PSA! - Check Your Boobies!!!!

jamainiac

BREAST CANCER...

I HAVE IT :(

BUT...

It was caught early and is NON INVASIVE!! (Same type of Cancer that Sheryl Crow had).

SO...

My chances of complete recovery after treatment are 98 - 99%!!

Through a routine Mammogram in September, they found several areas of micro calcifications in both breasts... which led to needle biopsies ... first one negative for Cancer... second one positive with a Non Invasive Cancer called DCIS... third biopsy is scheduled for Nov, 11 and we're crossing our fingers it will be negative.

As of right now... with negative findings on Nov, 11th treatment will likely be an additional biopsy as well as a lumpectomy where the Cancer was found, followed by 7 - 8 weeks of radiation (NO CHEMO! Thankfully!!). If they find Cancer in the site biopsied on Nov, 11th... then I'm very likely going to opt for a bilateral mastectomy (both breasts removed) with reconstructive surgery... Could be a bitch to go through... BUT!!! It's not going to KILL ME

I've thought a long time about posting this here... or saying anything regarding my personal experience with Breast Cancer. It's a tricky, mind twisting shituation! It's not something you want to shout on rooftops... but it's not something you want to hide... or hide behind either *shrugs* the LAST thing I'm posting this for is for someone to say 'Oh Poor YOU'... NOT AT ALL MY AIM!!... This is a BIG part of 'who I am' right now... and I'm tired of feeling awkward about people knowing about it... and for feeling embarrassed about telling someone. (believe me... until you wear these shoes... you have NO IDEA what the psychological ramifications are like!)

There are several purposes for this post:

** To say to anyone else dealing with a similar situation... This is HARD... a real mind screw! I don't think anyone could go through this stuff and remain completely calm aka 'sane'. BUT... This too shall pass!! Listen to yourself and your heart... not the world bombarding you with 'opinions'!

** To anyone with BREASTS... CHECK THEM REGULARLY!! http://www.checkyourboobies.org If you find any changes that are of any concern... SEE A DOCTOR!! Ladies if you are of the age that you SHOULD be having annual MAMMOGRAMS... GO HAVE IT DONE!!! If a doctor ever finds something in a Mammo or ultra sound that needs 'follow up' or 'extra attention' HAVE IT DONE!!

** To anyone with a friend or loved one dealing with Breast Cancer (or any illness) IMO the best thing you can do is offer SUPPORT in a kind word. I can't speak for the rest of the world ...but I don't need 'anyTHING'... no need for anyone to feel obligated to do or say anything... Being there if needed, with an open mind and heart is the best you could do

**I've told very few people (outside of my family) about this until now... but if one person gets a checkup because of my piping up... it will be well worth it

Take care of your Boobies... and the rest of you!!

Lisa

urbanhippie

^^^

Good for you for posting and good luck

decides2dream

i am so glad you shared with all here....i was often wondering what to say if anyone asked how you were doing.


and my fingers will remain crossed for you to have GOOD NEWS!



as ever, much LOVE to you and GOOD HEALTH......always!

stuckinline

thank you for your courage to post this. best of luck to you!

Rygar

Good attitude! Good luck!


PS: MEN - Check your danglers.

Black Diamond

Good luck with everything!! Just went through this with my mom and you are right it is a mental twister! Writing threads like this is the best thing you can do as you are bringing it all out instead of internalizing it!

Jeremy1012

I wish you luck and would like to say that your attitude is commendable

chiquimonkey

your positivity is something i have always admired, so to see your approach to all this is nothing suprising! i'm sorry you have to go through this, but i know you'll come out well. good luck and all the best, and much love to you lisa!

stylo17

stay positive, stay strong. get the word out. good luck

dawng

I'm so glad you caught this early! Great attitude and good luck in your treatment!

norm

first it's great to see ya 'round these parts....you and sennin are missed

second, you have a great attitude....positivity in the face of adversity is the way to be....keep it up!

AllIAm

Good luck to you! i went through exactly everything you are going through with my mother! she had a double masectomy in the end with reconstructive surgery. tht was 7 years ago and she's in perfect health now! just keep breathing and know that you can get through this!

jamainiac

for the messages everyone...

To give you a glimpse inside of the head game...

when d2d said she wasn't sure what to say if someone asked 'How's Lisa'?

*shrugs*

Imagine 'being' someone with Breast Cancer and being out ... where ever... maybe at the Showbox tonight? and a friend you haven't seen in a while says... "Hey... Great to see you"... "how have you been"? You'd like to say... "well, lots going on ... I was diagnosed with... yadda yadda..." to be able to really talk to someone and let them know how you really are. But because of the potential reaction and the 'noise' in your head about this disease... you say "Fine" ... This whole thing is a lot more to deal with than surgeries and radiation...

I'm glad I decided to post here...

Believe me... my emotional status has been to both ends of the spectrum and everywhere in between over the past several weeks...

Posting here takes me one step closer to being able to truly say...

'It's Okay'

AmentsChick

Hey jam! I'm glad to hear that the prognosis looks good and that you caught it early! And, I agree with cutback...it's good to see you around...we miss you & Sennin!

sennin

jamainiac wrote:

for the messages everyone...

To give you a glimpse inside of the head game...

when d2d said she wasn't sure what to say if someone asked 'How's Lisa'?

*shrugs*

Imagine 'being' someone with Breast Cancer and being out ... where ever... maybe at the Showbox tonight? and a friend you haven't seen in a while says... "Hey... Great to see you"... "how have you been"? You'd like to say... "well, lots going on ... I was diagnosed with... yadda yadda..." to be able to really talk to someone and let them know how you really are. But because of the potential reaction and the 'noise' in your head about this disease... you say "Fine" ... This whole thing is a lot more to deal with than surgeries and radiation...

I'm glad I decided to post here...

Believe me... my emotional status has been to both ends of the spectrum and everywhere in between over the past several weeks...

Posting here takes me one step closer to being able to truly say...

'It's Okay'

I'm glad you did too.

PJPixie

You Rule!
I'm checking my BOOBIES NOW!!!:D

decides2dream

sennin wrote:

I'm glad you did too.

hail, hail!





eh lisa.........i can only sorta 'know' what you are going through, and quite honestly, selfishly, i hope i never have to 'truly know' it for myself, but seeing my sister go through exactly what you are...........it's just HARD.

*hugs*

haffajappa

You are amazing Lisa.
Seriously.


All the best in a speedy recovery...
And again, you kick ass.

pearljammin41

Give it hell Lisa!

K.LO

The best of luck to you, although when I first saw the thread title I didn't know what to expect.:p

in_hiding79

You have a great attitude and thank you so much for the information!