Life goes on - thank goodness!

While trudging through the radiation schedule and fatigue... some great things going on in the Simpson household - here's just one!

Alex's Eagle Court of Honor

Alex actually earned his Eagle last winter - but his parents were slow in putting together a court of honor for him. Alex didn't want a big deal made out of it so we were going to do a backyard barbeque. So we waited for warm weather - then life got away from us this summer. Luckily our troop held an Eagle court of honor for Alex and 2 other Eagles. Thank you Scout Leaders!!!

McKay earned his Star - another Eagle next year! 

All my guys - 3 Eagles (Mark, Jake & Alex)

 2 boys to go!

Proud of you guys!!!

Radiation has begun

 

For those of you curious as to what radiation is like - here's the scoop.

 The latest technology is available at my hospital and is called Tomotherepy. It works better than regular radiation treatments because instead of delivering the radiation in a straight line - it is computer assisted to deliver radiation in a flexible way as to avoid extra expose to the heart and lungs. The latest and greatest I'm told.

I lay on this table with my arms above my head and they move me/and the table into the round part of the machine to deliver the radiation. 

I'm in there for about 20 minutes - laying still.

 (Why does your nose always itch when you are supposed to be laying still?)

They give you a warm blanket for your legs and someone has gone into my machine and stuck smiley face stickers in the tube. I pretty much just close my eyes and veg. 

(and try to forget about my itchy nose)

It takes me about 25 minutes to drive to the center - 30-40 minutes in the office - 25 minutes home. So for the next several weeks this will be my routine 5 days a week for 27 treatments.

Today was day 2 - no side effects yet - they say they won't show up for 2 weeks or so. Then the main side effects are fatigue and rash and sunburn feeling on the radiation site.

Thanks for all the good wishes and prayers - we are so blessed!

Great News

The cancer roller-coaster is a crazy one. So many ups and downs. Today is an up day. I found out today that I will only need Radiation and then medication - no Chemo. Yipee

Let me get you up to speed - in my last post it looked like Chemo was the preferred treatment. After the lumpectomy surgery and lymph node testing my surgeon said that they would be recommending chemo. So I made an appointment with my Chemo Doctor to see what came next.

To our surprise the Chemo Doctor said that the cancer cells they found in my lymph nodes were isolated cells. That meant there were very trace cells and they could preform yet another test on these cells to see if they were likely to spread. If they weren't likely to spread, he would not recommend chemo. If they were more aggressive cells - chemo was the recommendation. So - more waiting. 

That was 2 weeks ago, but today came the great news. The test came back good. I could do chemo if I felt unsure - but after much research and discussion and prayer - we feel Chemo would not decrease recurrence rate by much - not enough to go through the side effects of chemo. The Chemo Oncologist said that I have a 91% chance of the cancer never coming back with radiation and the medication tamoxifen for 5 yrs.  I think Chemo added 2 more percentage points. Either way I still have a slight chance of recurrence, but if I stay on top of my yearly exams/mammograms, worst case is that if I get it again, I'll catch it early again. 

We are very relieved and grateful. Radiation will still be an annoyance - but not too much of a life changer. They tell me they side effects are tiredness and sunburn type feeling at the radiation site. But compared to chemo - it seems like a breeze. Tamoxifen has it's own side effects but I'll take it.

I meet with the Radiation doctor next week to plan my treatments. It will most likely be 5 days a week for 7 weeks. That is usually the treatment for breast cancer. But I won't know for sure until next week.

Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. I am surrounded by such good friends and family.

Heavenly Father gives us these trials to teach us things, I've learned very much and will continue to. But most of all I've learned that even during very challenging times, we can be blessed with a peace and strength to get through it. Thank you all - it's a good day!

A different kind of Bountiful

I have already received so much support from family and friends since my Breast Cancer Diagnosis but so many of our friends and family are too far away to stay in the loop. So in an effort to keep everyone informed on my cancer fight and recovery, I thought I would blog about it. I didn't want to do a separate blog just for cancer - I will just post cancer stuff in between life's other beautiful, bountiful events. We feel your prayers - thank you so much. We love you all!


In the beginning...

Early June during a self exam - I found a lump. (Ladies - do your exams!) I'm not sure why I was checking. I'm not really good at doing those exams - maybe once or twice a year when I remember. I had just had a complete exam by a Doctor the month before during my yearly physical. The doctor didn't detect anything - everything seemed routine. However the Dr had given me a recommendation to go and get a mammogram as a regular check-up now that I'm over 40. I had my first mammogram 18 months ago - perfectly clear. I thought it was odd that at my age I would need to get a mammo every year - in my mind I was thinking every 3-5 yrs until I was over 50. I have NO family history of Breast Cancer or any other cancers for that matter. So I thought - maybe in 6 months or so I'll go get another mammogram. Then came June...

After finding the lump I thought it was odd the Dr wouldn't have detected it just weeks earlier - so I shrugged it off for a few weeks thinking - it must be nothing - it will go away. They say your breast tissue can change during your cycle - maybe it will go away. It didn't go away. I thought - well, I've got this referral to get a mammogram - I'll just get it done so I can get it off my mind.

July 5th... Mammogram - definitely something there - tech said probably a cyst because I was just examined by a Dr in May. Ultrasound - more concern - doesn't look like a cyst on ultra-sound. Usually they have you come back for a biopsy. However - they had an opening that afternoon. I called Mark - he left work and met me there for the Biopsy. Results took 5 days - that was a long 5 days.

Diagnosis... Breast Cancer. The new Doctor that had done my ultrasound and biopsy gave me the results with tears in her eyes. She said, "Sorry to be crying - you are just so young, we usually see women much older." But then she said, "You saved your life by coming in so early when you first found the lump."

The next few weeks was full of Doctors and tests and waiting. MRI, genetic testing, Radiation doc, surgeon, Chemo Doc, all giving more pieces of the puzzle of what I'll be facing. The waiting and unknown is the worst. In the meantime - I knew this cancer was sitting there inside of me. I wanted it out - but the medical system and insurance companies have their own timelines. The Doctors assured me a few weeks of waiting was not going to change the cancer.

Lumpectomy scheduled - August 6th. I was very anxious to get the surgery over with and the cancer gone! All the test results up until that day had been very good. I was most likely stage one cancer and would only need radiation after surgery. Radiation is the easy treatment. But until they removed the tumor - verified how big it was and also remove and test some lymph nodes to see if the cancer has spread, we couldn't be sure if  I would stay at stage one. Lumpectomy was a bit rough. I kept bleeding after surgery so I ended up back in surgery 2 more times. I lost quite a bit of blood so after surgery I have been really weak. But - that was last week - and now I'm feeling almost 100%. What a blessing to have Mark and Lauren and my Mom all right here to help me. And of course my boys. They took care of me so well I hardly left the couch for 6 days. Everyone pitched in and took care of everything. I have a great family.  I am truly blessed.

On Friday we got in the surgery test results. Lump was 2cm (borderline stage 1 and stage 2) but a small amount of cancer cells were detected in 1 of 3 lymph nodes tested. That put me over the edge into stage 2 and the news that I will need chemotherapy after all. I was pretty bummed - I was hoping to skate through this cancer thing and move on with life. But after much prayer I've decided that getting Chemo is a blessing in disguise. It gives me my best chance and a reassurance that it will kill any stray cancer cells now - thus giving me a better prognosis of being cancer free for years to come.

I don't have any doubt I'll beat this thing - the fear is the unknown of how sick I'll be in the next several months going through treatment and how I'll juggle being a wife, mother, and Relief Society President with cancer. Oh, btw I was made Relief Society Pres. in May - crazy huh!

But I draw strength from my patriarchal blessing that promises me that while I am in the service of my Heavenly Father that I should not fear for my well being - and that there will be a time when I will be discouraged but to be buoyed up because my body will be renewed to be able to finish my mission on the earth.

I have complete faith my Heavenly Father will live up to that promise He gave me almost 30 yrs ago.
I know I was prompted to randomly do a self exam and find the lump to catch it early. I know I was prompted to go and get it checked out - I normally would have blown it off for months. I know He is blessing me and guiding my path as we make choices about treatment. I know He will help me get through treatment and hopefully as He strengthens my faith it will strengthen the faith of those around me as well.

Keep sending prayers our way - we have already felt their power. We are very much at peace and are ready to face this fight.

Love to All!

Heidi

Rappelling

We went with Uncle John and cousins Noah and Brig to American Fork Canyon for an evening of rappelling. My boys have rappelled with their scout troops and they wanted to teach their cousins. Great Fun!

Mark was at the top making sure we were all clipped in safely.
That's Alex on the wall.

Jake

McKay

Double rapel with Jake and Alex

Yes, that is me (Heidi) I tried it out - mostly with my eyes closed. I am deathly afraid of heights. I even went down a second time.

McKay at the bottom







This canyon has huge slabs of Granite rock. We had a picnic dinner on one.


We even got Grandma K to come and watch us - but we couldn't talk her into getting on the cliff.

This was a beginning rappelling cliff - for us rookies. 

The boys love to do bigger rapell's down at Zions Canyon.

Springtime with the Simpson's

Here is what we are up to this Spring!

Lauren

Can't catch a picture of her - she is at school or work most of the time. She finished another semester of school and will take the summer off. Because of her extra time she has a 3rd job. She now teaches Korean students English in the wee morning hours, she helps a few hours a week with a cute little autistic boy, and now she has found a job at a day care to fill her afternoon's and Saturday's. She is hoping to sock away some money to help with the upcoming school year. She started taking a cake decorating class and loved it  - but may have to stop because of the new job. 

Jake - He has been very busy working. All of the boys are referee's for kids soccer games, but Jake does it the most. He also works for South Davis Rec center and helps with races, softball, and will help with kids craft classes this summer at the rec center.

He really wants to give someone a red card!

Alex

His spring life has been non stop soccer. He had practice or a game every weekday. He was excited to have made the Bountiful High team even though he is only 9th grade. We weren't sure as a freshman how much he would play, but he ended up starting for the JV team and playing in most Varsity games. He had his end of the year soccer banquet on Sat. and he was given "Rookie of the year" award from his coaches. The season is now over - he is hoping to spend some time refereeing and mowing lawns for some summertime cash.

Kevin and McKay

These two are good buddies and do a lot together. They have had fun on their rec soccer team. It's not super competitive but it's lots of fun. They also go on scout over-nighters together. They did a fun trip Friday night where they did some rock climbing.

McKay does a little refereeing and is in an after-school jazz band group. He is enjoying figuring out the saxophone.

Kevin will go home next week for the summer. We will miss him a lot! We are glad he has one more school year with us.

So as you can see - Mark and Heidi have spent a lot of time chauffeuring and watching soccer games. Love it!

Easter 2012

I haven't posted in a while - time is flying

Here was our Easter celebrations and traditions.

After coming home from Skiing we dyed Easter Eggs.

Jake was decorating his with a sharpie before dropping it in the dye.

Okay, let me explain. The Knudsen family tradition on Easter (after a yummy ham dinner) is to have an egg roll. No, we don't roll eggs down a hill, we roll them at each other to see whose can remain in tact (no cracks) throughout the tournament. 

Cousin Noah and Jake

McKay and Lauren

Aunt Heather and Grandma K

Even though this is a Knudsen family tradition - 

we got Grandpa Simpson to take a turn against Mark.

Fun tradition - but couldn't tell you who won. 

(I'll bet the kids could)