Friday, September 15, 2006

Chemo, porta-caths and more surgery

Now that I am about to embark on my second phase of kicking cancers ass, I was informed by Dr. McHottie yesterday that I will be having yet another surgery next week. I knew I would need the chemo and I knew that I would need a Porta-Cath to administer the chemo drugs, but I had no idea that a Porta-Cath had to be inserted under my skin in my chest wall..... On my good side...the non cancer side of my chest. That kinda pissed me off a lil bit! Now I will be completely unhuggable for awhile. I love hugs, I love to give hugs....I love to get hugs....they make the world a nicer place to be. The part about having Breast Cancer that pisses me off the most is until I completely heal hugging hurts like hell....I miss the tights hugs from my kids and I miss the cuddle time with my Jim. Big price to pay for a bigger chance at a whole lifetime of hugs.


Dr. Serious (Cancer Doctor) told me that the drugs used in my chemo cocktail are really harsh on the smaller veins in the body, so they have to insert this round disc shaped thing with kinda like a gel center which is attached to a skinny hollow tubing that will be slipped into a main artery in my chest wall that way all the Chemo Angels (Nurses) will have to do is locate the Porta-Cath under my skin and give it a good poke and WA LAAAA  I am hooked up to the Chemo Cocktail! This will be removed when I am done with Chemo and having my final surgery, which my new nipple will be constructed, the areola will be tattooed on and a 'lift' on the healthy right breast will be done to give my breasts more symmetry.


Then look out world the Doctors will release a 40's something year old woman out into the world with a pre-childbirth tummy and the Ta Ta's of a 19 year old! lol lol lol


PS - Dr. Hollywood removed all the scabbing from the new boob and tried to drain more fluid out of her, but there was nothing to drain.......very good sign!

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like all is going well, you'll be putting all this behind you before you know it. Start planning your new wardrobe to go with the new figure you'll be showing off soon.

Take care. Linda x.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/lindaggeorge/GeorgeMansions/

Anonymous said...

I am glad there was nothing to drain this time.  Sorry about your having to have another surgery!  Linda

Anonymous said...

i hope this next procedure goes well.  maybe you can figure out a "modified hug" that might suffice. lol.  I don't know what that would be though.  have agreat weekend. Tina

Anonymous said...

***Then look out world the Doctors will release a 40's something year old woman out into the world with a pre-childbirth tummy and the Ta Ta's of a 19 year old! lol lol lol***  <ROFL> at you! You are too funny, I LOVE your attitude!
http://journals.aol.com/astaryth/AdventuresofanEclecticMind
http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Kim, You are truly the most upbeat person I know................... stay up and you are always in my prayers................ hugs, Sherry

Anonymous said...

The ports are  a good thing  A friend of mine has had 3 inserted over time.  Not all at once.  They do have to be replace.  :-)  She says they are a God send because she has no accessible veins and even routine  blood work was impossible.

Hugs

Deb

http://journals.aol.com/dbaumgartner/fibrohaze

Anonymous said...

Awww crap, another surgery sucks BUT...I guess that means you won't have to be poked and prodded every time you go for chemo!  Did they say how long each session takes?  Do you have to be there all day or just an hour or two?

I'm sending you lots and lots and lots of ((hugs))
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Well my friend until you can get the real thing this will have to do (((((((hug))))))
I want u to know i will be praying for you every step of the way and until ur done with all this i will make it my duty to drink a few every now and again (more now i hope) for u.............love u my favorite irish broad

Anonymous said...

h

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you're kicking some serious cancer ass here -- WTG, Kim!!

Have a wonderful weekend,
:) Carol

Anonymous said...

Hang in there dear, the Porta-Cath is only temporary and will be a big help to you. You've gone through a lot and have a lot of good to look forward too for the future, so this is a just another small inconvenience and I know you'll handle it well.  When this is all over you can have all the big hugs and they'll be even more special dear.  Bless you......Arlene (AJ)

Anonymous said...

Good to hear all is going okay, keep the spirit up....you are so positive over it all.

Anonymous said...

Well look at you, you just have to be different don't you?  While everyone else is getting tattoos of flowers, butterflies and Ying Yang, you're getting a tattoo of a nipple!
Glad the healing is progressing well.

Anonymous said...

Sigh...  So sorry you have to go through another surgery so soon and so unexpectedly.  I love hugs, too...

I still love your sense of humor, though!!!  I'm still LOL with that last sentiment about the lovely bod and ta ta's!  HUGS and BLESSINGS ~ Michelle

Anonymous said...

h

Anonymous said...

You're so funny....I love the way you rename all of your doctors!!  Sorry about the unexpected surgery, but I know you'll be glad for the porta-cath when your chemo begins.  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers daily.

Take Care,
~Bilinda~

Anonymous said...

Better a porta-cath than a porta-potty, I always say!  (Okay, so I don't always say that!).  Gosh, you even get a boob lift on the good one?  I'm sooooo jealous!  I never wanted bigger boobs, just lift them a little bit and put them back where they were 20 years ago!

Sorry about the porta-cath but its a standard thing.  Even with non-cancer patients, if a patient has bad veins, they do this procedure on them in the hospital to get IV access.  It's a quick procedure.  Doc inserts it, they take an xray to make sure it's in there properly and you're done.

Wish there was something I could tell you about the hugs though.  I love hug therapy too and I admire people who were brought up to give them as quickly as they receive.  A hug does wonders!

Perhaps instead of a hug, you and your family can come up with your own "substitute"...maybe a shoulder rub or foot massage from hubby.  Our nurses at the hospital once went through a seminar on therapeutic touch.  Even just to put lotion on a patient's back and legs meant something.  Does that make sense?

Then again, there is also good old fashioned hand holding.  

Hang in there, my friend.  {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Kim}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Love,
Sheila

Anonymous said...

Well good luck with the portacath insertion, Kim.

Anonymous said...

You'll appreciate that porta-cath when you start IV chemo.  It makes life much easier during a tougher than tough time.
Pam

Anonymous said...

I hope your cath surgery goes well.  I know what you mean about missing the hugs.  I just got back from SNB surgery yesterday and everyone wanted to hug but I had to push them off.  :-(  Get those hugs in now!  At least whatever little baby hugs you can stand!  

Take care,
Stephanie

http://journals.aol.com/gandsbrock/inperpetualmotion/

Anonymous said...

Then look out world the Doctors will release a 40's something year old woman out into the world with a pre-childbirth tummy and the Ta Ta's of a 19 year old! lol lol lol

PS - Dr. Hollywood removed all the scabbing from the new boob and tried to drain more fluid out of her, but there was nothing to drain.......very good sign!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AMEN SISTA!!!!
I need a lift myself...don't know if Dr. Hollywood could lift my girls...they must weigh all of 30lbs...lmao
I love your attitude girl...some people in life could really learn from you....me included! So glad there was nothing to drain....thats wonderful!

Hugs..~Terri~


Anonymous said...

(((((Kim))))) be content for a little while with some cyber hugs Okay? You will be back in one piece soon...and completely huggable.  I guess the port thing makes more sense than endless needles you know....get stronger each day...love Sandi

Anonymous said...

h

Anonymous said...

I am soooooooo thinking of you everyday!
I am off line for so much of this summer but never far away.
I am peeking in know that I am!!
Keeping your eye on the prise...that is a lady indeed on a mission.


Love TJ

Anonymous said...

h

Anonymous said...

I`m glad your doing really well and so positive too. take care bella xxhttp://journals.aol.co.uk/lindapaterson177/IstartedofthislifewithnothingIst/

Anonymous said...

{{{{{{Kim}}}}}} Don't worry, you'll be getting tight hugs soon enough {and a lot of wolf whistles, too ;)}. You're in my thoughts. ~Ann

Anonymous said...

 (((KIM))) I had my Port inserted on a Friday and had my first Chemo the next Monday.  When the time came to have my port removed, I didn't want to let go of it.  I was afraid that if I said remove it, I would be jinxing myseft for a recurrance.  I probably kept it an additional 3 months and then said OK take it out.  I am still 6 years+ NED (No Evidence of Disease).
 It was so nice to be having the chemo treatments and having both arms and hands free.  All those others that had the IV in their arms were walking to bathroom with their one arm free and the other resting on a pillow.  

Anonymous said...

Remember when we were kids and we picked the scabbs off our knees ourselves. Now Ms. Priss!!! You get a hot doc to do it for you!! LoL

Love Brenda

Anonymous said...

I love hugs too!!!! But I'm sure you are in for a lot of them when you heal!!! And even though you can't get them now physically... here is a cyber hug for you!!! ((((((((((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))))))))))))).... http://journals.aol.com/shayshaydc/Golfaholic
Sharon:)

Anonymous said...

I really gotta quit smoking.  The thought of surgery is freakin' me out.  Hugs,
hope ya pass through it all with flying colors and I am praying for ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Keep us posted.
Lisa