Cathy's Cancer Chronicles

Almost There

2009-03-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Well...as the title says...I'm almost there. Where...totally healed. Praise God for her undying love and his miracles!

I had reconstruction surgery in September. It went very well. I am in a study group with my implants. They have been used in Europe for about 20 years, but are not approved in the US yet. primary difference, they are actually shaped like a breast. It was not possible to create the pre-surgery size because mu skin would not stretch. That's ok, I just wanted something there so my clothes would actually fit.

I had the first phase of nipple reconstruction November 24, 2008 and the secon January 14, 2009. The surgeon could make the left one with my own skin because that breast was created with a "flap" but the right one was more difficult and there was nothing to form it from. Believe it or not, they cut a pie shape out of one ear and did a skin graph for the base of the nipple and the second surgery was to take from the other ear for the top of the nipple. It worked really good. Now I'm applying lotions to get rid of the scars.

I am taking Arimidex for 5 years, minimum. It will kill all the estrogen in my body to the point where my body makes none. I sure hope I don't end up having to shave as I am unable to take hormone replacements either. I also taken another drug that eases the bone pain and hot flashes the arimidex causes.

The oncologist will begin a new treatment soon. I will be getting Zometa by IV every 6 months for three years. This drug basically wraps my bone to help prevent cancer from going to my bones. They say I am in the highest braket for reoccurrence and are not willing to say I am cancer free so I guess I will do what ever treatments they believe I need to in order to help prevent cancer coming back somewhereelse.

I often think of my friend, Marsha Liddick, who battled breast cancer and finally went to be with the Lord several years later. What an amazing woman. She was a marvel to witness and I am so honored to have known her. Her battle was so intense and she remained ever-so-devoted to her husband, sons and God. I do not know how she ever managed or where she got her strength except from God to be the examples to those of us years later battling the same disease. When I look at what she went thru, it gives me strength and courage too.

Thank you for your continued prayers and good wishes.

Cathy

Reconstruction....

2008-04-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day towards being completely whole. Dr. Kelly (plastic surgeon) put 120 CCs into the right breast and 75 into the left breast. Since the surgery, the left one is larger due to the extra skin / muscle from the back. She said I am healing so well and the skin is in such good shape that they could put more in than anticipated. Initially, she indicated 60 CCs per 2 week period (what an unexpected blessing!)

I return May 8, 22 and June 2nd. After that...final surgery to place the implants. I am very excited but really ask for prayers. The more fluid inserted, the bigger potential for PAIN. I don't want pain, I've had enough. I want to be pain free for the remainder. Anyway, the surgery will probably be in July.

Thanks for your prayers, I truly appreciate every one.

Spring Update

2008-04-21T15:10:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone!!

I thought it was time to update this blog since so many have called wanting to know where my journey is at this point...so here goes....

I had my first surgery towards breast reconstruction on March 19th. The plastic surgeon did a "flap procedure" where she took skin and muscle from the left side of my back and fed it under my skin to overlap the left breast. Radiated skin does adhere as well as healthy skin so this procedure will increase the chances of having a normal looking left breast. Skin stretchers were placed under the skin on both breasts and beginning 4-28 60CCs of fluid will be injected into each breast to begin stretching the skin. After about 4 or 5 months, the skin should be stretched enough to have the final surgery to place the final product in. This last surgery has been the toughest to get through. I thank our Lord every day for people who stayed with me my first week home to ensure meds were taken, food was eaten and rest was gotten. My daughter even spent the night with me in the hospital. The poor girl had to put up with a nutty mom as the drugs definitely took over and I'm sure she is still laughing about the wierd things that probably came from my mouth. My doctor is very pleased with my healing and said I am healing "marvelously." My first day back to work was 4-14. I'm working shorter days for the next few weeks and then back to the regular work schedule.

The final step will be to remove the port. I'm not sure whether it will come out with the next surgery or if it will be left in for a while, just in case.

I have 14 more weekly chemo treatments and then 5 years of an oral medication.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and much thanksgiving for this whole process to have gone so well.

I believe it is because of all of you and your prayers that have enabled my body to overcome this illness and heal so well. I cannot thank you enough for you support and hope you will all continue to pray for me and my recovery. Again, you have no idea how thankful I am to each and every person who prays for me.

The Relay for Life in Marion is in June and I will be there with my daughter. It will be our 2nd year for the team and we are looking forward to it.

Christmas Cheer to All!

2007-12-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

It has been so long since I have updated this blog...please accept my apologies.

It was necessary to have radiation. So...I finished my 33rd treatment in September. When I visited my plastic surgeon last month, she was amazed and indicated that it doesn't even look like I've had any radiation. That's quite a feet for a fair, thin-skinned girl. She is so pleased that instead of having to wait 1 to 1-1/2 years after having radiation to have breast reconstruction, I will begin the process in March! That's right, just 6 months after. Talk about miracles and blessings.

I am still having weekly chemo treatments, but the worst side effect is sleepiness the day of chemo due to the benedryl I'm given before each treatment so I won't have any allergic reactions. I will be done with these treatments in August. I have to have 48 total treatments. Then it's on to an oral form of Chemo for 5-years. The good news...No cancer!

My fingers and feet go numb several times a day and I have lost my fingernails three, I've counted them, three times now. But the good news...No cancer!

God is so good to me. As strange as it may sound, having cancer has been a tremendous blessing in my life. Deut. 8 speaks of God taking the Isrealites thru the desert (wilderness) to humble them, test them, to see if they would be faithful. He reminds us that he took care of them during the wilderness and calls us to remember him in the good times. That is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I believe God has brought me through the wilderness to humble me and teach me many things and now I need to remember Him and celebrate Him in the good times too. I do not know why God has chosen to spare my life when many others passs, but I do know that I love the Lord and intend to give him the glory for what he has done in my life.

I thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support and I hope you will all continue to pray for the doctors who will perform the breast reconstruction surgeries this next year and that I will remain cancer-free.

Good news!

2007-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

Mom got a good report from the doctor today. The pathology report showed no cancer in the right breast and no cancer in the lymph nodes on the right or left sides. There was only 5mm area in the left breast that was cancerous. They got all of that out. The chemo was actually working this whole time, but the doctor said the high cancer counts came from the dead cancer cells that were falling into the blood stream so quickly. So the doctor said Mom needs to finish her last chemo treatment because chemo can be like antibiotics--you need to take them all. The next steps: She sees the oncologist on the 29th to set up that last chemo apointment. Then she'll have 48 weeks of Herceptin treatments (to keep killing the estrogen in her body) and 5 weeks of radiation (5 days a week).

Mom got all her drainage tubes out today, so she's happy to have those gone. We're so grateful for these results. This is what we've been praying for! We're so thankful for all your prayers. We feel like the hardest part of this is over. There's still a long road ahead of us, but this is all good news!

L

Recovery time!

2007-06-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hello all and thanks for praying for mom. I'm sorry I didn't update this the day of, but I was in Alabama and Florida and couldn't! Mom did great with her surgery. The doctor said that she felt confident that they got the whole tumor. I believe we'll find out tomorrow for sure. I talked with Mom on the phone right after her surgery and boy, was she happy! That morphine was good to her. She's surprised me in how well she's been recovering though. She's staying at her parents' house and goes walking with grandpa every other day or so. I don't think I'd be able to walk after that even if I wanted to! She keeps up on her pain pills and apparently feels pretty good. It was nice to see her last night when we got home. She's her usual chipper, upbeat self! Thank you for your prayers and I'll update again after the doctor's appointment tomorrow.

L

It's surgery time

2007-06-06T18:43:00.001-07:00

Well, unfortunately the second kind of chemo is not working either. Mom's cancer counts have gone up into the 80s after starting in the 20s. The good news is that she's done with chemo for right now. This chemo has been rough in a different way than the first. She's felt like an old lady with some serious arthritis. Since the last update, she gave us some fun with some crazy low blood counts. They wanted to do a blood transfusion, but didn't have to go that route because of a blood builder they've been giving her. That was an answer to prayer because Mom really didn't want to have to do that.

So, since the chemo still isn't working and the cancer is still growing, they're going to take it out. She has an MRI tomorrow and then she'll have surgery on June 15. She'll have a double mastectomy. They'll take all the lymph nodes from her left side and will do a biopsy of the nodes on the right. She hopes to spend just one night in the hospital. I want her to stay as long as they tell her to, but you know Mom...she can be stubborn! :) She'll stay with her parents for a week after they let her go. She'll be off work for, at the minimum, four weeks. Ben and I will be in Alabama during her surgery to take pictures at a wedding and I absolutely HATE that. So you friends of Mom--please take care of my Momma while I'm gone. I expect her in one piece when I get back! :)

After surgery, she'll have to have radiation and Herceptin shots for quite a while. (The shots for 48 weeks I think.)

Pray that she'll be prepared mentally for this surgery and that she'll recover quickly. Most importantly, pray that they get every little bit of this cancer out of her. We're ready for this to be over. Mom needs a vacation. :)

Thanks for your continued support!

Linds

Update

2007-05-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that it's taken so long to update the page. For a while I wasn't able to log in, but it looks like we've got it all worked out now. Mom had a CT scan and bone scan and they both came back clear. So we're praising the Lord that the cancer hasn't spread. Mom started her new kind of chemo on May 4, so pray that it will be effective.

Mom did spend some time in the hospital from Saturday the 12 until Tuesday the 15th. (Happy Mother's Day!) She had a fever and felt bad, but they couldn't figure out what was wrong. They decided she had an infection and finally on Monday narrowed it down to a bladder infection. They pumped her full of drugs and her fever was down enough by Tuesday to go home. I think she was a little stir crazy! :)

My grandparents and Ben and I went up on Sunday and celebrated Mother's Day in the hospital. Mom got some pretty flowers to keep the room cheery. We were going to have a cookout and the grandparent's house but ended up having Taco Bell instead. It was good though and we had fun. I went there again Monday to keep her company and we just sat around and watched TV (and Mom slept!)

We appreciate your continued prayers and ask that you'll pray that her chemo treatments will be effective. I know Mom would really like to stay on schedule with her treatments. Thanks!

Lindsey

Pray

2007-05-02T04:49:00.000-07:00

Mom got the results of a blood test yesterday and found out that the chemo up to this point hasn't been working. She will have a CT scan and bone scan on Thursday to see if the cancer has grown. Please pray that the cancer hasn't spread and that the new chemotherapy that she starts on Friday will be effective.

Halfway Point

2007-04-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

Lindsey here. We're at the halfway point! Mom had her fourth treatment last Friday. That marked the end of her first type of chemo and now she'll start her second type of chemo on Friday May 4th. She saw the doctor today and got some good news. She's been having chemo every two weeks, but generally this second kind of chemo is usually given every three weeks.Because she did so well with her chemo so far, the doctor said that she can have this second kind of chemo every two weeks instead of every three. So, if everything goes on schedule, she'll be done with this second kind of chemo on June 8. Then she'll have an MRI to see her progress. Then she'll have her double mastectomy and lumpectomy.

Pray for mom as she goes through this second kind. It's not supposed to make mom as sick, but it is supposed to be painful. The doctor said that she'll probably have pain from her elbows to her hands and from her knees to her feet. And pray that this chemo will kill all the cancer. Mom's hopes to have her surgery over by her birthday on July 24. The doctor says that it could be possible by mid-July. So that's what we're praying for! Thanks so much for all your support so far. Mom has a lot of good friends behind her. God is answering our prayers everyday.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

April 6, 2007 Update

2007-04-07T05:29:00.000-07:00

I went to see my surgeon, Julie Kepple, at St. Vincent Hospital on Tuesday the 3rd. She is great! She set up an appointment for me to see a plastic surgeon on April 13th. So here's the good news. Dr. Kepple will do an MRI mid July after all my chemo treatments are complete and IF the cancer is all dead they will go complete reconstruction at the same time they remove my breasts and I will NOT have to have radiation treatments. However, if all the cancer is not dead, they will reconstruct the right breast but not the left as I will have to undergo radiation on that side and wait a year for reconstruction.

Lindsey and Ben and I went to breakfast and then to my chemo treatment on Friday the 6th. It is such a peace to have great support from my kids. They have been a true comfort. I don't know how people get through difficult times without this kind of support and God. As usual, I slept most of the day and evening on Friday. A little sick again, but that means the chemo is working so I guess it's a good thing. By Thursday, I should be back to myself though.

Okay guys, here's my prayer. I'm asking God to touch my body and kill all the cancer so radiation won't be necessary. What a testamony that would be for Him! I'm also praying that the next set of chemo treatments will not be too painful. I have one more of this kind. The next type causes numbness in the hands and feet. Some people report terrible pain in their bones with this treatment. I really want to continue to work until I have to be off for surgery in August.

Thank you all for you cards, calls, letters, gifts, visits and prayers. I get cards from people I don't even know letting me know they are praying for me. My staff at work is so wonderful. As I look back I can see how God led me to Sycamore Village. At the time I couldn't see it, but God knew what I would be going through and knew where I needed to be. Dawn Eaker is our Unit Manager on the Alzheimer's unit and she has been a source of encouragement beyond belief (and I don't think she even realizes it) it's just the way she is. I love her to pieces and don't know what I would do without her. Isn't God just too good to us?

Support my momma in Relay for Life!

2007-04-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Lindsey again. World Gospel Mission (where I work) has formed a team for Relay for Life. It's an event put on by the American Cancer Society to raise money for cancer research. Mom, Ben (my husband), and I have joined this team and are blazing the fundraising trail! We'll be participating in this relay on June 2. We want to raise $100 per person, but I think that's an awfully low number and would love to raise so much more than that! Now I can only assume that you're sitting there wondering, "What can I do to help them?" Well you're in luck because I have just the thing!

We are selling a couple things. First, we're selling luminaries. These are little bags that will have the name of someone you are honoring or remembering. These will be lined around the track during the relay and lit once it's dark. If you would like to purchase a luminary in honor of someone (mom would be a great choice!) or in memory of someone, please send me an e-mail to lhawkphotodesign@yahoo.com. It costs $10 per luminary.

We are also selling CHOCOLATE. I'll get some candy bars to mom to take to work with her. I don't think these will mail well, so these will probably be onsite sales only. They are $1 per candy bar.

And, of course, you can just send in your donation. Again, contact me at lhawkphotodesign@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Thank you ahead of time for your support in our quest to help fund cancer research. I know mom appreciates it too!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Beautiful Lady

2007-04-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

Lindsey here. Don't you just hate it when people are beautiful all the time, no matter what? Well, all I can say is that I hope I look as good as mom when I'm her age WITH hair! She had some super-sweet friends bring her a fun package all the way from Ohio. Here she is enjoying some of those things:

Yes, she is crazy. But I know we all love her for it. Thanks for your continued encouragement to my mom...it helps to know that she has wonderful friends!

Chemo Aftermath - March 28, 2007

2007-03-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

The chemo treatment was a little tougher this time than last. I was quite sick to my stomach both Monday and Tuesday. I did ALOT of sleeping. I went back to the doctor on Tuesday and was given another type of nausea medicine. I took it this morning with good results. I have been only slightly sick today.

I have also lost almost all of my hair. I put a wig on yesterday but was unable to wear it because my scalp is much too tender. However, my girlfriend, Kathy Hecker, went to Hobby Lobby and got some very colorful "farmer hankies" and I'm wearing them with success. It's a good thing I'm not in a fashion show (HA!). With all things considered, I'm very fortunate. I feel good enough to go to work each day which allows me to enjoy my staff and residents and keep my mind on things other than cancer.

I have two more rounds of this type of chemo (3-6 and 3-20), then it's on to Taxol. I found out that this type is fairly painful as it effects the nerves. Please pray specifically that my body will remain strong enough to continue taking chemo treatments on time and that the Taxol would not be too painful.

I thank God each day for the prayers that go before Him on my behalf. Thank you so much for your support, prayers and good wishes.

Second round of chemo

2007-03-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

My second chemo treatment was March 23. Believe it or not, I really looked forward to having it. The treatment went very well and was over in about three hours. My parents went with me again and I believe they are now comfortable with the process and understand it better, so they are not quite as nervous about treatments. My mom made homemade chicken and noodles and my favorite...raspberry pie. I felt pretty good for about an hour after chemo, so we stuffed outselves and then I had to go to bed. My sister Lou Ann joined us for lunch. We had a really good time. As usual, I was very tired and slept most of the day.

Now for the big question...do I still have hair? And the answer is yes, for now. I started losing my hair on the 20th. By the 22nd, my brush was full of hair with each stroke, so (you know me) I quit brushing it so much. On the 23rd, it was coming out in droves when I washed it. During chemo the nurse told me that what hair I hadn't lost already, the treatment that day
would take care of. So the voting is on. Will I look like a chihuaua or a hairless cat? So many people have told me, "Oh your skin is so pretty, you will look great without hair." Isn't is nice that my friends will stoop to any level, even being untruthful, to make me feel good?

Thank you for your prayers. They mean ever-so-much to me. I have received so many cards, letters, and e-mails. I am on so many prayer lists that I am unable to keep track of them. I just never realized how much it meant to people over the years when I would tell them I would pray for them. Now that I am the one on the receiving end, the love of all the prayers is sometimes almost overwhelming, but in a very good way.

March 6, 2007 - First Chemo Treatment

2007-03-07T05:14:00.000-08:00

My mom, dad, and I went to see my chemotherapy doctor, Dr. Steele, on March 5. They have started me on Adriamycin and Cytoxan every two weeks for four weeks. He tried to get by with doing it every three weeks, but I talked him out of it. We all know there is one thing I do best, and that is talking. If I can't talk you to death, no one can! Anyway, after that I will receive Taxol every three weeks for four rounds. I'm trying to talk him into every two weeks for that too, but so far, no luck. They will start the Herceptin shots with the Taxol. I will receive one shot each week for 48 weeks. This is the shot that will kill the receptions on the cells that are telling the estrogen to reproduce. This cell (neu/her2) is supposed to have two receptors and mine has about 20! Then I will have surgery and then radiation for five weeks, five times a week.

I had chemo on Tuesday, March 6, at 8 a.m. They gave me a bunch of benedryl, then some kind of antibotic, then the Adriamycin, then the Cytoxan. I had to take a pill two hours before the chemo to help prevent sickness. I really had to fight to stay awake as the Benedryl made me very sleepy. I then took pills every six hours to keep from being sick. And guess what? It worked. I was tired and slept alot but did not get sick.

I went to Dr. Steele's office March 7 to get a shot of Neulasta (a blood builder). I have to get another on March 16. On March 23 they will draw my blood, and if the red cells, white cells, and platelets are okay, they will give me chemo that day. It is less than 14 days in between, but I want to get on a schedule where chemo is on Friday so I will have two days off to recoup without missing work. Yes, I was tired today, but I WASN'T sick, praise God! Not sick in the least. I am tired as I write this and will hop off to bed when I done, but I am surely praising our Lord for this blessing because I really dislike nausea and vomiting.

Many of you call me Cat. A lovely little nickname my good friend Lynda Morrell started and has followed me through life ever since. So, while e-mailing my boss with the current news, I shared with him that I have always wanted a hairless cat not realizing I would BE one some day. Sick sense of humor, I know, but I thought it was humorous. Since the doc says I'll start losing my hair within five days, I wanted to have just a little fun with it.

My specific prayer is that God will continue to touch my body so that I can take chemo every two weeks and that this chemo will work to stop the cancer and kill the cells.

My former pastor's wife said one day, "Not all of God's blessings are things He gives us. Sometimes His blessing is what He saves us from." I feel that God has blessed me richly in finding this cancer at a stage III. I'm told if I hadn't found it, it probably would have not been detected until it was too late. Eric Newton, one of my vendors, left me a card Monday signed, "Your story, God's Glory." How true it is. I have dedicated myself to giving God all the glory every step of the way and being very thankful for where I am. I am overwhelmed with the love and kindness so many people have shown me. Every day my staff amaze me. They are the best. And my daughter, what can I say...she is so amazing. She is the joy of my soul and laughter in my heart. She is truly one of the most beautiful, godly young women I know. I have no idea why God blessed me with such a wonderful daughter. I don't deserve it, but I'm thankful He did. Just when I think it is impossible to love her more, I do. Thank you, Lindsey...you are one of the most wonderful blessings the Lord has ever given me.

We took some pictures on March 6 so you all could meet my doctor, my nurses, my parents (for those of you who don't know them), and so you could see what a chemo room looks like. I'm very fortunate because Dr. Steele provides private rooms for all his patients. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

This is a picture of my nurse Jocelyn pumping Adriamycin into me. We lovingly call it red Jello. It is too thick to put through the IV, so she patiently sat and pumped it through a little at a time. You can see my dad in the background. Yes, I'm seeing the red sea each time I go to the bathroom :)

Since most people have never seen a chemo room, we wanted to give you a little look. My chair is a BIG lazy boy with heat and massage. I have my own TV with DVD player and VCR, as well as a phone. You know how girls like their phones. I also have a bell to ring if I want the nurse. However, they have warned that use without real purpose equals removal of the bell. So I guess ringing it for grapes or other food is out of the question...just my luck.

Mom and Dad went with me to my first session. Can you see tension and worry? I did my best to entertain them. We brought breakfast with us and stuffed ourselves. They laughed a lot and, believe it or not, it went fast and we had a good time.

This is my chemotherapy doctor, Dr. Steele. He's supposed to be the best, and as far as I'm concerned, he is. I love his demeaner and the fact that he jokes with us and makes us feel like we are the most important people there. He has started a cancer support group which he leads. Isn't that great?

These are two of my nurses. Jocelyn is on the left and Pam Hamilton is on the right. Jocelyn lost her husband to cancer, yet she is still full of joy. We had a great time and a bunch of fun on Monday and Tuesday. Don't let their looks fool you, they are NUTS!

Here we go!

2007-03-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

Lindsey here. A lot has happened since the last post.

First, mom's grandma Bessie passed away on Sunday. We were at the viewing all day on Tuesday and had the funeral on Wednesday. She was 96 years old, so we think that's pretty good! I don't know that I'd even want to live that long! She was a Christian lady and was ready to go, so we're happy that she's in a better place. Please pray for mom, her parents, and her sisters during this hard time. They were close to grandma.

Now for the cancer update. When they biopsied the centinal lymph node (that they took out on Thursday), they did find cancer in it. There is a border line and the cancer was over that line. As a result, they will be taking out all mom's lymph nodes on the left side when they do the mastectomy. That will make her immune system much weaker and she won't be able to do much of anything outside unless she has gloves on up to her elbows. She'll be more suseptible to infections and one little piece of dirt in a cut could put her in the hospital for up to two weeks. She's going to the oncologist on Monday at 5:15 and she will be starting chemo next week. She's now been bumped up to 6-8 rounds of chemo, every two weeks, because of the lymph nodes. Halfway through the chemo, she'll go see Bruce Vannatta, the plastic surgeon.

I know she's appreciate any encouragement you can send her way. Please be praying that she'll be really strong for the chemo. Mom doesn't handle medicine too great (and I have a great story about her at Red Lobster when the waitress spiked her raspberry lemonade if you'd like to hear it...it's proof that she can't handle much of anything foreign!) So pray that she'll be able to handle this chemo like a pro football player. She's still a very positive lady...more so than I would be in her situation. You know her...she's a tough cookie. We are very much appreciating your prayers and ask that you continue to pray for her because it's making a difference.

Oh yea, keep posted to the blog. Mom's going to let me shave her head once her hair starts going...and you better believe we'll have pictures!!! I think she's secretly excited to be following in Britney Spears' footsteps. :)

1 Chronicles 28:20, "David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished." NIV

Next Steps

2007-02-22T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm supposed to start chemo next week, and I think the treatment will last about four hours. I will get treatments every two weeks.

The BIG picture of treatment is:
-Chemo treatments starting next week, every two weeks. They will use the ACT chemo. During that time I will have injections of blood builders to keep my body as healthy as possible.

-I will then have a double mastectomy.

-Then comes radiation, which I will have five days a week for five to eight weeks. During this time I'll receive a drug to kill the receptors on a gene that causes my body to produce the wrong kind of cells.

-Then I will have reconstructive surgery, which comes a year to a year and a half after the mastectomy.

-Then I will be taking drugs (no, not the fun kind) for eight years after that.

SO, that's the super-exciting 10-year payment plan of Cathy kicking cancer's butt.

Please continue praying specifically:
-that my heart will be strong because one drug I will be on can cause heart failure

-that my body will be strong enough to accept chemo treatments every two weeks. I will start chemo next week and it's the most aggressive type of chemo treatment they can do.

-that I will not develop allergies to Herceptin. Many people do because it has mouse proteins in it.

Surgery #2

2007-02-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I officially feel like a push-pin doll. :) I had my second surgery today to insert a port in a deep vein on the right side of my chest and to have a centinal lymph node biopsy. The port will be used to inject chemotherapy, antibiotics, and other medicines into later in my treatment. The suspicious-looking lymph node that they found on the 20th was actually a healthy lymph node, so they left it in. I'm happy for that answer to prayer.

I can really feel the prayers of the prayer warriors out there. I never realized how many wonderful friends I have until now. It's your prayers that get me through and allow me to have an attitude of thankfulness right where I'm at. I'm overwhelmed with the love that people have shown me and the servant-hearted attitudes of those closest to me. I really feel like God touched me and that's why the cancer isn't anywhere else in my body. To those of you out there who have said, "I will pray for you"--thank you.

Isaiah 41:10, 13

Psalm 138:7-8

Cathy's Cancer History

2007-02-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

A short introduction for those of you who don't know the story:

On January 29th I was diagnosed with breast cancer. An MRI and blood smears determined I had ductal carcinoma. The next day I found out that tests aren't perfect. The doctor called me back and let me know that the cancer was actually invasive and I needed to have a biopsy.

I had two core biopsies and an MRI on February 5 that revealed that the cancer was extensive, running about 7.6 centimeters and overlapping a couple lymph nodes. My daughter says that I did super well with the surgery. The doctor said there was a chance that the cancer had spread to other parts of my body. Many people started praying about this...

...and God answered! After more doctor visits, I had blood tests, CT scans, and bone scans on February 20th. The blood work was normal; the bone scans were normal; and the head, abdomen, and pelvis on the CT scans were clear. The CT scan showed a very tiny spot on the sternum that they believe is arthritis and a lymph node was just slightly larger than normal. Now you are up to speed and I'll keep you up to date as I have new updates.