The results of the MRI show the same thing the ultrasound and biopsy found - one malignancy and affected lymph nodes. This means there is no evidence of any other cancer anywhere other than what they already knew about. So this is good news!
Also the HER-2 came back negative, which means it's not an aggresive cancer. More good news!
I'm still waiting on a couple more test results, and working to coordinate schedules for surgery.
I know it probably seems like things are helter-skelter...but there are several things going on in the background. Two of my doctors are supposed to call by tomorrow to let me know the next steps.
In all...the news is good! To God be the glory!!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Update.... Coming Soon To a Blog Near You!
The doctors convene Wednesday morning to discuss all the new breast cancer cases, and they say my file is number 2 on the list. (I'm good with that, I've never liked going first anyway) So, in the morning, I should find out all their recommendations for a treatment plan. (If they make me wait much longer, somebody's gonna get hurt!) Be watching this space Wednesday evening or Thursday morning for the update.
In all, I've been doing great. Laughing about some pretty funny things that have already happened. Some were those "you had to be there" moments like laughing until we cried about the "pew". (Sherry, Dena, Tisha and Sheila...keep the secret! LOL)
We have just been overwhelmed with the support we have received thus far. Emails, calls, cards, and hugs of encouragement....wow. This blog has been a blessing too! This way you already know all the details (that I'm willing to share! hee hee) and I don't have to tell 'the story' eleventy seven times. The worst part is I forget who I've told what and don't always remember all the details. So this way everyone has the same information.
Laughter and humor will definitely be part of my treatment plan. So get ready. If this ain't fun, I'm gonna do my best to make it fun! Why not? I'm only planning to do this once. This might be the only time ya'll let me get away with stuff! After all, as Agnus Tuck said in 'Tuck Everlasting' - "You don't have to live forever...just LIVE!" and "Don't fear death, fear the unlived life."
Of course, I know there'll be days I'll be on "TILT". But those days will pass. Peace is not the absence of crisis....it is the calm in the midst of crisis. Joy is not the smile on your face....it's the smile in your heart. "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation." Psalm 35:9
See you tomorrow!!! ((((HUGS))))
In all, I've been doing great. Laughing about some pretty funny things that have already happened. Some were those "you had to be there" moments like laughing until we cried about the "pew". (Sherry, Dena, Tisha and Sheila...keep the secret! LOL)
We have just been overwhelmed with the support we have received thus far. Emails, calls, cards, and hugs of encouragement....wow. This blog has been a blessing too! This way you already know all the details (that I'm willing to share! hee hee) and I don't have to tell 'the story' eleventy seven times. The worst part is I forget who I've told what and don't always remember all the details. So this way everyone has the same information.
Laughter and humor will definitely be part of my treatment plan. So get ready. If this ain't fun, I'm gonna do my best to make it fun! Why not? I'm only planning to do this once. This might be the only time ya'll let me get away with stuff! After all, as Agnus Tuck said in 'Tuck Everlasting' - "You don't have to live forever...just LIVE!" and "Don't fear death, fear the unlived life."
Of course, I know there'll be days I'll be on "TILT". But those days will pass. Peace is not the absence of crisis....it is the calm in the midst of crisis. Joy is not the smile on your face....it's the smile in your heart. "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation." Psalm 35:9
See you tomorrow!!! ((((HUGS))))
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Surgeon Appt Update
Well......not much to tell. The radiologist hadn't sent the results of the MRI. Which, really, is just gonna tell us if there's more there than what showed on the mammogram and ultrasound. But the docs are waiting on this to determine what treatment plan they recommend. They will have a conference next Wed the 27th where about 20 docs will look at my chart and make recommendations.
Still, it doesn't look like I will have surgery for a few weeks - lots of coordinating schedules. The cancer I have is not a fast growing kind, so this isn't a problem.
He did a quick sonogram in the office and took a picture of it. I'm thinking of naming it Legion.
In my last blog I told you about the book "Praying Through Cancer". You know how some people refer to cancer as "the big C"? One of the devotionals was about a woman who chose to refer to Christ as "the big C" and cancer as "the little c". I love it!
Went hat shopping yesterday with a friend. Found a really cute sparkly one at "A Woman's Touch" (great store!) I also tried on a couple of wigs just to get an idea, but I wasn't ready to make that decision just yet. Then we went for Blizzards at DQ! woo hoo! Chocolate Extreme for me, please! (surprise, surprise)
You know I love quotes:
Dr. Robert Jeffress said, "Going through loss and grief is like going through a tunnel. The bad news is the tunnel is dark. The good news is once you have entered into that tunnel, you're already on your way out." So I am choosing to look at this whole ordeal as a tunnel that I'm already on my way out of. I'm not expecting any more trains in it, although there may be a few setbacks here and there. This, too, shall pass.
Mary Engelbreit has a drawing that says, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it." I can't change this tunnel. Oh how I wish I could! Today I told Todd that I was tired of this hand, I wanted a redeal. "Game Over!" "TILT!" Yeah...nothing happened. I can't change the situation, but I can change the way I think about it.
My favorite quotes come from God's Word:
"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10
"For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
Still, it doesn't look like I will have surgery for a few weeks - lots of coordinating schedules. The cancer I have is not a fast growing kind, so this isn't a problem.
He did a quick sonogram in the office and took a picture of it. I'm thinking of naming it Legion.
In my last blog I told you about the book "Praying Through Cancer". You know how some people refer to cancer as "the big C"? One of the devotionals was about a woman who chose to refer to Christ as "the big C" and cancer as "the little c". I love it!
Went hat shopping yesterday with a friend. Found a really cute sparkly one at "A Woman's Touch" (great store!) I also tried on a couple of wigs just to get an idea, but I wasn't ready to make that decision just yet. Then we went for Blizzards at DQ! woo hoo! Chocolate Extreme for me, please! (surprise, surprise)
You know I love quotes:
Dr. Robert Jeffress said, "Going through loss and grief is like going through a tunnel. The bad news is the tunnel is dark. The good news is once you have entered into that tunnel, you're already on your way out." So I am choosing to look at this whole ordeal as a tunnel that I'm already on my way out of. I'm not expecting any more trains in it, although there may be a few setbacks here and there. This, too, shall pass.
Mary Engelbreit has a drawing that says, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it." I can't change this tunnel. Oh how I wish I could! Today I told Todd that I was tired of this hand, I wanted a redeal. "Game Over!" "TILT!" Yeah...nothing happened. I can't change the situation, but I can change the way I think about it.
My favorite quotes come from God's Word:
"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10
"For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, Fear not; I will help you." Isaiah 41:13
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Several Updates
Good Morning! Well, I slept like 13 hours last night (and evening)! How did you sleep? Not so good? Maybe you should take the med they gave me yesterday....I was O-U-T! So if you called, texted, emailed, im'ed or yelled loudly in my ear and I didn't answer, I was in Dreamland!
I had the MRI yesterday and because closed in spaces make me quite nervous, they gave me "a little sedative". yeah, right...little. Knocked me out. If you can sleep through an MRI, that ain't no little sedative! (For those who've never had one, it sounds like they are banging on the machine with a hammer)
So I won't know anything until I meet with the surgeon Thursday afternoon. (more waiting...ugh) The purpose of the MRI is to make sure nothing is hiding and that there are no surprises at surgery.
I've had it said to me that I should have faith that when they read the MRI they will say "nothing is there". (If it was of my head that would be understandable! hee hee) But, seriously....I ABSOLUTELY believe in the miraculous healing power of God Almighty and that it applies to my situation. However, my trust and faith in God is not based on WHAT He does or can do, or even doesn't do....it is based on WHO HE IS. So no matter what that report says, I WILL TRUST AND PRAISE HIM.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2 He is Jehovah-Jireh....my Provider!
Also....our email has changed, so if you have tried to email me and it's bounced back - please change it to tnzlawson@yahoo.com Our inboxes transferred over, but the address book didn't. So it has been a painstaking process of copying and pasting address to send the "we have a new email addy" email, and I'm still not finished. If you haven't rec'd one, just send me a little note to the new addy so I can just hit "save address". =o) THANKS!
Another thing - THANK YOU SO MUCH for all encouraging posts to this blog and emails!!! I have received well over 100....i had about 70 the first 2 days!! Many from folks I haven't had contact with in YEARS! (you know who you are...email me!) I have tried to personally reply to each one, but I know I've missed some. Each one brought a smile to my face during one of the darkest weeks of my life...which brings me to my next point:
From Wed the 6th until Friday the 15th....I just didn't realize the fog I was in. Between my body being in shock and the instant elimination of caffeine, it's a wonder I made it! LOL Saturday morning I felt like I had emerged from a dark cave. No more feeling vulnerable, emotionally fragile or just plain skeered. I was back! I still have my moments, but they are fewer, shorter and much farther between now.
One last thing before I let you return to your regularly scheduled life - a friend gave me two books that I HIGHLY recommend to any woman you know who is facing either breast cancer or any kind of cancer - 1. for breast cancer - "Dear God, They Say It's Cancer" by Janet Thompson 2. any kind of cancer - "Praying Through Cancer" a 90 day devotional for women by Susan Sorensen and Laura Geist. (THANKS, RHONDA!!) These can be purchased at your local Christian bookstore.
Well, I guess that's all for now, folks. Hope you have a wonderful and blessed Wednesday!
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15:13
I had the MRI yesterday and because closed in spaces make me quite nervous, they gave me "a little sedative". yeah, right...little. Knocked me out. If you can sleep through an MRI, that ain't no little sedative! (For those who've never had one, it sounds like they are banging on the machine with a hammer)
So I won't know anything until I meet with the surgeon Thursday afternoon. (more waiting...ugh) The purpose of the MRI is to make sure nothing is hiding and that there are no surprises at surgery.
I've had it said to me that I should have faith that when they read the MRI they will say "nothing is there". (If it was of my head that would be understandable! hee hee) But, seriously....I ABSOLUTELY believe in the miraculous healing power of God Almighty and that it applies to my situation. However, my trust and faith in God is not based on WHAT He does or can do, or even doesn't do....it is based on WHO HE IS. So no matter what that report says, I WILL TRUST AND PRAISE HIM.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2 He is Jehovah-Jireh....my Provider!
Also....our email has changed, so if you have tried to email me and it's bounced back - please change it to tnzlawson@yahoo.com Our inboxes transferred over, but the address book didn't. So it has been a painstaking process of copying and pasting address to send the "we have a new email addy" email, and I'm still not finished. If you haven't rec'd one, just send me a little note to the new addy so I can just hit "save address". =o) THANKS!
Another thing - THANK YOU SO MUCH for all encouraging posts to this blog and emails!!! I have received well over 100....i had about 70 the first 2 days!! Many from folks I haven't had contact with in YEARS! (you know who you are...email me!) I have tried to personally reply to each one, but I know I've missed some. Each one brought a smile to my face during one of the darkest weeks of my life...which brings me to my next point:
From Wed the 6th until Friday the 15th....I just didn't realize the fog I was in. Between my body being in shock and the instant elimination of caffeine, it's a wonder I made it! LOL Saturday morning I felt like I had emerged from a dark cave. No more feeling vulnerable, emotionally fragile or just plain skeered. I was back! I still have my moments, but they are fewer, shorter and much farther between now.
One last thing before I let you return to your regularly scheduled life - a friend gave me two books that I HIGHLY recommend to any woman you know who is facing either breast cancer or any kind of cancer - 1. for breast cancer - "Dear God, They Say It's Cancer" by Janet Thompson 2. any kind of cancer - "Praying Through Cancer" a 90 day devotional for women by Susan Sorensen and Laura Geist. (THANKS, RHONDA!!) These can be purchased at your local Christian bookstore.
Well, I guess that's all for now, folks. Hope you have a wonderful and blessed Wednesday!
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15:13
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Surgeon Appt Finally!
Woo hoo! Finally got an appointment with the surgeon! It is Thursday afternoon, Aug 21st.....so be watching for an update Thursday evening or Friday morning. I have the MRI Tuesday so I will know much more about my condition when I meet with the surgeon Thursday. The waiting is what just drives me bonkers!!! (yes, I know what some of you are saying..."You are already bonkers, Norma!")
Also, knowing chemo and a bald head is in my future, I've been checking out wigs on the internet....and let me just say this, I'll have a normal looking one...but you just never know what else I might have! hee hee! I'm also looking around for cute hats. Not sure if I can do the scarf thing, although a few people have suggested do-rags! (Mike, can I borrow yours? LOL)
"A merry heart does good like a medicine...." Proverbs 17:22
Also, knowing chemo and a bald head is in my future, I've been checking out wigs on the internet....and let me just say this, I'll have a normal looking one...but you just never know what else I might have! hee hee! I'm also looking around for cute hats. Not sure if I can do the scarf thing, although a few people have suggested do-rags! (Mike, can I borrow yours? LOL)
"A merry heart does good like a medicine...." Proverbs 17:22
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Oncology Visit
I don't have a lot of new information to share today. Until more testing is done, the oncologist won't make a final decision on my treatment plan. I have an MRI scheduled for Tuesday afternoon Aug 19th. The purpose is to make sure no other tumors are lurking or anything else that hasn't shown up on the other tests. Once I meet with the surgeon and know the results of the MRI, then I should know what my surgery options are, and the oncologist will tell me what his plan of treatment will be.
Right now, I know that I probably won't have chemo before the surgery (because the tumor is fairly small - 1.5 cm), but most likely will after because I am "so young" (his words! I love this guy!) and the tumor is 'invasive' due to the lymph node being affected.
One thing I've already learned through this - never say how you will react to something you've never experienced before! I figured out you don't really know until it's YOU they're talking about cutting on and putting chemicals into. I've reacted somewhat differently than I would have thought.
Starting last Wednesday....okay maybe Thursday, I began a soul-searching process that lead me to write the "Peace" post. When my world was falling apart I looked around to see what I could control. The only thing I found was.....my attitude. I couldn't control what was happening, but I could control how I reacted to it. I knew I had to prepare myself for the long haul. So I have accepted God's will for my life... and will wait in His peace for each day to unfold.
I don't have the assurance He is going to take me out of this storm, but He has promised me that He will bring me through this. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2
Right now, I know that I probably won't have chemo before the surgery (because the tumor is fairly small - 1.5 cm), but most likely will after because I am "so young" (his words! I love this guy!) and the tumor is 'invasive' due to the lymph node being affected.
One thing I've already learned through this - never say how you will react to something you've never experienced before! I figured out you don't really know until it's YOU they're talking about cutting on and putting chemicals into. I've reacted somewhat differently than I would have thought.
Starting last Wednesday....okay maybe Thursday, I began a soul-searching process that lead me to write the "Peace" post. When my world was falling apart I looked around to see what I could control. The only thing I found was.....my attitude. I couldn't control what was happening, but I could control how I reacted to it. I knew I had to prepare myself for the long haul. So I have accepted God's will for my life... and will wait in His peace for each day to unfold.
I don't have the assurance He is going to take me out of this storm, but He has promised me that He will bring me through this. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Peace
2 Samuel 22: 31 "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him."
The question I've heard most recently is: "How are you doing?" A question that I've heard all my life, but right now I know folks wanna know more than the pat "Great! How are you?" answer.
So, here's the scoop: I'm great! Really! I can honestly say I have the "peace of God, which passes all understanding" that Paul talked about in Philippians 4:7 and it is keeping my "heart and mind through Christ Jesus".
While I don't know what the next few months hold for me, I know as David said of the Lord in Psalm 73:23 "....You hold me by my right hand." While the path is unknown to me, Deuteronomy 31:8 says: "And the Lord, it is He that goes before you; He will be with you, He will not fail you, neither forsake you; fear not, neither be dismayed."
I'm not saying I don't have my moments....I do. I've cried a bucket of tears, and there are times I just don't even want to think about it because the magnitude of it all is too overwhelming to me. However, I find great consolation in Isaiah 43 in the words the Lord told Jacob: "..Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you."
It is His strength, not mine. I have full confidence in my Heavenly Father to either calm the storm, or calm me and take me through the storm. I KNOW He is the Great Physician and the Healer. I have accepted His will....whether it be a miraculous healing that would show His glorious power, or the journey THROUGH cancer that will show His glorious grace.
In all, I have peace. Because "as for God....His way is PERFECT."
The question I've heard most recently is: "How are you doing?" A question that I've heard all my life, but right now I know folks wanna know more than the pat "Great! How are you?" answer.
So, here's the scoop: I'm great! Really! I can honestly say I have the "peace of God, which passes all understanding" that Paul talked about in Philippians 4:7 and it is keeping my "heart and mind through Christ Jesus".
While I don't know what the next few months hold for me, I know as David said of the Lord in Psalm 73:23 "....You hold me by my right hand." While the path is unknown to me, Deuteronomy 31:8 says: "And the Lord, it is He that goes before you; He will be with you, He will not fail you, neither forsake you; fear not, neither be dismayed."
I'm not saying I don't have my moments....I do. I've cried a bucket of tears, and there are times I just don't even want to think about it because the magnitude of it all is too overwhelming to me. However, I find great consolation in Isaiah 43 in the words the Lord told Jacob: "..Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you."
It is His strength, not mine. I have full confidence in my Heavenly Father to either calm the storm, or calm me and take me through the storm. I KNOW He is the Great Physician and the Healer. I have accepted His will....whether it be a miraculous healing that would show His glorious power, or the journey THROUGH cancer that will show His glorious grace.
In all, I have peace. Because "as for God....His way is PERFECT."
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Journey Begins
Wow! How your world can change with four words - "You have breast cancer." Wait! I'm only 41! I don't have time for this! yeah....right...guess I do!
God is GOOD even when the news isn't!!
Fortunately, because of my family history, I have a mammogram every year. Monday, August 4th they called for me to come back Wednesday for some followup tests. Diagnostic mammo, ultrasound and biopsy. So, yesterday, Wednesday August 6th started this journey. The doctor knew from the ultrasound that it was malignant (cancer) but went ahead and performed a needle aspiration on a lymph node that didn't look normal and biopsy on the tumor, plus biopsy on a benign (not cancer) fibroid tumor on the other side.
The results came today - just as was suspected on the tumors, one benign, one malignant, and the lymph node on the malignant side did have tumor cells in it. This means there is a possibility it has spread to other parts, but we won't know for sure until further testing.
I will have a battery of tests in the near future to determine exactly what is happening where. I have an appointment with my oncologist (cancer dr) Tuesday afternoon and will discuss all my options.
I don't know what I would do without my best friend in the world - Todd. He has been incredible. Zachary is doing fine, too. I was his age (14)when Mom had cancer so I know this is unsettling. But both are handling as well as possible. Your prayers for them are appreciated also.
We will be updating here periodically. I wish I could talk to each of you personally, but there's no way because I have so MANY wonderful friends. Please feel free to email me anytime. Thank you for understanding how hectic our life is right now.
THANK YOU for your prayers. We cherish the friendship we have in each of you. God is in control - I trust Him to carry us through this. It's His strength, not ours. He gets the glory.
Love to all
Norma
God is GOOD even when the news isn't!!
Fortunately, because of my family history, I have a mammogram every year. Monday, August 4th they called for me to come back Wednesday for some followup tests. Diagnostic mammo, ultrasound and biopsy. So, yesterday, Wednesday August 6th started this journey. The doctor knew from the ultrasound that it was malignant (cancer) but went ahead and performed a needle aspiration on a lymph node that didn't look normal and biopsy on the tumor, plus biopsy on a benign (not cancer) fibroid tumor on the other side.
The results came today - just as was suspected on the tumors, one benign, one malignant, and the lymph node on the malignant side did have tumor cells in it. This means there is a possibility it has spread to other parts, but we won't know for sure until further testing.
I will have a battery of tests in the near future to determine exactly what is happening where. I have an appointment with my oncologist (cancer dr) Tuesday afternoon and will discuss all my options.
I don't know what I would do without my best friend in the world - Todd. He has been incredible. Zachary is doing fine, too. I was his age (14)when Mom had cancer so I know this is unsettling. But both are handling as well as possible. Your prayers for them are appreciated also.
We will be updating here periodically. I wish I could talk to each of you personally, but there's no way because I have so MANY wonderful friends. Please feel free to email me anytime. Thank you for understanding how hectic our life is right now.
THANK YOU for your prayers. We cherish the friendship we have in each of you. God is in control - I trust Him to carry us through this. It's His strength, not ours. He gets the glory.
Love to all
Norma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
