Posted by ZEPP on Saturday, January 30, 2010
Saturday, 30 Jan 2010
After enduring the miseries of radiation and chemotherapy, Carmen has finally finished her course of treatment, and is ready to get on with healing.
As some may know, the initial pathology reports were that there had been no spread of the cancer, but she elected to undergo the heroic therapies as prophylaxis. We had quite the unpleasant surprise a couple of weeks ago when we learned that the lab had revisited her tissue samples, and pronounced that there had, in fact, been invasion of lymphatic and vascular tissue.
While we were of course shocked to learn of this now, we were somewhat mollified by the fact that the aggressive therapy she had chosen is exactly what would have been done had the spread been confirmed before, so, very fortunately she had made the right choice.
We shall, of course, be even more worried pending the results of the numerous tests and screenings she'll endure over the next several years, but this is a cancer that is curable 85% of the time, so we have high hopes.
We remain grateful to all those who have wished us well; your concern is heart-warming. I ended my previous posting here with the following paragraph, which I think is worth repeating. In light of it, we are especially pleased that numerous folks have assured us that they have gotten or will be getting the HPV vaccine for their children.
One of the frustrations of cervical cancer is the simple fact that it is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and the cancer is not passed down through family genes. There are vaccines on the market now that prevent this common virus. The HPV vaccines were developed too late for Carmen, but not too late for many of you ladies, and certainly not too late for our young daughters! Talk to your doctors: If someone you love can benefit from HPV vaccine, please, please get it for them. What Carmen is enduring can be easily avoided now--please don't make yourself or your loved ones suffer!
ronhan Says:
Saturday, January 30, 2010 @2:13:59 PM
OUR thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God bless you all.
strumn1 Says:
Saturday, January 30, 2010 @7:23:34 PM
Wishing you and your wife the very best, now, and throughout your life. It sounds like she has endured a lot, and I know you feel her pain. Bless you both, and thank you for all you contribute here.
RatLer Says:
Sunday, January 31, 2010 @3:18:50 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife as well, always trust the Lord.
dbrooks Says:
Sunday, January 31, 2010 @5:58:58 AM
Thank you, Donald, for continuing to share the progress of Carmen's treatment and the important message about the HPV vaccine. Her courage and determination and your devotion are such positive forces.
Bill Rogers Says:
Sunday, January 31, 2010 @11:14:14 AM
My best wishes for continued recovery to Carmen. My sister has recently finished similar treatment for breast cancer, though no spread was detected. Kudos to you for supporting Carmen and spreading the word about HPV vaccine.
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