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MAKE EVERY MONTH BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH / BE AWARE, CARE, AND SHARE
Who am I?
I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister,a friend and most importantly a child of God. There's probably a few more but I'll leave it at that. I love life and feel that every experience whether good or bad shapes us into who we are. We all have choices. Not always regarding all that happens to us, but always about how we deal with what happens to us. I know that the Lord loves me for who I am, but I also know that He loves me enough to not leave me the way I am. Therefore I am embracing the ALL of life to the best of my abilities.
Sometimes I need encouragement, thats where my family comes in...
I love my family with all my heart. I was lucky enough to marry my high school sweetheart, and have the role of loving and raising three awesome boys ages 11, 18 and 22. My husband is my rock, my strength and the wind beneath my wings. Without him the sun would not be so bright and the wind would be only a breeze. I am so blessed to have a family that supports me when times are rough.
In May of 2007 I was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer (invasive ductal carcinoma)which had already spread to the lymph nodes under the left arm. I was only 39 yrs old and had no family history of breast cancer. I can't say that I was surprised. I had known for years that something in my body was just not right, but never knew what it was until I found the lump in my breast. I chose to have a lumpectomy and during the surgery 8 of the lymph nodes were removed on that side. Further testing revealed that more than one kind of cancer was speckled throughout the entire breast and 2 of the nodes were invaded with cancer. Under much prayer and consideration I decided to have a double mastectomy. That surgery was done in the beginning of Sept. 2007. Praise the Lord, my scans were clear for cancer in the rest of my body. Even still, I had start chemotherapy in October and it lasted until the end of March 2008, along with Herceptin infusions for being HER2 positive that will last a full year. I then completed 7 weeks of radiation daily. After follow up tests in August 2008 the cancer had spread to the middle of the chest and both collar bones. Luckily in it's earliest stages, although this means I am now stage 4. I completed a 4 more rounds of chemo (different drugs) and then 4 rounds of oral chemo. I didn't think I could take much more, I literally felt like it was killing me. Praise the Lord, after all of that my scans came back clear in April of 2009!! Eventually, re-constructive surgery and hormone therapy for being estrogen positive will be in my future. I am trying to prepare myself for whatever I need to do to be and stay cancer free. This has been the hardest 2 yrs of my life and I know it is not quite over, at least I'm on an uphill climb now.
I guess I'm really at the beginning of my journey even though it seems so long ago I was first diagnosed. Being cancer free will be a life long battle. The Lord has blessed me with a calm heart and He is my strength because I know that my life is guided by His plan not mine. When I was first diagnosed I remember having many feelings of fear, hopelessness, helplessness, even desperation which seemed to overwhelm all other feelings at the time. I now look at this as an adventure that I must take, all the while shaping more of who I am. I can't say I'm not afraid at times but I also have feelings of hope, faith, love, comfort and a desire for survival. I am thankful for my family and friends who continually amaze me with love and support that warms my heart. Without you all this would be a lonely road. I will keep you updated as life and my journey for health progresses. Psalm 18:2
Please read my blog for the latest updates. This past January 2009 my husband suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. There is a blog regarding this subject. The last part of my cancer treatments have been extremely hard without his love and support but I know he is rejoicing for my new found health, I can feal it in my soul. I so miss everything about him, we were truly one and I am struggling with feeling incomplete and understanding how to be without him. As a family we are sticking together and loving each other and supporting each other. Along with Gods love and comfort, what else could we ask for?! We miss you Dave and long for the day we can see you again. <3<3<3
It is time to move forward for me. I feel a need to make a change in my life, and do more with the abilities God has given me. My desire is that this page can help ILLUMINATE all kinds of information for all kinds of people.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer to affect women. In 2007, it is estimated that there will be about 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in the United States, along with 62,030 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
Each year, 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 die. One woman in seven either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 will die this year.
If detected early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer exceeds 95%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram.
Every woman is at SOME risk for breast cancer—this is merely the "risk" of living as a woman. But there are many risk factors that can make one woman's picture differ substantially from another's. When you understand your own particular risk profile, you are in a better position to manage it and don't have to fear the unknown.
If you're worried about developing breast cancer, or if you know someone who has been diagnosed with the disease, one way to deal with your concerns is to get as much information as possible. In this section you'll find important background information about what breast cancer is and how it develops.
WHAT IS THE BREAST? The breast is a collection of glands and fatty tissue that lies between the skin and the chest wall. The glands inside the breast produce milk after a woman has a baby. Each gland is also called a lobule, and many lobules make up a lobe. There are 15 to 20 lobes in each breast. The milk gets to the nipple from the glands by way of tubes called ducts. The glands and ducts get bigger when a breast is filled with milk, but the tissue that is most responsible for the size and shape the breast is the fatty tissue. There are also blood vessels and lymph vessels in the breast. Lymph is a clear liquid waste product that gets drained out of the breast into lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small, pea-sized pieces of tissue that filter and clean the lymph. Most lymph nodes that drain the breast are under the arm in what is called the axilla.
WHAT IS BREAST CANCER? Breast cancer happens when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control and can then invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Large collections of this out of control tissue are called tumors. However, some tumors are not really cancer because they cannot spread or threaten someone's life. These are called benign tumors. The tumors that can spread throughout the body or invade nearby tissues are considered cancer and are called malignant tumors. Theoretically, any of the types of tissue in the breast can form a cancer, but usually it comes from either the ducts or the glands. Because it may take months to years for a tumor to get large enough to feel in the breast, we screen for tumors with mammograms, which can sometimes see disease before we can feel it.
SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER? Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms including:* lump or thickening in the breast or underarm * change in size or shape of the breast * nipple discharge or nipple turning inward * redness or scaling of the skin or nipple * ridges or pitting of the breast skinIf you experience these symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by a doctor.
You may currently be experiencing strong emotions such as anxiety, fear, sorrow or anger. It can be difficult to think clearly while experiencing such strong emotions, but dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis requires that you be at your most focused, because with breast cancer, education is empowerment.
RESOURCES FOR BREAST CANCER
American Cancer Society
Susan G. Komen For The Cure
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
Livestrong:Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Breast Cancer Site
Y-ME
Breast Cancer.Org
National Cancer Institute
The Mayo Clinic
Cancer Care
Feel Your Boobies
Cancer Schmancer Movement
I'm Too Young For This
Breast Cancer Resource Center
Breast Cancer Resources Directory
Cancer 101
MD Junction:People Helping People
Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation
Breast Cancer Fund
Cancer Answers
Body AOL:Breast Cancer
Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance Resource Guide
Power Surge:Breast Cancer Resources and Support Groups
Health Central
Imaginis:The Women's Health Resource
Womens Health:The Federal Government Resources For Women
Pink Link:Online Beast Cancer Support Network
Smiling Women
Healing Well
Young Adults Program
Faith Hope Courage
Power Surge:Breast Cancer Resources and Support Groups
Caring 4 Cancer
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre Appeal
Breast Cancer Stories
The Pink Ribbon Shop
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