Pamper the Pink 2026

 I recently( March 4th) attended the Pamper the Pink luncheon.  It is an annual affair with invited guests being those who are battling and who have conquered breast cancer.

My friend, Karen Esplin heads this every year.  She has battled breast cancer twice.  She says it's her way to pay forward all of the kindness shown her during her battles.  Karen just lights up a room when she enters it.  She is an amazing human being.  She creates a spirit at this meeting every year that is powerful and fills everyone with determination and joy.  She is in the pink dress seated in the very middle of this picture.

This was our keynote speaker.  She has recently battled this insidious disease.

Pamper the Pink Luncheon

 I recently attended a Pamper the Pink luncheon.  This is a special event for women who have had or have breast cancer.

The event was put on by my friend Karen Esplin.  I have known Karen since they moved into this area shortly after us 40 years ago. She has had breast cancer twice since.  She is a ball of fire, spunky, cute, friendly, loving and SO full of energy.  I love her.

My profile picture.

The room was decorated so beautifully in pink.  This is Karen welcoming everyone.

The keynote speaker told her amazing story of her breast cancer journey.  She was diagnosed with incurable cancer.  But here she is 10 years later, inspiring others to fight.

Every attendee was showered with gifts, donated by generous business owners.

I didn't take a picture of the delicious meal.  Everything was so nice.  

It was lovely to meet so many wonderful women who are fighting or who have fought this battle.

Cancer Free!

 It has been five years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I went through two lumpectomy surgeries, one lymphectomy, radiation treatments, and am still taking oral chemotherapy.

On August 29th my radiation oncologist declared me cancer-free and released me from his care.  His words were that he was graduating me.  I am so grateful to get to this point.  I feel so very blessed.

As I left the oncologist's office that day, I told Jen, the cute receptionist that I hoped I would never see her again.  She was not offended!

Another Year Cancer Free!

 I am so happy to announce that I am another year cancer free!  I am now on once-a-year mammograms like everyone else, but visit my oncologist every six months.  I am so grateful the cancer has not revisited me! 

Cancer Free

July was a landmark time for me and cancer.  My cancer doctor had mapped a plan (I think it must be the hospital/cancer center's plan) for me early on after my diagnosis.  July, 2020 marked the end of my 6-month diagnostic mammograms, declaring me cured.  I would still see him every six months for a check-up, but I guess the risk of cancer returning decreases after this date.  I am happy to report that I was found cancer-free on July 21st.  Yea!  I feel so blessed.

January Diagnostic Mammogram Report

I am happy to report that my January diagnostic mammogram showed no signs of cancer. That is such a relief!  I have one more diagnostic in July and then, if it's clean,  I go back to just regular annual mammograms just like anyone else.  So one more hurdle to jump.

83 More Cancer Free Genes!

After receiving the results of the genetic testing I had for breast and ovarian cancer (yea- I don't have the cancer gene!), I was offered the opportunity for them to test 83 more genes that they know are linked to cancer.  The tests were not covered by insurance, but were offered for free.  On all 83, they know they are linked to cancer, but don't have definitive data on what do to with that information.  I think they are just trying to establish a data base of people with the cancer genes, so that when research is more advanced, they can offer help to those who do have the gene or genes for cancer.  When the genetic counselor called, she offered me this free testing.  I had to think it over for a day. Did I want to know if I had a defective gene/ genes, but they didn't know what to do about it?  Would the waiting for the results be hard?  I had just had excellent news that I didn't have the ovarian/ breast cancer gene.  Did I want to spoil that euphoria and put myself back into the waiting game?  I told Jessica I would call her back.  Ken's reaction was that I should absolutely have the free tests.  Why not?  Well, I just explained why not.  Ken's approach to life is always much more logical and less emotional than mine.
But I called Jessica the next day and told her to go ahead.  She called today (February 6th) and told me that all 83 genes came back clean.  Yea!  Now that it's over, I'm grateful I had it done and, of course, that the results were good.

No Cancer Gene!

In December, I met with a genetics counselor.  Because my mother had ovarian cancer, she recommended I be tested for the genes that show a weakness for cancer.  I got the results back and was happy to learn that I do not have the gene for cancer.  Yea!  That is also good news for our three daughters, as they could not have inherited that gene from me.  There is a possibility they could have inherited the gene from their father, but unlikely as no one in his family has had ovarian or breast cancer.  It is also good news for my sisters.  Since two of us have been tested with negative results,  it is unlikely, though not impossible that the others have the gene either.  So happy news all around!

Radiation Treatment Graduation

I am happy to report that I completed my radiation treatments and am now healing!  Yea!  I had a total of 21 treatments on consecutive weekdays.  They make quite a big deal of graduations. They presented Ken and me with certificates.  Then they had me gong the gong.  There is a legend that the gong represents healing or something.  All the other patients in the room, waiting for their treatments, applauded and cheered. 

So with the completion of my radiation treatments, I now am healing.  Besides follow-up visits, I am done with that part of the treatment.  I have an appointment with a genetic counselor to determine if I have the gene for cancer.  I also will continue to meet with the medical oncologist as he prescribes hormone blocking drugs.  But the hard part is over. At least let us hope so, as my dad would say.  At least let us hope so.  Merry Christmas!

Cancer Update

I thought I would write an update on my cancer.  I will do so every now and then until I'm cured- she says hopefully!  This is mostly for interested people, but also for history.  I already find I am forgetting details.  When I ask others their experience, I find they have forgotten details as well.
I have healed from two lumpectomies enough that I have met with other doctors.  First the medical oncologist.  I do not have to have chemotherapy, but after the radiation treatments are done, I will have to start taking drugs that block cancer cells from being fed.  There are two types of these drugs, and we have to decide which one I take.  I have some research to do.
I met with the radiation oncologist on Halloween day and got set up for radiation treatments.  That was no picnic, I'll tell you that. Now I sport tattoos!  They tattoo little dots on you to mark where to set up for the treatments each day.
This morning, Tuesday, I had my first treatment.  The whole experience is so foreign and less than modest.  It is difficult.  But I found that as the big machine was treating me, I tried to focus on gratitude.  I realized how grateful I am for that machine and for the hope it gives.  Before my treatment, my good friend, Jilynne met me in the waiting room.  Jilynne is a social worker that works with cancer patients.  We visited for awhile.  She is a blessing to me.  Never have I met anyone whose personality matches their job so perfectly.  She is caring, understanding, upbeat and an excellent listener.  Her hug gave me the courage to go in there when it was time.  Thank you, Jilynne.
I will go in for weekday daily treatments for the next 21 days, except I don't have to go on Thanksgiving day.  So, here we go!   Thanks for caring!

Cancer

I have had a scary few months.  I had an annual mammogram in July, revealing suspicious cells.  I had to go back for another mammogram, then a needle biopsy.  The needle biopsy showed I had pre-cancerous cells that needed to come out.  So I had a lumpectomy a couple of weeks ago.  The pathology report revealed that it, indeed, was pre-cancer, or DCIS, but that the cells were out further than they thought. It is pre-cancer because it has not spread.  It is contained within the ducts. We caught it early.  So yesterday morning, I went back for more surgery to create a larger margin.  After I heal, I will have five weeks of daily radiation treatments.

Those are the facts.  There, of course, has been a lot of emotion with all of this.  This isn't an easy thing to go through.  Nor is it an easy thing to write about.  I may get there- where I can write more detail and emotion.  I am grateful beyond words for your prayers.  I can feel them.  We are also grateful for good medical care and for the diagnosis.  It could be much, much worse.

Before the last surgery

Beautiful plant basket from my siblings. This meant so much to me.

Flowers from a family in the ward.

Joan sent me this picture just before my surgery.  I love it.  We are never alone.

Because of all this, I am woefully behind on this blog.  I am determined to catch up.  I will keep plugging along, even though I may be reporting on things that happened months ago, and the posts may not be in order. Thank you again for your love and prayers.