Dear Family and Friends –
Saturday is the big day—surgery for (against!) breast cancer. I am looking forward to it. What do I know? My largest prior surgery was a tonsillectomy in 1950, so I’m happily naïve….
Here’s the scoop:
Surgery: 7:30 am - Saturday, April 12.
Place: Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix
Duration: 3 hours
Hospital stay: 1 or 2 nights
Kind: Mastectomy (single), with insertion of tissue expander (for gradual reconstruction)
After surgery: Doctor will give Jack initial report on lymph nodes biopsy—4 are suspicious.
Pathology: Tumors and lymph nodes are sent for further study—results in a week or so.
Dr names: Dr Charles Castillo (general surgeon); Dr Govind Acharya (plastic surgeon)
Prayer Requests: Please pray for successful surgery, eradication of cancer, zero or negligible lymph node involvement, and an infection-free and fast recovery. Pray for peace before surgery, adjustment to my new look, management of pain and anesthesia, physical strength, and healing of wounds.
For you medical types:
· As you know, I had gotten differing medical advice from doctors about single-vs-double mastectomy. A double mastectomy was medically unnecessary for me, but many women choose it. Since extensive and sophisticated testing showed my healthy breast to be cancer free, I opted to have a single mastectomy in order to focus on fighting the cancer that I have now. There were many considerations, but that’s the simplest way to say it. I will be well monitored for any changes by MRIs and mammograms.
· The general surgeon and plastic surgeon work together. After the breast is removed, a tissue expander is put below the muscle wall. It is pumped up a little more each week after surgery for about 6 weeks, using a saline solution. At that point, a permanent implant replaces the expander—an outpatient procedure.
Thank you, again, for your support and prayers! I value each of you and thank you for walking through this with us.
Blessings,
Karla
Karla Tesch
Editor / U.S.-Haiti Coordinator
Harvest
www.harvestfoundation.org
602-258-1083
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1 comment:
Dear Jack, Heather, Dave and Toby - It is with a heavy heart that I have just heard of my friend Karla's passing. I did not know how ill she was until I got your Christmas letter. I did communicate with her when we had our 40th Colorado College reunion which she could not go to. She and I were close friends at both East High and CC - I was in your parent's wedding. Thank you for creating the blog - I have just read thru all of it and feel like I experienced everything that happened over the last few months. I think you should publish it for other breast cancer patients. I know your faith will sustain you in the days to come and I am eternally grateful for having known your mom!! You are all in my prayers!! Sincerely, Kathy Garrett Canape, Ashland, Oregon 541-482=6288
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