My Story

I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Her2 positive breast cancer Dec. 27th, 2011. I had three large tumors in my left breast, I also had two positive lymph nodes and so with 5 positive biopsies I started my journey. In the beginning, it was a whirlwind and within a week, I was getting a port and preparing for chemo and the rush to save my life was on. Eight months later (August 20th) after stopping chemo (12 sessions) and not having surgery (a suggested double mastectomy) or radiation like my doctors wanted me to, I sat at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Illinois and heard the results of a mammogram, MRI, Pet Scan and blood tests were that they could find no cancer in my body. The nurses and doctors were baffled and no one could explain how I could have had this terrible cancer and it was now gone, except for me. I said the Lord healed me through prayers, education, diet and supplements. I started this blog when I was first diagnosed, it is not just about on cancer, but my life and day-to-day thoughts and activities. There are suggested websites, blogs, videos and more here that I believe can benefit those dealing with cancer and those who want to be preventative. My hope is that you and yours will learn, be encouraged and healed. My family prays every night for those with cancer and that you will be not only be healed but that you will live long and happy lives.
Please check out the right side and scroll down to "This blog" for highlights.
Love and Blessings on your journey.
Karri

Monday, August 20, 2012

Questions ands more questions - August 20, 2012

After writing my post yesterday and Mark and I talking a bit more we came up with some questions and called back to the hospital to talk to the oncologist’s nurse. Here are a few of the questions and answers?
How was the blood work? It shows in the normal range, but just because the levels are fine doesn’t mean we are sure that you are cancer free. It just means the cancer has not grown to the levels that show up.

So you never are able to say for sure that someone is cancer free after they have cancer so why keep going forward and doing more chemo and surgery if everything could be okay? It is just the standard of care and chemotherapy has to be done to make sure we have done our best. Studies show that having the surgery reduces your likelihood of it coming back.

But, it could still reoccur even if I do all of that.
Yes, it could.

Well I just do not know what the chances are for my individual body and if I want to do all of that.
Currently there is a 45% chance it could come back using the data we have entered.

Can we make another appointment to talk to the doctor again after meeting with the surgeon? Sure, let us make it for 1:30 tomorrow.
So now we are thinking of other questions and plan to ask them today.

Yesterday, Mark and I had fun driving to Lake Forest, a place I am ready to move to anytime. We drove around, ate at two great restaurants. We visited an Irish pub and had a few beers and played darts. We visited a few shops and we drove to Lake Michigan, went to the beach, took pictures and enjoyed good weather and conversation.  It was like an anniversary, although better than the ones we usually have.
We miss the kids; we have been calling and talking to them each day. Last night Amy, my friend that has our 2 year old sent us a video of Hudson saying “Goodnight mama and Love you.” It was so sweet! I can’t wait to get back and hug our little and not so little people. I hope that we will leave this afternoon so that Mark can get back to work on Tuesday. He has taken up almost all of his vacation with the family camp trip and now this and so I hope nothing else comes up.

I’ll post later after meeting with the doctors if there is time.
Karri
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1 comment:

  1. Kim LGAugust 22, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    You guys have been on my mine and have been praying. Wanted to see if you had blogged and glad to see some updates. Thank you. When you say you went to Lake Forest, are you meaning Lake Forest IL north of Chicago? I used to live there and went to Seminary at Trinity in Deerfield, IL. I worked at a clothing store in the square... Please please eat some chicago pizza deep dish while you are there!!!
    Giordanos is my personal fav. but also Lou Malnaties (not sure of spelling)Continuing to pray for clarity and God's peace with all you are doing up there.

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