Holly's Prep Radiation Visit

Holly had her radiation prep visit today!  Things went well, they marked her body, with so called "tattoo assimilation" to help with everyday radiation treatments. She learned so much today about radiation! This is really helping her mind and body prepare for this challenge!

They are still aiming to start the radiation 2nd or 3rd week of February!

GOOOO HOLLY!

PET scan

Holly received her PET scan results. PET scan results came back clear! She will be starting radiation prep on Friday! Go Holly!

Radiation Oncologist

Holly met her radiation oncologist today. He confirmed the course of treatment - 5-6 weeks of daily treatments. But first, she is having a PET scan on Wednesday 1/26 to look at a spot on her right femur/hip. It is something they saw on the CT scan and MRI. The docs don't think it looks like cancer, but they have to completely rule it out before she starts the radiation. Assuming things go as planned she will have a mapping appointment next week and then start radiation/chemo treatments about a week after that.

Radiation/Chemo

Holly is doing great, her spirits are high, and she is feeling well!

Her final reports just came out and her final diagnosis is Poorly Differentiated Non Squamous Cell Cervical Cancer. Holly talked with her Oncologist Monday, who she really seems to like.

Holly has 4 risk factors with her cancer that increase the chance of recurrence. They are:

The large size of the tumor.
The type of cancer cells - poorly differentiated which are generally more aggressive.
Thin margins - even though they were clear, they were not as big as desired in one area.
The tumor was prolapsing from the endocervix to the exocervix.

These are the reasons the doctors are prescribing the radiation and chemotherapy for the best possible outcome.

Start of radiation and chemo: Beginning of February
She will have 6 weeks radiation treatment Monday through Friday. Along with 1 day a week of chemo for six weeks as well.

The doctor also ordered an MRI to look at a spot on her hip/femur that showed up on a CT scan.

Holly is talking to her radiation doctor next Monday!

Holly & Rick "thank" everyone for the love and support, you have all shown.

Love, Holly, Rick, Evan, and George

Doctors

Holly and family are going to meet with doctors in the next week or so. They are looking for the best for their needs and to find the actual amount of treatments of radiation and chemotherapy.

Still WAITING!

Sorry...we are still waiting on the pathology report and phone call from Doctor. In the meantime, Holly is enjoying time with family and taking it day by day!

Holly

Hi Everyone,

For those who don't know already, Holly has been diagnosed with Stage II cervical cancer. We found out right before Christmas and things have been happening pretty fast. Therefore, sorry we have not been able to inform everyone, while trying to accept this news ourselves. Last Thursday, she had a full abdominal hysterectomy with a specialist in Portland. Everything went well and today we got the results from Pathology. There is no cancer in her lymph nodes and they were able to get clear margins around it. This is exactly the news we were hoping for!!! The lab is still trying to sort out the exact subtype of cancer, apparently there are no squamous cells.  Since it is undetermined the subtype we will not know until the next 2 days on how extensive the treatments will be.  The doctor is suggesting 6 weeks of radiation and probably chemotherapy starting in about a month after she has recovered from the surgery.  We are taking one day at a time!!!!! Today, we are celebrating clear lymph nodes and clear margins.

This is a way for everyone to be updated with Holly's current progress as she kicks this cancer's ass!  She is going to have to get better about checking her email more frequently and "possibly" maybe actually use facebook ;)

We want to thank everyone for their support and prayers.