Relay for Life

My school district hosts a Relay for Life event every year. This is the first year Central Office is hosting a team. Why, because I am a Cancer Survivor and a team has been formed for this reason! Team "Think Pink" has just registered and will be walking and pledging to the American Cancer Society in the Relay for Life Event at Comstock Park High School Stadium on May 17 & 18.

 

I would like any and all people who find this event a worthy cause to come out and support my team. Please visit the link www.relayforlife.org/comstockparkmi to learn more about the relay, join my team or donate to this special event. All registrations and donations can be done online. Let's make this first year for team "Think Pink" the leader in donations to help find a cure!

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18          

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

  

Luminaries lit for those who have passed on, those who are fighting cancer

 and those who have survived.

Great News!

I received a call from the oncologist regarding the Oncotype DX test. My recurrence score results is 18. It is borderline of low to moderate risk range for the cancer to reoccur. With a score of 18, it is suggested that NO CHEMOTHERAPY treatments would have any impact on subsiding the recurrence and that a hormone therapy treatment orally is the best option. 

Interpreting the results

Oncotype DX test results assign a Recurrence Score – a number between 0 and 100 – to the early-stage breast cancer or DCIS. Here are the ranges to interpret the results:

• Recurrence Score lower than 18: The cancer or DCIS has a low risk of recurrence. The benefit of chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer or radiation therapy for DCIS is likely to be small and will not outweigh the risks of side effects.
• Recurrence Score between 18 and 31: The cancer or DCIS has an intermediate risk of recurrence. It’s unclear whether the benefits of chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer or radiation therapy for DCIS outweigh the risks of side effects.
• Recurrence Score greater than 31: The cancer or DCIS has a high risk of recurrence, and the benefits of chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer or radiation therapy for DCIS are likely to be greater than the risks of side effects.

Many breast tumors are "estrogen sensitive," meaning the hormone estrogen helps the tumors to grow. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) which are taken in pill form, can help block the growth of these tumors by lowering the amount of estrogen in the body.

Estrogen is produced by the ovaries and other tissues of the body, using a substance called aromatase. AIs do not block estrogen production by the ovaries, but they can block other tissues from making this hormone. That's why AIs are used mostly in women who have reached menopause, when the ovaries are no longer producing estrogen.

Another drug, tamoxifen (Nolvadex®), also helps to prevent the growth of estrogen-sensitive breast tumors, but it works differently from AIs. Whereas AIs reduce the amount of estrogen in the body, tamoxifen blocks a tumor's ability to use estrogen.

Currently, three AIs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: anastrazole (Arimidex®),exemestane (Aromasin®), and letrozole (Femara®).

• My doctor has recommended and is putting me on Anastrozole (Arimidex®) which helps prevent recurrence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive tumors. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), which interfere with the body's ability to produce the hormone estrogen, are rapidly changing the standard of treatment for breast cancer. 

I will be on this treatment plan for 5+ years. There are side effects from this drug such as:

• The most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX include hot flashes, joint symptoms (including arthritis and arthralgia), weakness, mood changes, pain, back pain, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, rash, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, fractures, swelling of arms/legs, insomnia, and headache.
• In advanced breast cancer trials, the most common side effects seen with ARIMIDEX versus tamoxifen include hot flashes, nausea, decreased energy and weakness, pain, back pain, headache, bone pain, increased cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and swelling of arms and legs. Joint pain/stiffness has been reported in association with the use of ARIMIDEX.

Understanding that any form of treatment for cancer is awful, I would rather have the pill versus chemo. Although the pill does not sound pleasant either and will take some toll on my body with the countless side effects. It makes me wonder how my every day life will be affected. In all things I will continue to let my light shine brightly through it all! Remember....it only takes a spark to let your light shine. 

So let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven - Matthew 5:16

Drains Removed!

I went to the surgeons office this morning escorted by Deacon!

It is always a joy to bring him with me. The patients and office staff enjoy getting their Pet Therapy. It is amazing how many people talk to you when you have a dog by your side.

I continue to get stronger every day. I feel good for the most part. Just need a little more energy. Where is that energizer bunny rabbit when you need him?

Today I was able to have my drains removed!! PRAISE!! One does not realize the freedom you have until you are physically attached to something. Just doing normal every day things is a strain. Laying down to rest and having to be strictly on your back wreaks havoc with other parts of your body. Ah, it feels great to be free! I do not need to go back to the surgeon's office until August for a recheck unless anything unforeseen comes up.

From the doctor's office, I went straight to work. I am released to work 2 hours a day for this week, 4 hours a day next week and back to full time the next. It felt good to be in the office but it was exhausting. Came home and took a 2 hour nap!

My journey is not over it has only begun. There will be some sort of treatment in the near future along with supporting breast cancer events until a cure is found. I would like to invite and have anyone who wishes join my team "Think Pink" in walking and supporting Relay for Life on May 17 & 18, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on September 22 and Bee Brave on October 12. Please put these dates on your calendar as I will be posting more information about each event as dates near. It will be a fun and exciting time!

Thank you all for your many acts of kindness, the tumultuous cards I received along with wellwishes, meals and gifts. Mostly your prayers. God is Good!

Psalm 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices and with my song I will sing praise to him.

Pine Island Elementary Pics

Here is Pine Island Elementary pictures from "Pink Day" on February 20.

!

Surgeon (of Oncology) Appointment

Meet Dr. Marianne Melnik with Spectrum Health Medical Group. She is a surgical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer and leads the Spectrum Health Breast Care Program.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Oy_jlrDX_A

Today, Janelle took me to my pre-op appointment to see my surgeon Dr. Melnik, in hopes of getting my two drains out. Well, NO GO! I am a little disappointed as they are a pain (literally and figuratively). I have to have an output of less than .25 cc's in a 48 hour period in both sides. I am at .35 cc's. I drain my drains every 12 hours and pour the output into a small measuring cup and record what the amount is. She told me to call the office when I am recording less than .25 cc's and then hopefully they will remove them. Looks like it will be a few more days at least or early next week. Therefore, I may not go to work or drive. Seriously?! I am driving and she said she didn't hear me (so that means I will). As for work, the HR Director requires a doctors statement releasing me back to work. She is pretty strict about that. Do you think I can get away with it since it is me? 

 

There is still a lot of swelling. She said it will take a year to look like it should. I can see why! Patience for me is a virtue.

Me and Janelle

I received a beautiful card in the mail from my niece Danae in Florida. She wrote a quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in it (with her pink ink ink pen) that says "The most beautiful people we know are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way back out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen". Thanks Danae, that is a wonderful quote!

 

Danae

Romans 5:3-5 - We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Oncologist Appointment

Meet Dr. Amy Vander Woude, a medical oncologist with Cancer & Hematology Centers of West Michigan, PC. She specializes in breast cancer and works in the Spectrum Health Breast Care Program.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKBds9vfc0s



Today, my parents and I met with my Oncologist, Dr. VanderWoude to discuss the Surgical Pathology Final Report of the lymph node dissections in which I reported to you last week. Upon review of this report, it is still agreed that I received a "node-negative= no cancer found" diagnosis.

We learned today that there was an additional spot of cancer found in the left breast. First we knew there was one. The MRI report showed two and the surgery claimed there were three as reported in the Pathology Report.
1) Invasive ductal carcinoma, largest lesion, 1.3 cm.
2) Mucinous invasive ductal carcinoma, intermediate-sized lesion, 0.6 cm.
3) Invasive ductal carcinoma, smallest lesion, 0.4 cm.
These have all been identified with no evidence of metastasis.

The Pathology Reports are microscopic and give detail of the dissection biopsy as clearly as can be measured with the naked eye. NOW, the specimen is going to be sent to California to an advanced multigene expression test at the molecular level, with the ability to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in early-stage breast cancer called the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay test.

About the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Test and Early Stage Breast Cancer

The Oncotype DX breast cancer assay, is a test that examines a breast cancer patient's tumor tissue at a molecular level, and gives information about a patient's individual disease. This information can help individualize breast cancer treatment planning and identify options. The Oncotype DX breast cancer test is the only multigene expression test commercially available that has clinical evidence validating its ability to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit as well as recurrence in early-stage breast cancer. The Oncotype DX gene expression assay is intended to be used by women with early-stage (stage I or II), node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) invasive breast cancer who will be treated with hormone therapy.

The Oncotype DX breast cancer multigene expression test has been extensively evaluated in 14 clinical studies involving more than 4,000 breast cancer patients worldwide, including a large validation study published in The New England Journal of Medicine and a chemotherapy benefit study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Oncotype DX is the only test incorporated in breast cancer treatment guidelines for patients (which is me) with node-negative breast cancer that is estrogen-receptor positive and/or progesterone-receptor positive.

About the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Test for DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) and Pre-Invasive Breast Cancer

The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer test for DCIS patients is the first clinically validated genomic assay to provide an individualized prediction of the 10-year risk of local recurrence (DCIS or invasive carcinoma) to help guide treatment decision-making in women with ductal carcinoma in situ treated by local excision, with or without tamoxifen (tamoxifen is a drug I might be taking for the hormone therapy piece).

In summary, there will be a treatment plan. Either a short bout with Chemotherapy (four treatments) and the hormone therapy drug (which will be for 5+-years) or just the hormone therapy drug. It will take 2-3 weeks to hear the results of the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer test results.....stay tuned!

Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.

Central Office Staff Visit and Gifts, Gifts, Gifts!!

It was a pleasant day today. Some of the Central Office staff came to my house to visit during their lunch hour. I enjoyed seeing them again as it feels like it has been forever. Amazing how only 10 days can seem like a lifetime. They all looked good, the same as when I left them - LOL!!

Here is a picture of us.

They gave me this adorable metal 'Dancing Angel' from Carol Roeda Studio!

It is one of my favorites!

 

I have to revert back to yesterday and tell you this awesome thing that happened. A group of fellow coworkers who work in various buildings throughout our district, unbeknown to me, gathered a bunch of gifts. Each individual who participated gave me something special. The trick is, I cannot open these gifts all at once. One a day to keep the doctor away! Can you believe it? What torture! Here I have all these gifts staring at me and I can't open them. It is like the days before Christmas when presents are under the tree and you can't do anything about it. Yes, I feel like a kid in a candy shop! Here is a picture of all the gifts.

Thank you Laura Smith! This is the first gift I opened.
 It is beautiful!!

Now we go back today as Lisa, Missi and Brandi all took part in the gift giving game too. I wanted to be sure I was able to thank them personally for the wonderful things they gave me. Pictures of them and the gifts are below.



Lisa

Missi

Brandi

I want to also personally thank all the ladies who participated in the gift giving game. As you know, what you see is all I opened so far, so I have A LOT to go! Please accept my most sincere thanks and gratitude for such a wonderful and thoughtful thing to do. I am overwhelmed and overjoyed at the outpouring of kindness!



THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!





Indeed we have so many reasons to count our blessings! What can you do today to express your gratefulness? What are some things that you can be grateful for? Take some time to thank God for what He has given you.

 

 

 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NAS) in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.