Welcome

Hello everyone, my name is Kim and I am here to relate to you my experience with Breast to Bone cancer.

November 24, 1997 was a day that I'll never forget but would very much like to. It is my sincere wish that no one else in this world will ever have to go through what I have been through. I had always checked my breasts for lumps but not as often as I should have and now I am paying the price for that.

I had been sick for a couple of days with what I though was a virus or cold and on that morning of November 24, 1997 I woke up with back pains and a very stiff neck. By 12 noon that day the pains had become considerably worse and my husband and I decided to go to the ER. Little did I know what was in store for me at that visit and the numerous other visits to hospitals that would come later.

The doctors put me through all kinds of vigorous tests including a catscan, MMHR scan, bone scan, and several x-rays. The results from most of the tests came back in about six hours. The results that came from those tests changed my life and my family's life forever.

I had a lump in my breast and a tumor on my spine where the cancer had metastasized (spread) from the tumor in my breast. The one on my spine was on my neck right between my shoulder blades which explained the intense pain I had been in for several days.

My first treatments were high doses of radiation aimed at my spine that lasted for five days (normally this treatment is twenty-eight days). After that the chemotherapy began. I went through eight months of chemo and another round of radiation after that. During this time I also had to have two blood transfusions. In between the two rounds of chemo treatments was when I had to have a mastectomy to remove the tumor in my breast. A lumpectomy was not possible.

I would not ever want anyone in the entire world (or universe for that matter) to have to go through what I've had to. PLEASE DO YOUR MONTHLY SELF-EXAM! Sign up any reminder service, there is plenty on the net and at Doctors offices or the American Cancer Society! Don't be like I was. Two women out of ten everyday discover a lump in their breast and do nothing about it until it is too late. Breast-cancer has been proven to be treatable and beatable if you catch it in time!

I still have the bone cancer but it has been stable for the past 10 months and I have been surpising my doctors and family (much to their delight and comfort) with the improvements I've made in my fight against this disease. I take Tamoxifen everyday still for the bone cancer.

I hope I have not scared anyone with my story, it is only meant to inform. DO YOUR MONTHLY SELF-EXAMS, go to the doctor at least once a year. Recommendations by the medical field strongly urge women over forty to have at least one mammogram a year, and if you have a history of ANY type of cancer in your family then you should start having yearly mammograms by the time you are thirty.

Update, last check up Sept 7, 2000. Blood work very good. Still stable, I prefer to call it remission, but Doctor calls it stable. "For a Lady that wasn't suppose to live past the 2 year mark, your doing great and keep up whatever your doing" That's a quote from my Doctor. He is still amazed at my health, and my fight to live.

Update May 14, 2001, Mother's day, I marked my 3rd year on the net. Also, my health is great, last checked up was March 2001. Yearly tests are coming up in June 2001. I know they will be great just like last year.

 

June 28, 2001

Update

Last week I started my yearly tests.

Bone scan June 21, 2001.

Cat Scan June 26, 2001.

Doctor visit today June 28, 2001.

For the first time he used the word "Full Remission".

Always before it was "stable or stable condition"

Tests no change from last year. Blood tests was Great.

Needless to say we are Celebrating...

Tomorrow morning we are going to San Antonio for the weekend.

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!

September 18, 2001

Well I am back in chemo again. June tests spoke too soon. Found out in Aug 2001 that I had to take a cat scan over again. They found something.

Liver lesion, I have had 3 treatments so far, and the lesion has stopped growing, which is good news.

I will beat this again. The drug that I am on now is called Taxol, just approved by the FDA.

Clinical Trails showed that 8 out of 10 went in to remission very soon after starting the Taxol.

Bald again. LOL But, feel good. Rough this week cause Doctor upped the Taxol by 5%. Today is Nov 2nd and

I am recovering from chemo med's that keep me from getting sick. Tomorrow no more med's. Thank God.

Will make more updates later as my treatment goes along.

July 6,2002-

Jan 2002, had my last chemo treatment,

as far as the Doctor can tell the lesion is dead

tissue and has stopped growing.

Next appt, June 17th.

June 17th came, Doctor says my blood work is excellent and just keep on trucking.LOL

June 21-23 We traveled to San Antonio for a 3 day vacation. Daughter, Son-inlaw, and grandson came with us. Sea World was a blast. Then had to slow me and grandson down.LOL

Next Tests are Schueduled for Sept. We will see. I feel great.

Summer here in West Texas is always an adventure. Hot one day and Rainy the next.

I shine my best in the summer. I feel great,

I have a message and I know I say it all the time. GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM!

Birthdays are the best time to scheudule them.

There is always a way to pay for one. In some

cities you can get them FREE.

If you keep up on my updates and have read the above you know what I have been though.

I do not wish this on my worst enemy. I was a stick in the mud person. Didn't take good care of myself. But, I learned my lesson.

PLEASE GET A MAMMOGRAM!!

It's been proven that if you can feel the lump with a self-exam it's too large and it's a 50% chance that it's Breast Cancer.

Or at least a very suspicion cells. If you have Breast Cancer in your family, 40 is the age Doctors say you need to start having one.

Our Doctors here, advise 30 age for daughters of Breast Cancer Relatives. My oldest Daughter has had two so far. My Youngest daughter (30) has had her first.

We are very proud of our Daughters and Our Son is thinking about having one when he reaches 30.

October is Breast Cancer Awarness Month, nation wide. I live Breast Cancer Awarness everyday of my life.

More updates coming soon!

Sept 27, 2002-I am waiting for my Tests results this week.

Angel Garden, Thank you for the Angel pages. Beautiful and something to do each day while I wait. Love it. WOSIB best Women's Group on the Net!

Sept 30th- 10am. Doctor visit. The week before I had my cat scan.

Today Doctor told me that there was no changes. Yippee! High fives.!

Blood work excelllent. In 3 months see Doctor again for check up.

Six Months another cat scan.

Stable condition, Best words in the world. No chemo.!!!