Breast Cancer hits close to home

[rv_safetyman]

If you read this post, you will see why I am posting it here in the hopes that it gets the best exposure.  Hopefully the moderators will let it stay here for a few days.

I am writing to this group, since many of you have daughters in the 40-50 year age group, some are married to ladies in the same age group and some of you wonderful ladies may fall in the same group.  What I am about to write could save a life or two.

As most of you know, the medical community has proposed that women under the age of 50 years, with no family history can (should?) forgo mammograms.  I looked at the National Cancer Institute and it still recommends 40 years old as the base age:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/mammograms

PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THE PROPOSED 50 YEAR AGE RECOMMENDATION!!  LADIES, PLEASE GET YOUR YEARLY MAMMOGRAMS!!!

Friday, our 42 year old daughter, Kelly, was diagnosed with breast cancer!!!  She is healthy, eats properly, is not overweight, has never smoked, etc.  We do not have a family history of cancer.  Last week she went in for her yearly mammogram.  They called her for a second test a couple of days later and then did a biopsy last Thursday.  Friday she was informed that the biopsy was positive.

We are very strong family (three daughters, three wonderful SILs, and eight great grandkids).  We will all support Kelly, her husband, and two precious daughters (5 and 7).  We are fortunate that Lisa, our oldest daughter, is a clinical dietitian at University Hospital here in Denver and she has arranged for Kelly's case to be reviewed by the well regarded team at the Breast Cancer Clinic.

The very preliminary indication is that the mammogram detected the tumor early and the prognosis will be good.

I will detail her journey in our blog listed in our signature.

Jim

[Sean]

Jim, we are holding a positive thought for Kelly and your entire family.

-Sean and Louise
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Gary LaBombard]

Jim & Pat,
Our prayers are for your strength & Kelly to be getting better without surgery or anything but the good lord making her well and cancer free.  We are so sorry to hear about this, Keep us all informed of her progress and the day she is called, (Miracle, Cancer Free).  It can happen and we pray it will in the case of your daughter.

Gary

[JackConrad]

Jim,
    We are so sorry to hear about Kelly. We will her and all your family to our prayer list.  Jack

[Mex-Busnut]

Jim:

This is certainly not good news for your family! But it sounds like they got it in time.

My Mom had breast cancer 19 years ago. It was not caught in time before it spread. She lost one breast and 19 lymph nodes. Then it went to her brain. Suddenly we were talking to a 5-year-old girl. But a storm of prayer was elevated for her. She recovered her memory 100%, and is still alive today at 81, thank the good Lord!

Be blessed!

[Charley Davidson]

Breast Cancer is not only for women, My dad just had a mass removed from his chest that was first thought to be cancer, the results are not back in yet but the doctor removing it was confident it is not cancerous.

Sorry to hear about your daughter.

[happycamperbrat]

Boy, this is a tough one. Im sorry to hear about your daughter, her and your family are in my prayers as is Charley and Mex-Nut. Be very thankful they caught the beast early. That is the most important thing and why mamograms are so important. My mom found a lump and "put her head in the sand" I guess she was hoping it would just go away if she ignored it. Of course it did not! She had a partial breast removed and then went on chemo and stuff. The doc swore up and down it was gone and she did not have cancer anymore..... within about a year though it was back and in her bones. She is stage 4 (uncurable) and she was given less then a year to live, it was extremely painful (probably the most painful way imaginable to die). She had broken ribs and all kinds of stuff, it was bad. But they now have the pain controlled with a patch that gets changed every 3rd day and she takes a pill everyday and once a month she has IV type injections of a new miracle drug called zometex (sp?) and gets blood tests once a month. She will have to do this for the rest of her life, but as long as she does it her life can be prolonged for years.... she doesnt have the same "quality" of life, but it is WAYYYYY better then she would have in a coffin! Cancer is an awful beast that really needs to be slain, right now the best way to do that is by catching it early.

[chev49]

I am sorry to hear that about your daughter. My wife worked in the hospital for many years, and on a check up, she had a small lump, so she immediately took care of it  with aggressive surgery. That was 4 years ago, and she has had treatements every six months, several medications, and i believe has had four reconstrucive surgeries and has just finished her last one last week.  She still has 2 more semi annual check ups, and she is done with that and the meds. Like the original post, women and us guys also need to have regular check ups.   So thanks for your posts as this is so important.

[CrabbyMilton]

My prayers are with your family. Sounds like they got it in time. My grandma had it about 15 years ago and she has been cancer free since then and she will be 95 this month.
I would just urge you to continue to ask the Lord to keep your faith stong thru this and not fall into that pink ribbon foolishness. I know I may get flamed for that but I don't think wearing ribbons ever solved any problem. It also makes one wonder as you drive along the interstate and see all of these medical research buildings as to what they do in there all day. Simple, they sit around and think of ways to raise money to build more of those buildings. I love how they say they are this close to finding a cure for some such disease but we need more money. I've heard that forever and nothing changes.

[bevans6]

My sister is a breast cancer survivor.  Almost 20 years ago, in her early 30's, a quite aggressive type and with surgery and therapy no signs at all now.  Take heart that your daughter will have the same success!

Crabby - yeah, you should get flamed.  Your God may want you to pray for a cure and that's fine, but I expect he also thinks people should work for it, not sit around and wait for it to all on their heads from on high.  Behind the "pink ribbon" you dismiss so arrogantly is a chain of donation, fund-raising and incredibly dedicated people working to find cures, and given the number of honest survivors of cancer including those mentioned in this thread, succeeding in finding some of them!

Remember the parable of the lottery ticket - "Oh God, I've prayed to you to let me win the lottery - why have you abandoned me so that I do not win"  "I've been waiting for you to buy a lottery ticket!"


Brian

[Catskinner!]

Jim & Pat

My thoughts and Prayers are with you and your girls.

You know how us Dads with 3 Daughters are.

Catskinner!
Sonnie & Lil-Bit

[CrabbyMilton]

I was just being pragmatic so I can take being blasted. If you want to wear a ribbon and give money to the cancer society go ahead. I just wonder how much of the money goes toward actual research that's all.

[rusty]

Jim Pat and Family. Lin and I have you in our thoughts and prayers. If you need anything We are a phone call away.

God Bless
Wayne

[rv_safetyman]

Thanks for the all the kind words.

PLEASE don't let this thread turn "political".  That would drive a knife in an already bleeding heart. 

My intention was to motivate women to get mammograms.  As has been pointed out, men should be aware of the potential as well.

We are getting wrist bands for the family, because we all feel so helpless and we want to show support for Kelly and her family.

Jim

[Van]

Jim, we will keep Kelly and family in our thoughts and prayers. GB

Van & Cheryl