Out Of Surgery!

Image

Picture of Ivonne Working On Lung Re-Expansion

Picture of Ivonne Working On Lung Re-Expansion

November 25, 2014

 

Yesterday was quite a long day for my family and me. It started at 3:30AM, and didn’t really come to an end till 8:00PM or so.  Thankfully, Surgery went well and I’ve managed to get a couple of naps in throughout the night time hours!

 

In a nutshell, surgery consisted of a hysterectomy (which is the removal of the uterous, ovaries were not removed) and a partial cystectomy (removal of a piece of my bladder).  It was all done “Robotically), which is pretty wild!  Six dime-size holes were made on my abdomen through which a camera and all instruments were inserted.  The “Robot” used for my surgery had (4) arms each of which was controlled via a computer that the respective Doctors operated during their portion of the surgery.  The staff for surgery consisted of the Urologist and a Urology fellow, the GYN and the GYN Fellow, The Anestheciologist and her assistant, and a handful of nurses.

 

*Today I’ve been letting my body heal, trying to rest, and starting to walk around my floor a bit .

*There’s a small loop we can walk on our floor here at mSKCC – 14 laps = 1 mile!

*I had to start pain meds this afternoon as well because everything is now feeling extremely sore and tender. My body actually went into shock for a bit this afternoon as all of the anesthecia wore off, which was a wild experience.  The only medication that did the trick was Morphine!

*I’m also working with Arnika, which is a natural anti-inflammatory.

*I have to work on re-expanding my lungs as well.  The anastecia and Carbon Dioxide used during surgery (and the long length of time in surgery) causes the lungs and tissue around them to sort of collapse a bit. (Carbon Dioxide is used to expand the inside of the body in order to create more space for the Doctors to work with the instruments.)

*I have a catheter in place to minimize any pressure on my bladder while it heals.

*I’m still on a liquid diet, and boy am I starting to feel hungry!

*Lots of rest is in order!

 

Huge thanks and gratitude to everyone who has E-mailed, called, and texted my family and me; thank you to those who came by to visit with me today too.  We are greatful for all of the positive energy, the encouragement, and support we are receiving!

 

Namaste,

Ivonne

http://www.iminmotion.net

 

Ready For Upcoming Surgery

November 19, 2014

 

I’m back in New York City today to start pre-op testing for my upcoming surgery.  Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering will be reviewing the procedures for Uterin and Bladder surgery with me, and I’ll be completing the necessary blood work testing, EKG, and overall health check the next two days.

 

The weather is a crisp 28dg tonight, quite a difference from the 65dg and sunshine in Chula Vista.  Oddly enough, the “cold” brings about a warm and festive feeling around this time of the year.  I’m looking forward to seeing family and friends as well.

 

My spiris are high, I’m feeling strong, and most importantly I’m feeling a sense of calmness as I am going into surgery.  I am comfortable with Drs. recommendations and with the decisions I have made.  grateful for all of the support I have received from family, friends, fellow athletes, colleagues, and even strangers.  It reminds me of how important it is to be kind, loving, and compassionate every day.

 

Namaste,

Ivonne

http://www.iminmotion.net

 

Pericardial Effusion Part III

October 24, 2014

Pericardial Effusion Results

 

Today has seen the receipt of some positive results regarding my Pericardial Effusion, extra fluid around my heart!

 

Dr. Raisinghani informed me that the Cardiac MRI did show the extra fluid around the heart, but it was very minimal; all other heart functions are perfectly normal!  The blood results checking for my Thyroid function also came back normal.  Finally, the second Echocardiogram that was just done a week ago shows the fluid around the heart has decreased!

 

This is all fantastic news, and helps clear up a great deal of uncertainty.  One of my main conclusions about the Pericardial Effusion is that the cause could infact have been the Coxsackie virus.  Since the fluid is decreasing, it seems that the Golden Flower Chinese herb is working.  Huge thanks to Dr. Rich Olree for his insights!

 

This news also means that I am cleared to move ahead with surgery in November. Surgery will be at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City.  I am ready to move forward with this part of my treatment plan- moving forward with faith, hope, healing and positive thoughts, and an insatiable desire to live, love, and fulfill my dreams!

 

Thank you to all of my family, friends and supporters  for being part of my journey!

 

Namaste,

Ivonne

http://www.iminmotion.net

 

 

Final Recommendations Are In

September 26, 2014

 

Today was a day full of information to process as I received results from all of the lab work and imaging I have undergone the last couple of weeks.  Thankfully my Mom and John were with me, and I am grateful for their unwavering love and support!

 

The results shoe that my bladder has healed extremely well after the resection of the tumor back in June and there are no new growths.  The mass that was seen on my T6 vertebra on my spine is unchanged; this is also good news as it reaffirms that it is not cancer.  The fibroids in my uterus are unchanged; this is a bit of a mixed bag as the Dr. explained.  Typically, if a mass shrinks after Chemo is administered, or it if grows, it is a likely sign of cancerous cells and the mas being malignant.  If the mass, or fibroids, don’t change in size this could mean that they are either benign, or that they just didn’t respond in any way to Chemo.  It turns out that there is no way to biopsy these fibroids in my uterus, which is mind boggling.  How is it that open heart sirgury can be done, brain sirgury can be done, but a biopsy of the fibroids in the uterus cannot be done?  The uterus expands to hold and deliver a child, and yet no one will do a biopsy of the fibroids in it.

 

I did get the explanation that Drs. think there is to grate a risk involved in biopsying uterin fibroids, including puncturing surrounding organs.  So the only way to really know if fibroids are cancerous is to have a historectomy done.  Once the uterus has been removed, the fibroids can be biopsied, sent to the lab, and a diagnosis achieved…The troubling aspect of all this is that the biopsy can come back negative, meaning that the fibroids are “not” cancerous.  If this is the case however, there’s no turning back because you cannot reattach the uterus into its owner’s body…

 

The last result of the day was a new and shocking finding.  There seems to be an increased amount of fluid in my heart as of the last MRI.  This is known as a Paracardial Effusion.  When I heard this news, I broke down in tears.  All I could think of was, “please, not my heart!”  NThe concern this raises is that extra fluid around the heart can put pressure on the heart limiting its ability to function normally.  Then there is the concern of not knowing where or how this extra fluid came from, or what caused it.

 

The next step then is to figure out what is going on with my heart.  Perhaps it is just a fluke with the MRI, but this needs to be investigated.  Once this is settled then I’ll be able to proceed with either bladder sirgery, or with a historectomy and bladder sirgery.  The bladder sirgery would be a “Partial Resection” of the bladder, which means that the piece of the bladder where the tumor was found would be removed, and my bladder would be stretched and resown together forming a smaller bladder.  The historectomy would involve removing my uterus but keeping my ovaries in order to keep my hormone production as normal as possible since I am still young for menopause.

 

For now, John and I need to return home.  I have a lot of thinking to do about what I would like to do with regards to the bladder and the uterus surgeries, and I need to follow up with a Cardiologist.  In short, there’s more yet to come.  Emotions are high, and I am scared of what this new finding could lead us to discover.  Yet there is a part of me that is determined to continue fighting, to continue finding answers and figuring out what I can do to help my body heal…I have been praying a lot as well, and deep down I know that I will find my way through this as well.  It’s a journey that is teaching me so much, and I hope we can share with each other what we all learn along the way.

 

Namaste,

Ivonne

http://www.iminmotion.net

 

IN NYC For Follow-ups!

September110 2014

 

I’m in New York City for follow-ups with my team of Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering, MSKCC.  There will be a series of MRIs, CT Scans, blood work, a cystoscopy of the bladder with the urologist, a check-in with the Gynocologist for the uterus, and then review of all the results.  I’m looking forward to having the remaining pieces of my treatment plan finalized.

 

John and I will be staying with my Dad for a few days.  It’ll be a treat to spend some quality time with my Dad, which I haven’t done in ages.

 

To all reading, I’m am feeling excited, anxious, but overall moving forward with “Faith and courage”.  I’ll share what I learn soon!

 

Namaste,

Ivonne

http://www.iminmotion.net

 

Cancer Diagnosis Confirmed

Image

July 17, 2014

 

Today Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering confirmed that I have Leiomyosarcoma Bladder cancer. Leiomyosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that affects 4 in a million people, and it is a type of cancer that develops in the supporting or connective tissues of the body, such as muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels, bone and cartilage. There is a strong likelihood that there is a connection between Leiomyosarcoma and Retinoblastoma, the retinal cancer I had as a baby.  There is currently very little research on Retinoblastoma and Leiomyosarcoma for individuals in our 30s, making my case even more rare.

 

On the upside, CT scans and MRIs were done of my chest and spine, as well as a biopsy of my T6 vertebra, and there are no signs of metastasis! Today I also received recommendations for treatment from my oncologist Dr. Keohan, so we have a plan in place!   

 

I’ll be getting 4 sessions of Chemotherapy, which will bring me to September.  Then I’ll be re-evaluated via blood work and scans/imaging, and we’ll determine what the next steps will be on this journey.  It could be surgery, or surgery followed by more treatment, etc. I am ready for this battle and I am confident I will beat this disease.  I’ll be carrying the image of “warrior pose” from yoga with me, and faith and courage in my heart!

 

Thanks to my incredible husband, family and friends for their unwavering love and support.  Thank you  to the wonderful Doctors at MSKCC in New York City, and in California, and to the holistic and Naturopathic Drs with whom we’ve been in touch for all of their knowledge and guidance and willingness to work with me. 

 

This is an unexpected turn along my Journey to the 2016 Paralympics, yet I have no doubt I will be racing in Rio De Janeiro! I look forward to having you join me on my journey; your support is priceless!”

 

Namaste,

Ivonne

 

www.iminmotion.net