LINKS:
* Link to Summer '07 family pics on video (7 minutes, 39 seconds) AND Jill's Channel 6 interview (3 minutes, 37 seconds): http://ambersfamily.blogspot.com/
* Link to Race for the Cure: http://rfctu.convio.net/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=1040
NOTE: (Jill's team is currently 7th in the standings of all of Tulsa. Thank you all so much for participating and donating. Jill (and all our family) appreciates it more than you know. You can still walk with us or donate online if you like.)
JILL UPDATE:
All is going pretty well in Tulsa these days. Jill is going in for her 2nd to the last chemotherapy treatment tomorrow. Hoorah! Just when the "fun" is over, thoughts turn to surgery. Jill is going to have a double mastectomy and some time later undergo reconstruction. The dates of the surgeries are still up in the air, but the first (mastectomy) will likely happen before the year is out. Also not sure when the hysterectomy will happen, but maybe this year. Again, the reason she is having a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy is because the cancer is genetic. People with the mutated gene have a 70% chance of getting cancer in the other breast (IF they've got it in one breast) and a 40-60% chance of getting ovarian cancer, so it only makes sense to get it all taken care of.
Options for reconstruction include using your own fat from your abdomen to make new breasts or inserting implants. Since Jill does not have excess abdominal fat, she will have implants. (The one time being skinny is a disadvantage!) Although the details are not all worked out, likely she will have expanders inserted when she has the mastectomy. These are devices that are slowly pumped up to expand the existing skin to accommodate future implants. Let's pray for a good outcome and a quick recovery.
AMBER UPDATE:
Since I have the mutated gene as well, I am having some tests done. For women who have the gene, the course of action if they do not choose ovary or breast removal is described in this example: ovary ultrasound on January 1st and breast MRI (different than a regular MRI) on July 1st each year, with a mammogram in there somewhere. Of course, if the person chooses to have ovaries and/or breasts removed, they wouldn't have those corresponding tests. Jill's breast surgeon told me she wouldn't recommend a woman my age have a prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy but would recommend ovary removal by age 40. So what does that mean for me? I don't know yet. Big decisions - especially since I do not have kids yet.Ultimately, you have to do what is best for your own health. I've always thought I wanted kids, but I realize you are never out of options... From freezing eggs all the way up to adoption. I am just thankful that I now have information about myself that could prolong my life. That's the way you have to look at it.
Again, please give me, Jill, Mom, or Dad a call or email if you have questions about the genetic part of this (or anything else). Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Race!!!
Amber 918-810-7214
Jill 918-299-7768
Dad & Mom 918-968-3072
Love,
Amber
* Link to Summer '07 family pics on video (7 minutes, 39 seconds) AND Jill's Channel 6 interview (3 minutes, 37 seconds): http://ambersfamily.blogspot.com/
* Link to Race for the Cure: http://rfctu.convio.net/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=1040
NOTE: (Jill's team is currently 7th in the standings of all of Tulsa. Thank you all so much for participating and donating. Jill (and all our family) appreciates it more than you know. You can still walk with us or donate online if you like.)
JILL UPDATE:
All is going pretty well in Tulsa these days. Jill is going in for her 2nd to the last chemotherapy treatment tomorrow. Hoorah! Just when the "fun" is over, thoughts turn to surgery. Jill is going to have a double mastectomy and some time later undergo reconstruction. The dates of the surgeries are still up in the air, but the first (mastectomy) will likely happen before the year is out. Also not sure when the hysterectomy will happen, but maybe this year. Again, the reason she is having a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy is because the cancer is genetic. People with the mutated gene have a 70% chance of getting cancer in the other breast (IF they've got it in one breast) and a 40-60% chance of getting ovarian cancer, so it only makes sense to get it all taken care of.
Options for reconstruction include using your own fat from your abdomen to make new breasts or inserting implants. Since Jill does not have excess abdominal fat, she will have implants. (The one time being skinny is a disadvantage!) Although the details are not all worked out, likely she will have expanders inserted when she has the mastectomy. These are devices that are slowly pumped up to expand the existing skin to accommodate future implants. Let's pray for a good outcome and a quick recovery.
AMBER UPDATE:
Since I have the mutated gene as well, I am having some tests done. For women who have the gene, the course of action if they do not choose ovary or breast removal is described in this example: ovary ultrasound on January 1st and breast MRI (different than a regular MRI) on July 1st each year, with a mammogram in there somewhere. Of course, if the person chooses to have ovaries and/or breasts removed, they wouldn't have those corresponding tests. Jill's breast surgeon told me she wouldn't recommend a woman my age have a prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy but would recommend ovary removal by age 40. So what does that mean for me? I don't know yet. Big decisions - especially since I do not have kids yet.
Again, please give me, Jill, Mom, or Dad a call or email if you have questions about the genetic part of this (or anything else). Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Race!!!
Amber 918-810-7214
Jill 918-299-7768
Dad & Mom 918-968-3072
Love,
Amber
==============
PICS
Lainey Paige grinning (at Aunt Ber's morning hair?). She is much happier and sleeping better these days. Whew...
PICS
Lainey Paige grinning (at Aunt Ber's morning hair?). She is much happier and sleeping better these days. Whew...
Peyton will kill me for this later, but aren't the tiny toilets cute?
Jill and Lainey
No comments:
Post a Comment