Long lost blog

Hello everyone, I can't believe it's been almost a year since I've blogged. I loved blogging as I was going through all of my treatments because I always received the best and most encouraging comments. Thanks to all who commented and helped me through that period in my life. I cannot believe tomorrow October 2nd will be two years since they told me yes you have cancer. Well I can't say that time flew because I was having fun, nevertheless it still flew by. I finished up my Herceptin in February of this year and started taking Tamoxifan. They say I will probably take that for about five years. Yuck! It makes me gain weight and be very irritable. Oh well, I'm very thankful to be here each and every day.
Thanks for reading.
I go for my next checkup on the thirteenth of this month so I will let everyone know how it goes. I am scheduled to go ever three months for checkups and checkups on my heart too.
Much love to all, Audra

:)

I have been going to Duke every 3 weeks for Herceptin. They had to hold it awhile back because of my heart again. Last Tuesday we went back up for an Ecko and my heart was good my ejection fraction (still can't remember what it's called) is up so they were able to start the Herceptin again. I have to take it until February. I also saw my surgeon a few weeks ago and we talked about my reconstruction. My Dr. recommended another Dr. that he works with because of the kind of reconstruction I need, this Dr does this procedure. He also said that it is a very long surgery-10 to 12 hours under and in the hospital for 5 days and out of work 6 to 8 weeks. UUGGHHH!!! So that is something that I will have to think about.
I can't believe this month it has been a year since I found out I had cancer. I was told Oct 2, 2008. It seems like forever ago and then sometimes it seems like it has flown by. I feel like I am mostly done with everything as far as the cancer goes and I feel like I should be different, which I feel that I am in someways, but in others Oh I don't know. I so want to make a difference now with helping others going thru Breast Cancer and finding a cure. I've done some little things but nothing major, it's funny how life just goes on as nothing has changed and everything has changed for me, and I feel like I should be making more of a difference. I am enjoying each and every moment with my family that I have. I am just so very glad and blessed to be here, because last year this time I sure wasn't sure if I was going to be here or not.
Thanks for all the prayers and support that helped get me through this terrible disease.
I will keep you updated for the next surgery in February.

Finished with Radiation

I had my final radiation treatment this morning at 7:15. Six full weeks/five days a week. I am so glad that its over and I am home with my family. I think I had the hardest time with radiation because I had to be away from my family for a full five days. I stayed in a hotel a few times and a couple of weeks I stayed with my Aunt Nellie Ann and Uncle John-they had the nicest home and Aunt Nellie Ann is one of the best cooks I know. Cole went with me several times-he is the best company to have. I was able to get a room at the Caring House which is about 3 minutes from the Cancer Clinic. I couldn't take the kids with me because you can't have anyone stay under the age of 18. The first week was pretty tough, then I had my friend Melodie come and stay the second week and she and Jaime came and stayed this past week for two nights and we had the best time. The Caring House is such a nice place and they offer it to you for only $25 a night.
I am really burnt on my chest and under my arm where they treated-but hey I'm home and it's only going to get better.
I have an appointment for Aug 6 for a Endoscopy. A certain part of my white blood count is raised meaning something is going on so they are going to take some samples of my stomach and lower intestines. On Aug 11th I will go back and see my Oncologist Dr. Marcom and have Herceptin in the Chemo lab. My Dr. will also put me on some horomone replacement pills I think that is what they said anyway.
Then............................I won't have to go back for 3 more weeks. YAY!!!!! Herceptin every 3 weeks until Feb. I can definately handle that.
Well thats all for now-Love Audra

Latest dr. visit

I went up to Duke yesterday June 9 for bloodwork, Dr. appt, chemo (just the Herceptin) and a CT scan to get me set up for radiation. When we got the report from the dr that my pathology report came back cancer free, I was so very happy. Then a few days later my stomach started hurting really bad then I had all the stuff that goes with upset stomach. I went back for my Herceptin 3 weeks ago and that is when it was really bad. I had taken 2 prilosec that morning and when they got the IV started they gave me zofran, and tagament and that didn't touch it then they gave me some mylanta and gas x and that didn't help so the whole way home I was bent over in excruciating pain. So we paged my dr up at Duke and told him that we just left from up there and all the meds they gave me didn't help and so he told me to go to the ER here so then in the past few weeks I have been to the dr down here several times and the hospital getting test done. At first they thought it was my gall bladder and so I had a sonogram and it showed no signs of gall stones then I had the pipida scan and that came back normal. So now they are checking for C-diff. They best way I can describe that is-all the antibiotics that I was on after surgery and having those drain tubes in (I was on antibiotics for 16 days, pain meds and also Tamiflu because Cole had the flu and so my dr. put me on it to for precaution) so sometimes alot of antibiotics can kill the good stuff in your intestines and you have to take some more antibiotics to get it back right again. OH I don't know something like that anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it isn't that than the next step will be an upper and lower endoscopy to check for ulcers and to take some biopsys. My dr had originally wanted me to get a brain MRI when I was vomitting alot because sometimes the cancer can metasisize to the brain. So instead of just being the happiest person in the world right now I have been so sick with my stomach and terrified of it spreading somewhere else. I know I should look on the positive side-look at all I have been through and now my pathology report came back cancer free but I have been so sick and so scared about what is going on with me. I have googled my symtoms and it has said gall bladder or ulcers or celiacs disease (gluten free diet). So hopefully I will get this fixed whatever is going on with me and then CELEBRATE. Also I will tell you for pure HUMOR that I was on a liquid diet for 11 days and did not lose ONE freaking pound. Very humorous huh!!!!!!!!!!!
Last week we met with Dr. Horton at Duke for my radiation consultation and she said that she thinks that I do need radiation. I was hoping to get out of that but oh well I have come this far. She said I had three strikes against me- being so young, cancer so large and it was in my lymph nodes. So I start radiation on June 16 and it will be for 6 1/2 weeks, 5 days a week. Well that is all for now, I will let everyone know how the radiation goes.
Love, Audra

Go tell it on the mountain !!!!! We just got out of the doctors office and Audra's pathology report came back cancer free. LET THE GLORY BE TO GOD !!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. We love you all. Whooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!

Hello, this is corky, just wanted to let ya'll know that everything went well today. My Angel went into surgery this morning around 715 and got out around 1100. Doctor says she may be able to come home tomorrow. She is sassy, so I know she is doing pretty good. She is still as beautiful as the day that I met her. Now , I am just a little closer to her heart. I want to thank each and everyone, for all the prayers. Ya' ll just don't know how much you have touched our lives. I pray that each and everyone will receive the blessings that our family has received. I will be joining golds gym next week, so I will be ready to fight off all the guys next summer, when Audra is riding around in the mullet tower in that bikini. Son, won't she be Hot. God bless you all, corky

Friday May 1st

I went to Duke today for my preop and an EKG and a Echo on my heart. My little man Cole went with me today. I was going to go by myself, Corky thought I had someone and I was ok with going by myself, I knew they were not going to do anything major today-just talk about the surgery and those test on my heart are a breeze compared to some test. Corky was mad when I told him I was going by myself and Cole said I feel sorry for you mama because you have cancer-I want to go with you so you are not alone. He is the sweetest little boy also the thought of missing school probably didn't hurt. We had the best day together. He met my surgeons nurse Dee and she was so nice to him and he was so polite to her when we left he said where does she live I want to buy her a christmas present this year. God bless him.
Anyway about surgery I have to be there at 6 am and surgery is at 7:15 they said it will take around 4 hours and an hour or so in recovery and I will only stay one night. We are going to stay the night up in Durham so I will just have to wake up and drive 5 minutes there and tell them to put me in LA LA Land so I don't stress or have anxiety. If I had to drive 3 hours there it would be too long to think about it so that is why I am staying up there.
Please say a little prayer for me on Monday morning-I just hope everything goes ok and they get all the cancer.