Feeling Better But Still Resting - March 9, 2012 Update

I am at the hospital right now with Mom and she is doing better than she was yesterday and the day before. Today she has been up and has walked around and she even went outside for 2 walks today. Hooray for fresh air! And the weather was accommodating as well - I think the high today was about 72 and the sun was shining. She still has not been cleared to come home. The doctors want to make sure she is healthy and she is meeting digestive and breathing milestones before they give her the green light to come home.

As for other updates, Grammy (Charlene) was telling me that Mom will likely be on chemo for about six months. This will require her to go in once a week for the chemo to be administered. I don't know much more about that just yet but I will add info as I have it. She looks good today and it was nice to be able to see her after being at work for a few days. The flowers in her room really are beautiful and the blessings just keep rolling in . . . many thanks to everyone for your well wishes, flowers and acts of kindness. We appreciate it all very much :).

~Candice

Update: March 8, 2012 Doctor's Orders: R&R

Hi everyone,

It's late but I wanted to update everyone on what is happening today. As the title indicates, Mom's doctor has given her orders to rest and relax in order to heal so no more visitors for the time being. Her facebook posts pretty much tell it all, "Few will be surprised....seems I did a little too much yesterday and am now running a fever compliments of a touch of pneumonia....what does this mean in lay man's terms? I get another day at St Joes and of course...... Finally.....Official confirmation that I am HOT! ;)." Then, a couple hours later, "I feel like I am back in high school...just got chastised by my surgeon for being "too social".....I have bee cut off from holding events in my room. I am no longer the hostesses with the mostess....turning off my phone for awhile also.....R&R time.... Let the antibiotics flow!"

So, as she said, she has turned off her phone and will be resting more until the fluid in her lungs and the pneumonia clear up. She did walk around the floor 5 times today so that is good physical progress but it is important for her to take time to rest and that is what she's doing. In fact, for those of you who know her dad, Ralph, he is on a personal mission to ensure that the doctor's orders are followed. When Traci (her sister) dropped in tonight, he made certain that she didn't overstay her welcome or pose an additional social burden on Mom. His love for her is inspiring.

Cameron's update earlier also cracked me up, "walked around the hospital floor 5 times - still stubborn as can be." Indeed, this stubbornness is likely to be one of her greatest assets in this fight. 

Finally, Mom asked me to please let everyone know how much she appreciates the prayers, flowers, phone calls, cards and other demonstrations of love and support. It has been the foundation for her high spirits and feelings of peace and comfort during this time. Thank you all!

And just so everyone knows - I am back to work and am unable to answer many calls or text messages during my work hours because I am on the phone all day long. I will do my best to update here every night - I appreciate your patience with me as well. Thanks again everyone :)

~Candice

Update: Wednesday March 7th, 2012

I have been busy getting the blog set up but I wanted to include a quick update for everyone who is wondering how my Mom is doing today. I talked to my siblings who were able to visit with her today and I was told that she looks good today - she had a shower and took three walks. She is in high spirits and so far there is no additional information as to next steps. We know that she should be starting chemo in about three weeks, however. She will have an appointment with the doctor next week and he will go over the treatment plan then as we understand. From what we heard the other day, she could be coming home on Friday.

She has received tons of beautiful flower bouquets and many phone calls, emails and messages on facebook. Each little note, message, call, etc. puts a smile on her face. We have been humbled by the outpouring of love and support. She is grateful for every single gesture of love and support :).

Love,
Candice

The Beginning of Tammy's Journey Battling Ovarian Cancer

On Monday, March 5, 2012 my Mom, Tammy was diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer. She had both of her ovaries removed, the omentum removed and a significant portion of her lower intestine removed to rid her of the cancerous tumors. She was surrounded by family as she went into surgery and she was surrrounded  by family as she awoke after surgery. In the course of one night I sent close to 200 text messages to friends and family near and far, updated Facebook repeatedly, and my mom asked about people by name to make sure they had all received notification. Kristen (my sister) flew in from California and Mom also had her sons Cameron and Chaz, myself (Candice) as well as her sister Traci and her parents by her side. In the midst of the chaos, uncertainty and pain, my mom was surrounded by a physical representation of the greater support network that surrounds her right now as she battles this terrible illness.

For those who are reading this blog and who don't know much about ovarian cancer (as none of us did a week ago!) here is some information that I have found useful as I have researched the diagnosis and tried to make sense of the whys behind something like this. I will use this blog as the central place to update everyone on mom's progress and condition. As it stands right now, the doc has said that she will be in the hospital until around Friday when she may be released to come home :
http://www.ovariancancer.org/about-ovarian-cancer/introduction/
Overview

Ovarian cancer is a growth of abnormal malignant cells that begins in the ovaries (women’s reproductive glands that produce ova). Cancer that spreads to the ovaries but originates at another site is not considered ovarian cancer. 

Ovarian tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Although abnormal, cells of benign tumors do not metastasize (spread to other parts of the body).  Malignant cancer cells in the ovaries can metastasize in two ways:  directly to other organs in the pelvis and abdomen (the more common way), through the bloodstream or lymph nodes to other parts of the body.
While the causes of ovarian cancer are unknown, some theories exist: Genetic errors may occur because of damage from the normal monthly release of an egg. Increased hormone levels before and during ovulation may stimulate the growth of abnormal cells.

Types of Ovarian Cancer

Different types of ovarian cancer are classified according to the type of cell from which they start.
Epithelial tumors – About 90 percent of ovarian cancers develop in the epithelium, the thin layer of tissue that covers the ovaries. This form of ovarian cancer generally occurs in postmenopausal women.
Germ cell carcinoma tumors –Making up about five percent of ovarian cancer cases, this type begins in the cells that form eggs. While germ cell carcinoma can occur in women of any age, it tends to be found most often in women in their early 20s. Six main kinds of germ cell carcinoma exist, but the three most common types are: teratomas, dysgerminomas, and endodermal sinus tumors. Many tumors that arise in the germ cells are benign.
Stromal carcinoma tumors – Ovarian stromal carcinoma accounts for about five percent of ovarian cancer cases. It develops in the connective tissue cells that hold the ovary together and those that produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. The two most common types are granulosa cell tumors and sertoli-leydig cell tumors. Unlike with epithelial ovarian carcinoma, 70 percent of stromal carcinoma cases are diagnosed in Stage I.

Stages of Ovarian Cancer

The stages of ovarian cancer are determined by how far the cancer has spread. The stage of ovarian cancer at diagnosis is the most important indicator of prognosis.
Stage I – Cancer is limited to one or both ovaries.
IA – Cancer is limited to one ovary and the tumor is confined to the inside of the ovary. No ascites containing malignant cells is present, and the surface of the tumor has not ruptured.
IB – Cancer is limited to both ovaries without any tumors on the ovaries’ outer surfaces. No ascites containing malignant cells is present, and the surface of the tumor has not ruptured.
IC – The tumor is classified as either Stage IA or IB and one or more of the following conditions exist:
a tumor on the outer surface of one or both ovaries;
at least one ruptured tumor;
ascites or abdominal (peritoneal) washings containing malignant cells.
Stage II – The tumor involves one or both ovaries and extends to other pelvic structures.
IIA – The cancer has extended to and/or involves the uterus and/or the fallopian tubes.
IIB – The cancer has extended to the bladder or rectum.
IIC – The tumor is classified as either Stage IIA or IIB and one or more of the following conditions exist:
a tumor on the outer surface of one or both ovaries;
at least one ruptured tumor;
ascites containing malignant cells or abdominal (peritoneal) washings containing malignant cells.
Stage III – The tumor involves one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following exist:

• The cancer has spread beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen;
• The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The tumor is limited to the true pelvis but with histologically-proven malignant extension to the small bowel or omentum (peritoneum fold).

IIIA – The tumor is in one or both of the ovaries. While surgeons cannot see cancer in the abdomen, and the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes, biopsies checked under a microscope reveal tiny deposits of cancer in the abdominal (peritoneal) surfaces.
IIIB – The tumor is in one or both ovaries, and deposits of cancer are present in the abdomen that are large enough for the surgeon to see but do not exceed two cm in diameter. The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
IIIC – The tumor is visible in one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following conditions exists:

• the cancer has spread to lymph nodes;
• the deposits of cancer exceed two cm in diameter and are found in the abdomen.

Stage IV- Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries and distant metastases to the liver or lungs have occurred. Finding ovarian cancer cells in the excess fluid accumulated around the lungs (pleural fluid) also shows evidence of stage IV.