 I went to follow up on a breast biopsy performed just 2 weeks earlier and the doctor was examining the site, commenting how well it was healing. I then said,” Good…and the results are an area to watch and you’ll see me in six months, right?”. “No” he said, “I’m sorry, but you have breast cancer. Did you bring anyone with you?” “No” I said, “I didn’t think I had too.” It’s true what they say when you are told you have cancer….you don’t hear much else after that. He suggested I re-schedule and bring my husband with me, then the nurse walked in and handed me a pink canvas tote bag filled with a handbook and all kinds of information on breast cancer. I walked out stunned and I threw the pink bag in my truck and went back to work.
My initial reaction was disbelief, but then, my next reaction was to have this gone as soon as possible, what ever way possible. I made it through the work day and went home, talked to my husband and showed him the pink bag. There was a package in there, just for him. We read for a little while and then we cried together, and hugged and my husband said to me “I’m with you on this, what ever it takes to make sure that you are still here is the most important thing to me.” Our daughter was getting married in 4 days, so we set everything aside, nothing was going to stand in the way of her big day. Besides, even though my heart felt this was an emergency, the literature said it was not. We have time to research, make decisions and plan. My survival rate was very good according to my doctor.
My husband and I became educated on the subject of breast cancer. We didn’t know much about it, never really needed to, until my diagnosis. We read all of the information provided, went to websites to read, digest and help us make decisions that I know will impact our lives permanently. After digesting all of the information we could, I said “Well I was told that I have breast cancer, not that I have 3 months to live.” My husband said, “It’s just a bump in the road of life.” He wrote down a quote for me, which I read every day; “Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.” Don’t get me wrong, cancer is a serious issue, but I have faced this with a positive attitude and humor. That has really helped in my journey. I believe you need to roll with the punches when it comes to life. As a matter of fact, the outlook was pretty good. Key to me was getting together a medical team that I was comfortable with and that I like. I communicated to each doctor to make sure the others got all of my results. I asked for all of my results as well and keep a notebook. I ask questions each time I see a doctor and they all are very willing to give me answers. Also, to tell me if they don’t know an answer to a specific question or that there is no answer yet. I want to be as educated as possible, so my husband and I can make the most informed decisions possible. Most important in this journey is to continue to live your life, relax and do not obsess over things that you cannot control. My husband became an active participant in this, but always said, “It is your decision.”
Fast forward, I am 5 months into my journey and I have been through 2 lumpectomies, sentinel lymph
node biopsy, and full axially dissection, a mastectomy, and a multitude of scans, tests, and the like. I
have been to every room in the Nuclear Medicine department at my local hospital; as a matter of fact,
we are all on a first name basis! I am now coming up for my 4th and final round of chemotherapy. My
prognosis is still good although not 98%, as my doctor originally thought. It is now more like 80%, but you
know what? Still very good odds.
I still have more surgery in my future, but I am going back to work shortly and I feel pretty good. I know
what I need to do and I am doing it. I have received so much support from family, friends, co-workers
and Women Supporting Women. I go to the support group meetings to listen, learn and share.
I have made new friends and have gained a bigger appreciation of what is really important in life. A lot
of this, because of Women Supporting Women and that pink canvas bag. Thank You!
Written By Joyce Kayser
For Our September 2008 Newsletter (view Newsletter) |
