Cristal Update (Pain Mangagement)

Hello All,

It's been a while. I've been meaning to write you all but the struggle to unite time and energy formed somewhat of a challenge this past week. Alas, here we are...

Earlier this week I was sitting in an overcrowded waiting room back at our oncologist's office and there wasn't enough seating available. It took me back to the days of the chemo suite. Unbelieveable how many people are fighting cancer, not counting our pets. Cristal and I were awaiting the news of what was to come....more chemo,how much radiation, was there a discount for hospital parking?

But first, let's digress, it's been over a month since I've informed you of Cristal's status. I have to say, she really looks great. If you saw her today, you would never even know the struggle and perseverance she's endured over the course of this year. She looks amazing. Internally is a different struggle. As you know Cristal had reconstruction surgery where the plastic surgeon put expanders in her chest after her double mastectomy. These expanders need to be pumped with air and injected with saline to stretch her skin. Since the right breast was compromised after they found the tumor had grown, the right breast was disproportionate to the left. Therefore, it will take longer to expand the right.

The first time the bandages were removed from her chest, I was preparing not to show the reaction by brain would scream. Cristal's back was toward me when the surgeon was revealing his work. He asked me and another friend of Cristal's if we wanted to see. So we looked. I wanted to call him Picasso. Okay, Picasso meets Edward Scissorhands at this stage. You could see where his work was progressing. The breasts were taking a nice spherical shape before he injected her with the saline. We were surprised that she looked that good. Now there are two scars that are diagonal across each breast. Clear tape that acted as stitches held the skin close together.

We've known that it would be a race to build Cristal's breasts before radiation starts. As you now, radiation and implants aren't buddies. If the breast gets radiated before the reconstruction is finished, they won't be able to stretch her skin and would compromise the implants. The surgeon would need to take skin from her back to correct it which would mean another surgery, another trauma yet to another part of her body. I think Cristal would rather deal with the possible deformity than pay for the embrace of vanity.

Getting her breasts pumped keeps her in discomfort. Her chest walls have been tight, her back in spasms and the scar tissue forming under her arm, pulling. Luckily, I do massage. But I didn't want to cause her unnecessary harm so we visited a great physical therapist in El Segundo. Her name is Kathy and she works with UCLA. After the tenth day post surgery, it was time for Cris to do range of motion exercises. It was also important for Cris to get lymphatic drainage because of the possible lymphodema caused by exercising an arm that has little or no lymph nodes. So Cris learned her limitations because otherwise she'd surpass them on GP (general principle). That's just who she is...thankfully. We both learned how to treat her arm gradually and follow up with rerouting her lymph fluid manually.

So every morning and evening, Cristal stretches both arms in various positions and then we follow up with lymphatic massage and drainage. We reroute the lymph fluid across her back or chest very slowly. The range of motion is important for a couple of reasons. First, the scar tissue that's formed has to be broken up. Second, radiation requires that your arm be in an upward position that can only be achieved if she works at it. So it's been time consuming.

In the meantime, we've been going to follow up appointments for various scans, CT scans, pet scans, ultrasounds, physical therapists, internist, plastic surgeons, regular surgeons, oncologist, radiologist oncologist and next a neurologist. Cris has been complaining of a numbness in her big toe after surgery which makes no sense to any of the doctors.

So back to the waiting room in the oncologist's office. We met with Dr. Glaspy and he checked Cristal out. He was very pleased with her progress. She is not getting anymore Chemo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However,she is ordered to receive five weeks of radiation, five days a week. We were surprised to hear that. That's a rigorous schedule. So we are arming ourselves with Aloe Vera, Oncomar which keeps the cancer from returning, No antiperspirant deodorant. She's to use baking soda or corn starch. I can vouch for baking soda, It really works and doesn't contain heavy metals like aluminum that is extremely toxic. She can't use harsh soaps. She's to put a cool pack on her radiated skin to to cool it down. She'll use a routine cream or lotion four times a day to prevent the skin from getting dry, sunblock, probiotics, curcumin, mushroom extract, ten cart wheels a day, etc. You get my drift.

So that's what is next. Cris is on her last leg of recovery which is perfect because a new deductible starts January 1st. Thank you all for supporting her. She is doing great. She is managing her pain and discomfort and she's been off the pain medication for about three weeks. She's amazing, truly.

Also, end of October, I am getting myself checked out for early screening. Wish me luck as well. Thank you for your prayers, purified thought and all the light that even surpasses the sun. Thank you.

Love Forever,
Amber