So, here are my nubbins :)
I promise they're there, even if you can't see them yet!
Maybe I WILL have some actual hair by Christmas :tup
Well it's December, and finally my surgery month is upon me.
I have a busy week ahead of this Friday's S#1 - the oophorectomy (think I've been spelling it wrong ;) ); actually it's a salpingo-oophorectomy (LINK for more info).
Tomorrow I've got to finish grading those essays, along with a couple of peer teaching lesson plans, a late current event, and several field experience write-ups. Not my favorite thing to do... but, have I told you how much I LOVE my job??? Truly :) :) :) I've also got to get my syllabus going for the new Master's course I'm teaching next semester, "The American High School" (SO excited) - this task doesn't need to be done, or even considered tomorrow, just something on my list during surgery month.
Then, Tuesday is the last class meeting with my "Social Studies Methods" group (when another 5 peer teaching thingies land in my lap to grade - though, if they're anything like the first 2 I'll be super pleased :tup ). These students nearly made me cry last week when we somehow got on the subject of useful courses and they shared how much they've enjoyed my class - one said it was the "best class she's ever taken," and another said she was telling everyone, "You've got to take Dr. Rambo's class!" And, they made my day by agreeing they all got so much out of the course and that everything we did was totally worthwhile (big smile and my uni-boob chest sticking out with pride). I share this not to brag at all, but because the semester has been a true challenge, what with this cancer thing going on and all ;) . I personally felt a but discombobulated but, hey, guess I disguised it pretty well!
Wednesday is my last meeting with my G for Teachers class - their mini lessons and final exam will happen during my 4.5 hours with them, and...
Thursday brings pre-op first thing in the morning with my GYN, then pre-op at the hospital, then it's off to D-town (or village ;) - that's Demorest, where Piedmont College's main campus is (I teach both there and at the campus in Athens) - for two of my MAT students' final research presentations in the evening (These guys are an interesting pair, both did a really good job with their actual research projects, but turned in less-than-stellar :( papers which I proceeded to mark up with gusto - no, I'm not THAT picky but, c'mon, MY seal of approval has to go on these things so suck it up and do it write, dudes ;) They will, and they'll make great high school teachers too!).
And, finally, Friday we've got to be at the hospital by 6 am for S#1 at 8 am. I did mention I had a busy week ahead, right??? (Oh, and Sunday some of my besties are coming to visit!)
I have a busy week ahead of this Friday's S#1 - the oophorectomy (think I've been spelling it wrong ;) ); actually it's a salpingo-oophorectomy (LINK for more info).
Tomorrow I've got to finish grading those essays, along with a couple of peer teaching lesson plans, a late current event, and several field experience write-ups. Not my favorite thing to do... but, have I told you how much I LOVE my job??? Truly :) :) :) I've also got to get my syllabus going for the new Master's course I'm teaching next semester, "The American High School" (SO excited) - this task doesn't need to be done, or even considered tomorrow, just something on my list during surgery month.
Then, Tuesday is the last class meeting with my "Social Studies Methods" group (when another 5 peer teaching thingies land in my lap to grade - though, if they're anything like the first 2 I'll be super pleased :tup ). These students nearly made me cry last week when we somehow got on the subject of useful courses and they shared how much they've enjoyed my class - one said it was the "best class she's ever taken," and another said she was telling everyone, "You've got to take Dr. Rambo's class!" And, they made my day by agreeing they all got so much out of the course and that everything we did was totally worthwhile (big smile and my uni-boob chest sticking out with pride). I share this not to brag at all, but because the semester has been a true challenge, what with this cancer thing going on and all ;) . I personally felt a but discombobulated but, hey, guess I disguised it pretty well!
Wednesday is my last meeting with my G for Teachers class - their mini lessons and final exam will happen during my 4.5 hours with them, and...
Thursday brings pre-op first thing in the morning with my GYN, then pre-op at the hospital, then it's off to D-town (or village ;) - that's Demorest, where Piedmont College's main campus is (I teach both there and at the campus in Athens) - for two of my MAT students' final research presentations in the evening (These guys are an interesting pair, both did a really good job with their actual research projects, but turned in less-than-stellar :( papers which I proceeded to mark up with gusto - no, I'm not THAT picky but, c'mon, MY seal of approval has to go on these things so suck it up and do it write, dudes ;) They will, and they'll make great high school teachers too!).
And, finally, Friday we've got to be at the hospital by 6 am for S#1 at 8 am. I did mention I had a busy week ahead, right??? (Oh, and Sunday some of my besties are coming to visit!)
I'm not too nervous about this one. It's laparoscopic and should only take a couple of hours. I've had some folks ask (1) why I'm having this done, (2) will I have to start on hormone replacement, and (3) why I'm not having a total hysterectomy.
ANSWERS:
(1) Because I have the BRCA2 gene. Even having gone through a partial right-side radical mastectomy and 17 weeks of chemo, the odds remain high (50-70%) for another breast cancer. That's ANOTHER breast cancer, not a recurrence, which is still possible - but we won't go there because I'm being Patty Positive (most days ;) ). A salpingo-oophorectomy reduces not only these odds, but also the way-higher-than-average likelihood of ovarian cancer (30-40% with BRCA compared with less than 5% for the general population). So, yes, I'm having this done at the urging of both my GYN and oncologist.
(2) NO hormone replacement! My cancer cells are are hormone receptor-positive, which means estrogen and progesterone actually feed them!!! Nope - they're going to be starved! In fact, I mentioned this before, I've got to start taking an aromatase inhibitor to suppress the remaining estrogen released by my adrenal glands once this surgery is over.
Hot flashes and general bit€hiness anyone??? (lol)
(3) I don't have any problems with my uterus, and removal of it won't do anything for my odds. So why take something out that, if we did, might cause other issues, like my bladder to fall??? Just the ovaries and fallopian tubes for me baby :tup
S#2 is scheduled for the following week, Friday the 13th of December - WHY did I insist on that date??? Really just to give myself maximum recovery time - especially from that one (I'll post later on the plan for S#2 - I'm going at this one step at a time [unlike my typical modus operandi of going at EVERYTHING at the same time ;) ]).
One more thing before I wrap this up. We went to see hubby's dad today. Some of you know he's in end-stage Parkinson's and I've not been able to visit him since I started chemo (he's also in Augusta, so it's a long drive). He was more lucid than I expected - knew all of us by name and gave us a couple of smiles. In fact, sis-in-law said he significantly perked up when hubby came in the door <3 This has been an especially difficult 6 months for hubby (and his sisters and brothers). So, if you're a praying person - and I know many of you are! - please add him to your list :angel
Wishing each of you the best this Christmas season!
Hot flash image from: http://www.drybabe.com/blog/menopause-hot-flash-or-hot-flush/
Flashing Christmas tree image from: http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/animated-christmas-trees.html
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