How to protect your teenagers from breast cancer!! (Son's included)

Hi everyone, I was up till 2 am last night doing some research on prevention of breast cancer for my daughters. My oldest daughter April is having a really hard time and I know that a big fear for her is "Am I going to get breast cancer too?"

 Not being able to answer that question is devastating as a mother, because I should have all the answer's right??? I am her mom, I am supposed to protect her from harm..And I, well there is just no words on how I am feeling, so I am doing something proactive. Now it is important to check out the links etc. I like this site because, it gives you a list of foods to avoid, what to eat and WHY!! Just click on the foods..

NOW A BIG WARNING, THIS SITE IS FOR HER2+ BREAST CANCER I AM NOT SURE ABOUT OTHER TYPES, IF YOUR FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE FACTORS, (THERE IS TOO MANY TO LIST)  AS THEY VARY GREATLY!!!! SO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH FOR THAT (NOT SHOUTING JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT IS UNDERSTOOD;)

This thought just will not leave me until I blog it..One of my home health nurses had lymphoma 20 years ago she was told by 3 doctors that she was going to die, having a husband that just died of cancer a year before and two teenage kids, she said "HELL NO I am not going anywhere" She researched her cancer and nutrition (plus doing all the medical treatments i.e. chemo ect.) she is here, doing well and taking care of others..

Her dog by the way has cancer as well, should have been dead 6 months ago, because she took the time to research his type (P52, whatever that is) she has fed him beets every night (prevents the cancer from reproducing) and he is doing very well..

I pray this helps us all..I pray everyday, along with meditation that I can do what is in my control to help prevent this from happening to our precious children..The list will shock most..Here is another link for son's as well it can happen..Thanks for reading..

http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/how-can-we-protect-our-daughters-from-breast-cancer%3f---teenage-years-and-young-adulthood

http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/how-can-we-protect-our-sons-from-breast-cancer%3f

I am a SURVIVOR, I wear my scars as the badges of my battle PROUDLY!

Today is a very emotional day for me, I am not really sure why..feelings I should not have to explain anyway going with the flow means just that, do not question it feel it and see where it takes you. I picture it as a wave that I am surfing along with..I just had to write today..As most of you know I did have my reconstructive surgery done, it is not complete I will have revisions and a implant placed in my left breast sometime next year (April) or so...I am excited, but never less I will have scars that are very visible and it is so hard to REALLY see what I have been through,,I know the scars will fade with time..Right now they are so fresh and new..The pain will go away..in fact it really is not all that bad I am 3 weeks out and do not need pain med anymore..I drove with no pain yesterday! Just another change but I am so happy to look down and see my new breasts they are not perfect but they are MINE and nothing can take these away!!


The scars I bear are the badges of honor that I will forever wear..
reminding me that I fought the war of cancer and won, it did not defeat me, I am not done..Each day I look at them and weep for my body has gone through so much, will anyone ever what to touch me again??? I hope and pray that someday, someone special will look at my scars the way I do that is my goal, to see me, see my soul. I am not perfect I never was..I have learned the lesson of what is important, people not things, positive energy and spiritual healing is the way to go..I will forever wear my badges proudly, holding my head high knowing I won the battle..

Join Ford today for the PINK WARRIORShttp://www.shopwarriorsinpink.com/

H.U.G.S New support group on Facebook!!

Good Saturday Morning everyone! I am so excited as I have a new support group called H.U.G.S. ((Help,Understanding, Guidance and Support)

It is for anyone going through struggles, illness, caregivers ect. Whatever the case maybe we ALL have a story to tell, we are here to help EACH other so I offer all of us to come together and help heal each other knowing we are not alone and YES someone does know how you feel!

Here is my link my goal is to have 10,000 likes soon..Give a HUG to someone as you always get one back, it is free and healing. Change is always, lets be better together in turn the world will start to heal as well..We want a better place, lets create it..WE can do it! Postive thoughts = Positive results! Peace and Love to all :)

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/HUGS-Help-Understanding-Guidance-and-Support/302442586450419

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, I AM CANCER FREE AND ALWAYS WILL BE :)

Good Morning Everyone! Today is a great day, I am 40 years old and could not be happier or more blessed. I went through my reconstructive surgery on Nov. 2nd took 10 hours, lots of stitches and a WONDERFUL plastic surgeon Dr. Egozi did a wonderful job, I get my stitches out today, while it was no picnic I would recommend this surgery to anyone I feel so much better mentally to see that I have back what cancer took, I have my life and self esteem back. I thank God above for 40 years of a great life, which now I appreciate more then ever. I hope my blog continues to bring peace and comfort to those that are going through this take it day by day, appt by appt, and you CAN and WILL get through this. Please let me know if I can pray for you or someone you know. I have a support group on FB called H.U.G.S. (help, understanding, guidance and support). Please look into it as we ALL need some support from one another, we are not put through things to be alone, together we are stronger! Peace and Love always!!

Heather

3 Days until I board the Reconstruction RollerCoaster!!!

Happy Sunday Everyone!! Here we are at recounstruction already..It has been a year and 4 months since this crazy cancer rollercoaster started; On Wed. Nov 2nd I will be undergoing surgery I am nervous, excited to show cancer that I am at the top of the coaster shouting "HAHAHAHHAHAHA you may have taken my breasts, now I am getting them back and I have allowed this journey to make me sooooooooooo much better, you may have pushed me down but I am standing tall"

What I am learning is that some people do not understand why I have to have this type of surgery I have included a video on why and ~~IT IS VERY GRAPHIC SHOWING THE WHOLE SURGERY FROM START TO FINISH SO IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THAT SORT OF THING DO NOT WATCH IT~~~~~I WARNED YOU!!!

The reason for this type of surgery is duing a mascetomy the surgeon takes everything on my right side the new my chest wall is GONE! It looks like my breasts were erased from my body..very surreal..IT is FLAT I cane feel my breast bone also radation killed the blood supply so the pedicule flap has its own blood supply which will keep my new breast alive. On the left side there is still the wall there because that side did not have cancer I wanted it gone because I am too young and did not want to take the risk no matter how small..There is enough tissue there to use a tissue expander which stretches the skin to one size larger then what I want, it is filled with saline once every 2 weeks and then will be replaced with a silicone implant. In Aug 2012 I will be able to have my nipples replaced..And then the journey will be over..Of course I will have to be monitered for the rest of my life..Hey that is ok  with me, every doc visit will be few and farther, each one means I am still ALIVE!!!

http://youtu.be/xcew3ycbG50?t=5s

And you are the winner of a brand new, 2010 PORT Congrats!

It is now the end of June, I have done the scans, tests ect. PET is neg (no cancer in other organs) MRI shows a 4.9-5.0cm tumor, mass, invader, hooter infiltrator what ever you choose to call it, just don't call it for dinner..(it says insert dumb red-neck joke here so go with it). It is in 3 spots, 12o'clock, 6'oclock and in my lymph node in the right breast ( My left breast is just fine) I look at the scans with the surgeon, interesting so it is port time, as the chemo they are starting me on can cause vein death, so a port is the better option, so glad I did even though it is ugly (we will address that later). I get my port on the Wed before the 4th of July weekend as that very Friday the first round starts. Glad they are so wonderful and quick, fear sets in here we go up the first hill of the rollarcoaster, ya hold your breath and hang on. I cut my hair short (very) to prepare for the fall-out..I like it :)

July 2nd 2010, First round of chemo, I am in a reserch study (still same standard of care, just more test, more attention to detail and I am able to help in the future of breast cancer and killing the beast, kicking it is not working). I am proud to be a part of the future while I am still here on the planet, the Dr.'s nurse's and research team are the best! I am very lucky.

The first round lasts for about 3.5 hours or so I will do this every 3 weeks for 24 weeks. After the first round I am so hungry glad it is over and wait to see how I will feel, determined not to get sick, I get my meds, my Nulasta shot the next day going ok. I did great on those drugs and finished early with that as my tumor shrunk, only missed a few days of work being "sick" I woke up everyday, with purpose, gratitude, learned to live in the moment some were fantastic, some really sucked..Guess what I had those days before cancer anyway..

Day 18 after the first round, hair started to fall out in clumps, I chose to shave it off. Had a wonderful women do this for me, my head hurt with hair struggling to stay with it falling on my shoulders like snow..NO NO NO NO HELL TO the NO. Took a shower washed my hair CRIED, CRIED and SOBBED pulling my hair out and it was not fighting to stay in, so it must go..That really was the worst part for me, I have a nice head :) Gonna be G.I Jane for Holloween this year :) I really do not like wigs and there is a reason for that as well, stay tuned for that story :) Scroll down to the 101 Fun things to do when your bald for the answer to why I don't like wigs! It is too much fun!!

There is a space invader in my breast..Beam it up Scotty!!

Shock, dumbfounded, scared, ect..when I found the invader that decided to take up a home in my breast, was not there in January when I went for my annual "Well Woman exam" just 5 months earlier; Pain, lump at 12 o'clock on my breast was tender and large, it would come and go get bigger and smaller, hurt not hurt. Research on the web, no history of breast cancer, pain ect. AWWWW it's just a cyst, it will be drained and I can get on with my life! No biggie..(Mind you that is a big thing for a worry wart like me).

So, the end of May 2010 I go to my PCP tell him I found a lump, he asks if I hurt myself, ect..(I think I would know) so he sends me for a mammo the next week. I go for my first mammo ( I am under 40 why would I need one my insurance regs think I don't) WRONG!! I hear the words "It doesn't look good" from the radiologist, this also explains the boxes of tissues on the room) I grab the box in shock. Have her get my mom who came with me, she explains to my mom I hear the word cancer, all I want is to go home and hug my daughters and never let them go. I do just that. I am numb, the biospy is in a few days. I say nothing to no one, nothing is comfirmed without a biopsy in my mind.


June 10th, 2010

Biopsy was done a few days ago, I am at work today is the day, the Dr. did say that she will call me at work no matter what the results were, the tennis match in my head is driving me CRAZY, am I ok, no I am not ok I am gonna die, no this will not kill me, UGHHHHHHHH just friggen call already, the click of the clock is like needles stabbing my ears. My cell rings, it is her she says she will wait until I go outside.

I hear it for the firt time, "It is the cancer, it is Stage 2, Grade 3 very aggressive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma that has gone into the auxillary lymph node (arm pit) Things became surreal, this is NOT me..It cant be, OMG what am I going to tell my girl's, I go inside grab a piece of paper, my knees are weak..

I don't have to say anything to anyone the look on my face is enough, I struggle to write all the information given to me not understanding or wanting too. I get off the phone and just let out a yell, my wonderful co-workers run to my side hugging and consoling me. Offering to drive me home, I am in a total daze, I get home and my girls are there with my mom laughing and just being kids, mom is cooking lunch.

I pray to God for the strength to get me through telling them the news. He does, I am calm now we know the problem, lets focus on the solution. They cry in disbelef, shock, I am pissed to even have those words leave my lips to their precious ears, the F word seems more pleasant at this point then the Big C..I get into my bathing suit head to the pool, the girl's swim I have my phone's and the phone calls pour in, appts, MRI's, PET SCANS, (I used to make these appts for patients, not BE the patient) Everything is done for me, I just have to show up, the rollarcoaster starts here wish I wasn't tall enough to ride this ride..:)