Breast Cancer Symptoms, Signs, Stages

"Your mammogram is suspicious for breast cancer." "Your biopsy was positive for breast cancer." These are among the most terrifying words a woman can hear from her doctor. Breast cancer elicits so many fears, including those relating to death, surgery, loss of body image, and loss of sexuality. Managing these fears can be facilitated by information and knowledge so that each woman can make the best decisions concerning her care.

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Breast Cancer Symptoms, Signs, Stages, Prevention, Detection, Facts, Treatment - MedicineNet

Boa Wrap and Purse

If you like fox then you'll love this free crochet pattern from Bernat Yarns. Crochet yourself a boa wrap and purse that looks like a fox tail. You can now wear an animal without the guilt.
Read more at http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Sweaters/Boa-Wrap-and-Purse-from-Bernat/ml/1

The Reason, why I would have to “FIX it”

During this most hectic time there have been some changes made that have brought to light a whole new set of problems above and beyond our on going health battles. I have sought the advice of those around me and many other not so close. Since the decline of my own health and that of my wife, we have both struggled with anyway we can to keep supporting ourselves and our son. We have been lucky in that our family home is available at no cost to us, due to arrangement we have with other members of the family. 
Part of our ability to do anything beyond survive was based upon the charity of another close family member. This particular family member was at one point in the same position as myself minus the child. Upon entering this arrangement we were told that we would keep things “as is” forever if required, that so far has not been the case and at this particular time it has virtually destroyed our entire family unit. One of the most frightening aspects of this sudden decision to tear us apart as a family, is the knowledge that eventually the shine will fade and we will have to try to put it back into shape again.

I had talked earlier today with a very close friend and told her my fears and she said that if it come to that I shouldn’t try to help fix it, but I have to. I have enough of my fathers family instinct to try and keep us all together no matter what the personal cost. I will be the first to say that I am not a Christian by any means, ut I do understand most all my friends and family are, especially the one I talked to earlier. So knowing this I tried to find a way to explain to her why I would have to “FIX it” when the time comes, these are from The English Standard Version Bible. The first is kind of a representation of where I am at this point. The second is the suggested cross reference from the same source.

Timothy 5:8 -----But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Titus 1:16 ------They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

I have to try and be better than the that, even if it hurts sometimes. Maybe I can do something to bring us all closer together. If not at least I can face God when the time comes.

How to Recognize Breast Cancer Symptoms

I came across this video and thought it was a good one to share. It's straight forward and easy to understand.

                                          

Year end review

(1). Discovery

How : During a routine examination her doctor noticed it had been 10 years since her last mammogram. When he discovered this she insisted that my wife make arrangments for the procedure immediately.

When : Two days after the initial exam, they had her mammagram set up to do, it was during this procedure that they encountered the mass. The Doctor from the Breast Center suggested a biopsy of the mass A.S.A.P.

What : Upon doing the biopsy of the tissue from the mss she was informed that she did indeed have cancerous cells and they were in a very aggressive state.

(2). Treatment
Once the initial discovery had been made, the process of deciding how best to treat was the next step. Further tests were made and measurements taken to best guide the surgeon's decision between a full mastectomy or a lumpectomy procedure. it was decided that the best alternative was a lumpectomy followed by a chemotherapy regimen and finally 33 radiation treatments.

Choices : During this time the consideration of the full mastectomy with less chemotherapy and radiation, versus the lumpectomy and a more intense regimen of chemo/radiation.

Decisions : The biggest decision she faced at this point was to decide between mastectomy or lumpectomy. The mastectomy has a higher rate of success and less recurrence, but is also a much larger removal of tissue. Due to the small percentage increase my wife chose the lumpectomy. her thought being if she should have a recurrence that she would then have the mastectomy.

Outcome : The surgery went well and had no complications. She was able to come home just a few hours after the surgery. Roughly 72 hours after her surgery her surgeon called and informed her that he needed to go back into the original site and remove another 1.4 centimeters of tissue. There had evidently been some mistake in calculating how far to go with the actual removal of tissue. I did question this occurrence but it seems that it is common for this to happen since there is no real way of knowing how far the cancer cells have spread without actually going into the area and taking samples of cell growth.
Now with the scheduled surgery behind her, her only real complaint was that the area was a lot more sensitive and painful the second time through
(3). Now & Then

Changes : There have been several changes that had to be made during and after this whole process. In fact almost everything that my wife did had to have new ways of doing them. some of these changes have proved to be major permanent improvements, while some other have only been temporary fixes for temporary discomforts.
Permanent
Temporary

(4). Family +/-
Family members had some very wide ranging emotions and actions once they had been informed, some that were less knowledgeable about the events, even seemed totally oblivious to the fact.

Reactions : Reactions from family members ranged from indifference to caring to fear. One particular family member that was also one of my wifes part time employers Laid her off the day after she was diagnosed because she says” I can’t have you dying in my shop”. In the same week another family member, not only had shown her great support and caring but also, offered the two of us various alternative sources of income performing services that she required help with anyway.

(5). Strangers +/-
Many total strangers would react to my wife with a great caring and compassion , while others would totally avoid her to the point of not even looking her way. Once her hair was gone we had two very odd and yet sad encounters, with drug seekers asking her in the street to sell them pain medications. The first of these occurrences came while we were outside doing some yard work and cleaning up when a old red chevy chevette approached and stopped beside the two of us and proceeded to explain that they knew her doctors had given her some “GOOD” pain drugs and was actually begging and pleading with her to sell her meds. At this point I just told the man to leave while he still could leave, he yelled a few obscenities and left, needless to say I still watch for this vehicle and the bunch of junkies that was in it.

                  

Extraordinary Machine (the full version) - YouTube

Extraordinary Machine (the full version) - YouTube:

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How to Deal With Controlling People from Joan Haines,

How to Deal With Controlling People:
BY: Joan Haines, M.Ed.,currently teaches fifth grade. She is a mother of three and a grandmother of one. She loves learning and gaining insight about life. She's passionate about helping others develop their gifts and talents.


I found this article full of useful information during our recent experiences. During this time there have been a few although not many people we have encountered during her treatment that have tried to guide her in less than productive directions. Most were in fact trying to force her to do what they thought to be in her best interest.

Read more here and be sure to check out some of Joans other offerings.

How to Deal With Controlling People: 

     

Joan Haines 

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