I forgot to pack it!

 

We went on vacation in July and I forgot to pack the pink box that my prosthesis sleeps in at night when I'm not wearing it!  Yikes!  What is a girl to do?  Well, you improvise and do the best that you can do to try to keep your prosthesis form from looking odd from not being in it's pink box all night.  

 

 Here's what I did.  I left my prosthesis in my bra and I used a hanger to help hold it in shape while it hung in the closet overnight.  It worked out great! 

You can see how I hung it in the picture above.  I'm so glad that I was able to figure out something to do like that because I would have hated to walk around lopsided all week!  Hopefully I won't forget my little pink box the next time, but if I do I know what to do if I have that type of hanger around.

Angela

Blood Tumor Marker Numbers

My oncologist always takes my blood at every appointment for the blood tumor marker test.  I will have to say that this is something that I know very little about except that my blood tumor marker numbers go up and down and never stay at the same number.  I have done so much research on this topic that it blows my mind that there isn't more online about it at all.  I have scoured through breast cancer forums looking for any tips on the subject, but pretty much come up empty handed on the subject.  From what I've read a lot of oncologist don't and won't use the blood test because there are many false positives and false negatives in the test itself.  A few women have mentioned on the forums I've read that their oncologist says that if they drink too much caffeine or eat too much sweet surgery desserts before the test then their numbers will be elevated. 

Last week I had my routine visit with my oncologist.  It has been a good 2 1/2 years since I had my mastectomy surgery and yet I still cry on my way to see the oncologist.  I can't help it!  Cancer is real and going to his office makes it too much of a reality that I somewhat relive this horrible nightmare that I can't seem to wake up from.  Once I'm at his office I'm fine.  More so now because my appointments are in the afternoon which means most people who are receiving chemo have already left for the day.  It is hard to see people receiving chemo.  I'm sorry if that bothers anyone that I said that, but it is very hard to see it when in the back of your mind you are thinking that could be me someday.  You see, I don't want to do chemo. 

A few days after my blood work my oncologist's office called.  That's not good when they call.  They called to tell me my numbers went up again and wanted to know if I want to have a PET Scan.  He is just too cautious!  Which is good and bad all at the same time!  I had CT Scans and bone scans back in October of 2013 when my blood tumor marker number was 33.  They went down to a 26 and last week they were at 29.  I don't think I will do the PET Scan.  I just don't want to do it.  I'm not having any problems.  It makes me feel bad that I don't want to do the test because there are many people out there that are begging to have this test done.  Most people want these tests and can't get them because of their insurance won't pay for the test.  Some need them and can't afford to do it.  I have wonderful insurance that will pay 100% of the test and I don't want the test!  Go figure!  There is a lot of controversial information about the PET Scan that makes me not want to have it done.  Plus, nothing showed up in October.

The controversial information that I've read is that if you move too much before the PET Scan then it can show false results.  After you are injected with the dye from nuclear medicine you are supposed to remain as still as you can in a dark room.  They won't even let you read a book because it can mess up the test just from where you turned a few pages in a book or magazine!  I've also heard that if you have a scratch on your arm it might light up and show a possibility of there being cancer at that location which would result in further testing. 

In my research of the topic of PET Scans I happened upon another blog of a lady who had the PET Scan.  It was a good read and very informational that I am going to recommend that you read it if you are considering a PET Scan for yourself.  Her blog is called:  Breast Cancer?  But Doctor....  I hate pink!  Go HERE to see the post mentioned above.

If anyone has any further information that you would like to share please do so by making a comment.  I would love to hear your input on the subject.

Angela

Are You Taking Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer?

I have been taking Tamoxifen for 2 years now.  I am always looking for more information about it since I have had some side effects from taking it.  I recently found an article that was very interesting to me and thought I would share it with other women who may be taking Tamoxifen also. 

There is new research that suggests that adding three nutrients may help Tamoxifen work even better.  Who isn't interested in that?  I know I am!  One study found that women taking Tamoxifen who also took 100 mg of CoQ10, 10 mg of riboflavin and 50 mg of niacin had positive changes in blood tumor markers.  My oncologist always does a blood tumor marker test every time I see him.  My blood tumor marker numbers go up and down which results in further tests for me which luckily they have always came back good.  So anything to stabilize those numbers would be a benefit to me!

Research also showed that taking CoQ10, riboflavin and niacin can positively affect the anti-cancer action of Tamoxifen, and may even be lifesavers in some cases.  Click HERE to see the full story.

I am a big proponent of taking vitamins and herbs when I can, so I will be adding these to my vitamin regime.  

Angela     

MRI of the Breast

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 2012, my surgeon told me that my cancer was located outside of the bell curve which is a term that they use.  Apparently, most breast cancer is located within a bell shape curve of the breast.  My cancer was on the outside of that bell curve.  My cancer was also unusual in the fact that I had 2 different spots where I had cancer at.  My case was so different that my surgeon said he had never had a patient like me in his 20+ years of practice.  I of all people would be the odd one with something like this! 

From day one my surgeon recommended that I should have a mastectomy.  I'll have to admit that is a hard decision to make.  I didn't really want to have a mastectomy at first.  I was wanting to have a lumpectomy, but I didn't want to have to have radiation.  When you are diagnosed with breast cancer there are an array of decisions you have to make.  With door number one you get this and with door number two you have to do that.  It makes you feel like you are gambling with your life trying to pick the right door to go through.  

My surgeon told me he would talk to a panel of doctors that are on the staff at the hospital about my case since it was so unusual.  He called me one morning and told me that he had talked to one of his old college professors about me.  He suggested that I have a MRI to make sure I didn't have any other cancer that the mammogram or the ultrasound didn't pick up.  I did my research about what to expect when you have an MRI so there wouldn't be any surprises.  After watching a video of a woman getting an MRI I decided that I could go to the hospital alone.  I think I made the wrong decision by going alone. 

When you get there a nurse will ask you a lot of questions.  She will ask if you have any surgery where you would have any metal clips or if you have ever gotten any metal stuck in a cut or things of that nature.  You are not allowed to wear your wedding ring or any jewelry at all.  You are not even allowed to wear a rubber band if it has the metal clip that holds it together.  I have long hair so I found a real old fashioned rubber band that I wore.  I also wore a pair of jogging pants to be on the safe side and also to be more comfortable.  The only thing different from my MRI and the video is that they will have you to take the robe off so that your breast will fit inside of the holes that are on that table.  They probably had her to leave it on just for the sake of the video.

Everything was going pretty good until when I was inside of the MRI machine for probably 3 minutes or so.  I started feeling a burning sensation in the breast that had the cancer.  I could feel a vibration in that breast also.  Then I remembered that when I had my biopsies they shot 4 of those little markers inside my breast so they would know where to look for the cancer later on.  They had gave me a panic button where I could talk to the technician so I pressed that panic button and told them what was going on.  I then told them I felt like I was going to throw up.  I then told them I felt like I was going to pass out.  At that point they were backing me out of the machine and one of the technicians had an ammonia capsule to keep me from passing out.  They quickly got me into a wheel chair and took me to a waiting area.  I was so dizzy and jittery.  They told me that the little markers were not metal and should not have been moving around in there.  All I know is I did feel something!  I would have to say that was my first not sure if you would call it a panic attack or not, but I had never done that before.  I also was having trouble breathing because the hole that they have you to put your face through just doesn't have enough clearance for air to get in for you to breath.  Then with your arms up and around your face it made it so the air that might would have gotten in there wouldn't go there because my arms were in the way.  They really need to redesign that part of the process. 

It took me a good half hour before didn't feel as dizzy and jittery.  I ended up having to call my husband to come and get me.  He had someone drop him off at the hospital and he drove me home after we stopped to get something to eat.  I called my surgeon's office and told them what happened.  They called back and said he really wants me to have that MRI.  They rescheduled it for the next morning.  They also prescribed me a valium to take before the test so I could get it done. 

The next morning I woke up and took that little white pill.  My husband went with me this time.  The technicians asked my husband if he would sit in there with me.  Being the best husband in the world that he is he sat in a chair where I could see him with a mirror.  They gave him some earplugs and they also gave me some earplugs.  I made it through the MRI test that time!  During the test they will push a dye into your veins.  It does give you a bad taste/smell in which the technician will tell you to breath through your mouth.  That really did help.  I will have to say that I am probably the only person who has ever had this experience with the MRI test so don't let my experience keep you from having this test.  It is a very important, very expensive, test that some women do need so you can make the right decisions about your cancer.  I actually have a friend who just had this same test recently and she did not have any problems with the test at all.

That same afternoon my surgeon called me at home and told me that they had found another very small suspicious spot on the other side of my right breast.  That would make me have 3 different spots with cancer!  The good news was I didn't have any suspicious spots on the left breast.  He also told me about his meeting with the board of doctors.  All of the doctors recommended that I have a mastectomy.  After hearing the recommendations of the doctors and hearing the results of my MRI I told him I would have the mastectomy.  I do not regret that decision at all.   

Angela

  

It's Official!

Originally posted April 9, 2012.

Praise the Lord with me everybody! It's official! I will NOT need to do chemo! I am on cloud nine! This morning my husband and I met with my oncologist for the first time. Before I seen him they had to take some blood for some tests. Unfortunately my good vein is in my right arm and I can no longer use that arm for blood work since my surgery. The nurse tried my left arm. The vein is very small and goes at an angle she said. It also rolled on her. So we then had to try to find a vein on the top of my hand. She flicked and patted my hand for a long time. Then she tried it. No luck there either. That vein was rolling on her also. She then asked another nurse to try to find a good vein. The other nurse looked and decided to use a vein in my wrist. Score, but it does hurt from doing that.

Before they started the blood work I looked across the room and seen men and women having chemo done. They were sitting in lounge chairs in a circle. It was heartbreaking to see and it really hit home with me that that could be me if the doctor said I needed to do it. Tears came to my eyes. My husband seen me trying to hold it back and wanted to know what was wrong. I have been so strong until then but I didn't break out. I then directed him to look across the room. He too was taken by surprise by seeing that also.

Then it was time to talk to the oncologist. He asked me a few questions like if I smoked or if I ever smoked which is no. If I drink which is no. If I had heart problems, diabetes and things like that which is no. He wanted to know how many children I had and if they were boys or girls. I have one of each. He talked to me about the fact that my daughter is going to have to start getting a mammogram when she is 34 which thinking about it now she will need to do it when she is 33 because I was 43 and turned 44 during this crisis. He asked if I had a sister and how old she is. He said she needs to start getting mammograms now too because she is 37. I told him she already got one when I found out about my breast cancer. He looked over all of the different reports from the different tests that I've had. He listened to my lungs, heart and took my blood pressure. He gave me a real good look over.

He then went over all the different markers for what they look for and explained it in all in detail. He then said that my cancer was very small and I can take the pill for 5 years. He then went over all the different risk factors for taking the pill Tamoxifen. After that he asked if I had any questions. I then asked if I could take it for a year or two and then quit if I was having problems with it. He then said that they have never done any studies with taking it for that short period of time and that taking it for 5 years is the biggest benefit to me. He also said that taking it for 10 years is of no benefit at all. I then asked if I should have a hysterectomy to try to keep from getting uterine cancer that is one of the risks with taking the pill. He said no. He told me he has treated over 1,000 women with that pill and only 2 have had problems with it but they were fine.

The doctor wrote me a prescription for Tamoxifen and wants to see me in 4 months.

I can't thank everyone enough for all the prayers, love and support that have been said for me. I am truly humbled by all the get well cards I've received over the past few weeks. You guys rock! Praise God! Praise God! Praise God! Thank you Jesus! Amen!

Angela

Things to take to the Hospital

When I had my mastectomy it was done as an outpatient procedure on March 14, 2012.  The only thing I took to the hospital was one of the robes that I had purchased that zipped up the front.  I wore my slip on pink crocs which I highly recommend that you wear a slip on style shoe if you have them or even flip flops if the weather is nice outside because you won't want to bend over to put on tennis shoes.  I also wore a pair of jogging pants that were easy for my husband to help me to put them on.  I didn't think about it at the time, but I highly recommend that you have a pillow or two in your car for the ride home.  I live on a curvy, bumpy road and the ride home was not fun at all.  If I had had a pillow or two I think it would have helped me some.  I did however take pillows with me when I rode in the car again a week later for my one week check-up. 

I'm sure other breast cancer survivor's might have a few other things that they might recommend that you take.  If someone has any other suggestions please leave me a comment and I'll update my post.  I really want to be able to help others with this and would appreciate any information that you may offer.

Angela

2 Week Check-up - Praise the Lord!

Originally posted March 27, 2012.

Today was my 2 week check-up with the surgeon who did my mastectomy. They took out the last drain and the staples. I can finally shower! lol 2 weeks without a shower! Whew! I hope we have enough hot water! Dr. Ranson gave me the all clear! Praise the Lord! He's making me an appointment with an oncologist, but he thinks I'll just need to take a pill called Tamoxifen for 5 years. The way I look at it I'm cancer free baby! Thank you Jesus! Dr. Ranson told me I don't have to worry about it the surgery is over. I asked if there were any restrictions for me and he said no. He told me I can do what I want to do. I am still a little sore and all from the surgery so it is going to take a little longer for me to get back to my old self but it won't be much longer. I go back to see Dr. Ranson in 3 weeks. They will call tomorrow with an appointment with an oncologist.

Angela

I Got my Hair Washed!

Originally posted March 24, 2012.

It had been 10 days since I have been allowed to take a shower so I've not been able to wash my hair for 10 days! Let me tell you my hair was so greasy it felt like it was wet! it was itchy and I'm sure even smelly! I couldn't take it any longer so I had to get my hair washed some way some how! Since I felt pretty good Friday I decided that Saturday morning I would try to go and get my hair washed. I told my husband I wanted to try to ride in our new truck which isn't bumpy but it's higher up to get into to go get my hair washed and cut. I called and got an appointment at 2. The place we go to is an hour away from our house! lol I put on a tank top with another big shirt I bought for after surgery to wear when I go out. I used a pillow to hold my arm up on the side because the new truck is a F150 and is wider and your arm is far away from the door too. The new truck has heated seats and that felt so good on my back! lol We took the other way to town because that road isn't as bumpy but takes a little longer. I did fine.
I was scared that laying back to get my hair washed would hurt but it didn't! Yeah! It felt so good to get my hair washed! Then I let her cut 3 inches off. It feels so much better now.

We went to the pet store to get the girls their food. My husband went inside and got it while I stayed in the truck.

I even went to Kohl's because I had some Kohl's cash to spend that I got before my surgery and it expired today. I bought some more socks and new shorts for my 7 year old boy. He's good to go for the Summer!

After that we even ate out! I didn't want to over do it so we went home after that but that was a very long outing for me. All in all it was a great day today! We are watching dvd's this evening.

Angela

Before Mastectomy Surgery Tips

I thought I'd share a few tips that I wish I had known about before I had my mastectomy.  Before your mastectomy surgery I highly recommend that you purchase a few zip up the front robes.  I don't know what I would have done without mine.  I had read before my surgery a recommendation that I should get some button down shirts to wear after my surgery, but the robes are so much more comfortable that I really wouldn't recommend the button down shirts at all.  You are probably now wondering why you will need a robe or button down shirts.  I'll be straight forward here in telling you that you will not be able to raise your arm over your head at all after your surgery.  Don't worry about that though because you'll be able to do that again in a little time.  Having a robe to wear that zips up the front will be a lifesaver to you as it was to me.  I wore my robe home after my surgery.  With the zip up style of robe you won't have to worry about your robe coming open in the front.  I wore my robes for a good month after my surgery and I still wear them today.  I even wore my robe along with a pair of jogging pants to my first 2 visits to my surgeon.  The way I look at it is if people can wear their pj's out in public to go to the grocery store and they aren't sick then I can wear my robe to a doctor's appointment when I am sick!  I bought my robes at Kohl's, but I'm sure you can find something similar at other stores. 

If you only have the one pillow that you sleep with you will want to buy a few more pillows.  After my mastectomy the first night I slept on my couch that is a recliner.  I had to put a pillow or two under my legs to try to make it more comfortable to sleep.  I also had to prop up a few pillows around me for my arm to rest on.  If you are a side sleeper like I am you won't be able to sleep on your side for a good month or longer.  When I did sleep in my bed I had to sleep on my back.  I have sciatica and that about killed me more than the surgery itself.  You will need a few pillows to put under your legs while you sleep.  I also would put a pillow under my legs when I was in my recliner during the day.  Anything to make yourself comfortable and to try to keep from getting in pain.  When I slept in my bed I would put my hands in the pockets of my robe to help me to have a place for my arms.  It was so unnatural for me to sleep on my back.  Once you are able to sleep on your side you will be glad you have those extra pillows as you will want them to help prop you up or to prop your arm up on or hug which is what I do.  It has been 2 years since my surgery and I still sleep with my pillow on the one side.   

My next tip and an important one at that is that you should shave your legs and under your arms the day before your surgery.  I can remember having a hard time shaving my legs after my surgery.  I also remember not shaving under the arm that had a lymph node removed for a good month as I lost the feeling under my arm and I was scared I would cut myself.  I also was bandaged up for a good 2 weeks after my surgery that went under my arm or thereabouts.  This is probably not something I should share, but I did not wear deodorant under the arm that had the lymph node removed until a good month had passed also.  I was not going to take any chances of getting an infection of any kind over that. 

You will want to clean your house before your surgery.  I am a stress cleaner so cleaning the house was therapeutic to me!  I especially wanted the living room and my bedroom clean.  I made sure I had all of the laundry done before my surgery because I knew my husband was going to have to do the laundry for a few weeks after my surgery.  He did the laundry and never complained about it girls!  You will not be allowed to lift anything over 5 pounds.  I'll be honest with you here, you won't be able to lift anything over 5 pounds either.  You won't feel like moving your arms to put clothes in and out of the washer or dryer.  You will have just had major surgery.  Your body will need some time to heal.  Don't do something you shouldn't do or it might come back and bite you on your tiny hinny! 

You will want to stock up in your pantry also.  If you are as blessed as I was you will have a few people who will bring over a meal or two that will help out big time.  You will need to eat 3 good meals a day and a snack here and there to help keep up your energy.  Also, the pain medicine your doctor will prescribe will tell you to eat something with it.      

Be prepared to not be able to drive for a good month.  I was blessed that my husband was able to stay home from work with me for as long as I needed.  The company he works for rocks!  After that he would come home early from work so he could pick up the kids at the bus stop for me.  I couldn't drive.  You won't want to drive.  If you live on a bumpy road like I do you will most definitely want to take a pillow or two with you when you have to go to your surgeons' office for your follow up visits.  You will want to take a pillow with you to use on your trip home from the hospital.  I know I wished I had a pillow with me on my way home after my surgery. 

Angela

One Week and Visit to Surgeon

Originally posted March 21, 2012.

Today has been 1 week since my mastectomy. Up until yesterday the pain wasn't that bad at all. Yesterday morning I slept in and didn't take my medicine right on time. When I got out of bed it felt like what I would imagine a man getting his chest hair waxed off would feel like. Yes! Ouch!!!!

Before my appointment I called my doctors office to give them a heads up that I am in pain and also to ask about the removal of the tape that is around my incision. It is sticking to me like duct tape! They apparently don't have anything that helps in the removal of that tape so we decided that while I'm sitting here with nothing to do that I would loosen it up some so it will be easier to remove when I'm at the office. I did that as far across as I can. I can't get the tape under my arm and I don't think it would be very comfortable afterwards anyway.

We are having to take the old truck when we go out because I can't get into my new truck. My old truck is 10 years old and let's just say it is very rough riding. The road we live on is extremely rough. Combine those two..... It doesn't make for a fun leisurely ride in the country. I couldn't wait to hit the main road. We picked up the kids from school and drove on to my appointment at 3:30.

My doctor looked at the chart we brought in about the fluid that my husband emptied over the week. He decided he would take out drain number two but left in drain number one. As far as getting the tape off my incision, lets say this man knows how to do it! Thank God that didn't hurt as bad as I had anticipated it would. He took it off like a pro. He was still on cloud nine over the fact that my lymph nodes were cancer free!

Here's the bad news first! I can't shower for ANOTHER WEEK! YIKES! My hair! It's long! It's sticky! Our road is rough and I don't want to go any where until next week! I have crazy allergies and I'm scared to do the dry shampoo! I told my doctor I'm going to have even more beautiful hair next week! lol I also told him that I don't have to worry about lice because they wouldn't want to live in this! He got a good laugh out of that! lol

Next week he will take out the other drain and the staples. He also said he will make me an appointment with an oncologist next week too. I asked about chemo and he said that wasn't his decision to make. So I'll be seeing an oncologist later this month or early next month to see what he has to say from all the information we have about the type of cancer I had and go from there.

Having the bandage off is strange. I can feel the air now. He also doesn't want me to have the surgical bra yet. He said it will rub and make it feel worse. Good thing I bought 3 robes to wear! 2 weeks of lounging around in a robe without being able to wash my hair! That's alright. At this point I like to believe that I am cancer free and that is the best news to me!

Angela

A few days later

Originally posted March 20, 2012.

I thought I would let everyone know that I am doing better than I had expected after having my surgery on Wednesday. I am going a little stir crazy because I can't lift over 5 pounds for awhile which means no laundry and no cooking for me. It's nice to have the break from those things but I hate it that my husband is having to do those things for me for awhile. I can't drive either but I have went on 2 little car rides which was a nice break from sitting in my lazy boy chair in the living room. I do sit on the front porch in my rocking chair when it isn't that hot outside.

With the temperatures being in the 80's this week I'm just sitting around enjoying the glorious sun that the Lord is giving me. I love beautiful sunny days like this and it is the perfect medicine for me to get better and heal from my surgery.

The drains are a little bit of a nuisance but they are still a must at this point. I may be getting them out later this week. It all depends on what my doctor says about the amount of fluid that is still coming out. Twice a day my husband drains and measures them and writes it all down on a chart they gave us at the hospital.

I'm still taking my pain medicine which I had hoped I wouldn't need any longer. Unfortunately, I do need it though so I'm still taking it. I do try to go a little longer before I take it in the day which isn't that easy to do. I can feel the nerve endings trying to reconnect which is to be expected. I can feel the stings and some slight muscle spasm type pain when it's time for my medicine. This morning I slept in and was an hour late with taking my medicine. It was very hard getting out of bed. I won't do that again! When I did get out of bed it felt like what it looks like it feels when they wax a mans chest and pull that tape off! Yikes did that hurt!

I'm still wearing the zip up the front robes I bought for the surgery. They are comfortable and easy to wear. I'm not supposed to reach my arm up for anything so wearing a real shirt is out of the question right now. Look for pictures of me to surface on the People of Walmart soon! lol I look real pretty and all wearing it along with my greasy hair since I can't shower until the drains come out! lol

My muscles are still a little sore even with the pain medicine I'm taking. I can feel my muscles moving under my arm as I type which is why I'm not commenting much at all or really even blogging like I'd like to. I need to take it easy on that arm since it is the one that my doctor took a lymph node from.

Angela

Surgery is Over

Originally posted March 15, 2012.

On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, I had a mastectomy of my right breast. Before my surgery my doctor took one lymph node to check it to make sure the cancer hadn't spread to the lymph nodes. Praise God! The cancer had NOT spread to my lymph nodes! My husband, pastor and dad were present when my doctor told them the good news. They all say that my doctor was so happy and said it doesn't get any better than this! When I woke up after my surgery my husband told me the good news! I wish I wasn't so groggy and weak like because I wanted to run through the halls shouting Praise the Lord!

The pain medicine they gave me made me sleep a lot. Before I could leave I had to eat something and go to the bathroom. My nurse was the best! I couldn't have asked for a better nurse. I felt like I was her only patient! She took very good care of me and even my husband. She brought me some saltine crackers and some ginger ale to drink. I did feel nausea when I would move a little while in bed. That was quickly relieved by burping. Unfortunately, after I had drank a little when I burped I threw up all over my blankets. It was green! lol My nurse then called anesthesiology and got some medicine for me for the nausea. That too made me sleepy so I quickly was out again from that medicine. When I awoke I asked to go to the bathroom. My nurse helped me to the bathroom. When I peed it was blue! lol At this point I told my husband I have all colors of the rainbow coming out of me! lol I also have 2 drains that are currently draining red but will turn to a clear color by next week. My doctor will take out the drains once those are running clear and not that much fluid is coming out. I have an appointment next week to see him.

Since I slept longer and ate later I wasn't released until after 7pm that evening. The kids had spent the night with my husband's mom the night before surgery and we let them miss school the day of my surgery. Being that it was late when we got home and I wasn't up for the ride to go get them and my husband didn't want to leave me by myself they spent the night with her again. Wednesday was a gorgeous day outside. The kids had a wonderful time just being able to be outside all day. Thursday morning was different though. Early Thursday morning we had a major thunderstorm come through. We had lightening and even pea sized hail. The rain was very heavy and the creek got up quick. Before we knew it we were flooded in! The kids are still at their grandma's house and they are spending the night yet again! They will be missing 3 days of school but I can't help it. I believe they will be excused for missing tomorrow because the water is still up. My sister is going to try to get them tomorrow and they will spend the night with her.

Our pastor called this morning and was wanting to deliver some food that his wife and another lady at church had prepared for us. I had to tell him he can't deliver it because the water was over the road. It's still over and it is supposed to rain more later tonight!

My husband is so wonderful with the way he is taking care of me! My man is a rock! He slept on the couch last night because I am sleeping on the other couch with the recliner out because I don't think I could sleep in our bed very easy just yet with the drains and all. He didn't want to leave me alone! How sweet is that! He is also draining my drains and measuring them for my doctor. I've not had to do anything but then again I can't do anything. My strength in my right arm is very week right now which it is supposed to be and I can't even open up a jar of jelly.

I could go on and on but I just wanted to let everyone know that I had my surgery and my lymph nodes were cancer free! My husband is taking great care of me. I'm spoiled!

I also want to thank everyone for all of your prayers! The Lord truly blessed me with them! I was at such peace the night before my surgery that I slept very good that night. I also wasn't anxious before my surgery except for the little moment I had when I was in radiology when they were checking where my lymph nodes were located. That was the only part of the process that I did not research and therefore it was scary. I also was thinking about how this is the test that determines what happens for the rest of my life so to speak. I know I left out a lot but I put in more than I probably should have too. Anyway, I am truly blessed with such great blogging friends and I want to say thank you to each and every one of you! Praise the Lord with me in my great news that it wasn't in my lymph nodes!

Angela

Postponed

Originally posted March 3, 2012.

Many of you already know that we have decided to postpone my surgery that was scheduled for March 7th. Since some may not know I thought I'd do a post for those who might be interested. These past few weeks have passed by so fast and yet so slow. I have been spending countless hours surfing the internet learning everything I can about the treatment of my breast cancer. Just this week my doctor met with a board of doctors to discuss my case and to get their opinions. I also had a MRI this week that showed yet another suspicious spot along with the 2 other spots that we know to be cancer and 2 different types of cancer at that! Together with my surgeon who is treating me like a queen, the recommendations of the other doctors he consulted, the results from a blood test I had and the results of the MRI we have decided that it is best for me to have a mastectomy of my right breast. As if that isn't hard enough I am now left with the decision of whether or not to have reconstruction.

Reconstruction in itself is a very time consuming and painful thing to go through along with at least 2 additional surgeries. I've read that the average reconstruction takes anywhere from 8 months to a year or longer. My surgeon told me that he can do what is called a breast sparingly nipple saving surgery for me. That sounds great and the pictures I've seen from the results of that look so normal that they look real because I would be keeping the skin that is already there. With that option I will need to decide on what I would use to fill that voided space up with. There is the ever so popular silicone breast implant that I'll address first. I honestly can't see myself doing this one because I'm scared of being allergic to it because I have many allergies. There is a test that I can take to see if I am allergic to silicone which I could do and I might do. But, then there is the slight right that it could leak or break that scares me. The silicone implants are also known to get hard and need replaced later down the road. I don't want to have surgery 10 years later or even 15 years later. With all that being said I do not feel as though the silicone implant is an option for me.

There are a number of options though. One is called a TRAM Flap. They use your belly fat and muscles to create a new breast. In essence a tummy tuck would be performed with this procedure also. I do not consider this option as one that I can do. I do not want to use any muscles from my stomach because there are just way too many side effects from that. There is also a lot of recovery time from this procedure. There is another option that I am considering that is called the DIEP. The DIEP is similar to the TRAM Flap except you do not use any of the muscles from your stomach. The downside to me is you are cut from one side to the other side of your belly.

I also have been told by my surgeon that we can not do an immediate reconstruction. The main reason is we do not know yet and won't know until after my surgery if I will need to do chemo or radiation. They can't do those if you have already had the reconstruction. During my first surgery a plastic surgeon would have to place an expander inside my breast that has a balloon type contraption that would have to be filled with salt water every so often at the plastic surgeons office. They would continue filling it until it gets to the size that I would need it to be. Once it is the right size then I would need another surgery to remove the expander and use one of the methods above to fill it with.

It is all so overwhelming for me but it is something that I have to make a decision on soon. I do have an appointment with a plastic surgeon this week to discuss my options. I might even cancel it. I've talked to a few ladies that I know personally who have had breast cancer who did not do reconstruction. They wear a prosthesis in their bra and they are happy and healthy and cancer free. That is the main thing that I want and need from this surgery is to be cancer free! One lady who had to have both breast removed is thrilled to not have to wear a bra at all!

Since I've just recently received these results this Thursday I have went from I don't want reconstruction to I do to I don't want to do it. I appreciate your prayers to help me to make the right decision for myself.

Angela

Get Your Mammograms Ladies!

Originally posted February 5, 2012.

Back in November I had a mammogram. They had me come back for another mammogram and a ultrasound. That resulted in me having to have a biopsy last week of the two different spots they found on my right breast. We went to see the surgeon on Monday to get the results from the biopsy I had last week. We were completely shocked to find out that I do have cancer! Even the doctor was shocked. Apparently both of the samples they took had cancer in them. I asked if he thinks he got it all out because the spots were very small and he did get those out but it's the surrounding tissue that he is concerned about. The spots he biopsied were teenie tiny, his words when I asked last week at the biopsy. He gave us a few things to think about and he is going to consult with a few other specialist because my case is unique. Usually when there are 2 spots like that they aren't cancer. He's never had one like mine before. The first thing my doctor asked me when he seen me in his office was how old are you. I told him I'm 43 but I'll be 44 next week. He said I was too young and then told me that my lab results were that I had cancer. It is a stage 1. It's very early. Mine was so small that 2 different doctors that did a breast exam on me could not even feel them.
One of the options is to go back in and take out some stuff and treat with radiation for 6 weeks. Another is to remove my breast and that would be that. Then they can remove and reconstruct.

I go back to see him on the 13th. He also said he'd like to do the surgery in 3 weeks so we agreed to let them schedule it but we aren't locked in to doing anything yet. He said I could get a second opinion if we wanted and if we wanted he would refer me to Duke or John Hopkins if we wanted. I feel good with this man. He is an American and born in West Virginia and he and his nurse were crying right along with us. When I talked to my Pastor about my diagnosis he said that he went to school with my doctor.

There is not a history of breast cancer in my family until about 4 months ago. My older cousin had to have both removed. She's a smoker and hers was at stage 4 and mine is very early stages.

We caught mine really early. They were using a magnifying glass to even see it on the mammogram.
Tuesday morning I called my doctor's office to ask a few questions. The nurse there was wonderful and very helpful and didn't rush me at all. I was on the phone with her for almost 20 minutes.

I called to see if they needed a copy of the blood work I had back in September and she told me they will do new blood work a week before my surgery. I will also have a chest x-ray and an EKG before my surgery.I asked her if they were able to schedule the surgery. They booked my surgery. So that will be the day I go. The surgery will last around 45 minutes to an hour. It also is now done as an out patient which surprised me but it will be nice to sleep in my own bed and not be probed and woke up 10 times during the night! Been there done that with gallbladder surgery 14 years ago and that was miserable.

I talked to the nurse about radiation because I wasn't sure if it was an every day thing which it mostly is. I would go M-F for 6 weeks. The office where I would go for that is in the same building so I won't have to go all over the place for that. The thing is I love staying home when I can so it will be like a chore for me to leave the house everyday like that! lol

The nurse even kept telling me that we caught it really early and I'm not going to die from this. She said I would die from natural causes. I know they don't tell that to every patient because they can't because some are found really late but mine is very early. We are thinking that if I had went back in September when I should have went but didn't because the kids got sick. They wouldn't have even found it back then. It had only been 18 months since my last mammogram.I called my Pastor Tuesday and talked to him and his wife. His wife told me that another lady at church goes to the doctor that I go to so I called and talked to her. She's been going to my doctor since she was 29 and she is 45. Breast cancer runs in her family. Her mom and her 2 sisters and her all see him. They love him. She also told me she
babysits for a nurse at the hospital that I will be having the surgery at and works with my doctor! She said can ask this lady to schedule the best of the best to be there during my surgery! I also found out from her that there is yet another lady at our church that had breast cancer and my doctor treated her 20 years ago so this is all encouraging to me.

I really feel like the Lord has had his hand in this healing process from the get go so I am in the best hands possible! I'm feeling really positive about it all right now. Not to say I won't cry tomorrow because I will, but that's ok I'm human!

So please say some prayers for me and know that I know that the Lord has his hand in this healing process and you can't get any better than that! It is hard but I've had a few days to think about it and gather information. I will update everyone again once I know more. I really hope that because of my diagnoses others will go and get their mammograms if they have been putting it off. I do know that one of my best friends in Maryland, Rosemary, has scheduled her mammogram. My sister went and got her first mammogram Saturday. My neighbor is going to get her first mammogram soon too. Early detection is the key!

I hate to ask this but PLEASE only leave positive comments! It is very encouraging and really helps to hear success stories. I heard one the other day that a lady who is 73 told me that her grand mother was 40 when she had breast cancer. Back then all they could do was removal. There wasn't any radiation or chemo at all. Her grand mother lived to be 106! And you know her breast cancer was not found from using a mammogram either!

Love,
Angela

Welcome!

After much thought and consideration I have decided to start a blog that will be dedicated solely to my survival of breast cancer.  I hope to be an encouragement to others who are recently diagnosed and survivors alike.  With this blog I will be posting my original posts that I wrote at the time I was diagnosed in February of 2012.  I am also going to go into further detail about some of the test that I had and try to be a help to those who may want to know more about some of those tests.   

Angela