Re: TWWWOT: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

And doesn't that just screw up a vacation? ;-) You have my hugs and
sympathy, and chocolate. Drive them batty, m'dear.
kat >^.^<
In Wisconsin
(I spent the month before my daughter's wedding last year waiting through
appointments and reschedulings and tests when they found pepperspots on my
scans. Hubby and I sucked it quietly up and pretended all was well; no way
we were going to rain on her parade! Plus, you can't talk about it to
anyone while waiting--or else you become THE BREAST forevermore. I got the
all-clear while standing in the hotel room an hour before the rehearsal.
That was a looong month).

"Pam K" <my2pugs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:fe8kit0mj6@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am so totally non-pink ribbon and pink vacuums and kitchenaid mixers and
so
forth, but this year is different.

My mom had BC 17 years ago and is still here driving me stark raving mad.
On August 3, 3 days before we left for 3 weeks in England and France, I
was
diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately for me it is stage 0
(non-invasive),
totally treatable and barring a new primary somewhere else, I, too, will
live to
be a ripe old age and drive *my* daughters stark raving mad.

I'm all of 46. Mammograms every year, but even with a mom who conquered
the
beast I was complacent. Ha. The joke's on me now. There was NO lump, no
outward
changes. nothing.

Digital mammogram, x 2, sterotactic biopsy, MRI, ultrasound,
ultrasound-guided
biopsy, wire localization, partial mastectomy (like a lumpectomy, but no
lump).
I see a radiation oncologist next week, followed by a medical oncologist
the
week after to discuss a 5-year tamoxifen regimen.

Once upon a time, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was pretty much ignored.
The
cancer is in the milk ducts and more likely than not will never become
invasive.
In some percentage, though, it does (mine likely would have). Treated when
discovered, it is totally curable. It's still Cancer. with a big C.

I thank God that the hospital my doctor is affiliated with has a
comprehensive
breast center with all of the latest tools (digital mammogram - probably
why
they found it) and treatments on site. The doctors: surgeons,
radiologists,
oncologists, all work together and conference weekly on patients. In my
follow-up this week with my surgeon, he was telling me about passing
around my
slides and charts and films on Wednesday morning, so the other doctors I
see
will be familiar with my case. For the next few years, I will have
alternating
MRIs and mammograms every six months.

I also work for the greatest aerospace company in the world, which
provides me
with the best medical insurance possible (at no cost to me). I have paid
less
than $100 so far in copayments - costs up to this point are over $10k.

If you've gotten this far: Remember to get those exams, remind your
wife/so/daughters to get those exams. If they find something, anything,
get it
checked out. The American Cancer Society will help with free or
reduced-cost
screenings. Breast Cancer can be cured, but only if it is found in time.

And I still haven't decided if I will ever wear a pink ribbon.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. I am looking forward to
reading
something other than light, no brain-activity-required chicklit. I have
"Three
Cups of Tea" sitting next to me - that should be a good return to books of
substance.


--
Pam K


my2pugs@xxxxxxxxx


.

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