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