tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post5224128525354383057..comments2024-02-20T00:10:20.214-06:00Comments on KatyDid Cancer: Day 36: Post Op ReportUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-45255438614825840442010-06-17T22:04:39.601-05:002010-06-17T22:04:39.601-05:00This image of your plane ride has been bouncing ar...This image of your plane ride has been bouncing around in my mind for so long now, such a rich allegory for for this crazy ride that must feel virtually entirely out of your hands (despite the series of 'decisions' you must make). This time, though, your company is not a group of total strangers thrown together by sheer coincidence but rather friends and family. True, we may be asleep or engrossed in our own lives. You will probably still look around you and have that surreal sensation that you are utterly alone in this life, those moments of hyper-alertness when you come to that strangely powerful realization that you are, in fact, the only one living your life, a concept so basic but so profound. Indeed, most of us will never embody the moment with the same immediacy and intimacy that you have described - with eyes pried open, staring the beast in the face. But we're here all the same. As you say, this journey will surely be long, much longer than the moment in the airplane - I hope you find that you have many hands to hold when you're too scared to scream, many loving faces to look into for a moment of peace or respite, and many loved ones who will respond whenever you do have the urge scream out. We love you.KMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03031349851843095363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-69197882036342673762010-06-11T23:42:55.610-05:002010-06-11T23:42:55.610-05:00In RIO BRAVO, the Walter Brennan character says ab...In RIO BRAVO, the Walter Brennan character says about the Dean Martin character, "Just guts. He is goingout there on just guts and nothing else." I thought of you when I saw that.<br /><br />Love, dadJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05954710955566592880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-43012535481159816012010-06-11T15:35:26.059-05:002010-06-11T15:35:26.059-05:00Kate, this sucks. The waiting, the re-do on the s...Kate, this sucks. The waiting, the re-do on the surgery, all of it. I'm so sorry, Hon. Thank you for writing it, though, and keeping us posted. Your plane analogy is fantastic. A safe landing, but a hellish ride to get there. (And eyes pried open, very Clockwork Orange.)<br /><br />And to Gabe: Reading through this I tried to hold it together, even through Katy's description of all the sobbing. But when I hit the part when you challenged the PA and asked, "What would you do if this was you?" ...that's when I lost it. I hope it's not impertinent to say, but thank you on behalf of all of us who aren't there with Katy every day. You're doing a great job, man.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15004173055166404126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-37026228425103236812010-06-11T11:44:55.051-05:002010-06-11T11:44:55.051-05:00I amend my previous statements - the actual area i...I amend my previous statements - the actual area is 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm x 1.8 cm, so it's more like two fingers to the second joint. <br /><br />I also remember an Ask Amy where someone was complaining about sending flowers to a cancer patient and they never got a thank you. In that case Amy's response was, "Well, your friend has cancer - your gifts to them should be given without the expectation that they will have the energy to supply you a hearty thank you." So she's kind of wishy-washy on the issue. <br /><br />We WILL be overwhelmed. We do have a lot of offers for help... but let's not let the innocent bystander effect intimidate anyone - KEEP offering help even if we have refused your offers before. Often I suspect we won't know we need help until the moment (although the planner in Katy should minimize that to some extent.) <br /><br />We DO appreciate that you all are following along; its very moving - and encouraging. Thank you, for Katy's sake, for my sake, for Lenny and Augie's sakes, and for the sake of humanity at large. These are trying times writ small or large. We're very grateful that our small troubles have attracted such a large following and that we know the support will be there for us when we really need it. We will try not to abuse it or take it for granted and we will attempt to thank each of you in some way, some day, even if at the time we are distracted. <br /><br />Keep being good people and together we will get through!<br />g=gabesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12668071288755419304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-48809439057055530122010-06-11T07:16:37.672-05:002010-06-11T07:16:37.672-05:00It's true, Gabe is right in a way...it's a...It's true, Gabe is right in a way...it's a small margin, so that's good--it could mean there's no cancer there. But either way, they won't just take out a small part, which is why they are warning me about a mastectomy, since my breasts are small. I could be pretty lopsided here when they're through with me. From what I've heard, they really don't want to go in a third time, so they take a chunk out of you. That part isn't bugging me though. It's just the fact that I have to do it again, that I still have cancer at this point, and I don't know AGAIN what kind of surgery I''m ultimately going to need.<br /><br />They're not writing the blog but I'm sure you can tell how hard this is for Gabe, and my mom, and others too. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their help in advance. I saw an Ask Amy column with a person complaining that they never got thanked for services offered to cancer patients through a salon, and Amy agreed that was bad form. Well, I'm telling you, we will be needing so much, and we are overwhelmed so I won't be doing thank you cards any time soon. You know I appreciate it though!Katy Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524508177957058950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-56615138849628343572010-06-11T07:01:47.097-05:002010-06-11T07:01:47.097-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Katy Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02524508177957058950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-29127464769614700172010-06-11T00:24:10.356-05:002010-06-11T00:24:10.356-05:00For those who may want a little more detail about ...For those who may want a little more detail about the surgical results... The "margin" is just that - flesh around the tumors. Essentially, 2 mm area along the edge where one of the tumors was didn't have a full 1 mm clearance of cells that tested cancer free. <br /><br />So while all detectable, visible cancer cells may actually have been removed from Katy's body, because there isn't that 1 mm safe zone, they'll have to go in and pull out another bit of flesh. <br /><br />Keep in mind the total volume of what's been removed so far is approximately the size of your fingertip up to the second joint. A millimeter is a penny's edge... so line up 2 pennies edges and you'll better be able to visualize how small this area of concern is - an area that small near her armpit that doesn't have a full penny's clearance to the edge - and abuts right up to the perimeter of the tissue removed. <br /><br />Did you ever think you would get so up close and personal with Katy's body? I know I didn't. :-)gabesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12668071288755419304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-81799848874775997402010-06-10T22:02:44.851-05:002010-06-10T22:02:44.851-05:00i had no idea flying had that effect on you. hmm,...i had no idea flying had that effect on you. hmm, everything else i'm trying to think of to say sounds trite. let's see, here's an old faithful... "it'll all look better in the morning" (?) that's one of my mom's favorites. i don't know how you manage to make it into the office on a day like today. my busy month is going to be august, so if you need help after the teachers are back to school, i'm around. but it sounds like you're getting 'er done.Jennifer Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17916821571244626445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125354934408472049.post-63811783764655439112010-06-10T20:58:53.519-05:002010-06-10T20:58:53.519-05:00funny (not so much to you I imagine)... I've b...funny (not so much to you I imagine)... I've been in the middle of all of this and none of this is news, except that it is... because you write so damned well and, well, it's all different tonight. It's old news given new life by the poet and right now<br />that's what I'm taking into my dreams.<br />love,<br />MomMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05327701924465360560noreply@blogger.com