Waiting...

I had a wonderful holiday with family and friends.  Having Sophie here was the frosting on the cake. She's a wonderful ten-year-old: fun, mature, bright and considerate (no bias on my part!).  On Monday my brothers' families and ours gathered together for the afternoon and evening.  Besides visiting and catching up with each other's lives, we tobogganed, did a 'Room' Rally and shared a delicious meal together.

The "Room Rally" was put together by Cathy and Dan--an inside Road Rally.  She had three generations on each team and no siblings together.  It was a challenge and a delight. We put puzzles together, climbed stairs to math problems, answered family questions, counted items and identified music from songs -- in order to solve the clues. The young ones were as valuable as us old ones for solving the clues.  We were all blown away with the professionalism of how it was put together.  Sophie enjoyed it so much that she did her own Room Rally to challenge us on Christmas Day.  The winner won the honor of being first to open our gifts from her (all homemade with much consideration as to personal desires).

Christmas day Sophie had us out tobogganing again--me included.  Wow!  I think it was the best tobogganing we've had since we moved in 31 years ago.  We'd go all the way across the pond to the other side.  It was just what I needed--getting out in the fresh air, climbing back up the hill and having fun. It was a great distraction from waiting for the Oncotype DX test results.

I'm on edge with my emotions on the surface.  Don and I watched a superb DVD titled, "Breast Cancer: The Path of Wellness and Healing".  It's 5 hours of invaluable insights on fearlessly confronting cancer; a great tool for building knowledge and inspiring hope.  I'm feeling more prepared for whatever the outcome of the test. Here's a link to find out more about this incredible DVD:   http://breastcancerdvd.org/

Good things await you on the other side of this ridge.  This is a hill you can climb.  Just put one foot in front of the other.

Latest News with a Twist

I'm feeling really great. I'm pretty much back to my "old" self. Back to doing almost everything--even the ironing!!

I saw my surgeon this past week and she was ecstatic about how well I was doing. She said that usually she'd have me coming back at two week intervals a few more times. I won't see her again until June and that's because I'll need to have a mammogram of my other breast. It's amazing how well the reconstruction has gone, too. It's almost all healed. I don't need a second surgery--just a nipple construction and a tattoo of the aureola (probably in February). It's all pretty amazing! I have to keep my arm elevated--too much time on the computer causes uncomfortable swelling.

I thought I was out of the woods and wouldn't have to have chemotherapy...the oncologists are seeing the picture a little differently. My tissue has been sent to California where it will be analyzed to see what my risk of recurrence is and whether my risk can be reduced with chemo. I'll get the results back later this month. So, I'm asking you to be positive, pray and believe that my risk will be very little and no chemo will be necessary. Then, we'll all celebrate in January!!!
 
Cathy's flying out to pick up Sophie in California on Dec. 17. They'll return late on the 18th and then our Christmas celebration will begin. I'm looking forward to having time together with Sophie and having our extended family together on Dec. 19.  Jeff will take Sophie back on Dec. 26.

Good News

I'm doing fine.  I'm quite surprised how well I'm doing and I had high expectations for my recovery.  I had surgery on Wednesday, Nov. 3 and by the following Monday I was feeling quite well, even my energy level was fairly high. I only have one tube left...will probably have that removed on Tuesday when I see the doctor.   (It was removed on Nov. 24th).

I'm very pleased with my reconstruction.  Except for the bruises, it's looks pretty darn good.  I won't need a second surgery because of the new type of surgery my doctor used (Alloderm).  I like being able to look down and look the same.  I expect in a year or so, I'll forget that I even had it done.

Now the really good news:  My pathology report came back with very good news.  The first cancer was removed intact with more than enough tissue for a very clear margin.  The second tumor was non-invasive, which means that the cancer was within the duct (in situ,no spread into nearby tissue).  My tumors were both within the size to classify the cancer as Stage 1.  The lymph node (they only had to take out one) was negative.

So, no chemo, no radiation.  Most likely a pill to prohibit my body from producing estrogen (my tumor was estrogen positive).  I'll meet with an oncologist in a couple of weeks.

As you can imagine, I'm one happy camper!

Post Surgery

I'm doing quite well now.  That second day in the hospital was a real downer...glad it's over and I'm recovering a little (actually a lot) each day.  It feels so good to be home.

Neighbors and friends have been extremely generous with providing us with delicious, healthy food and beautiful flowers.  I'm blessed by my whole experience.  Thanks for all the beautiful cards, loving thoughts, prayers and positive energy. They've helped to boost my spirit and heal my body.

Pre Surgery

Thanks for your prayers, good wishes and concern.  I'm doing well--very well.  I've talked with friends 'who have gone before me' and are doing well.  My Mom had breast cancer when she was 73 (I'm only 69).  She had one of the first lumpectomy's followed by radiation.  She was 90 when she died with no recurrence.  I'm expecting the same. Because I'm having a mastectomy, I most likely won't have radiation.  If my lymph nodes are negative--no chemo either.

I've been surrounded by love since this challenge began; it's done wonders to keep away fear.  So, I've been quite peaceful throughout this whole process.  The cancer was found very early so that's another positive sign.

I have a wonderful surgeon who's kept me informed of every detail of what is, will or could take place.  She's also very supportive.  All the medical people that I've had contact with have been extraordinary--providing hugs, prayers and support as well as great medical care.  It's been an amazing journey.

My surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, November 3 at Crittenton Hospital.  Keep me in your prayers, send good wishes/positive energy or whatever you do for those that you care about.

How the adventure began...

On August 17 I had my annual GYN exam and was given an A+.  A few weeks later I had my usual mammogram. I needed to do a repeat, then an ultra sound, next some core biopsies, and finally an MRI.

This past Wednesday, I had a 2-1/2 hour meeting with my doctor who specializes in breast diseases and she answered all of my questions before I had an opportunity to ask them. I'm confident in her knowledge and skills.  I'm feeling really good about what's happening.

I'm doing quite well--very well.  I'll be having a mastectomy of my right breast unless I have a spontaneous remission.  Yesterday I met with a plastic surgeon and I'll meet with another one next week.  I'm not sure yet whether I want reconstructive surgery--am at 60/40.  I'll probably have my surgery within the next two to three weeks; the reconstruction is started at the time of the mastectomy.

The MRI showed another tumor running from the first mass to the nipple (about 3.5mm).  If I have a lumpectomy, there's a good chance that I might have to have a second surgery--more removal of the tissue or more likely, a mastectomy.  I'd rather have one surgery. Also, with a mastectomy, the likelihood of radiation is very, very low.  Chemo would occur only if I have positive lymph node involvement.  She'll be doing sentinel node surgery.  So far, pathology reports did not show lymph involvement.  I have estrogen receptor positive cells (which has advantages), progesterone negative and ERT2 negative .

I'm feeling fine--do not have a clue of what's going on in my body. If I'd skipped my mammogram, I'd think I was just fine...

I've been uplifted by family and friends.  I've always believed in living in the moment which I'm continuing to do. I'm surrounded by love of friends and family that keeps out all fear and anxiety.  I'm still sleeping well at night, that's my gauge that I'm being honest with myself.

I'm making changes to my life--nurturing myself more than others--creating a balance in my life that was off balance.  This is another learning experience for me in this lifetime. It's exciting and an adventure in many ways. I know and feel that "all will be well".