I've mentioned in passing how I've been experiencing a "marathon period" for the last several weeks. I just figured it's due to being perimenpausal. I've even joked that it's like the grand finale at the fireworks show.

Today I had my annual gynecological exam and it appears that there is a "growth" or "mass" in my vagina. I'll see a GYN specialist next Thursday. The nurse practitioner who did today's exam said she'd never seen anything like it. She mentioned that I could end up getting a hysterectomy.

The "C" word was never mentioned and there's no point in speculating. I'll be happy if an operation is all I need. Of course, the first question that crossed my mind is, how much weight will I lose? :grouphug:

I've had a rough week that had very little to do with my disease!

On Wednesday, I took my car to the carwash and as the attendant was driving it onto the track (that drags the car through the wash,) the airbags deployed! So now I'm dealing with getting the car inspected to determine if it was an impact or mechanical failure and whether our insurance will cover it.

Yesterday, I spilled Water onto my brand new cellphone and it's not working. I'm going to have to get another one.

Tuesday, my new diagnosis of an undifferentiated carcinoma was confirmed and I had four more radiation treatments Wednesday and Thursday. My radiological oncologist and I consider this better news because carcinomas aren't generally as resistant to chemotherapy as sarcomas. My "doom-and-gloom" doctor didn't see any improved outlook since the cancer is in my lungs. Needless to say, I will likely be changing doctors after I get back from MD Anderson!

Yesterday, I got a phone call at about 8:30 a.m. telling me that I needed a referral to my doctor at MD Anderson and if I can't get it in time, I will need to reschedule my appointment. I spent the rest of the day calling my PCP's office, my insurance company, and MD Anderson, trying to get it straightened out. Since I got my diagnosis, my doctor went out of town for a week, the pathologist left town for a week, and the person in charge of my appointment was out for the week and "backed up" this week.

Everyone has a good reason for his or her own actions in my case but it adds up to me feeling like I'm falling through the cracks! I finally got my referral but because it hasn't "hit the system" at my insurance company and that could take 24 to 48 hours, my appointment was still in jeopardy. I made several calls to my patient advocate and she finally got a supervisor to call me in a conference call and, after trying to deflect any responsibility for the last-minute problem with my referral, finally said that it would be very unusual for my referral not to go through on Monday. Unfortunately, that isn't quite enough to ease the anxiety in my chest!

On the positive side, I have a wonderful substitute teacher to cover my classes and I have a reservation at a hotel near the medical center with free Breakfast, wireless internet service, and shuttle service to the medical center for patients for only $69 a night, plus 17% tax. We'll stay with my mother about an hour away Monday night and should be able to come home to our five doggies Friday afternoon. (A good friend and neighbor will take care of them for us.) So I'll bring my laptop and try to let y'all know if there's any news.

Take care!

Kendra

Wow Kendra, if it's not one thing it's another! What a roller coaster you're on. It looks like you'll have your appointment but I'm sorry you had to go through so much unneeded stress to get it. I think it's a good idea to get a new doctor after your visit to Anderson. You need someone who has a positive outlook. Hate those doom and gloom doctors who feel the need to look at the worst possible scenario. There is no good reason in the world that you shouldn't beat this thing!

Your car and cell can be taken care of. Try not to stress too much about these kind of things. I've drowned a few cell phones myself. My daughter actually left her's in her pocket of her jeans and it went into the laundrey!

Keep us posted after your appointment. I'll be thinking of you and kicking and stomping along with you!

Wow Kendra those things are hard enough to deal with when you're well. As Cindy said, what a roller coaster. Looks like our boots need to be kicking more than just the cancer. Doctors are funny people and it's hard to know if you're doing the right thing finding someone new... you know starting the story all over again but I guess if he is not helping you stay positive then it's time to go. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I'm staying positive that MD Anderson can help you beat this. Take care. xx

Kendra,

Dealing with doctor's and insurance absolutely drives me crazy. I'm sure everything will get worked out. Big hugs girl!!!

I had my appointment at MD Anderson today. The doctor reviewed my records and examined me. She wants to consult further with the pathologist to try to determine which kind of cancer I have, since that will affect my treatment. She will present my case to the team of specialists on Thursday and I will meet with her again on Friday to discuss my options. We were going to stay at a hotel near the medical center but since I won't be needing further tests, I came back to my mother's house to spend the week and my husband went back to Austin to get in a couple of days work. He'll come back for the doctor's appointment and to take me home Friday.

The people at MDA were great! I feel very good about entrusting my care to them. But no more news until Friday!

Hi Kendra,

I'm glad you finally got to meet the MDA doc. I'm sorry you have to wait but at least you know you are in great hands. Enjoy your time with your mother this week.

My boots are still stompin'!

Love,

Jill

Hi, Kendra. I really admire your determination. My mother gave up when she heard the word cancer. We had to placed her in the psych ward until we could get her stablized on an antidepressant. It was the 5th one we tried. I'm not sure I would do any better. It has to be almost overwhelming to hear the news of cancer and then deal with it. You're doing great and it sounds like you have a good support system.

On a lighter side I had a friend who dropped her cell phone in the toilet while she was out. She was very very frustrated. I'm afraid we all had to give her a hard time about it. I hope things ease up a bit for you. I will keep you in my prayers.

Tina

I was JUST about to see if you were Online and came here to see if you updated ! Im glad you had a good experience at MDA !

I hope things turn out well on Friday i'll be thinking about you and hope your doing well !!!

Mindy

What a mess you went through! At least now you're there with the specialists to confer and decide a treatment plan for you. Very tough that you have to deal with referrals, ins co. etc at a time like this.

We'll be waiting to hear after your appt on Friday. Hang in there and enjoy the visit with your mother.

Hi Kendra,

I too came here to check on you tonight . . . I am glad your appt went well and know that you are in good hands. Keep your chin up. Please keep us posted after your appt on Friday.

Thanks for the update Kendra. It sounds like you're in good hands. Take care and keep us posted. xx

Hi Longhorn, sorry to hear about more surgeries in your future but hold your chin up! I had a hysterectomy when I was 29. I had a fist sized mass on one of my ovaries. It turned out benign thank goodness. They left the other ovary intack. I no longer had periods but still produced the hormones or whatever they were/are so as to not put me into menopause. It was totally awesome to not have any more periods! And the old wives tale about not being able to orgasm after a hysterectomy???.... sooooooo not true. In fact it made my love life with my husband even better... not having to work around TOM. hehe. Sorry about being so graphic but just wanted to give you some encouragement! Take care and don't worry, my prayers and thoughts are with you. Dianne

oh, and I did lose like 5 pounds. I even asked the doc how much the uterus weighed. haha. Only about a pound was his reply. I was hoping for 10! LOL

Just checking in to see if you'd posted yet today Kendra . . . Thinking of you.

TOTALLY thinking of you today (and everyday) Kendra!!:tongue:

I met with my MD Anderson doctor yesterday morning and later, she consulted by phone with my Austin doctor and we decided on which course of chemotherapy I'll start. I'm supposed to finish radiation this week, if I can squeeze the appointments in, and then on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I'll do the chemo -- all day on Wednesday and half days the other two days -- plus a shot on Saturday to help my white cell count. I'll do this every three weeks for three sessions and then three weeks after the last session, I'll go back to MD Anderson for a C-T scan to see if the chemo has stopped the growth of the tumors or shrank them.

The course we've chosen -- cisplatin and topotekan -- is supposed to have fewer side effects and I may not lose my hair. However, there is some disagreement among the pathologists on whether I have a mixed tumor (carcinoma and sarcoma) or just a carcinoma. I'll have a chest x-ray every three weeks. If the tumors aren't responding, they'll switch me to taxol (and I will lose my hair.)

A friend is taking over my Tuesday-Thursday class. I'm hopeful that I will still be able to teach the other three classes that meet on Monday and Wednesday, reducing my workload to just two days a week. We just have five weeks left in the semester.

I have to admit, I've been feeling a little down this week -- my husband has been sick and I've just been sitting around at my mother's house all week. It was good to visit with her but there was nothing really to take my mind off of cancer and I'm afraid I'm coming down with whatever my husband had. Anyway, it's good to be home!

I was hoping I'd come away from this week feeling more optimistic but it will be several weeks before we know if the cancer will respond to the chemo so it's hard not to let fear creep in. Thanks for any positive vibes you can send my way!