Friday, April 9, 2010
Good report
I went in and had a follow up mammogram today. The calcifications were the same on this mammogram as they were 4 months ago. This indicates that there has been no growth or spreading of cancer in the last 4 months! It's hard to know whether or not the cancer is actually shrinking or gone, but if it was the calcifications would remain. In other words, the cancer could be shrinking or gone...but they have no way to tell. At the very least, its stable.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
A little update
I've been terrible at keeping this blog up to date! Once we decided to trust the Lord for my healing it felt like their wasn't a whole lot to update everyone on. The Lord has been so faithful to us in this season.
I am now 2 1/2 months into my nutritional diet and continuing to learn and grow in it. It's been quite a challenge. Especially when someone leaves cookies around or I break down and make my family brownies!
The woman that David and I spoke to in early January that recovered from stage 4breast cancer through prayer, diet, exercise, and dealing with emotional issues has become a mentor of mine. We've been meeting on a weekly basis --digging through scripture, praying, and talking through nutritional and emotional issues. It has been really good. I have also been meeting with a counselor on a weekly basis.
About 6 weeks ago I felt like Lord telling me that I should take some time to get away and seek Him. I have had plenty of chances, but haven't gone away on a personal trip or retreat in over 5 years. I am going away for a week in mid-April. I am really looking foward to getting some time away to focus on the Lord and the things He's doing in my heart.
In talking with my surgeon, we are able to do a mammogram every 3 months. We are now coming right up on that time, and David and I have decided to have me get a mammogram done. It is scheduled for April 9th. We've been praying that not only would the cancer be gone but that the evidence of cancer (microcalifications) would be gone as well. Please pray with us!
M
I am now 2 1/2 months into my nutritional diet and continuing to learn and grow in it. It's been quite a challenge. Especially when someone leaves cookies around or I break down and make my family brownies!
The woman that David and I spoke to in early January that recovered from stage 4breast cancer through prayer, diet, exercise, and dealing with emotional issues has become a mentor of mine. We've been meeting on a weekly basis --digging through scripture, praying, and talking through nutritional and emotional issues. It has been really good. I have also been meeting with a counselor on a weekly basis.
About 6 weeks ago I felt like Lord telling me that I should take some time to get away and seek Him. I have had plenty of chances, but haven't gone away on a personal trip or retreat in over 5 years. I am going away for a week in mid-April. I am really looking foward to getting some time away to focus on the Lord and the things He's doing in my heart.
In talking with my surgeon, we are able to do a mammogram every 3 months. We are now coming right up on that time, and David and I have decided to have me get a mammogram done. It is scheduled for April 9th. We've been praying that not only would the cancer be gone but that the evidence of cancer (microcalifications) would be gone as well. Please pray with us!
M
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Genetic Counseling
My sister and I went in and met with a genetic counselor not long ago. After reviewing our family history they decided to test me for the BRACA1/BRACA2 gene which if you have them make it much more likely you'll develop cancer at some point in life. Somehow, I didn't feel a need to know the likelihood of me developing cancer but ran the test for other family members.
The test came back negative, which is good. However, given the family history of my grandmother having breast cancer, my mom having breast cancer, my mom's brother (Uncle Jay) having had cancer, and my cancer at 32 they are pretty sure there is something genetic going on but they haven't discovered it yet.
M
The test came back negative, which is good. However, given the family history of my grandmother having breast cancer, my mom having breast cancer, my mom's brother (Uncle Jay) having had cancer, and my cancer at 32 they are pretty sure there is something genetic going on but they haven't discovered it yet.
M
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Finally A Decision
For the last several weeks since I found out I have breast cancer my husband and I have been seeking the Lord about our next step. We thank you so very much for your prayers during this time. David and I have decided that I will not be having surgery this week. We are not ones normally to refuse medical care, but we feel like that is where the Lord is leading us. God is doing some healing in me right now emotionally and I believe as I walk through this that the Lord will heal me physically as well. I am not against having surgery and if the Lord leads me that way I hope that I will be quick to listen. I am also on a nutritional diet that has been a path of physical healing for many people with cancer. However, we feel like our trust is not in the diet but that if we listen and obey the Lord to the best of our ability that we will not be put to shame but that good things will come.
I am not sure what is next medically. The last mammogram showed calcifications. The last MRI showed no sign of cancer. I was told that if we did another biopsy and it came back benign that it would not prove the cancer is gone. We have been told that the only way to prove that I am cancer free is by having a lumpectomy (which would leave me looking maimed because of the size they would remove) or by mastectomy. Our prayer is that God would not only heal the cancer but remove the calcifications as well so that future mammograms would be meaningful. We are also praying for emotional healing as I walk though some of the issues related to my mom's death from breast cancer (at the age of 46). Thank you very much for your prayers and your support during this time.
Love,
Megan
I am not sure what is next medically. The last mammogram showed calcifications. The last MRI showed no sign of cancer. I was told that if we did another biopsy and it came back benign that it would not prove the cancer is gone. We have been told that the only way to prove that I am cancer free is by having a lumpectomy (which would leave me looking maimed because of the size they would remove) or by mastectomy. Our prayer is that God would not only heal the cancer but remove the calcifications as well so that future mammograms would be meaningful. We are also praying for emotional healing as I walk though some of the issues related to my mom's death from breast cancer (at the age of 46). Thank you very much for your prayers and your support during this time.
Love,
Megan
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sorry it has been a while. I feel like to post on here I need to have something to say, and there is not a lot of major activity right now. I have been spending a good amount of time doing research on nutrition and pH and also looking at possible doctors. I have also scheduled an appointment with the genetic counselors and am working on finding a good re constructionist. The problem is that the good plastic surgeons in our area do not take our insurance. This means that instead of spending $4800 on medical bills this year, we could easily be spending over $9000 as anything my insurance company writes off before payments will fall on our tab. The cost of reconstruction alone is $15,000 to $20,000. CRAZINESS!
On another note, I spent a good hour this afternoon talking with one of the nurses at the cancer care center. She had a copy of the report from my MRI and we spent some good time going over it and talking about the findings. Basically, they didn't see anything on the MRI. Normally, when someone has high grade DCIS like mine the area of cancer will light up when they use the contrast dye. Both breasts lit up equally with no areas of concern. The diagnostic reads breast cancer based upon mammogram and biopsy. So really, the Lord could have healed me or they could have taken out the only cancer there was during the biopsy (the area they sampled had the largest group of calcifications) and we wouldn't know until after the mastectomy is done and the pathology reports come back. This is making me think that if I do go towards surgery that I should opt to start with a lumpectomy instead (especially with the problems I am having with reconstruction). The problem is that they will recommend radiation with a lumpectomy and I really don't want to do that; and I could end up going into surgery more than once if the cancer is there and they don't get clean edges. But once a mastectomy is done, there is no going back.
We'll see....
Love,
Megan
On another note, I spent a good hour this afternoon talking with one of the nurses at the cancer care center. She had a copy of the report from my MRI and we spent some good time going over it and talking about the findings. Basically, they didn't see anything on the MRI. Normally, when someone has high grade DCIS like mine the area of cancer will light up when they use the contrast dye. Both breasts lit up equally with no areas of concern. The diagnostic reads breast cancer based upon mammogram and biopsy. So really, the Lord could have healed me or they could have taken out the only cancer there was during the biopsy (the area they sampled had the largest group of calcifications) and we wouldn't know until after the mastectomy is done and the pathology reports come back. This is making me think that if I do go towards surgery that I should opt to start with a lumpectomy instead (especially with the problems I am having with reconstruction). The problem is that they will recommend radiation with a lumpectomy and I really don't want to do that; and I could end up going into surgery more than once if the cancer is there and they don't get clean edges. But once a mastectomy is done, there is no going back.
We'll see....
Love,
Megan
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Decisions, Decisions
The last couple of days have been a little more stressful. We just want to make the right decision. For now, we have scheduled the surgery for January 28th. That sent off a chain reaction for me yesterday morning of scheduling appointments with the genetic counselors, a reconstructionist, and an oncologist.
I've been doing some research into possible alternative care and found an oncologist in Reno, NV James Forsythe. Not sure if anyone has heard of him. He is a liscensed oncologist and homeopath. Anyways, he pulls from both the side of nutrition/use of natural remedies and from western medicine to come up with a plan that best fits the patient. I really like this idea, and my insurance should cover any care I have with him. He treats a lot of people with stage 4 cancer and has gotten some great results. David's parents & sisters are in Reno, NV and seeing him would be an option for us.
Thats it for us right now. Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for all of the prayers and support!
Megan
I've been doing some research into possible alternative care and found an oncologist in Reno, NV James Forsythe. Not sure if anyone has heard of him. He is a liscensed oncologist and homeopath. Anyways, he pulls from both the side of nutrition/use of natural remedies and from western medicine to come up with a plan that best fits the patient. I really like this idea, and my insurance should cover any care I have with him. He treats a lot of people with stage 4 cancer and has gotten some great results. David's parents & sisters are in Reno, NV and seeing him would be an option for us.
Thats it for us right now. Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for all of the prayers and support!
Megan
Monday, January 4, 2010
MRI & Meeting with Surgeon
I had my first MRI this morning. Wow, are those things amazing! Its was kind of a neat experience. Nothing of consequence showed up on the MRI. That's GOOD!
Our meeting with the surgeon went really well. Dr. Livingston spent over an hour and a half with us explaining everything and answering questions. We were both really pleased with her. The DCIS that I have is spread out over about 4 cm. Because of the size of the area where cancer cells may exist, she recommended a mastectomy. However, because the cancer is not invasive (it is fully contained in the milk ducts and would have to genetically change in order to become invasive) she doesn't think I will need chemotherapy or radiation. YEAH! That's a biggie for me! She prefers not to do reconstruction at the time of the surgery (as she wants to get the pathology reports back and make sure I am cancer free before doing reconstruction). The mastectomy will require an overnight stay in the hospital, 1-2 weeks with "drains", and about 4 weeks recovery time. After mastectomy, the reoccurance rate of DCIS on that side is less than 1%. David and I decided to take a few days to pray about this option, if we decide to move forward I could go in for surgery as early as next week.
The other option that we have is a combination of prayer, inner healing, and nutrition. We talked to an amazing woman of God on Saturday who had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and given 6mos. to 2 years to live. She sought the Lord, received prayer & inner healing, and went on a strict diet. Within a year or two she was cancer free. That was 7 years ago. She's not the only one, there's a lot of testimonies from others who have followed the same route. Apparently disease such as cancer grows in an acidic environment but not an alkaline environment. The diet calls for you to eat the food that will create this type of enviroment in your body and boosts your immune system so that the body can fight off disease. I started this same diet Sunday (mostly vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, whole wheat, and LOTS of water). We are considering going this route and monitoring my cancer closely to see if it is healing and make sure it is not growing.
So, please pray for us over the next few days as we make these decisions. Pray that the Lord would speak really clearly to both David & I and that we would be in complete agreement.
Thank you!
Love,
Megan
Our meeting with the surgeon went really well. Dr. Livingston spent over an hour and a half with us explaining everything and answering questions. We were both really pleased with her. The DCIS that I have is spread out over about 4 cm. Because of the size of the area where cancer cells may exist, she recommended a mastectomy. However, because the cancer is not invasive (it is fully contained in the milk ducts and would have to genetically change in order to become invasive) she doesn't think I will need chemotherapy or radiation. YEAH! That's a biggie for me! She prefers not to do reconstruction at the time of the surgery (as she wants to get the pathology reports back and make sure I am cancer free before doing reconstruction). The mastectomy will require an overnight stay in the hospital, 1-2 weeks with "drains", and about 4 weeks recovery time. After mastectomy, the reoccurance rate of DCIS on that side is less than 1%. David and I decided to take a few days to pray about this option, if we decide to move forward I could go in for surgery as early as next week.
The other option that we have is a combination of prayer, inner healing, and nutrition. We talked to an amazing woman of God on Saturday who had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and given 6mos. to 2 years to live. She sought the Lord, received prayer & inner healing, and went on a strict diet. Within a year or two she was cancer free. That was 7 years ago. She's not the only one, there's a lot of testimonies from others who have followed the same route. Apparently disease such as cancer grows in an acidic environment but not an alkaline environment. The diet calls for you to eat the food that will create this type of enviroment in your body and boosts your immune system so that the body can fight off disease. I started this same diet Sunday (mostly vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, whole wheat, and LOTS of water). We are considering going this route and monitoring my cancer closely to see if it is healing and make sure it is not growing.
So, please pray for us over the next few days as we make these decisions. Pray that the Lord would speak really clearly to both David & I and that we would be in complete agreement.
Thank you!
Love,
Megan
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