News from Erica

December 17, 2007

Well today was a hard day, I had to go to the Dr. today and they pulled out one of my drainage tubes. The tube runs from under my right arm below my ribs all the way to almost my collar bone. I had NO idea it went up that far. I thought she was just going to snip a little stich and viola! Boy was I wrong! She brought another nurse in to hold my hand and YANK! It was one of the most painful UNEXPECTED experiences of my life. It was very traumatizing. It kind of dammaged my psychy so I have been crying for most of the day, but Ill be all right. just keep praying. Love you all! erica

5 comments:

Robyn said...: Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. It makes me sad that you are having to go through all this and there is nothing we can do but try to give you strength through our thoughts and prayers. Heal your psyche soon :) I hope that was the only drainage tube. How's the weather? Today i am wishing I was in Seattle to go outside and wander. Cold here. Hope you find something funny to watch on TV tonight, Robyn; 12/17/2007 8:02 PM
Anonymous said...: ERICA!!!! You are amazing. Someone else told me a story like that with a drain tube, and my brother, Seth, has had to have it done too. Apparently noone tells someone that it is going to hurt :). Its -36 in town, and boy am I glad I am in the hills, and I sure wish I was in Seattle with you. Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking of you and I'll call you sometime this week.... Hope the rest of this week goes better for you!!!! Love ya, Hallie; 12/19/2007 8:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi All! Im doing pretty darn good today. Someone gave me a gift certificate to get a mani pedi, that was fantastic! Anyways, I wanted to let everyone know what my clan and I were discussing treatment wise(clan meaning me and my parents).
Duke University is one of the formost cancer reserch hospitals in the country. And they have a Doctor there that specializes in young women with breast cancer. They are doing pretty cool stuff there, like useing microwaves to kill cancer, and putting the chemo directly into the tumer instead of through your whole body. If anyone out there has any good ideas, PLEASE dont be afraid to let me know...I apreciate any and all suggestions...love ya all!!! erica; 12/19/2007 8:50 PM
Anonymous said...: Im also still researching the cancer vaccine. I sent the paperwork to the Dr. at Duke and am going to get some feedback from my oncologest here. I have an appointment tomorrow. Ill let everyone know how that goes. erica; 12/19/2007 8:55 PM
Anonymous said...: Erica, it was nice meeting you this evening. Thanks for letting me know about your site. I'll be checking in on you. Glad you enjoyed the mani/pedi tonight!!
Jen (your nail tech); 12/19/2007 10:29 PM

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A little history

23 year old Erica Tomsha was born and raised in Fairbanks. Parents Mark and Anita are also long time Alaskans. Anita’s grandparents (Carlson) moved to Kodiak in the 40’s to work on WWII construction projects. From there the lure of gold drew them to Fairbanks. Anita’s dad followed and opened up Music Mart in Fairbanks 60 years ago. Mark moved to Fairbanks in the early 70’s.

From an early age Erica shared her mothers passion for horses. Learning to ride when she was 4 she quickly figured out she had to make sure her pony knew she was the boss. In elementary school she joined the Golden Heart 4-H club to continue to learn. As she got older she expanded her perspective to include IHA, ACTA, IHC, Pony Club, 4-H community service and leadership activities. She was an active member of the Tanana Whirlwinds 4-H group in high school and helped to advocate for and pass the limited liability for livestock bill which helps to insure personal responsibility for accidents occurring around livestock animals. That exposure to politics led her to an internship with Senator Stevens.

After attending UAF for a couple of years she decided to move to California where she could pursue her dream of working with horses. She has been actively training horses and riders and enjoying being around magnificent Grand Prix horses.

Although Erica had to move to Seattle for her cancer treatment she has continued to work and learn, giving riding lessons and training horses. She moved into an apartment of her own. Her father has been able to stay with her through most of her chemotherapy. Erica has lost her hair from her treatments but does not try to hide it. She encourages people to ask her about her cancer and is anxious to share her experience in the hope of teaching or providing comfort to others.Erica remains positive and upbeat. She appreciates all the concern and well wishes from her friends.

From Erica on December 6th

I want people to know that I found a lump last December that was about the size of a pencil eraser. I went to the clinic the next day and the nurse told me it was probably nothing, and because of my age it was very unlikely that it was serious. So naturally i believed her, and I continued on with my life as usual. However, 6 months later the pencil eraser grew to be the size of a golf ball in a week! So I went back to that clinic and the same nurse agreed that I probably needed a biopsy! DUH! 2 days later the same nurse told me I had Invasive Ductile Carcinoma, (I found out later that I was a stage 3a, 4 is terminal), and she told me this while crying. 2 days after that I came to Seattle because not having insurance limits my care options in California, and plus Seattle has better cancer hospitals, unless you go to UCLA or SanFran and being 300 miles away is just as hard as being 1500 miles away from home.

Being here has really changed my life; it has forced me to live in a different way (I have learned a lot about myself), it has forced me to DRAMATICALLY change my diet (which is the most important thing a cancer patient can do). I have had to watch my spending, it's hard to work when you're getting chemo once a week. I am working a little, and in return my boss (whose ex husband I live with) pays my rent. But there are so many things that the charity care program at Swedish Hospital does not cover, such as supplements and alternative treatments like acupuncture, vitamin infusions, and the cancer vaccine. It also doesn't pay for things like reconstructive surgery (which unless I want to be the one boobed wonder I will need to get). I don't have the price for this yet but i will get it as soon as I can. I have also definitely learned who my real friends are, the ones who care.

News from Erica

December 17, 2007

5 comments:

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