Tag Archives: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

June 22, 2009 · 10:18 pm

Pre-Surgery Prayer

Dear Faithful Praying Family & Friends,

Thank you for reading this blog and for praying!  Here are some specific things to pray for, during the next 6 days before surgery on June 29.  Our final decision is for a double mastectomy and for no reconstruction at this time.

Please pray for :

~lymph nodes:  that the surgeon will be able to clearly identify the “sentinel” nodes and take only a minimum number of nodes, resulting in NO complications, [like lymphedema];  that the lymph nodes are free of cancer cells.

~surgery in general:  that there would be no complications [blood clots come to mind] during and after surgery, protection from harm; wisdom, skill,  discernment, judgement, stamina for the medical team.

~recuperation:  that, in a reasonable amount of time, I would heal properly and completely, with no complications.

~further treatment:  that there will be no future recurrence, that I will not require radiation or chemo, that the cancer cells will be completely contained within the breast.

~psychological/emotional:  that I would grieve honestly but with courage and dignity; that I would bear the reality of this loss without becoming completely unglued.

AND please pray that I would offer myself in in glad obedience to the Triune God, whom I am to love with my WHOLE heart, soul, mind, and body.  From the hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:”  “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Benedictus es, Domine.

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June 18, 2009 · 8:49 pm

Heroes of Courage

This morning I had a liver scan [ultra sound].  The official pathology report will not be available to me for 5 days.  However, the technician [unofficially] said that she could find nothing irregular in the images of the liver.  So, I think I am OK there.

Thank you,  dear friends who write to me via comments on this blog.  I will not publish/post any comments that have personal health histories contained within.  However, I heartily thank you who write to me, assuring me that I am not alone!

I received permission from my cousin, Teresa Miriam Van Hoy, to publish this link to her story:  “Life After Mastectomy:  A Survivor’s Story.” http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301741,00.html  Or, you can Google, “Teresa Van Hoy” and find the Fox News articles.  Then, after you read the articles, you will know why she is my hero.

A friend wrote a comment on this blog, which encouraged me greatly.  Here, I excerpt it:  “Bill shared with me several days ago he is praying that God give you the same courage He gave your father while flying over Germany during WWII.”  When Stephen read that comment aloud to me, we both wept.

Yes, dear family and friends, continue to pray for courage for me! And, also, specifically, pray that there would be no complications with the surgery.  I am especially concerned about the removal of lymph nodes, as I do not want lymphedema.

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June 16, 2009 · 9:01 pm

Counselors and Mentors

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Yesterday I met with Judy Welch, RN and MSW, an experienced and compassionate Breast Cancer Counselor. She gave me wise and valuable advice, support, and encouragement, a tote bag full of resources, and a list of Breast Cancer Support Groups.

I also met yesterday with Dr. Patricia Hogan, my Family Practitioner. We looked at my breast biopsy pathology report, which she interpreted for me. The cancer is “hormone receptive,” which means that I can take an anti-hormone Rx. We also looked at the results of my recent blood panel and discussed the few “abnormal” readings. The most problematic of these was the elevated bilirubin count, so she arranged for me to have a liver scan on Thursday morning.

Wendy Mathews-Wheeless, also a Breast Cancer Counselor, called me, because her daughter is a friend of Haley’s and she wanted to encourage me to call her if I need her at any time.

Late last night, I received a text message from my cousin in Texas, full of encouraging words. I was re-reading her message early this morning, when she called me and our visit filled me with strength and resolve. She is a hero of mine.

Around noon, I met Laura at the pool for her swim lesson. At the end of the hour, I sat on the side of the pool and, with amazement, watched her swim her final lap for the day. For the first time, she swam across the 50 yards of the pool, without stopping, and she swam with grace, elegance, and strength. When she reached the other side, she grinned and I cheered and gave her the thumbs up.

. . . And so it is with you who read this blog: Some of you will be down in the water with me, teaching me the difficult lessons, borne from your own very costly experience with breast cancer. Others of you will remain on the side of the pool, cheering me on, until I reach the other side. I hope I can endure the lessons with as much courage, grace, and dignity as the generous and compassionate women who are my teachers and mentors. I am grateful for each of you, who impart to me the strength to endure.

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June 10, 2009 · 1:30 am

Appointments

Dear Family & Friends,

Dr. Croom’s office called this AM and said they had not yet received results of Friday’s MRI.  This AM, I had my routine annual check-up [Dee, Nurse] at the office of my Dr. Hogan, my Family Practitioner.  I made an appointment to consult with Dr. Hogan, whom I did not see today.  Dr. Crooms recommended that Stephen & I read the book, “The Breast Book,” by Dr. Susan Love; it has been extremely informative.  Phone calls, comments on this blog, emails, etc. are a huge comfort to me.   Swimming also has been therapeutic to me.  [During sleepless hours, I review words of ancient hymns and of Messiah by Handel.]

Coram Deo, 

Margo

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June 9, 2009 · 1:35 am

The Journey Begins

Dear Family & Friends,

This will be repeat information for some of you; for others, it will be an introduction to the events that have transpired over the past two weeks:  On May 26, I had a routine mammogram, which indicated a dark spot on my right breast.  Two days later, I had an ultrasound and both reports were sent to my Family Practitioner, Dr. Patricia Hogan.  She referred me to Dr. Jeffrey Crooms, Surgeon, for a core needle biopsy, which he performed on June 2.  Stephen drove me to this appointment, drove me home, and was with me when Dr. Crooms called, two hours later,  to inform me that the I had a cancerous tumor in the right breast.  Stephen and I immediately returned to Dr. Crooms’ office and he ordered an  MRI, which I had on June 5.  I have not yet received results from this test.

Specifically, I have Stage One Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [IDC]. This is a common type of breast cancer:  Among all the women who have breast cancer, 70% of these women have this type.  Stage One refers to the size of the tumor, which is between 1 and 2 cm.  Invasive does not necessarily mean that the cancer is aggressive; it means that it travels outside of the milk duct.

What are the next steps for us?  We are preparing for surgery in June to remove the tumor — a lumpectomy.  While I am on the operating table, the surgeon will remove a few lymph nodes and a pathologist will examine them.  Following the lumpectomy, I will recuperate and receive radiation.  Until we receive the results of the post-operative biopsy of the tumor and the lymph nodes, we will not know what further treatment will be required.

Please pray for us.

Coram Deo,

Margo

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