Here's what we know about what we don't know...

So here's the latest...

Lana did one round of the second kind of chemo and it was bad news bears.  They told her it was milder than the first, but the side effects were way worse with this one.  

Lots of bone pain, joints aching, tingling fingers, stomach issues, no sleeping.  It was a long week to say the least.

So after the first round, she basically asked her doctor if there was any way they could skip the next 3 rounds and go straight to the surgery.  He said they would do an MRI and then re-evaluate.

Last week was the MRI.  Today was an appointment with the surgeon.  We were thinking the surgeon would give some solid answers as to what comes next, but it was a little more complicated than that.

She told Lana that there are a few things that could happen next:

1. Surgery (either a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy) and then radiation and possibly more chemo.

2. More chemo, then surgery, then radiation.

3. Surgery, then radiation and no more chemo.

This was the first time they have mentioned radiation, so that was a little discouraging.  The surgeon is going to talk to the doctor and together they will make a game-plan.  Lana goes back in on Monday to find out what that is.  We will pray that the doctor and surgeon will know what is best for Lana and that she will continue to be blessed with the strength to get through it.  She has been such an example to all of us of positive thinking and a grateful heart!  We appreciate all of her amazing friends and family that have been so supportive.  She gets so many texts, calls, visitors, gifts, cards, and kind words from so many people!  Thank you!!!

One of Lana's best childhood friends, Lily, gave her this hilarious shirt.  She wore it to her appointment today and got a good laugh.

Final Four...

I wish I was talking about the college basketball tournament.

Lana found out from her doctor that he wants to do four more rounds of chemo.  

Not the news she wanted to hear, but her doctor wants to make sure the cancer is good and gone so she doesn't have to do this all over again in the future.

So four more it is!  We will keep praying, keep hoping, keep being positive.  

The tumors have been shrinking consistently and the doctor is really optimistic that everything will be ok in the end.  If it's not ok, then it's not the end, right??

We had a wonderful Easter weekend with all the kids and grandkids together.  We loved celebrating Easter as a family and remembering our Savior and what he has done for us.  

It's because of Him that we can keep going each day.  It's because of Him that we can try a little harder to be a little better.  It's because of Him that our family will always be a family.  It's because of Him that we feel love and peace through the hard times.  

We are so thankful for His life and His love and the gift of the atonement and resurrection.  What a miraculous gift He has given us out of love.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend!!  Thank you again for your prayers!

T and L and all their cute grandkids.

Fourth and (hopefully!) Final...

Tomorrow is round 4 of chemo.  Hooray!

We are hoping and praying (and praying some more) that this will be the final round.  After tomorrow, the doctor will check the tumors to see if they are small enough for surgery.  Everyone keep your fingers crossed!

Lana has been a champ through the last 3 rounds.  

The day of chemo, and even the next day, aren't too bad.  She is able to do things and feels pretty good.  Days 3-7 are always the worst.  Nausea, dizziness, extra tired.  Those days she takes it easy and tries not to do too much.  Big T takes good care of her.

The second week is the best and she takes advantage of that time to be with friends and family.  Last week we got to have Nat here for part of Spring Break, so that was fun.  We went to the movies and saw "Cinderella."  What a cute movie!

Lana is continually humbled and grateful by all the support she has received.  So many nice calls, texts, cards, gifts, meals and visitors.  Thank you for your prayers and love!!!

Lana with two of her grandkids at the movies last week.  They love their Grandma Lana!!

Bald is Beautiful!

Well folks, it's official.  Lana's hair is gone.

Last week it started falling out more and more, so she went ahead and had her talented niece, Debbie,  buzz it.

Definitely an emotional experience.  A woman's hair is part of her identity!  The good news is, Lana is getting ready much quicker these days since she doesn't have to "do her hair."  The two wigs she has been wearing are super cute.  You can't even tell they are wigs.  She also has a few cute caps, beanies, etc. to keep her head warm at night.  With a face that beautiful, who needs hair?!

Round 2 of chemo was done on Tuesday.  So far she is still feeling pretty good but doesn't really have an appetite.  Nothing sounds good to eat.  The anti-nausea medication seems to help so that is good.  If things keep going well, she might be half-way done with chemo.  Yay!!  We will keep praying that 4 rounds will do the trick.  

Thank you for all your love and prayers!  Our family is so grateful for everyone who cares about our amazing mom.

Doesn't this wig look great?!  

Just Kidding...

When Lana went in to see the doctor yesterday morning, he decided to wait a week on the chemo to make sure the infection is cleared up.  So she will finish taking the antibiotic and round 2 will be next Tuesday.  Which means we will squeeze in some more fun this week while she is feeling good.  ;)

Round two tomorrow...

I have been meaning to update the blog for a few days.  Thank you for checking back to find out how my mom is doing.  It means so much to her!

Round 2 of the chemo is tomorrow.  The last two weeks (since round 1) have had their ups and downs.  For the most part, Lana felt better than she thought she would.  But there were days where she felt nauseous and weak.  There was also some dizziness mixed in there.  She has definitely noticed a change in her appetite.  Some foods just don't sound good like they used to.

She had a doctor's appointment one week after round 1 and everything looked good.  The tumors had shrunk a little, so that was good news.

Last Saturday, after a busy weekend, she got a fever and chills.  The doctor told her to go to the ER so that's where her and my dad ended up spending Valentines' Day.  So romantic. ;)

Because she is a chemo patient, the staff in the ER treated her very promptly and made sure all the necessary precautions were taken to prevent her from being exposed to all the hospital germs.  They sent her home that night with an antibiotic.

The fever is gone now so everything should be good to go for round 2 tomorrow.  We are hoping and praying that it goes as well and the first one!

It was fun to have Nat and her two cute girls visit last week.  They loved seeing grandma Lana and she loved seeing them.  It's always so fun when they come and we wish they could stay longer!

Thank you again for all your love and prayers.  Lana is so grateful for all the texts, cards, gifts, phone calls, comments, and especially prayers.  She feels strengthened by it all!!

One chemo down...

Today was Lana's first chemo treatment and she came through it like a champ!  The worst part was the shot she had to get in her stomach. She is feeling good right now and says she could literally feel all the prayers today when she went in.  She got a lot of anti-nausea medication with the chemo, so she is crossing her fingers that it works.  She will take it easy over the next few days and be very careful about germs as her white blood cell count will go way down from the chemo.  No hugging and kissing on grandkids...only fist-bumping for now.  More updates to come over the next couple of weeks.  Thanks for all your prayers, texts, calls, gifts, love, and support!!

Here is Lana with her new short haircut and some fresh flowers that we have to take out of the house by Friday since they could have germs.  Who knew?!