Margins

   The doctor's office called today.  The pathology report came back.  Clear margins.  It means they feel they got all of the tumor.  Definitely, a good thing !!
   Several appointments are still ahead.  One with a medical oncologist.  Another with a Plastic Surgeon.  In addition, we are awaiting the results of the gene test.  Then we will look at the data and make a decision about what happens next.  The adventure continues.

Barge Information

This tug is going through the Bonneville Locks.  Notice that there are several barges in the group.

Pay attention to the cables that lash the barges together

It would not be cool to have the barges separate as they were being pushed down the river.

Gone

The tumor is gone! 
   Tuesday a tiny stainless steel marker was placed in the tumor at the hospital.  With this and several ultra sound and MRI views helped the surgeon zoom in on the mass.
   Wednesday morning we were at the hospital by 10:45 for scheduled surgery time of 1pm.  By 12:15 Randa was ready for action.  If you have ever had a procedure, you know the drill.  Poked, quizzed, undressed, wearing a very sexy paper little purple gown.
    An item that was new to us was the "hover board".  It is a pad that is put on the bed under the patient.  It has side handles.  When the patient is lifted from bed to bed, it is
inflated so that it is easier and  the safer forthe patient and the nurses .   A great tool.
      Randa went into surgery at 1:30 and was in recovery by 2:30.  The doctor told me in the waiting room that the tumor was easy to find and easy to remove.  She was happy and so was I !!
It was an extremely good day.
   Follow up next Wednesday.

The Big "C"

   Life's road has bumps and potholes, hills and valleys.   Last week we hit one of those bumps.  Randa had a biopsy of a mass that was discovered last fall and received a call from her doctor. 
 So 17 years to the day after Randa's first chemo she had an appointment with another oncologist.  A new tumor.  Totally different type.  Same breast.  So here we go again.
   Today starts the new adventure.  Actually,  there has been some prep events, MRI, blood drawn, doctor visits, but this morning she gets a " marker" placed in the center of the tumor.  The marker is a small piece of metal about the thickness of a staple maybe 1/4 inch long.   The surgeon knows the size of the tumor from the tests so, tomorrow, will remove it, plus a margin around it. 
    Little procedure today.  Bigger procedure tomorrow.  Both are considered " out patient".