Enjoying the view of my backyard!

Have You Met Otis?

Ready To Go!

We went to the doctor this morning and discussed the surgery. I spoke with the hospital and gave them my whole medical history (which is not that exciting). I talked with the plastic surgeon and my Ob/Gyn. I don't like being the person who has a lot of doctors... but they are taking such good care of me I really shouldn't complain. I took a walk along the bluff of the river with my dog Otis at about 5pm. I am ready. And am feeling like I will bounce back quickly. I really just want it to be Saturday and just skip this part in between. But we haven't found the cure for cancer yet nor can we travel through time. Talk with you all soon!

More Inauguration Photos

Calvin and Roomate Zach don't look as cold as everyone else!

Calvin at The Inauguration

I didn't want my blog to be all about me and my illness. Even though as Mark has heard too many times already... it is all about me right now. So I thought I would share this photo from The Inauguration. Although I have asked Calvin to write up a paragraph for me about his experience and he agreed, I haven't seen it yet. He did have an incredible experience and said it was so exciting to be around so many people who were so excited! 

Pre Surgery Appointments

Although I initially freaked out that surgery will be so soon I am used to the idea now. Can't seem to think of any good reason to wait any longer. We will know a whole lot more about what my future holds after those pathology reports come back and I will be on the road to recovery from surgery sooner rather than later. I had some tests I had to take care of right away. I had my EKG, chest xray and blood work done in one fell swoop and I barely had to wait. Gives me time to do all the other things that have to get done before I have surgery! Like get my life organized! Do you think my mother will care if the cupboard under my sink is a complete mess? Actually, compared to my sister my house is spotless (sorry Gigi) so it doesn't really matter. 

I have a Plastic Surgeon and a Surgery Date!

First, we had appointments with plastic surgeons on Monday. Back to back appointments and when we were done it was apparent to both of us which one we would use. We are both confident that Dr. Hackert (who is in the same office with Debra Johnson - lots seem to know her) will do a wonderful job. She is well trained - did her residency at USC. And since she never said "Fight On" to us, she got the nod. 

As soon as we notified the cancer surgeon of the choice they were able to move ahead with a surgery date. Wednesday, January 28 is it. Really scary to think about.

Second Email - January 15, 2009

Hi Again,
Thanks for all your messages via phone and email, notes, cards, etc. I  
Iove hearing from you. I love running into you around town and on the  
parkway. I can't possibly respond to everyone but do know that I  
appreciate your thoughts.
I had an MRI on Wednesday morning. It's a good thing Mark went with me  
because when they offered to give me valium I needed a driver to get  
me home.
I didn't think I wanted anything to calm me down... thought I could  
handle it fine... but for those of you who have had an MRI, it's  
noisy, you have to remain completely still for long periods of time,  
it can be claustrophobic and just scary in general because of where I  
am.
So, why not take something to relax me. They hook you up to an IV  so  
they can inject some dye in you towards the end of the process.  
Someone asked me if its a warm feeling surging through your body when  
they inject the dye... I didn't feel a thing. The valium made me so  
relaxed, except for the noise, I almost fell asleep. That was a good  
decision!
They told me 4 days to get the results. YUCK...
I went to the bay area yesterday (Thursday) to do some fun stuff with  
my new job. It was a great distraction and I had a blast modeling the  
new spring line. (Clothes are wonderful!) Later in the day the doctor  
called with the MRI report. (Quick turnaround!) Good and bad... The  
right breast is clear. The lymph nodes don't seem swollen. But there  
is a lot more going on in the left than we originally suspected.  
Another lump, other cancer stuff in between. It looks like one of the  
lumps has grown into the chest muscle a little bit. Will one of your  
kids please study science and then find out what causes this and a way  
to catch and cure it earlier??? The nurse told me this has probably  
been growing in me for 5 years or more.
So, since there is so much more going on in the left breast, for the  
first time she (the doc) suggested that I might think about having a  
bilateral mastectomy. (I didn't even know how to spell this word until  
I wrote you that email a few days ago.) Not sure that leaving me one  
would have made me any happier... not removing it will might be a  
cause of worry and lots of tests to watch it over the years. And they  
say that if you have both done then the fake ones match better and  
will never sag... I will be 80 with perky breasts (most of yours will  
really be sagging by then) ... that's not a bad thing to look forward  
to. (For the men on this email list... you will just have to realize I  
am not speaking to you directly at times.) So I have lots to think  
about.
Won't know about radiation or chemo treatments until after surgery.  
They do more pathology tests and look at the lymph nodes then. I would  
love to avoid chemo but of course will do what needs to be done!
In the meantime I was able to set up appointments with two plastic  
surgeons for Monday. It was Monday or February ... Monday is perfect.  
As soon as I pick my plastic surgeon we can then coordinate a surgery  
date.
I feel like I am living someone else's life right now. Kind of moving  
along in a haze at times. And when people ask me how I am I really  
don't know how to answer... considering what I am going through I  
think I am doing ok. I am really looking forward to watching the  
Inauguration and all the festivities leading up to that. Calvin and  
his room mate will be seated in the audience which is very exciting.  
We know a number of other people who will be there too. It's a great  
diversion for me and a very exciting time for everyone else.
Keep in touch!
Love you all
Jaime

First Email on Jan 13, 2009

Hi,

Thank you for all your words of support and love. I can't do this without you.

Really liked my doctor, Joyce Eaker. So happy to have gotten in there so quickly. And her nurse told me that when she asks for something, she gets it. So that is the kind of doc I want...

Basically, I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. This is the kind that most women get. I have three lumps, but they are small so that is good. Small is good. If there was one lump she would recommend a lumpectomy but since there are three she recommends the mastectomy. Only one breast at this time but I have a MRI scheduled for tomorrow which can show you a lot more about what is going on in your breast tissue. She does not think that it has spread to the lymph nodes but won't know for sure until surgery. So, there is still a lot that we don't know. She recommends reconstructive surgery which starts at the time of your mastectomy surgery with both doctors working together. Never thought I would have a plastic surgeon but apparently I need one now.

Surgery will probably happen within 3-4 weeks, maybe sooner, depends on the schedule of the plastic surgeon.

We had a fire drill in the middle of the appointment and had to leave the hospital and go across the street to Sutter's Fort. We didn't get home until 1:15 and our first call was to Calvin.

I am sending this out to as many of my friends as I can think of... but am sure to miss some. Please forward it on. I will look into a blog or website but not today.


Love you all,


Thanks again
Jaime



P.S. Mark has been great. I even have him making coffee for me in the morning.

Background - December 2008

The week of December 8, 2009 I discovered a lump. It was time for my annual mammogram so I called to make an appointment. Because I told them I had a lump they were able to make a sonogram appointment for the same time (after getting the necessary referral from my doctor).

But I have had lumps before, more than once and they turned out to be nothing but cysts so I didn't worry too much. 

I had my mammogram on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009. They took lots films, reviewed them, took more and did the sonogram. When the doctor came in to take a look I knew there must be something suspicious. He said that I would need a biopsy and that he could do it right then. So of course I agreed as I wouldn't want to wait if there is a problem. They took 4 core biopsies at at time. Then put in titanium markers and took for mammogram film so they knew exactly where the biopsies came from. That was a bit painful. I had been there over 4 hours. No complaints. I was happy they could do it all then rather than coming back another day. Poor Mark was wondering what was going on all this time. 

The next day, Friday, Jan 9 I called my OB/GYN's office to tell them they should look for my pathology reports and gave them my cell and home numbers. I was told that I would only hear on Friday if there was bad news... At about 3pm I got the call. And that is how this ride began.

Somehow (perhaps the strings pulled by the OB/GYN) I had an appointment with a surgeon specializing in breast cancer the following Tuesday at 10am. Can't get much quicker than that.

I spent the weekend in disbelief. My eyes were practically swollen shut. I was walking around in a "fog". Called my family to tell them. On Sunday was able to talk with a few close friends - most of the time without falling apart. This was my new reality.

See how healthy I looked in December!