering. We have been so
blessed by so many. Thank you for watching over us and helping us.

~Rachelle

Coming Home

Rachelle was released from the hospital today.  Even though the doctor explained all that the surgery would entail, I don't think anyone can truly be prepared for such physical pain and emotional upset.  Having said that, Rachelle managed to maintain her positive attitude and sense of humor; and what amazed me even more is that while she was enduring intense pain and nausea, her thoughts and concerns were for the needs of the sisters in the ward.

Because Rachelle's surgery was so invasive, her recovery is expected to take several weeks.  I suspect she'll be feeling better just in time to start 3 months of chemotherapy.  For the next week or two, Rachelle prefers not to have any visitors.  I have told her siblings this as well.  However, I understand the need to let her know that you are thinking about her; emails, texts and notes are welcome.

Rachelle (and I) are so thankful for the out-pouring of love, kindness and service that has been shown to her and her family.

Please continue to keep to Rachelle and her sweet little family in your prayers.

Thank you,
Dana Aders
(Rachelle's mother)

The Best News!!!

The pathology from Sister M's surgery came back negative for cancer!!!!  My heart is so full of joy!!!   She is still in the hospital...she is struggling with some nausea and they want to keep her until that is more under control.  They thought maybe tomorrow she would be able to come home.  She will also have to undergo three months of chemotherapy (that is a routine procedure with ovarian cancer).   But, she is going to be okay!!!  Prayers are heard and answered!  She would like all of the Sisters in her ward to know that she loves them and they are in her heart and prayers.
~Fredia

Surgery Update

Rachelle had surgery yesterday (Tuesday).  Her family would like everyone to know that Rachelle is doing well and recovering.  The surgery went smoothly and the doctor was very positive toward Rachelle.  Please continue to keep Rachelle and her sweet family in your prayers and hopefully things will continue to go smoothly.

~Fredia

Beginning of a Journey

It all started in January, but it really should have started sooner than that.  I noticed that I had a lump in my stomach.  I say that is should have started sooner because during the fall I just thought I was getting fat but that was not the case.  The lump turned out to be an ovarian cyst that I had removed on March 12^th at the American Fork hospital.  It was supposed to be routine.  I had tests done prior to the surgery to rule out cancer so I was supposed to be in the clear. Once they had removed the seven pound cyst along with the ovary it had taken up residence on they tested it and found that there were abnormal cells.  I didn’t think that sounded all that bad. I mean, abnormal? Uh, yeah! It was a seven pound growth in my stomach that wasn’t a baby.  The only thing that should be growing in a ladies belly is a baby!  So of course it was not normal.  Come to find out that is the word doctors use to cushion the blow when they then proceed to tell you that you have cancer.

I had to heal from my surgery, I was in the hospital three days, and then pretty stationary for the next two weeks as my six inch incision healed.  Then on Wednesday March 28^th I had my first appointment with Dr. Soisson at the Huntsman Cancer institute located on the U of U campus.  He was very reassuring and knows his stuff.  He spent a lot of time answering my questions and giving me my options without trying to sway me into making the decision he wanted me to make.  The bottom line of the visit is that I will be having surgery again on Tuesday April 3^rd at the Huntsman Center.  The surgery is going to be a vertical incision this time (what’s one more scare at this point right?)  They will be able to look for cancer, will be removing the other ovary that may have been affected by the cancer cells, and be taking biopsy’s.

As of now I do not know what stage my cancer is.  We are hoping for stage one.  If it is stage one I will have one three month cycle of Chemo therapy and then most likely be done.  If it is anything more advanced then the treatment plan will obviously change accordingly.  We are praying for stage one.

I do not know much more than that.  The biopsies taken will be tested and then I will know what stage my cancer is.  I don’t even have a guess as to how long that process will take.  All I know is that surgery and chemo are in my future.  The chemo will start about a month from now and hopefully be done by the time school starts in the fall so that I can be back to normal for the fun of carpools, sporting events, homework with kids and the usually school year grind.  Bummer that I am going to miss my summer though. Summer and spring are my favorite season of the year! I guess being sick for this years will make me even more grateful for next years.

I have been so blessed as I have gone through everything.  I have had so much love and support from family, friends and my amazing ward family.  Thank you to everyone that has me in their prayers and has been taking care of my family.  I ask that you be sensitive of the fact that my children do not really understand what is going on.  We have told them about Mommy being sick. We have even occasionally used the word cancer, but really what six, five or one year old really know what that even means.  We are taking the obstacles as they come and are preparing them as best we can. Please leave that part to us as their parents and let them be the carefree kids they deserve to be at this age.

~Rachelle