We went to talk to Dr. Liu about the option of having a Cesarean this evening, and this is what we gathered.
- During my first surgery back in the winter of 2006, a part of my uterus was removed. This means there is a scar on my uterus, which justifies for a Cesarean birth since there is a slight risk that the scar may rupture during the course of labor.
- Just to refresh our memory, the post-chemo surgery I received was in December, 2007 and everything came out negative. We spent the entire year in 2008 monitoring through vaginal ultrasound and CA-125 values, which were going up and down, but nothing out of the ordinary. We found out about the pregnancy in January this year, and since then we haven't done any tests to detect tumor growth because the results wouldn't be reliable due to the influence of pregnancy hormones. A Cesarean section at this time will give the doctor a chance to do a thorough checkup of my entire abdomen. If there are any signs of tumor growth, the doctor will be able to take necessary (and preliminary) actions right there and then.
- Therefore, the Cesarean section I receive (if we choose to have one) will not be the same as a regular Cesarean. Mine will be something like a combined surgery: a Cesarean and a second-look surgery. This means:
- The length of time for the entire procedure will be longer than a regular Cesarean. However, the time spent to take the baby will not be affected.
- I will be under general anesthesia throughout the entire surgery.
- The baby will be taken out as quickly as possible so that he will not be affected by general anesthesia.
- Recovery time may also be longer. However, I will still be able to breastfeed during recovery. In fact, it is encouraged that I breastfeed throughout recovery.
- Even if the doctor had to remove my left ovary, I will still be able to breastfeed.
This is all I can think of for now. It's only been a couple of hours since we left the doctor's office, and Bill has been in an online business conference with people in India since we got home. In other words, all this information is still quite raw since we haven't had a chance to talk it over. I'll add to this post if I think of anything else later on.
Thoughts, anyone?
7 comments:
It really sounds like a good idea to check everything out... I just hate the fact that you would be under general anesthesia. For all the risks involved...but mostly because you won't actually 'see' Peanut be born. :-( In the long run, keeping you healthy and HERE for Peanut is the best, but I wish and pray for you to see your baby boy be born...and for his daddy to be there holding your hand.
So, how long until you would be awake? How long would the whole surgery take? And, in the last post about this subject, you had said that Billy wouldn't be in the room and that Peanut would be taken...? How soon would Billy be with him? When I had my surgery (of course, it was only the C-Section), Adam was there with me. Then he went with the nurses to the nursery to clean Renee up and just be there with her while the nurse did all of her duties. ;-) Would Billy be there for all of that? Do they allow daddy's in the nursery? When you have your appointment on the 7th, if you do decide to go with the C-Section....when you would schedule it? Right then? In a couple days? Or does it depend on when Dr. Liu is available?
I have a some questions for you to ponder.
1. If you were not pregnant, would you have a major surgery just to "check" and see if there is a problem?
2. If you had not become pregnant, what would your follow up plan have been for the last year?
3.Considering the magnitude of a major surgery as well as the delivery of a baby, and the risks involved....Is this NECESSARY?
So in summary:
Is this NECESSARY?
What are the options for the cancer follow up, now that you have had a pregnancy, if you do not do a "look see"?
I am sorry that you have to even think abut this issue, but I am sure that you and Bill will make the best decision for you and Peanut.
You are in my mind, heart, and prayers every day.
Love you three.
Mom
Shellee, here are the answers to your questions:
1. How long until you would be awake?
It's hard to say for certain, but it didn't take long. Also, since I have a baby to take care of, they'll wake me up in the recovery room.
2. How long would the whole surgery take?
Depends on the condition inside and how much work they have to do.
3. How soon would Billy be with the baby?
He'll be able to see and hold the baby once he's cleaned up and wrapped up.
4. Do they allow daddy's in the nursery?
Yes, they do.
5. When you would schedule it? Right then? In a couple days? Or does it depend on when Dr. Liu is available?
If we decide to do it, the surgery will be on Friday, September 11th.
Mom,
Unfortunately, the answer to all three of your questions is "We don't know because we don't have enough data."
If I wasn't pregnant, we would've continued with the blood tests and ultrasound, which would give us sufficient data to determine if a surgery would be necessary.
Where we stand now is that we have a 10-month gap in data collection. In other words, we really don't know what's going on inside aside from the fact that there's a baby who's almost ready to come out.
That being said, because of the fact that I'm young and the cancer was discovered and dealt with at an early stage, the prognosis looks promising. However, this is nothing more than an educated speculation. All this means is that the likelihood of cancer recurrence in my case might be significantly lower than those who are older and/or with more advanced stages of cancer. It does not mean I don't, or will never, have cancer.
Unfortunately, having been pregnant does not reduce the likelihood of ovarian cancer in my case because I already had it before I got pregnant. The way Bill and I look at this whole cancer thing is, we don't have to worry about it every day or let it affect our lives, but it's something we'll have to keep a close eye on for the rest of my life.
Kate, you look gorgeous. i just saw your latest picture. i love you!
I have obviously not had a child or had as invasive surgery as you would be having, however the outside perspective is that it may (in the long run) be easier to kill two birds with one stone. Knowing that Billy can be with baby quickly is wonderful and you'll have Joey & I there to help around the house and anything that needs to be done while you're in recovery, which is more than a lot of people have. The doctors are trained to take the best possible care of you and baby, so might as well let them. Everything that you've posted sounds like baby is perfectly healthy and his mom's got alotta fight in her, so I think he'll pull through beautifully. I'm not in your situation, but I'm fairly certain that I would opt to do it all at once. That's my two cents, either way we'll support you!
Hi kate
I saw your blog today. so you will not to do 自然生!?
景子先生,
謝謝妳的關心.
現在還沒決定.但是因為以前癌症開刀的關係,很有可能不會自然生了.
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