“The Hillbillies” Are Up, But “The Girls” Are Going Down

Tisha made it through her first round of chemo. She spent most of the day at the chemo center doing blood work, meeting with the oncologist, waiting, and getting chemo. And so far she feels fine – no sickness. She met a nurse who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 28 and is cancer free at 34.
They found another surprise today. Her “Hillbillies” are up. They aren’t really called hillbillies but the scientific name is too hard to remember and it sounds like hillbilly, so in true Metisha spirit, we are calling them hillbillies. The hillbillies are some count in her blood that indicates her liver is not filtering properly. The nurse said it can be related to a liver disorder. So now she has another “photo shoot” (ultra sound) scheduled for Friday to determine why the hillbillies are up. Yes, we are now referring to cat scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, etc, as photo shoots. Metisha has been scheduled for a lot of photo shoots so we decided her organs must photograph beautifully!
Tisha was supposed to receive three different types of chemo; two to attack the breast cancer and one specifically for the liver cancer spot. But the oncologist decided to not give her the liver chemo because of the hillbillies. If the high hillbillies are due to a liver disorder, the third type of could be more dangerous to her liver so the oncologist may have to choose a different type of chemo. He also decided to wait three weeks between chemo treatments.
The oncologist told Metisha it is time for “the girls” to go down for a while. The girls are her ovaries. Her cancer is strongly feed by hormones, so they will give her a shot tomorrow and then every three months to shut down her ovaries. In other words, the shot will put her in a temporary state of menopause. When I talked with Tisha today, she just laughed and said, “so now I’ll be bald and growing a beard!”
Once again we’ve been assured that God led Metisha to the right doctors. She had more people tell her today that her surgeon is the best breast cancer surgeon and her oncologist was nothing but upbeat and positive. He also told her he has been in contact with leading liver cancer doctors and they have discussed her case and agreed on the chemo plan. And all the nurses today were upbeat and positive and tried to make the chemo process as comfortable as possible. They even told her she can order in pizza during her treatments! We know God has put Metisha in His best healing hands and we know God will heal her!

Adding to the List

It’s been another interesting week for Tish. She had an MRI on Monday and met with the surgeon who for her chemo port. Then she had an echo gram on Wednesday and the chemo port was inserted this morning. Two more items were added to the list through the week: a second liver spot and a protruding disk in her back. The oncologist said the second spot on the liver is not necessarily cancer but could be scar tissue or a cyst. And between years of basketball and some ugly mountain bike wrecks, the protruding disk is likely from an old injury. So the complete diagnosis list now includes breast cancer, sinusitis, metastasized cancer spot on the liver, protruding disk and cancer spot. I guess you could say she’s getting her money’s worth out of all these tests!

The port insertion surgery went very well this morning. They did not completely sedate her but gave her enough drugs that she slept through the procedure. She is sore, but is already at home resting. The port was inserted into her chest and connects into a main artery. This allows the chemo to be quickly distributed throughout her entire body. Her first round of chemo will be Wednesday.

Every time I talk to Tish she has a funny story that adds comedy to cancer. The oncologist’s nurse called to tell her the MRI showed a different liver spot and a protruding disk. Tisha’s told her that was great, but she wasn’t allowed to call anymore with bad news and that in the future, she should only call with good news. The nurse whole-heartedly agreed to that plan. And then she shared a good laugh with the nurse. Yesterday she had a pre-op appointment for her chemo port. The surgeon was drawing a very helpful diagram of her heart and the main artery and where the port would be inserted. Metisha asked why he was drawing her a map of the 820 loop in Forth Worth. Tish thought that was a pretty hilarious joke but she didn’t even get a courtesy laugh from Mark or the surgeon! Keep on laughing Tish!

Please continue to pray for Tish as she starts chemo on Wednesday. We know God will use the chemo to completely heal her!

Bionic Woman

She is tougher than titanium; stronger than super man; fiercer than fire. On Friday our super hero will receive her bionic chemo port that she will use to quickly and aggressively attack and destroy those nasty cancer cells. Cancer, be very afraid!

Ok, I’ll remove my pocket protector now; and yes, I am a computer nerd.

Tish had two appointments today. First she had an MRI of her liver. She has already had a PET scan and CAT scan of her liver but the MRI will provide the oncologist with more detailed images. After the MRI she met with the surgeon who will insert the chemo port. She is scheduled to have the port inserted on Friday. And the great news is the surgeon said she could begin chemo as early as next week! She still has an echo gram scheduled for Wednesday and is waiting for the oncologist to schedule the first round of chemo.

We are praying that God will use the chemo to completely destroy all the cancer in her body with these first three chemo treatments. And please know that Mark, Tish and their families thank God daily for all of you and your constant prayers, encouragement and support. We are continually uplifted by your love and kindness.

I can’t end this post without bragging on Mark. Yesterday was Mark’s birthday. Some people might spend their birthday stuffing themselves at Texas Roadhouse, playing Nintendo Wii and eating birthday cake (not that I know anyone like that), but not Mark. Mark spent his birthday competing in his first mountain bike race. He did awesome! He finished 9th out of almost 40 competitors, in less than one hour and only 5 minutes behind the winner! Very impressive!

On to Chemo (Almost)

It was another fun-filled day for Tish. She got to meet the oncologist, have more blood work done and attend a chemo class. The oncologist mapped out the first phase of the attack: 3 rounds of chemotherapy with two weeks between each round. After completing those chemo treatments, she will have a new round of PET scans and CAT scans to see how well the chemo is attacking the cancer. The next phase will be determined based on the results of those scans.

But two things have to happen before she can begin chemo. First she has to have the port inserted which will be used to administer the chemo. She has a consultation with another doctor on Monday who will insert this port. Then on Wednesday she will have an echogram done to ensure her heart is strong enough for the chemo. There is nothing suspicious about her heart; this is routine. So, it’s off for more testing and to meet another new doctor.

Tisha asked the nurses if chemo will cure her cellulite also since it eliminates masses. The nurses just laughed and said if it did, they would all be on chemo!

We are praying that:
The chemo will blast all the cancer out of her body (both the liver and the ta ta) in these first 3 treatments.
The port can be inserted quickly so she can begin chemo quickly.
God will totally and completely heal her of her cancer.

Speaking from almost 27 years of experience with Tisha, this cancer doesn’t stand a chance! Between her Karber strong body and bull headedness and her Ewbank temper and fight, this cancer is a goner!

Metastasized

Metisha received the results of her liver biopsy today. The breast cancer has metastasized to the liver. She has an appointment with the oncologist tomorrow. Please pray specifically:
For complete and total healing from God, the ultimate healer
For wisdom for the doctors
That the treatment plan will be decided tomorrow
That the treatment process will begin quickly

Metisha wants everyone to know how much your prayers and kind words mean to her. She is overwhelmed daily by all the support she has received and loves reading your comments to this blog.

Metisha has faith and knows that God has a plan of healing for her. She feels safe and protected and feels your support in this fight. So Metisha says, “Cancer, prepare for an @@@ whoopin’!” Ding! Ding!

Race for the Cure

The team has been formed; the event date is confirmed; the uniforms are being made; training has begun. It will be a grueling 5K walk. It’s the Welsh Warriors in a crowd of 18,500 competitors. It is the Race for the Cure. Do you feel the suspense; feel the drama; smell the stench of competition?

Tish, Mark, Barbara (Tisha’s mom) and Regan (Tisha’s sister) are on the team and need your support. The race is April 7th. Click on the links below to donate:

Metisha: http://race.komentarrant.org/site/TR?px=1201064&pg=personal&fr_id=1030
Mark: http://race.komentarrant.org/site/TR?px=1201062&pg=personal&fr_id=1030
Barbara: http://race.komentarrant.org/site/TR?px=1180862&pg=personal&fr_id=1030
Regan: http://race.komentarrant.org/site/TR?px=1182501&pg=personal&fr_id=1030

Funny Stories

The last month and half have been filled with tears, but also with laughter.

Tish and Mark have been to 14 doctor appointments, some of which have been amusing. Obviously, Tish is VERY young for breast cancer and is always the youngest person in the waiting room at Dr. Bussey’s office. During their first visit there, Mark and Tish were sitting in the quiet waiting room abiding to all unwritten doctor office waiting room rules: don’t make eye contact with anyone, don’t speak too loud and try to blend into the chair. Mark had his PSP (video game) and Tish was grading papers from school. Well, a very friendly older woman decided to strike up a conversation and offer her support. We all know Tish can talk to a wall so all was well. She encouraged Tish by saying, "Honey, you are going to have such pretty boobs when this is all over." That was helpful enough but then the friendly older women decided to display her support in the form of a hug. Yes, a hug. And not just for Tish but for Mark to! Mark just loves hugging, so hugging a total stranger was definitely high on his comfort list!

They had a meeting with the plastic surgeon who will do reconstruction. The highlight of the visit for Mark was comparing the implant to the real deal. The implant passed Mark’s quality control test!

Tish is very upbeat and positive and there are moments that definitely make her laugh. One person asked Tish when she was having an autopsy. She was talking to another person about the liver biopsy. Tish told her they would insert a needle into her liver. The lady said, “isn’t that how they take your temperature when you’re dead?”

Metastasis: yes, no, maybe?

Out of all the scans Metisha has completed, two spots were detected. One spot on her brain that was detected by the CAT scan and one spot on her liver that was detected by the CAT and PET scans. She had a MRI done last Monday for the brain spot which gave excellent news. The brain spot is sever sinusitis, not cancer! We are so happy for sinusitis :) She had a liver biopsy done last Friday. She should find the results from that biopsy this week. So pray specifically that the liver spot is not cancer or anything serious. And as always, pray for total cancer healing.

The Prologue

The story began about 11 months ago. Metisha first discovered the lump in April but her doctor believed it was muscle tissue and suggested a wait and watch approach. But Metisha became concerned at a follow-up visit on February 21st . The doctor immediately referred her to a surgeon. Metisha’s first appointment with the surgeon was on the 22nd where the surgeon did an ultrasound and too became concerned. The surgeon then scheduled her for a mammogram and a biopsy. It was at the biopsy appointment on February 1st when it was confirmed as breast cancer. Since the initial diagnosis, it has been a month and a half of second opinions, a change in surgeons, MRI scans, CAT scans, PET scans, bone scans, blood work, poking and prodding, etc.

As of today, the facts are:
Cancer Type - Infiltrating Ductile Carcinoma
Stage - To Be Determined
Metastasis - Unknown
Treatment Plan - Double Mastectomy, Chemotherapy
Breast Surgeon - Dr. Bussey
Plastic Surgeon - Dr. Strock

Metisha's Cancer Blog

This is Metisha’s breast cancer story, written by her little sister Regan. The intent is to provide weekly updates on Metisha’s fight. Check-in often and leave comments for Metisha and Mark. And as always, keep praying!