NEG-A-TIVE!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

YUP! You heard it...the Pet Scan results were negative! We are all very excited. We went to lunch @ Steak-n-Shake and celebrated! I am sorry I am posting this so late, but after the doctor appointment we went shopping...what else! Went to eat dinner, came home and had several phone calls prior to getting to my computer. But what great news for mom and all of us. We are very grateful to God for answering all of the prayers! What all this means is that now she has to undergo the chemotherapy, radiation and a pill "Arimadex (spelling?) for 5 years thereafter. Per Dr. Popovic, they do all of this is for prevention and to cure her completely. As he explained, a dot of ink made by just placing an ink pen on a piece of paper could be a cell containing thousands of cancer cells and not be spotted on a Pet Scan, therefore the treatment is to kill anything that small and make her completely cancer free!!!! So like Joi says, Mom is ready and willing to "Kick some CANCER BUTT!" Prior to starting chemo, on May 16, mom has to go to a chemo class and Dad, Joi and myself have to all be present. May 21, is scheduled for her first chemo treatment. Chemo is to be 4-6 treatments, depending on how mom's body reacts and handles the treatments. Dr. wants her to have at least 4, preferably the entire 6. Instead of 3 medicines mixed for the chemo, she will only have 2. This being because testing has found that the 3rd medicine is actually not needed. Before they can begin chemo, mom has to have an outpatient procedure scheduled with the previous surgeon, Dr. Harris, to have a port placed inside her shoulder. This port will allow them to administer the medicine straight into her veins without risk of collapsing her small veins in her arms. Chemo sessions will last approximately 4 hours each, and to our surprise, Dr. Popovic says that she will probably not get nauseated or have the vomiting. He said he would be surprised if she did have any of the vomiting, etc.(this was good news to mom...We hope it works as he thinks it will). He says she may feel a little bad, fatigued, etc., but nothing she cannot handle. Yes, she will lose her hair, therefore DOORAG time! Mom and I already went out and she bought a pink breast cancer hat, khaki hat and a pink & black bandanna to start her collection for items to wear at this time. I told her that maybe her hair will grow back in dark, curly and thick! (I have heard of this happening, really!) The chemo treatments will be every 3rd week. And as a side note, he planned the treatments to coincide with Fan Fair and her best week will be the week of Fan Fair so she can have the best possible chance to feel good and attend! I will just push her around in a wheelchair if need be, since she wants to see Carrie & Alan, you know...Underwood and Jackson! Then, once the chem is done, she gets to rest for 4 weeks. At which point, then the radiation starts. The radiation is used to pin point the area where the tumor actually was in the chest to make sure that they get that area thoroughly. After radiation is finished she will begin taking the pill Arimadex and continue taking it for 4 years. But as mom said a couple of days ago "bring it on, get it started and lets get this over with!" She is a fighter, she has had a great attitude, she seems to be healing wonderfully, has a family that loves her dearly and supports her 500%, and wonderful friends that love her! We cannot not say it enough...THANKS TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO ALL OF US! Mom says "Thank you!" for all the cards, flowers, t-shirts, telephone calls, prayers, etc. etc. etc., she appreciates each and every one of you!