Carrie's Breast Cancer Updates

In 2010, after Ted was well on his way to healing, I took some time to do my routine health check-ups. My gynecologist made the recommendation for a first mammogram now that I had crossed the 40 year mark. However, my Primary Care Clinic disagreed. The resident that was seeing me backed up that disapproval with a consult to the attending physician. So, I waited.

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That was May of 2011.

For six months we waited to see if it was a sword or just a little test hanging over our heads.

Meanwhile, there were other battles to fight.

Ted's health was stable. However, he was still unable to work. So we kept the fight for his Social Security Disability at the top of our list.

All the issues surrounding this event kept us busy with appointments, phone calls, forms and evaluations.

Meanwhile, the three girls were still doing school at home.

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On November 4, 2011, I had my third mammogram. This one was very specific. The radiologist read it right away and ordered extra pictures. I waited uncomfortably in a comfy sitting room for her final comments. "There is an area of concern that should be looked at. You are now scheduled for a biopsy next Friday" and "Here are some brochures about what we saw, and about the biopsy procedure."

On November 11, 2011, I had a stereotactic core needle biopsy on my right breast.

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On November 14, 2011, I received the phone call crisply reporting that the biopsy definitely showed that I have breast cancer, and that a surgeon would be calling me later in the day to schedule my first consultation.

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On November 15, 2011, Ted and I met with Dr. Nathalie Johnson, Margie her Physician's Assistant and Winnie her scheduler. These are to be the "point team" for all that follows.

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I have been "on edge" all day. When we met with the medical oncologist today, we learned a whole lot about my exact breast cancer status.
I do not have a mass.
I do not have a tumor.
I do not have a carcinoma.
I actually have a huge area of suspicious calcifications within which are pre-cancerous cells, in situ carcinomas, and invasive carcinomas. Some 15% of the biopsied material is cancerous.
What does that mean?
Dr. Vuky said, "Humph."

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Waiting takes on a different feel today. There is so much activity. There are appointments all day long. The girls are packing to stay with friends. There is just enough money to go out to lunch.

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They took us two by two. Bed 1 and 2. Bed 3 and 4 - me. Not much like a walk to the ark. But at 5:30 in the morning amusing has a different appearance. We walked the hall with an escort. I was placed in bed under a blanket of hot air. A parade of strangers came and asked my name and my birthdate - nurse, IV tech, anesthesiologist assistant, anesthesiologist, assisting doctor, and the surgeon. It was all so routine for them and so surreal for me.

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I know my God is the Great Physician. And so, I present myself before Him. In need of healing. I feel exposed, marred, scarred. See what we have done with what You gave us? Surgery, stitches, bruising, things removed, things added. And, still, I need Your help. What we have done is not enough. What we have done is clumsy, ugly.

My God, the Great Physician, spoke and life and universe was perfect and beautiful. Speak, once again.

Why do I turn to what man has mastered, when the Creator of all is also my Healer? Is it wrong? Is it less than best? Is it lack of faith?

I remember, Peter’s Vision in Acts 10:9-15. ...And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common."

I am confident, the God who heals is also the God Who chose this road for me, Who orchestrates the people who will help, Who moves the hands of the human physicians, Who placed the chemistry into the earth to enable a healing process, Who is behind and before and through all.

I do not turn from Him to look to human helpers. I do not leave faith to visit a Doctor's office. They do not do less than He can do. They do what He has ordained. And I trust. And it is beautiful.

As the first round of chemotherapy ends, and my side effects begin to lessen, I can finally look at words and think about writing.

There are several horrendous side effects that "AC" chemotherapy can wreak on a body. Some of these I wouldn't recognize, and so my doctors have plans to monitor them. Others I would notice right away, and these haven't happened. However, there are several minor and common side effects that I do have to endure.

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