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Gems from Jeannie

Life's Lessons and Dreams
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Archive for November, 2011

So it is a Waiting Game For Now….

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Just left the Surgeon’s office. The waiting seems to have gone on forever and still no definitive answer BUT good news biopsy report didn’t “seem” to report cancer. Back in May for another mammogram and ultrasound to see if there are any changes in the size and then we will make a decision at that point.
Have to thank both Bob and Chaundra for coming with me. It is great to have the support when you are facing the unknown.

The message is still to get tested. I am not sure about the new guidelines that have been announced. I have to question, whether or not I wanted to find out the information. The answer is yes, I want to know BUT I don’t think it should take three months to get an answer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/new-health/andre-picard/why-the-new-breast-cancer-screening-guidelines-make-sense/article2246955/

Elly’s Journey Part 2

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I was in disbelief!  I just could not believe what I was hearing.  Breast Cancer had never occurred in my family and I was a fit woman who had just turned 50.  I didn’t smoke, had a very healthy diet, drank some wine, and worked out on a daily basis.  I was healthy and breast cancer got me!!!

My husband Michael was also in disbelief and at this time I felt very alone and in total denial.  I now look back on this and talk about it with other women, some of whom were also in denial at the time and others who were very open about it.

I visited my surgeon Rachel who was a real sweetheart.  Michael and I sat with her and she gave me options.  One was to have a lumpectomy which would remove the cancer and alot of the surrounding tissue which would leave me with quite a large “hole”  in my breast OR I could have a mastectomy and have the entire breast removed and then have reconstruction down the road.  We decided on the mastectomy.  She said she would get it booked and give me a call in the following 2 weeks.  We went home and she called the next day for my surgery to be performed in 2 days!!  WHOA, I was in shock – kind of like a zombie.  But, I was ready to be rid of this lump!!

The surgery was over and done with really fast and I recall waking up and opening my gown.   And, actually I was NOT shocked at what I saw…I was relieved and it felt good!  My son Christopher and Michael came in and I showed them my “breastless” left chest – they both smiled with tears in their eyes.

Elly’s Journey/Adventure with Breast Cancer

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It all began back in 2001, when one day while in the shower, I felt a small lump in my left breast. I thought nothing of it as I normally had small lumps or as I called them my “chunky boobs” at that time of the month. Well, this little sucker of a lump did not go away like the other ones did and it was somewhat hard feeling. I had been having my regular annual mammograms every October or November, so when I went to see my doctor about the lump, he said there was nothing to worry about and then he said “women are so obsessed with their breasts!!”
So, the following month which was November, I had my mammogram and I was nervous because of the lump. Two days later my doctor called me into his office to review my mammogram. Now I was a WRECK!!! He explained to me that my left breast showed an irregularity and so he wanted to followup with another mammo, but said “nothing to worry about”. I had the second mammogram in January and again I was called in to review it and it too showed “something”. So now he recommended an ultrasound which was performed in February and it showed “something”.
At that point I knew or my gut knew this was serious. A biopsy was performed which I was certainly not prepared for. All I remember about it was it sounded like a gun going off into my left breast and I was left bruised and hurting. A few days went by and then I received THAT phonecall to come in to see my doctor. “You have Breast Cancer” he said.

And so it Continues…..!!

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Well, in my last post I thought…GREAT! Definitely something there BUT no problem…give up my appointment and let’s get on with life. I didn’t realize what a drain this had been on me. My life had been on hold!

Then yesterday afternoon, a phone call from the Surgeon’s office! Yes, he would like to see you next Thursday….Is everything ok?…..Well, he is still concerned….It’s not cancer is it?….Well, not sure. He needs to talk to you. Not happy with just the biopsy results! NOW WHAT!!
Ok then…..next Thursday…my head is spinning. I am very glad that they aren’t just letting it go BUT is there something there and I was just put off? Had anybody really read my results???
Not a patient woman and I am realizing that more every day. So I wait and worry……..

And Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all of the positive messages and support.

And So Today I Cried!…..

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Spent two hours at the gym this afternoon having a great workout, trying to keep my mind off of the “boobs”. Thursday would soon be here…..When I got home there was a message for me from the Surgeon’s office….Sorry, we will have to cancel your appointment for Thursday morning. Please call and I will explain.
My heart sank, all I could think was no I can’t wait any longer..I have to know what is going on.
When I returned the call I was asked if I could switch my appointment for someone who has cancer…my results…NEGATIVE! AND I CRIED…for the first time I BAWLED!
I actually don’t think that I would have cried so hard if the results had been that I had cancer.
There is “something” there so I have to wait for the Surgeon to review the reports BUT NO CANCER!!
I can’t express the relief I am feeling! This experience will not be for nothing. I am determined to help others going through this journey.
Please continue to share your stories (I know that we have some coming in the near future)and I will definitely keep working on helping others in their journey.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers!
This past two months has definitely put many things into perspective for me…the importance of Family and Friends!

My New Cause..How to Help Others!

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The past few weeks have seemed like an eternity to me. I’m terrible at playing this waiting game. I am not a Drama Queen, for the most part a very positive person, and can handle alot. That is what has been driving me crazy; What if all of this worry is for nothing? What if I have been losing sleep over nothing? What if..what if…my life seems to be full of what ifs lately.
I had my annual checkup with my Family Physician yesterday. Although my appointment for the Surgeon is on Thursday this week, I knew that he would receive the report at the same time as the Surgeon. All weekend I wondered if I wanted to know the results from my Dr. or not. I definitely have the type of personality that wants to know all of the details and I wasn’t sure if I would get all of the answers yesterday or not. Well, not to worry, the results are still not in!
I wondered, “Am I the only person that goes through this anxiety while waiting”. I happened to find this article (see link below) and found that Harvard Researchers said I am not unusual in my feelings and worries.
“If you talk to any woman who has had a biopsy who has had to wait for results, she will tell you it’s a horrible roller coaster,’’ said Dr. Elvira V. Lang, associate professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “Even when patients hear they have a cancer, they can start doing something. But if you hang in there for five days and you still don’t know what direction it goes, it’s just very stressful.’’

The concern, Dr. Lang said, is that cortisol levels can influence wound healing and immune response, raising a woman’s potential health risks if she ultimately needs to be treated for cancer. And the stress and anxiety of waiting also affects the quality of life of a woman, her family and her ability to function well at work, she said.

What can I do to help other women? What can we do to make sure that we understand that we need to do more during this waiting period?

I am still hoping for Positive Results for myself from the Biopsy on Thursday (that is IF I get the results then) but hopefully, I can uses this experience to help others!

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/the-anxiety-of-the-biopsy/