Mammogram Results

1/27/12

A week has gone by since my last mammogram.  Today I received the results by letter from the imaging center.  How nice to read these words, "Your mammogram has been intrpreted and reveals no evidence of breast cancer.  A report has been sent to your doctor.  You are encouraged to continue monthly breast self-examination.  Since mammograms alone may not detect all abnormalities, any symptons or questions should be directed to your doctor".

Dear ladies, I believe screenimg mammography is important to your health.  The American Cancer Society recommends that all women receive a baseline mammogram by the age of 40 and yearly screening mammograms therafter.

Please continue regular breast examination and report any changes that concern you, even before your next appointment, to your physician.  This is how my sister found the tumor in her breast.  By taking early action she should have a better survivor outcome.

Love to you my dear Jean!  When we talked today you had just finished your second chemo treatment. 

Jean told me her oncologist pulled her hair today.  The joke was on him!  It was a wig.  He said he wondered why it had not fallen out.  But it has.  Jean said she had her hair cut about 1 inch long on the top of her head and had the area above her ears and the back shaved so that the wig would not let any of her own hair peek out.  The wig looks natural.  Great news!

She wears a bonnet to sleep in and each morning a lot of hair is in the bonnet.  When she showers she uses the hand held nozzle and no shampoo as she doen't need to massage her scalp.  The hair has to be caught.  It would clog the drain if she didn't catch the hair.

I can not picture how Jean looks without her hair.  All I know is she is upbeat about it and tells me it is only temporary.  I try to encourage her by telling her about a church friend whose hair is beginning to come back in, full and thick, and beautiful.

Save Your Own Life

1/22/12

With all the concern over Jean and her cancer, I FORGOT to go for my own annual mammogram.  Can you believe that?  I usually go every fall.  Even when I had no insurance coverage, I arranged to have a mammogram with the Hope Clinic that provides low cost health care for everyone in the county.  I am employed now and have good insurance coverage so no excuses for me now.  Hallelujah!

My doctor arranged for me to get into the imaging center on Friday.  Side note:  Jean also was a regular mammogram scheduler but as fate would have it, she discovered the lump herself.  So self-examination is still the best way to detect breast care.  My opinion.  Talk to your physician to formulate your plans.

I stepped up to the machine and followed the technicians' instructions and within less than 30 minutes all the images where finished.  The results would be called to me in four days if anything was found.  If the results were termed normal, a letter would be sent to me a few days later. 

The actual imaging is marginally uncomfortable but my no means painful.  This could save your life.  Get screened every year after you reach 50 or whatever schedule your doctor feels is best for you.

Arrange something fun to reward yourself with after you have finished your mammogram.  For me, good food is always a good reward.  I researched my area for grilled salmon.  I love grilled salmon and it should be in my diet every week.  So I found the best deal in town.  Cheddar's had a lunch size portion with two sides for $7.99.  So Walter and I met there after my mammogram and enjoyed a delicious and inexpensive salmon dinner.  I am all about eating out!  I am also all about being a good steward to the money God has given our family.  I do not waste food or money, if it can be avoided.  I take food home from restaurants if I do not clean my plate.  But that was not neccesary at this meal.  I ate it all.

To continue the reward, after the early dinner, we drove to Michael's for some NASCAR party decorations!  We have asked three couples to join us in watching the Daytona race February 26, 2012.  Both of us enjoyed finding a black and white check vinyl table covering backed with flannel.  This was $9.99 but was 60% off, so three yards was just $10.47 with tax.  Terrific!  We will be able to use it again and again,.  So much smarter than a throw-away one time use plastic table cloth.

So take charge of your own health care and reward yourself for being so wise.  It is a very loving thing to do for your family.


Note:  After I found employment, I gave $100 to the Hope Clinic so some other woman could have the great treatment that I was able to have.

Sudoku! Don't you?

1/22/12

I have an addiction.  It is a love of sudoko and crossword puzzles.  I have had a good lunch break if I can eat my lunch, work a sudoko puzzle and complete a crossword in the hour.  Co-workers join me and sometimes remind me that this is not a competition.  I do lift my hands and announce “DONE!” when I finish.  But then, who doesn’t?

If I ever want to stop working these puzzles, I will need to join a twelve step program.  I’m just saying.

I'm Kind of a Big Deal

1/12/12

Yesterday we found out just how much mettle that Marc has.  Jean would be alone that day while Edd took Elizabeth to the doctor.  She had expressed that she was afraid to be alone.  The nausea and wanting to vomit feelings were still heavy on her mind.  Knowing that, Marc called her and stayed on the phone with her for almost two hours.  She reported that it was the highlight of her day.  During that time she never felt the pain nor nausea as her mind was taken onto other things.  This was a noble gesture by my standards.  Jean said, “Now we know why Patricia loves him so”.

Also, my mind has been wandering from thing to thing and person to person since Jean told us of her cancer.  The genealogy of the family has had me dwelling on family here and gone.  What did they do when loved ones were going through cancer treatment?  How did it affect their lives?  Jean had found out a lot about Mother’s side of the family.  We knew so little about Daddy’s side.

So, yes, Jean.  Just like your T-Shirt saysl - "I'm Kind of a Big Deal".

Oliver Adds a Bright Time to Our Lives

Great nephew Oliver, me & Great Uncle Walter enjoy a sunny day.  Oliver is wearing the UT shirt that we gave him.  His parents were not expecting this gift.  They don't realize how our blood runs orange every fall in Tennessee!

He is a very well behaved and friendly boy.  He will be a great fan!

Journal for the Soul

People that I write about in this blog:

Jean - my sister
Edd - my brother-in-law
Elizabeth - daughter of Jean & Edd
Walter - my husband
Patricia - my daughter
Marc - son-in-law

1/10/12

I just realized that I need a journal also.  This whole process of my sister having breast cancer is hanging over my head much like a black cloud hovers over a cartoon character.  When I first heard her say she had cancer I tried to react without sounding too horrified.  I went about finding out all I could about breast cancer.  Walter ordered two books that were recommended to us about cancer.  Edd took one of them home to Chattanooga because all the first stories were about people that died.  He felt it was too sad and scary for Jean at this time.  I respect his opinion and know without a doubt that he felt this was best for Jean at this time.

I have been quite naive about what my sister is going through.  She had her right breast removed Nov. 1, 2011.  Patricia went to see her first and reported that Edd & Elizabeth were treating her well.  Then Walter & I went.  I saw the scars and felt the lump of skin under her arm that the doctors had left in case Jean decides to have reconstructive surgery sometime down the road.  After some time passed the doctors told her she had Stage 2A cancer.  It is invasive and is estrogen fed.  That had been the recurring question Walter would have for me each time I talked to her.  I asked an RN friend about the classification and she responded, “She’s screwed!”  I think she meant that in the sense that all women are at risk for these things, and not literally that she is in bigger trouble than I allow myself to think.  Sometime later, I will ask her again.

Jean had her first chemo treatment Jan. 6.  Today is the first day she has been nauseated and felt like vomiting.  Edd has a cold and is worn out because Jean kept him awake a lot last night.  Elizabeth has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.  Edd will take her.  Jean feels afraid to be by herself if still nauseated.  I cried while on the phone with her.  I don’t think she knew it.  Note to self:  Don’t call at work.

The things she is describing are things I have been reading about and dreading.  She says her cells dying will probably cause her fingernails to turn black.  Her hair, (all of it, legs, pubic, eyebrows, etc.) will fall out.  The wig she received matches her hair.  She likes it and will probably get her hair cut shorter sooner now that she has the wig.  She also has five hats.

She is so brave.  She says she will just have to get through it.  On the first day of receiving her journal, she wrote seven pages in it.  She must have had a lot pent up that she just let out.

I called Patricia and left a message.  I sent a text to Walter with the news.  I feel sad and afraid of what is to come for us all.  I want to run to her side.  Later on she may need me more than now.  I will wait for a few days.