Breast Cancer Quotes

As everyone knows, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer over a year ago. In fact, last year around this time, we were getting prepared for her to have her surgery to remove the cancer. It seems so long ago... because she has come far.. but she is a fighter!! A serious fighter!

Not once did she complain. She rarely asked for help because she was determined to do everything herself.

What doesn't kill you can only make you stronger right?  And she is a fighter!

Today I googled "Breast Cancer Quotes," and I wanted to share my top 10 images that popped up.

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Breast Cancer: The Surgery

We have been so busy lately that its taken me almost 3 weeks to write this, so I am going to short hand this.

First off the surgery went great.

There were two spots in her breast that were removed and 35 lymphnodes.

The surgery took a little longer than expected because they started late.

She had 20 people total in the waiting room that were there to support her.

The hospital  only allows 4 people per patient.

We got into trouble.

A old lady got attitude and made my family move to another part of the hospital.

My aunts were not happy.

She took a little longer than expected to wake up, but was doing fine.

She visited almost every person after surgery.

They moved her to a room.

She even showered that next day by herself.

They released her by noon the next day.

I couldn't believe they released her so fast, but she is doing great.

Breast Cancer: Post 6

Genetic testing today.

We did a road map of my mothers family to see how the cancer could possibly effect her sisters or my brother and I. They asked us a whole bunch of questions.....  however the conclusion the genetic tester came to was that there is a low percentage that any of us will actually get breast cancer.

Never impossible...   but it doesn't seem to be in our genetics.

She is going through with the blood test though just to make sure. We will find out in about 3 weeks.

Breast Cancer: Post 5

Another set back today.

My mom went to meet with the plastic surgeon.

Before meeting with him, she had her mind set.... surgery and rebuild at the same time.

The doctor had bad news. Although he can rebuild at the same time, he doesn't recommend it for her because of her diabetes. It is up to her.. he will do what she wants, but he gave her a lot to think about.


Honestly, the easiest thing for her to do is have the surgery now..  rebuild later.


We know she is going to have to have Chemo for sure.
We are not sure about radiation.

The radiation could cause things like melting with a rebuild.
Plus she learned today that implants have to be replaced every 10 years.
Who wants to go through surgery every 10 years??

The doctor steered her towards rebuilding later.. and I think he is right. When he rebuilds later he can use tissue from her stomach and rebuild her breast. No implant. No surgery every 10 years. No foreign objects in her body.

She has to make the decision by Monday.


I am sort of excited about Monday.
She has her genetic testing....

and then we go Wig Shopping!! 
Haha.....   think we could get her to go blonde? She would probably look funny.

Breast Cancer: Post 4

MD Anderson called again today.

They moved the surgery back.

There was a change with the plastic surgeon and my mother could either wait for him, or use the trainees that are not yet certified to do the plastic surgery.

She chose to wait for the surgeon. (she doesn't want lopsided boobs... hahaha)

Her surgery date is now November 1, 2011. 

Breast Cancer: Post 3

I know Houston has the best medical center in the world.

I know the hospital has the best doctors in the world.

People come from all over to see these doctors, but this center...

on this day... I did not want to ever go back.

Our first visit.. went great.

Second visit.. we found out the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.

Third visit...

(today)

This was our third visit. Today we found out there is even more cancer.

It's more than they thought. A little worse than they thought.

Stage 2B.

No more lumpectomy.

She will have to have a full mastectomy.

She will have to have reconstruction.

There will be genetic testing.

I think we were all heartbroken. We thought it would be a lot easier. However, if there is one thing I can say about my mother.. she is strong. Stronger than me.. stronger than anyone I know. She can make it through this. She will make it through this. There is no doubt in my mind, she WILL beat this.

As for that hospital I didn't want to return to.... I do and will return to it.

We met a lady today who is 13 years post surgery. She was happy and cheerful and encouraging. She said that this was the best place anywhere. And I believed her.

So although I feel like every time we return to the hospital...  the news gets worse and worse.

I remember.

This is the best place in the world for what she has.

They will take care of her...

.. and she will beat this.

Her surgery is scheduled for October 27, 2011.

The Cancer Update

In the past week my mother has had two meetings with MD Anderson. The first went great.. the latter was a little more disappointment than we were hoping for.

On Thursday, September 8, she had her first check in and meeting with the hospital. Everything went great.. smooth.. she moved from room to room taking care of everything she needed.. check in.. doctor visit.. blood work....

It was a lot faster than we though.

But good news..

Her doctor said that from what Beaumont found, the cancer was only in her right breast and was only in stage 1. This would just require a lumpectomy and 6 weeks of radiation and 5 years of a pill.

Not so bad.

But wait.. the Beaumont doctors failed to check her lymph nodes. So another appointment was scheduled for that following Monday.



Monday.

She was poked and prodded to get samples of tissue. After a small wait... she was called back.

Only to find out.. the cancer had spread.

It was in her lymph nodes.. 2 of them.

Stage 2. Chemo.

Not what we wanted to hear.


We are all ok though. Its really hard to hear, but we have known people that were by far worse and they made it through and there is no doubt in my mind, she will too. I need my mom.

She returns on the 26th of this month to find out what the next step will be. Right now the cancer is at a Stage 2, but they are growing it for 5-7 days.  Depending on a few items, the cancer could move up another stage or so. 

I have faith in God though and I believe that the worst news has pass. He does not give us anything we can't handle, and as a family, we will be there for her and for each other.

The "C" Word

"Can you believe it.. I'm going to have to lay there for 45 minutes with my boobs poking through a table, while they put this gigantic needle. How am I going to lay on my stomach for 45 minutes. My ribs are going to be sore. Do they know I am not a tummy sleeper?" ... I listened to my mom go on about her procedure.

"And I looked up what jagged edges mean, and normally it comes out to be cancer, "  she said.

"MOM!"

..... "but the doctor just says you never know. It could be..."

"MOM!!!"

"What?".. she looked confused.

"Mom first off, you need to stop looking on the Internet, there are scary things out there ok.  And secondly, maybe its some weird fatty tissue you know nothing about. Maybe you just have weird fat!"


I really didn't want to talk about it. I love my mother with all my heart, but seriously, who wants to hear that she might have to fight for her life.

That she might have Can...

Canc..
Cancer!!  There I said it!

I know my mother wanted to talk about it. Talking makes her feel better. But as she talks.. I worry. I can't live without my mother. Besides my husband, she is my best friend. And I am too old to find another best friend... she knows too much about me... how could I start over? I couldn't.. so my theory is just to not think about it. Push it away. Sweep the thought under a door mat. It could never happen to us. NEVER.


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I called around 3 yesterday.. I knew she was getting her results.

"So, what did the doctor say?"

Silence....  

In that moment.. my heart dropped.. a frog jumped into my throat and my eyes swelled up with tears.

She hadn't said anything yet.

"It's Cancer."

I don't even know what she said after that. Something about Mandi being and Ryan being there and she needed to talk to family to start setting up appointments.

My world was spinning. My eyes hurt. I wanted to cry.

I did try to listen to her, but I was in another world. I just wanted to break down and cry, but I know I couldn't. Here she was.. acting like it was no big deal... just another day in life.. another battle.  She's acting like her a/c broke down and its just so annoying waiting for the guy to come fix it.....

How can she be so strong?

Because... she is my mother.


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I walked in this morning.. and on my desk was a little green book entitled, 'Joy for a Woman's Soul.'

The little letter on top asked me to turn to page 65 and read the passage.


"Defying odds, breaking barriers, not being held back. I know people like that. They're a source of encouragement to me. They hang tough when others give up, forge ahead when others lag behind, choose to be cheerful when others sink in defeat."


So true.. I am learning this from my mother every day.


"Yet even more powerful are the words of Jesus, who challenged his followers to move mountains, walk on water, and prepare a picnic for five thousand. He assured us we would do no less than the impossible."


She will beat this.

And we will be holding her hand every step of the way in our Pink Ribbon Shirts.

We love you mom!!