Too Many Die From Breast Cancer!

Sherry was buying a pink ribbon jewel for her cell phone earlier this week and the young cashier asked, in a sweet voice, "that's for breast cancer, right?" Sherry told her it was and the young girl went on to tell us how her grandmother had lost 3 sisters to breast cancer. She is scared, that she too, will have it someday. She said she had a scare while showering and saw blood but it turned out to be nothing. Thank the Lord! I told her my story in short form and how I found my lump while showering. I encouraged her to be diligent about her self-exams and she assured me she would be.

As we parted, she spoke with such sincerity and said, "God bless you and I hope everything goes well". I was so touched by the gentle spirit of this young girl. Even now, I'm teary eyed as I write about it and I'm reminded how much I have to celebrate today! Too many people die from breast cancer!

Do you know the statistics according to breastcancer.org ?

Every three minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2006, an estimated 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, along with 61,980 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. And 40,970 women are expected to die in 2006 from this disease.

Breast cancer is the leading cancer among white and African American women. African American women are more likely to die from this disease.

Breast cancer incidence in women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one in eight today.

Please remember to do your self-exam! Remind your loved ones, too! It may be something that you're uncomfortable talking about but it's necessary! We may not have a cure for breast cancer but we can do our part to lessen the effects of this horrible disease. Early detection and timely treatment are SO important, as I have experienced first hand.

Life is precious! I would rather live without breast than die with them...you can quote me on that one!

Why Am I Still Awake?

Okay, it's 2:15 a.m. and I'm still awake...what's going on? For the past several days I haven't been able to stay awake past 9 p.m. and usually fall asleep on the couch until the big guy is ready to head to bed around 10 or 10:30. Needless to say, he's been sound asleep for several hours now. Sherry humored me until around midnight and then she couldn't take it any longer. Why am I still awake? Who knows!

I'm going to read my Bible, pray for my family and friends and hopefully drift off to sleep for the night...at least what's left of it! Ever have one of those nights? I'm not feeling anxious, not worrying about anything...just wide awake! I know once I drift off, I'll enjoy a peaceful night!

Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. ~Proverbs 3:24

Dad's Home

My dad was able to come home after 2 weeks in the hospital and 7 weeks in the care center. As a family, we weren't sure this day would come but we're glad he's able to be back at home with mom. He's kind of like that Energizer Bunny! He does have some medical procedures to be done in the near future, along with his dialysis three times a week, so mom is going to have her hands full. All in all, he's doing very well! It was nice to see him back in his comfy recliner! Thanks for your prayers for him!

I Don't Need Pity!

Yesterday, the girls and I did a little shopping because I needed gifts for friends who had babies recently. When I paid for my purchases the cashier gave me a $10 reward card for spending $25. I wasn't expecting it and thought COOL!

Stacey checked out in another lane and didn't get the reward card so when I showed her mine, she went back to inquire. After a little negotiation, she was finally handed the $10 reward card.

Sherry checked out at the same register as I had and when she joined us outside...no reward card! We were puzzled! So she went back in to ask the cashier and he wasn't going to give her one. She mentioned that I had just come through his line and I had received one and her sister had also. He said, well, I felt sorry for her and made a jester referencing my scarf and indicating the obvious "cancer patient". He proceeded to hand Sherry a $10 reward card, regardless. When Sherry came back outside and told us what happened, she and Stacey were furious! They wanted me to march back in there and say something. I was tempted. I sat in the car for a moment with mixed emotions. I wasn't sure if I should be happy or sad. It was nice that he was trying to be kind hearted but I don't need pity from anyone!

The cards said $10 reward when you spend $25 or more, which we each had done. However, their current incentive was supposed to be for spending $50 or more, which we didn't know until later. I guess the good thing about it was that the girls and I each have $10 to spend in a few days but I don't look forward to returning to that store anytime soon!

Detour

This journey I've been traveling for the past six months has certainly had a few detours and this week was no different! Monday I was taking Sherry to an appointment when I started chilling and feeling a little sick. By the time we arrived back home, I was running a temp of 102.5 so I popped some Aleve, wrapped up in a blanket and laid down. About 45 minutes later I took my temp and it was 103.2. Art came home and suggested we go to the ER and I initially refused but then he convinced me it was necessary. By the time I arrived at the hospital my temp was 103.5. Being a "cancer patient" and having a "compromised immune system" they quickly whisked me off with a mask on and put me in a room away from everyone else. Everyone who came and went from the room had to wear a mask. I thought this was a bit extreme because I thought I probably had a bladder or kidney infection. The doc came in and ordered some tests and agreed with my suggested diagnosis and said I would probably need some antibiotics and be on my way. Before I knew it, the doc came in again and said it wasn't what we suspected and that I would need to be admitted and seen by an infectious disease doc to determine the cause of the infection and fever. This wasn't going the way I imagined, at all!

I ended up staying in the hospital from Monday through Friday while I received strong IV antibiotics. I had a CT scan of my stomach and they noticed a "shadow" and thickening of my colon with inflammation. Thank the Lord that I had just had the PET scan done about 10 days prior. Although they haven't yet determined the source of infection, I had the pleasure of another colonoscopy and EDG. Of course, once you've had cancer, they always have to rule out any cancer lurking in the "shadows", which they did!! They said my colon issue was not the source of the fever but could be a result of the chemo.

The other possibile source of infection was my chemo port so they removed it on Thursday afternoon. They are culturing it to see if it could have been the source of infection and fever. If not, I guess we'll never know.

Some of my friends from Bible study stopped by on Wednesday since we couldn't have our normal get-together at my house. I love these gals and what a blessing to see their smiling faces!

I also had a visit from my friend Connie who always has a way of making me laugh! She has some strange attraction to my bald head!!

I'm glad to be back home! I will continue the antibiotics for another week and hopefully that will be the end of the infection!!