Breast Cancer Tests - Intro

Message

peacock2121 · #1 Post by **peacock2121** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:32 am

I am no longer frightened. I am taking control of my own health. I am sharing this so that maybe someone reading this will do the same. I want to share what I have been through, so that others have knowledge.

I will be posting about my journey over the next few weeks. I will be saying what has happened (to me and other women in my family) and what is happening (regarding the tests I am having or had) and what will be happening regarding my own quest to stay cancer free. I couldn't/wouldn't do it before because I was scared and paralyzed and didn't want to say things out loud. I wanted to live in hope that I was not an unlucky one.

There are so many tests and valuable technology out there, that no one needs to walk around in fear or in hope or with their head up their butt. We can be in control, maybe not in control of cancer, but in control of managing our own health, whatever it's status is.

Background:

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her late 60's. While it was upsetting for all of the family, she went through the lumpectomy and radiation just fine. She has been cancer free ever since.

Then, my younger sister was diagnosed. She was 49 years old. She had a lumpectomy (2 surgeries, actually), chemo and then radiation. She is just completing one year since her surgery and is fine.

My aunt (my father's sister) was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. She had a lumpectomy and radiation and is still cancer free.

My sister had the test for the breast cancer gene and she is negative for it.

peacock2121 · #2 Post by **peacock2121** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:53 am

My mom came up from Florida when my sister had her lumpectomy.

I went with her to her appointments once my mom left.

I went to the appointment with the surgeon where she was then told to go to the medical oncologist. I was under the impression that she was going to talk about whether to go on tamoxifen or not. The surgeon left us both with the impression that it would not be called for.

I have learned that all of these doctors start out by asking you why you think you are there. It is a great question, as they learn what you have retained and they learn if you are ready to hear whatever it is they might have to tell you.

Anyway - we thought we were there to talk about hormone treatment after the cancer and we learned were also there to talk about chemo. It took my breath away.

No cancer patient should ever, ever go to a doctor's appointment alone. Never, no way, no how. Robin is a school teacher - she ain't no dummy, she deals with facts and figures and decisions on a daily basis. That doctor said chemo and all of Robin's ability to hear and process and choose went out the window.

I was paralyzed for about 2 minutes. The doctor sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher "WAA WAA WAA". My big sister thing kicked in and I knew I had to be bigger than that. I needed to get the facts.

I learned all of the numbers that go along with breast cancer these days. They are amazing. They can tell so much about your individual cancer. They know what each treatment does to each kind of cancer.

mrkelley23 · #3 Post by **mrkelley23** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:07 am

Advice: Save all these messages you're going to type over the next few weeks. They can form the first draft of a book you could write.

Acknowledgement: I'm glad to hear the flock of peahens is sticking together. May you all learn and grow from the experience.

Support: I promise to read everything you write about this, no matter how foreign it is to me.

Good luck.

AlphaDummy · #4 Post by **AlphaDummy** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:46 am

A couple of cliches to offer up:

"Strength in numbers"

"Knowledge is strength"

(Some cliches are more useful than others.)

I'll be reading...

marrymeflyfree · #5 Post by **marrymeflyfree** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:06 am

This is good stuff to read...I'm glad that your mom and sister are cancer-free, and that you're doing some things for yourself. It's a good thing, and thanks for sharing it.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #6 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:19 am

Did you get the test for the breast cancer gene?

AnnieCamaro · #7 Post by **AnnieCamaro** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:31 am

Whatever you find out is very important to all of us, Miss Pea. Lots of two-footers don't realize that men also get breast cancer, and so can dogs.

Once my sister Tigger had a lump on her chest and had to have a biopsy. It turned out okay that time, but it was very scary for a while. I'm all in favor of people knowing as much about cancer as possible, because that helps them and four-footers, too.

Beebs52 · #8 Post by **Beebs52** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:13 am

You know you can count on me to listen. And talk.

Ritterskoop · #9 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:01 pm

Glad to be part of this.

kayrharris · #10 Post by **kayrharris** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:16 pm

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

peacock2121 · #11 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:50 am

mrkelley23 wrote:Advice: Save all these messages you're going to type over the next few weeks. They can form the first draft of a book you could write.

Acknowledgement: I'm glad to hear the flock of peahens is sticking together. May you all learn and grow from the experience.

Support: I promise to read everything you write about this, no matter how foreign it is to me.

Good luck.

I will take your adice, not so much because I think there is any chance I could write a book, but more so for the possibility I could give it to someones sister or brother or spouse in the future.

The flock of peahens don't very much like each other. We have a strong bond of family and the love that goes along with family, even though we would never be friends.

Thank you for reading this. My intention (there is that word) is that it make a difference for you, for your loved ones and for the loved ones of people you know.

peacock2121 · #12 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:51 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Did you get the test for the breast cancer gene?

In the weeks to come I will be talking about this. The answer right now is no. There are things for me to do before doing that.

peacock2121 · #13 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:55 am

AnnieCamaro wrote:Whatever you find out is very important to all of us, Miss Pea. Lots of two-footers don't realize that men also get breast cancer, and so can dogs.

Once my sister Tigger had a lump on her chest and had to have a biopsy. It turned out okay that time, but it was very scary for a while. I'm all in favor of people knowing as much about cancer as possible, because that helps them and four-footers, too.

Thanks, Annie.

Throughout the treatment with my sister, I had crazy, crazy thoughts. I thought it would be easier and better if it was me getting the treatment. I kept so many thoughts to myself, until someone called me and had the strength to tell it all. I saw that telling it all is better than not. I saw that we people who love people with cancer are not alone or crazy.

I think you have to pick and choose where you tell and who you tell, and telling is better than not.

peacock2121 · #14 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:57 am

Beebs52 wrote:You know you can count on me to listen. And talk.

I know that - I still get a little welled up with tears when I remember you calling me when I was in Stop and Shop after my second ultrasound. It was the first time I could honestly say "You are not alone, Lynn."

nitrah55 · #15 Post by **nitrah55** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:19 am

Whatever's coming down, I'm around.

a1mamacat · #16 Post by **a1mamacat** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:33 am

{{{Hugs}}} to Pea, and all involved.

It is a major step and we're alll here for you.

kusch · #17 Post by **kusch** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:46 am

Thanks for sharing.

southnyack42 · #18 Post by **southnyack42** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:31 am

Pea, sharing will make a difference. One of my friends is struggling with a mammogram result that shows calcifications and due to the location of the lumps, they want to wait and watch rather than do a biopsy. It is so difficult for her to be passive, and she is not one to share at all. So, I will share with her through you. Thank you for this.....

southnyack42 · #19 Post by **southnyack42** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:32 am

PS You were right about posting through something other than AOL... I am no longer blocked, though now I have to find an avatar and a cool tag line!

Beebs52 · #20 Post by **Beebs52** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:36 am

peacock2121 wrote:
Beebs52 wrote:You know you can count on me to listen. And talk.
I know that - I still get a little welled up with tears when I remember you calling me when I was in Stop and Shop after my second ultrasound. It was the first time I could honestly say "You are not alone, Lynn."

If I accomplished that then I'm just astounded. You must always know you're not alone. Ever.

I know what you mean when you thought it would be easier, whatever, if it were you. I felt the same way when Jeff went through prostate cancer. Or if the kids were sick. It's easier to deal with emotionally. You go into crisis mode and just get on with it to obliterate what bad results could happen to those you love.

It's more surreal and topsy-turvy-making, though, when it's you. And a pain in the ass (or insert body part here).

kayrharris · #21 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:56 am

It follows you forever, even if you don't want it to.

No breast cancer in my family at all, but 4 years ago or so (I forget exactly) I had to have biopsies on both breasts. Most traumatic thing I've ever been through in my whole life, including a c-section for a 9lb 4oz baby! Turned out to be just calcifications, but I still get nervous every year when I go for the mammogram.

Spouse also had prostate cancer at age 55...but you still have to get PSA tests every year. Checkup was just last week, and he was worried sick that the PSA number would be up. Turns out it was 0.000...can't get much lower than that. The fact remains, you're always worried about that chance of it showing up again.

Sir_Galahad · #22 Post by **Sir_Galahad** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:20 pm

If it's one thing I have learned over the years here it's that there a lot of good strong shoulders to lean on whenever you need them. Despite the kidding and jousting we are there if one of us needs to be heard. If you ever need anything of me, all you have to do... is whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you?

mellytu74 · #23 Post by **mellytu74** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:20 pm

pea --

We're here.

Hugs from Philadelphia.

Melly

Buffacuse · #24 Post by **Buffacuse** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:08 pm

Don't know what else to say except this:

Love you.

Proud of you.