Hi Family and Friends! On July 22, I found out that I have what I am calling a mild case of breast cancer. As most of you know, in 1986, I had Hodgkins' Disease, which was treated with surgery and radiation. Early detected breast cancer is also treated with minor surgery and radiation, but alas, I've already had the lifetime maximum amount of radiation allowable, so that is not an option this time around. It looks like I will be having a double mastectomy, and reconstruction surgery around the end of September. How am I feeling about this? Thankful! I had a mammogram in June which turned up some questions resulting in a biopsy. That biopsy turned out negative, but my physicians suggested an MRI, due to my past history. Thank the Lord for persistant doctors! The MRI turned up more questions which on examination turned out to be positive for cancer. The tumor is so small that my surgeon has said that it wouldn't have shown on a mammogram for another 2-4 years! So I think I am the "poster child" for MRI's. The tumor is not aggressive or explosive, but at the time of surgery, dye will be injected into the tumor site and allowed to trickle into some lymph nodes under my arm, and those will be biopsied to hopefully confirm that nothing has spread. The cancer is Stage 1, the lowest grade, and my outlook is good.
I decided to set up this informational site so that you can be notified about what is happening. Hopefully this will be a short term thing, fixed by surgery, and then back to life in a blessed rut! Blessings to all of you. Thanks for you prayer on my behalf! Love, Kathy
