Ok, I know y'all are getting antsy. I know I am. Right now I'm on Decadron (sp) a steroid that reduces swelling and for me it's like being on speed . Not that I've ever taken speed but I can imagine. I'm really driving Bob crazy. (Bob says you are supposed to read this really fast to get the full effect!)

I was supposed to have brain surgery tomorrow at 7:30. The Neurosergeon here is just a general surgeon and my oncologist in Bozeman was not comfortable with that so he called around and got me into a specialist at North Western Memorial Hospital in Chicago. This guy is the Surgical Director of Neuro Oncology and is a Neurooncologist. I just got released by my doctor and am waiting for my dismissal ppers. Then a two hour drive home, of which Bob has to do because I'm not allowed to drive.

I need to have surgery to remove these two "lumps", "masses", or what ever you choose to call them. It is a pretty involved surgery and can have some temporary and possibly permanent side effects. Mostly my balanc and coordination. My doc here says I will still be the Katie everybody knows and loves, (not some drooling idiot) :) Nobody knows if this is mets from the ovarian cancer or not. They will find out during surgery. If it is then they will give me radiation and some other chemo that can go to my brain. I can do both of those in Bozeman. There is a possibility it is not even cancer and again they won't know until they get in there.

My spirits are pretty good, especially on this steroid. Now I know why athletes use the stuff, I feel like going out for a 100 mile run right now! I am freaked out a bit but also know that my best option is to get these things removed and go forward from there. So much for my climbing trip to Lander in May! I'll have to go in June or omething!

Just got sprung, I need to get outta here! Will write more tomorrow. Going home to Bozeman and will probably leave for Chicago Sunday. Will let you all know.
Thanks for all the support, texts, emails and phone calls that I haven't been able to return!

Love to all,
KatieO

Here in Billings! I had a Ct scan of my chest, as and pelvis an they all came out clean! Yea! My Oncologist is pretty optomistic about these lesions on my brain but the Neurosurgeon is a bit freaked out. He says he ca't biopsy them and they just need to come out. They're looking for a Friday surgery. He thinkd they have a role with the ovarian cancer and that I should be prepared for that. In the meanwhile my oncologist is calling around the nation talking to neuro-oncologists to see if what they are planning ondoing is the best thing for me. I completely trust him and will discuss his recommendations when he has all his info gathered.

I'm really scared. I don't want my brain cut into. They need to take out a window sized piece near the occiput (lower back skull) and then remove the tumors. Then they take a piece of my TFL and replace the dural matter then replace the bone. The whole process takes about 5 hours. (I think I;m gonna have a BIG headache after that! Guess I'll be in ICU for a couple of days then here at the hospital for a week. Yucko!

They're talking about placing some chemo tablets into my brain before they close it up. It will help to get rid of anything that may be left over.

ill write moretomorrow, I'm tired tonight. Bob is watching the BB game and I will fall asleep to it!

Thanks for all your letters of encouragement!

Love,
Katie

Well, we're at it again! I had an MRI yesterday (april 28th) due to the headaches, slight dizziness and disturbed vision I've been having. They found two masses, rather bumps, on the posterior section of my cerebellum. I'm heading over to the Billings Clinic today (april 29) to be admitted to the hospital. My oncologist sees this as the best way for me to get into a neurosurgeon asap. They need to biopsy them to see what they are. So far I have two great things going for me. One, ovarian cancer SELDOM goes to the brain and two, my oncologist, granted he is a "below the belt kind of guy" (gynocological oncolgist), says they look like they are fluid like and fluid usually doesn't mean malignant. So keep your fingers crossed!

Don't know how long I'll be over there. Fischer is staying in Bozeman with friends and Grandma is coming down this weekend to be with him. He is a trooper and we have told him everything and he knows I'm pretty scared.

I'll try to have this blog updated by friends. The hospital doesn't have internet, at least not last year! I'll answer my phone if I can but won't talk for long. It gets me exhausted.

someone wanna buy a house?

Love to all,
Katie