Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thursday October 2, 2008
Well, just spent a few hours translating my pathologist report into a lingo that I could understand. I have a Grade 1, invasive well differentiated ductal carcinoma. It is about 10mm (1 CM) in length. Er and Pr (estrogen and progesteron receptors) show positive. It says no angiolymphatic or perineural invasion identified. (I'm taking that as it hasn't got to my lymph nodes yet) Its Thursday October 2nd, and I have 6 more days till I meet with my surgical oncologist in Dublin, Ohio. The time is going so slow. This is/has been the longest 2 weeks of my life! I can't wait to go to work tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday just to help pass the time!
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Hi Tracy,
This is Laura McKibbin (Cerimele). (Was married to Raymond Cerimele). We met at those famous Cerimele family reunions. I am so sorry to hear about your cancer. I know firsthand the overwhelming fear of those words heard over the phone from your doctor as I learned I had breast cancer 10 years ago. I was only 36 and trying to start a family. I just celebrated 10 years of cancer free living in September! I do not have my exact cancer diagnosis in front of me, but mine was also some type of invasive ductal carcinoma. It was type 1 - my tumor was about the size of a prune pit - about 1.8 cm - almost stage 2. I remember feeling like I was in a time warp! Time came to a screeeching halt, but at the same time the world seemed to be spinning around me at an alaming and dizzying rate. So many questions and all I could do was wait wait wait! My surgeon was amazing. Once I learned that my cancer was slow growing I settled down. I chose to appraoch it like one does when they have a gall blader removed or something like that. I went through a proceedure called lymph node mapping or something like that - it showed that the cancer had not spread. I chose to have a lumpectomy and radiation, although I also chose an elective chemo to ensure any undetectable systemic cancer was eliminated. Not sure if that was really neccessary & it caused early meonopause (although not going through a true menopause process has been wonderful!). You are blessed to have a large & supportive family to hold you in prayers. Ray (husband at the time) & the Cerimele family were a wonderful support to me during that time as was my own family and friends. I love that you have started a blog to journal your journey - and it is a journey!!!You have no idea how theraputic it will become for you and hopefully to others going through this. Cancer changed my life - I learned to live moment to moment as anything else was too overwhelming - the benefit to this was learning how to pick my battles. Hang in there - cry a lot if you need (I did not do enough of this as I tried to be strong for others), laugh a lot as it is neccessary to survive. You will have highs & lows - this is all a process and one that is survivable. Know you are surrounded by loved ones and sisters worldwide who will hold you up whether you need help or not.
Laura Mac
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