Tammy's Personal Update (sent via email)

Hello everyone.  I wanted to take a few minutes and let each of you know that I am thinking of you and I thank you so much for the care, positive thoughts, support, prayers and love that you have already provided me.   I am doing very well, in spite of or maybe even in a sense because of my recent  breast cancer diagnosis.  It is a fact and my motto that it is a part of me, but not me.  I will not let it consume me in any way, physically or emotionally.   Please, those of you who love  me (who is every single person reading this email!), please do not let it get the best of you either. 

My surgery for the second lumpectomy is scheduled for next Thursday, the 31st of January.  It will be at Walter Reed Medical Center.   I have a fantastic and experienced team of doctor's and have every confidence in them.  I will also have a great "nursing team" that will help me out at home afterwards (Thanks Will, Mom & Dad! :)   I'll have to stay overnight but only because I have volunteered for a case study and have agreed to have a pain relieving catheter in place for a couple of days.  It will administer pain relief directly to the surgical areas - how could a girl pass up an opportunity like that?!  Pain reduction AND on the cutting edge?!  

I am getting a little anxious the closer the surgery date gets but not out of fear of the surgery, but due to impatience about hearing that they got it all and what stage they determine it to be, and of course whether or not it is in the lymph nodes, and if chemo will be required.  As you probably know, I should start radiation in March (5 days a week for 6 weeks, which is the standard).  Keeping up with a schedule like that may be the toughest thing I have ahead for me!  The surgery itself is not very complicated and I will be out of work for 2 weeks starting the healing process.

I believe this is more than just positive thinking but I know that with time, treatment and prayer I will be completely ok from this.  I have said that my life is too good and too busy for me to have b/c so I have to hurry and get it out of me and get healthy.  I have many  many more wonderful memories to make with the incredible people in my life and the adventures I have yet to discover!

OK - for the technical parts of it I don't know what has been shared so far so this is the most current.  What they do know so far is that I have IDC - infiltrating ductal carcinoma, (moderately differentiated, grade II and III), and DCIS - focal ductal carcinoma in situ, grade 2.
They don't know what stage yet until my lymph biopsy results - that won't be until the end of the 1st week of February.  It is hormone positive (which is good considering I had a hysterectomy years ago and will stop my hormone replacement therapy after surgery to help prevent growth/recurrence.)  It is HERR2 negative, which I found out yesterday and don't really know what that means yet other than what drugs they choose to treat me with.  The did not get it all, but think it is small and so probably still in early stage.  The goal is to get it all out next Thursday.

The first procedure is set for 7am when they will inject the radioactive dye into my left breast.  From there is will flow to my lymph  nodes and be able to determine which ones are reached first.  At some point after that (I'm guessing probably an hour later) they will start the surgery, do the lumpectomy and remove the 1st (up to 3) nodes that the dye has reached. 

I definitely want to get this over with.  It s an important step in the right direction heading to complete healing.  In many ways this is not yet real for me and I think that it may only become more real as each step is taken.  I am a true believer that that is the way things happen - as they are meant to,  when they are meant to.  That has truly been the testament of my life and it has worked out pretty darn good so far!

I am working on a web page to keep people posted and also to use it as therapy for myself to write it out.  Talking doesn't really seem to help yet because sometimes I feel like I am stuck in the cancer/patient mode and as I said, I do not want it to consume me in any way.   I have been writing a lot the past couple of days and it has helped.  Even this, so again, thank you for being there to read it.  

I will keep you posted.  I hope no one minds that this was a mass email.  If you do, then you are officially elected to compose all of my personal emails from here on out!  :0) 

The most important things I can ask any one to is, if you are a woman, PLEASE - DO REGULAR SELF BREAST EXAMS, get annual exams, and get you mammo's.  If you not a woman, tell every woman you love to do it.  Also, as you are holding me close to you hearts, please hold yourself in prayer and take care of yourselves.  Especially those closest to me.  This (as many things do) has a way of touching so many more people than solely the person in lingers in.

Much love to you all,


Tammy :)

As an after thought, NOT that I am expecting flowers or a fruit basket or anything like that from anyone, SERIOUSLY, but it you feel compelled to and simply can't stop yourself (I'm that type too!) please don't send the dollars on anything like that.  Save the $$$ for the time when I and/or my team (Tammy's Ta-Ta's) will be asking you to support us in the Breast Cancer Walk (Avon in May and/or the 3 day in October).  Thanks!  :0)