Good Tuesday Morning Folks!

Good news to report.  My sis had her hysterectomy yesterday and she is doing well.  She got up this morning.  Unless further problems pop up she'll be going home tomorrow!  Her pathology report came back as 50% of Stage I which means the cancer was very small.  There is talk she may not even need radiation.  There were other discoveries that were not so good.  The doc could not do a lymphandectomy because she is so obese his tools didn't reach.  He said fat was wrapped all around her internal organs.  She has advanced diverticulitis with scarring, lesions and perforations.  He didn't want to attempt to push in further because he was afraid of nicking something or causing bleeding.  The doc said they had a hard time getting her uterus out because of all the fat.  He said she has to have an immediate change in lifestyle and lose weight.  She might need another operation he said.  Please keep your prayers a comin' because she still has to have her breast cancer lumpectomy.  She is going to try to find out how soon she can have that from her uterine cancer doctor.

I got a small unfill from my band (.50cc)  I've had GERD for months and last week I could hardly eat or drink.  We'll see if this helps.

I'm all excited.  It's all set and our grandsons will be spending a week with us in July.  I'm making lots of plans for what we'll do each day.  They are 7 and 5 so it should be fun.
I got all my flower gardens done on Saturday.  It's lovely to sit back and look at them all.
Take good care of yourselves.
Bev

Hi Bev,
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was being evaluated for weight loss surgery. My first breast surgeon told me (and he wasn't being mean, believe me) that my fat was causing my breasts to be "bathed in estrogen" which is not a good thing. Maybe the cancer that is diagnosed in your sister will make her reevaluate her life. Maybe she will get WLS too.
Julia

Julia,
Thanks for the reply.  Her doctor said that if she continues the way she is there could be dire consequences in five years.  His term was life threatening.  When I was investigating WL surgery she was not at all interested.  I thought maybe seeing me lose the weight would inspire her.  She has been on WW for two months and lost 45 lbs.   The doctor said that he will have a very frank talk with her.  His assistants were the ones who gave her the good news about uterine cancer.  Her doctor has yet to talk to her about the condition of her insides.
I spoke to my WL surgeon about her this morning and he said that even with all the diverticulosis problems she was still a candidate for weight loss surgery.  So I will try to see what she is willing to do once the doc fills her in.
My other sister and I wanted to jump on a treadmill right after the doc gave us the news about our sister.   We've been slacking on the exercise part.  It inspired us to talk about meeting my sis and having her go on walks with us.  Maybe joining a gym too.
I hope she sees the light.
Thanks again,
Bev

It's all very scary to go through, as a patient AND as a loved one. I remember it well... please send her my good thoughts. It sounds like she was very lucky this time.
Julia

Thanks Julia,
I know.  I got the wake-up call when I went through uterine and cervical cancer.  When the doc told me obesity contributes to cancer, I was shocked.  That is the moment I knew I couldn't do it on my own and had to seek help through weight loss surgery.  At the time I didn't just how much my life was limited by my obesity.  There was so much I couldn't do.
You literally have to look at it as if it's suicide, you're killing yourself with bad eating and exercise habits.
Bev

Bev:

I hope your sister is interested now ... I know it took some desperation for me to get serious about WLS. My pain doc told me after he gave me my first back injection that if I stayed as obese as I was, I would end up in a wheelchair. I like to think I chose life. And my issues isn't as serious as your sister's, which really is life and death.

At my brother's moving sale last week, there was this woman who was seriously obese. She had back and knee problems like me ... she was me, six  years ago! As I helped her down the stairs (which are a little steep and difficult to get down without the railing), I stopped to talk to her, told her my story. I usually don't do that without being asked, but did this time ... she wasn't interested. Well, she wanted to lose weight, but couldn't do surgery because her insurer wouldn't cover it. And I understand that, so I gave her one tip: try not drinking with your meals. She told me she hardly ate anything (yeah, I've said that one before). I hoped she could get some help. I sure know how difficult it is.

I hope this is a wake-up call for your sister. I know it takes something drastic to really want to make a change in your life.

Hi Eileen,
I hope this is her wake-up call too.  We have done like an intervention before, but it is just too easy for her to pooh-pooh the family away.  I'm fine is what we hear.  We are so glad the doc is going to give her a detailed talk about her health.
I'm hoping she gets with a plan.
Bev

Hey Bev,

Glad to hear the good news part of your sisters condition and as Julia said, perhaps now she will consider what you have shown her could be done, hopefully she will see this as an intervention of sorts and begin to work towards a healthier lifestyle.

Prayers and good wishes for her and your family.

Laureen

Hi Laureen,
Thanks.  I will be praying for the same thing.  We love her so much and don't want to see her die.  Sometimes I wonder if showing how much we love her by crying and saying we don't want to see her die would be the way to go.  We are just so stoic about trials and tribulations, maybe we should be more emotional.
I'll let you know if this impacts her enough to do something.
Bev

Bev, I had breast cancer in 2001. That same year my youngest sister died of breast cancer. I also had a sister die of breast cancer in 1986. Why I lived & they died is still a mystery to me. My point is we were all obese. They were both 35 at the time of their deaths. I was 47 when I had the cancer. I had my WLS 4 1/2 years after my cancer. I feel like God gave me a brand new life. I also had a hysterectomy 2 1/2 years ago. My sisters & I were diagnosed with the BRCA 1 gene. I don't know if any of this pertains to you or her, but if in any way this info helps use it. You can also call me at any time, I will PM you my # . Good luck, just keep telling her how much you care!
Nan