Wednesday, March 12, 2014
January 4, 2014
I had boudoir photos taken of my breasts and hair. I didn't realize how much I liked my breasts until they were going to be taken from me. I am a large 34DD, and when everyone thinks of me, I am the blonde with the "big boobs". I am sad for them to go... even after breastfeeding four kids, they are pretty perky! I will be cutting my hair soon & my friend has agreed to make it into extensions. My hair goes down my back. I'm not even that upset over that. I know that will grow back. I am mourning my breasts...
January 3, 2014
Good news! Bone scan is clear. CT scan showed some nonspecific changes in liver/lungs they need to keep an eye on, but mostly looks good, so it looks like there is no metastasis. They are staging me as a 2B. They won't know for sure if lymph nodes are positive until they remove them in surgery.
Because I am young, this is a red flag for the BRACA gene mutation, so I am awaiting these test results. If I have the mutation, there is a 64% chance I will get it in the other breast, but more importantly one of the mutations is risk of ovarian cancer which is deadly. They are recommending I get my ovaries if I have that one. I will get a double mastectomy if my BRACA testing is positive for the mutation.
Because I am young, this is a red flag for the BRACA gene mutation, so I am awaiting these test results. If I have the mutation, there is a 64% chance I will get it in the other breast, but more importantly one of the mutations is risk of ovarian cancer which is deadly. They are recommending I get my ovaries if I have that one. I will get a double mastectomy if my BRACA testing is positive for the mutation.
January 2, 2014
Unfortunately, the East Coast isn't the most advanced in medicine or surgery. I am still trying to find a surgeon that does procedures widely accepted elsewhere. Once surgery is done, I will start 4 months of chemotherapy.
As for surgeons, there is one in Los Angeles, CA, and one at the Mayo Clinic. I am getting PA to see them in case I can't find someone in Buffalo to do it (not sure if it will get approved). If we didn't have to do what our insurance plans made us do, and had unlimited funds, I would be on my first flight to LA to get surgery. Then I would go to the Burzynski Clinic in Houston for antineoplaston therapy, and maybe to Mexico where they are making vaccines from your blood that will actually use your immune system to kill the cancer.
I am also reading "Knockout" by Suzanne Somers- a great read, but many of them do require loads of money out-of-pocket. For now, I am taking turmeric (& after all of this reading, I suggest EVERYONE does as well as VITAMIN D), green tea, and starting an alkaline diet. All turn on genes to help your body increase the immune system and kill the cancer itself. I did order Red Reishi powder on the recommendation of one of my friends whose dad had months to live after lung cancer diagnosis- it has been SIX YEARS and he is still alive and well! My acupuncture MD recommended Fucoidan Seaweed, so I am going to take that, too. Every little bit helps. Also, lots of praying!
As for surgeons, there is one in Los Angeles, CA, and one at the Mayo Clinic. I am getting PA to see them in case I can't find someone in Buffalo to do it (not sure if it will get approved). If we didn't have to do what our insurance plans made us do, and had unlimited funds, I would be on my first flight to LA to get surgery. Then I would go to the Burzynski Clinic in Houston for antineoplaston therapy, and maybe to Mexico where they are making vaccines from your blood that will actually use your immune system to kill the cancer.
I am also reading "Knockout" by Suzanne Somers- a great read, but many of them do require loads of money out-of-pocket. For now, I am taking turmeric (& after all of this reading, I suggest EVERYONE does as well as VITAMIN D), green tea, and starting an alkaline diet. All turn on genes to help your body increase the immune system and kill the cancer itself. I did order Red Reishi powder on the recommendation of one of my friends whose dad had months to live after lung cancer diagnosis- it has been SIX YEARS and he is still alive and well! My acupuncture MD recommended Fucoidan Seaweed, so I am going to take that, too. Every little bit helps. Also, lots of praying!
November 7th, 2013
Just to give a little history, my routine mammogram was done on November 7th. They immediately called me on the 8th to come in for a magnified view, which I had to bring my 4 year old to. Last year's mammogram was "totally clear" (possibly some cells that did not show up on mammogram). The mammogram showed 8cm of calcifications in a linear formation with branching. They really didn't need to do a biopsy to know it was cancer. This is very aggressive to grow this fast. My biopsy (done in 2 places the Wednesday after my mammogram) showed DCIS with invasive ductal carcinoma- grade 3 which means it is irregular and fast-growing.
It seemed as if I did everything right- I breastfed for 5 1/2 years, eat right, exercise. I thought I had nearly a zero chance of having breast cancer. I am convinced that it was 20 years of birth control pills, pesticides we have used in the lawn/on the house for wood bees, and/or the used oil that may have been in our well water growing up. Who even knows?
PLEASE GET YOUR ROUTINE MAMMOGRAMS DONE! IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE! A LITTLE PAIN FOR 15 SECONDS IS TOTALLY WORTH IT!
It seemed as if I did everything right- I breastfed for 5 1/2 years, eat right, exercise. I thought I had nearly a zero chance of having breast cancer. I am convinced that it was 20 years of birth control pills, pesticides we have used in the lawn/on the house for wood bees, and/or the used oil that may have been in our well water growing up. Who even knows?
PLEASE GET YOUR ROUTINE MAMMOGRAMS DONE! IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE! A LITTLE PAIN FOR 15 SECONDS IS TOTALLY WORTH IT!
My life turned upside down
I thought I was busy as a working mother of four children ages 4-11. Little did I know, my life was about to change and likely never to be the same again. Please join me on my journey to beat breast cancer and all I have learned on the way...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)