Understanding the Impact of hormones on breast cancer

Hormones are produced by organs or cells in your body. Hormones, such as estrogen, affect bodily processes. Normal breast cells have receptors for estrogen and progesterone. Some, but not all, breast cancer tumors also have these receptors and need these hormones to grow. Such tumors are called estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive, or hormone receptor positive. Breast cancer tumors are estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive in approximately 60% of postmenopausal women. Lab tests of your cancer biopsy give your medical team this information. Receptors are very small parts of a cell. If estrogen is present, it will attach to an estrogen receptor and may make the tumor grow larger.
Estrogen does not cause breast cancer, though it may promote the growth of tumors. Here's how certain breast cancer cells live and grow with the help of estrogen:

Estrogen finds a specialized receiver in a cell, called a receptor.

Estrogen attaches itself to estrogen receptors. These receptors take the estrogen and bring it into the center of the cancer cell (nucleus) so that estrogen can give the signal for the tumor to grow.

" The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Well, this is one of the most exciting posts I have put on my blog yet! Yesterday I had all my tests and today I had labs, Zometa, and my visit with Dr. A.

TEST RESULTS: in the Dr.'s words~ "PERFECT"! There is no evidence of disease in any of the tests, my blood work was normal ( waiting for iron levels and tumor markers). Most exciting is that the bone scan was completely normal, even where the cancer was in the rib and spine! My doctor said "something is working for you and we both know it may have nothing to do with chemicals"!
" The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
From here, my next scans and Dr. visit is in 6 months! I have only one more Zometa treatment left next month and then I am finished :) I will continue on hormone therapy, however they have taken me off Tamoxifen and are putting me on a once a month shot of Faslodex. A swab test showed that the Tamoxifen was not working as effectively as the Faslodex will. So, that will be a new drug introduced in 2 weeks. The lupron injections every 3 months will continue as part of the hormone treatment.

As far as my heart, I am still on a low dose beta blocker and will see the cardiologist in May or June. I have been completely cleared to train for a marathon! More on that adventure later :)

I want to thank all of you for praying for me, I felt complete peace these past 2 days. Also for everyone that has stood by me over this very long haul. This music/video is dedicated to all of you as a thank you for "standing by me"!

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741
Elayne

3 month tests and prayer request~

Hi everyone!
It's been 3 months and it is time again to have all my tests/blood work and Zometa treatment this week.
Wednesday morning; I will have to drink 2 bottles of that nasty contrast and head to the hospital for tests. I will then have more contrast by injection for the bone scan, CAT scan and a chest x ray. It is a long ,tough day but my friend Donise will be hanging out with me for the day:) She lives close to the hospital so we can go back to her house in between tests.

Thursday; Chris will come with me and I will have blood work, treatment and then meet with my doctor to go over all the test results. Another tough day.

Specific prayer requests;For peace and calmness this week, that these 2 particular days go smoothly with no complications and that the test results continue to come back showing NED ( (no evidence of disease). Specific areas of concern are my lower back/hip. Grouting the floors and planting my garden probably didn't help this much:)
Thank you all for your continued prayers, support and encouragement~ I truly appreciate it!
Elayne

Exodus 14:14

¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

#2 The Continuation Of Life~

I have found it interesting how therapeutic my garden has been over these past few years. I never imagined myself as a "gardener" but I have come to really enjoy not only working out there but the benefits of growing some of our own herbs & veggies.

I think the garden has from the beginning and continues to represent the continuation of life to me. With each season bringing changes and each year the newness of another crop.

We started the garden when my brother-in -law Jim was in the hospital with leukemia. When there was no way to feel any sense of control over the situation ,working in the garden seemed to help hold on to life. Now that I find myself in that same situation it brings me the same sense of peace and a holding on to life.

Genesis 1,11-12
11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

First harvest of the season, lots of spinach!

#1 Prayer and time in The Word.

This one has been on my mind more in these last few days as I have realized how easy it is to cling to God and His word when you are in crisis mode and then when the storms seem to calm how easy it is to slowly fall away.

Which brings me to #1 in coping with stress and anxiety, Prayer. There is nothing and no-one that can bring you the comfort and peace that you need in these times,  except Christ.
I will admit at first I looked to Chris to tell me everything would be ok, to "fix" it. Not only can he not do those things, it is an unfair expectation on him. I went to the Lord and asked Him to keep me safe and strong and give me peace. It did not happen overnight, however it did eventually happen. He wanted me to trust Him first.
For any of you that have had to have tests done you know how  draining and anxiety ridden those days can be while enclosed in machines as they look to see if they find any more cancer. I found this to be the perfect time to spend in prayer. Hours go by like minutes as I have my "God time" :) I know many of you are praying for me at these times because I can truly feel it.

 Time in The Word~

One of the most helpful things a friend did for me was sent bible verses written on index cards for me to read over and over whenever I felt anxious or worried.  This was great because I could carry them with me and pull them out whenever I needed to. I still keep them close in my bible.
These are just a couple of ways I found and continue to find helpful. Spending time each day with God is where I am able to draw strength and have peace. It may be at home, in church or out in the middle of the lake on my kayak. Wherever it is.. He is.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and he will make your paths straight.” 

Upcoming tests and treatment~

Hi everyone~ It's just about that time again for my tests and Zometa treatment.
This Wednesday will be the next Zometa treatment.
End of April will be another bone scan, CAT scan and chest x ray, followed by, the next day with a checkup with my oncologist, lab work and another round of Zometa.

Today I did an at home swab test to help the doctors see how my body is metabolizing one of my medications- Tamoxifen. It will be interesting to see how that comes back. Hopefully I will not have to change anything with my meds as it has taken sooo long to adjust to them.

I will let you know as the April tests get closer, but prayer is appreciated at anytime :)

Overall, I am continuing to feel good, but learning that I need to be careful how much I take on. Running and cross training are going fine as well as my Personal Training. My blood pressure seems ok, have not had to take the BP meds for a while, still on the beta blocker though.

We are all getting very excited about Kevin & Nikki's upcoming wedding, Spring and Summer to get out to the lake, camping & getting my garden planted!
Thanks to all of you that have continued to stay in touch and follow the blog. Check back if you would like to read "My Top 10" regarding stress and anxiety. See previous post.

My "TOP TEN"

I think one of, if not the hardest part about receiving a cancer diagnosis and living with cancer, especially for the second, time has been dealing with the fear, anxiety, stress and feelings of hopelessness.There are many different ways to deal with these emotions and no exact time line on when things will get easier to manage. So, I thought it might be helpful to list the "top 10" that have helped me get through this and continues to be of help. Hopefully this will provide encouragement, ideas and help to some of you regardless of what you may be going through in your life.
Listed below are my top 10. I will touch on each one individually and in more depth in upcoming posts. Please feel free to add comments of what has worked well for you in these areas.

1. prayer/ time in the Word
2. exercise/yoga
3. deep breathing/visualization
   
4. nutrition
5. sleep
6. learning the "triggers"
7. surrounding yourself with positive, encouraging people and activities
8. words of encouragement/blogging
   
9. Taking time to get away & relax
   
10. aroma therapy/massage

Health Update~

Hi all~ today I had my monthly Zometa treatment and Lupron injection. Not sure why but this time I am really feeling it, starting with my hip where they gave me the injection. It is extremely sore, much worse than the others. The Zometa gives you a flu like feeling. Usually I feel well enough to run even on Zometa days, not this time :) So I begin the Advil/Tylenol every 4 hours till I feel better routine.

Maybe going into it after a very physical weekend has something to do with it. We hiked for 6 miles on Saturday, my toes are killing from that ~ time for new hiking boots :) We then went mountain biking for 3 hours on Sunday until Chris's bike broke down. My neck and shoulders are killing from all that jarring on rocks, trees, stumps,etc. :) But... we sure had fun!

With the exception of the self inflicted pain :) and the side effects from my treatment today I have been feeling very good lately! My blood pressure is up a bit these last couple of days but for the most part I have not had to take my BP medicine. All other meds remain the same and I am finally adjusting to living life while on them.
Some other improvements we have noticed; my strength and energy are much better and the pain in my rib and spine come and go but mostly my body feels much stronger now. I notice it throughout the day as well as in my running. I plan to begin training around April/May for the Dallas marathon in December! Meanwhile we are easily running 4 miles 3-4 times a week to keep in shape.
I have started training clients and love it! Planning to begin a 5k run/walk group in April which will end on June 6th with the Komen Race For The Cure!
Usually I meet with my counselor once a week, I have now graduated to once a month! So big improvements with anxiety, fears and peace~
It has been a very long time since I have felt well in ALL these areas at the same time. We continue to pray for Gods healing, recovery and peace that only He can give.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Winter trip to Lake Murray~

Enjoy the photo album from our weekend get a way to Lake Murray in Oklahoma.

Zometa® Improves Outcomes in Premenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-positive Breast Cancer

Among premenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, treatment with Zometa® (zoledronic acid) improved disease-free survival. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and were previously presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Each year more than 180,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Many of these breast cancers will be hormone receptor-positive, meaning that they are stimulated to grow by the circulating female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. Treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer often involves hormonal therapies that suppress or block the action of estrogen. These therapies include tamoxifen [Nolvadex®] as well as agents known as aromatase inhibitors.

Zometa is a bisphosphonate drug that is used for the treatment of cancer-related hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood) and of bone metastases in patients with advanced cancers. Recent research has focused on the potential anticancer effects of Zometa and the ability of Zometa to prevent treatment-related bone loss among women with early-stage breast cancer.

The current Phase III clinical trial evaluated Zometa among 1,803 premenopausal women with Stages I-II, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The study was conducted by the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group.

Following surgery all patients were treated with hormonal therapy consisting of goserelin (for ovarian suppression) and either Arimidex® (anastrozole) or tamoxifen. Some patients also received Zometa. Treatment was given for three years. Women have now been followed for a median of four years.

• Disease-free survival was 94% among women who received Zometa in addition to hormonal therapy compared with 90.8% among women who received hormonal therapy alone.

These results suggest that Zometa decreases the risk of cancer recurrence among premenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Reference: Gnant M, Mlineritsch B, Schippinger W, et al. Endocrine therapy plus zoledronic acid in premenopausal breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:679-691.

Response to an e-mail question today

I received an e-mail from someone wanting to know what my thoughts were on having a double mastectomy for women that are at risk or who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Also, what I thought about having the BRAC analysis test done. I am no expert in these areas and this is the limited response I sent back to her.

HI ~ there will be a lot of different factors to consider about weather or not to have a double mastectomy. For instance the type of cancer, if it is an aggressive cancer or a hereditary cancer. Honestly the best thing to do is to discuss the pros and cons with the oncologist. For instance, I had a mastectomy ( was considering going back to have the other side removed) but before that happened I found out the cancer had come back. However, a double mastectomy would not have made a difference as it had spread from the original site to my rib and spine ( having nothing to do with the other side). It is a hard decision.

On the BRAC analysis test~ it again is a personal decision. My current thoughts on it are If you have a family member/ members that have had breast cancer it would probably be a good idea to have the test OR ask your family member if she knows if that test was performed on her. If she is negative, I may not have the test. If positive, I would. Here's why; there are many things you can do if you know ahead of time that you carry the gene ( including the double mastectomy). I know that sounds so huge to consider but IF you did carry the gene, and ended up with breast cancer you may feel differently then about what you might have done. Nothing is 100% with BC. Again, good things to discuss with a doctor, ob/gyn or even an oncologist.

One of my friends (in her 30's) was diagnosed with BC. Because of her age they did do the BRAC Analysis test which came back negative. She wanted to know because she has daughters, so that is another thing to consider are daughters and granddaughters. Even if a family member is positive it does not mean all daughters will have it. One family had a mom with a positive BRAC test and she had 3 daughters ( young adults) that were all tested. I believe 2 of them were also positive, one was not.

I hope I have not confused you even more. I have not had the test but will be asking my doctor if I should have it. I don't have daughters, I have 3 sons ( all adults) and my concern is for their future daughters. My best advice is for your friend and/or you to discuss these things with a doctor that can look at the individual situations. I can give you the name and # of my oncologist ( who I think is the best :) and you could call and ask if you could come in for a consult. That is how I met him, I went in for a consult many years ago. Otherwise I think a gynecologist may be better to discuss this with than a family doctor.
Hope some of this helps~ one of the "rules" I live by in all of this is "there are no right or wrong decisions, you do the best you can with the information you have, trust your feelings, you know your body best and pray about it."
Elayne

Valentines Day~ our weekend

Hope everyone had a great weekend and a Happy Valentines Day! Chris and I did our usual Friday night run (4 miles) and then home for homemade Pizza and a movie. Matt joined us for Pizza! I woke up Saturday to a dozen yellow roses and the movie "Nights In Rodenthe" :) That evening we watched my new movie as well as a movie I got Chris" Fireproof"with some soup for dinner and a fire.

We spent most of the weekend working around the house. On Saturday we painted and re-decorated the guest bathroom and on Sunday we began working in the garden. Pulling weeds, raking, adding new soil and planting some red onions.

Even though it is getting close to Spring here in Texas we still could have more winter weather so I am holding off planting the rest of my herbs and veggies. This is our 3rd year with the garden and we are learning more and more each season. My Foodfor Life blog has sevearl recipes using herbs and veggies right from the garden. http://elayne-foodforlife.blogspot.com/ This year we wanted to get started a little sooner than the previous years , we will see how it goes.

Hope you all had a great weekend too~

The Boomerang Pillow for pain relief

This post will be helpful to a handful of people but I hope this information brings you some physical comfort and relief as it has for me.
I found this pillow at Sams called the boomerang pillow. As you can see from the shape it supports the neck and back very well.
It is common when you have metastatic breast cancer for it to spread to the ribs and spine as it has with me. The pillow supports these two areas perfectly and helps to relieve some of the pain and discomfort.
Hope this helps, if anyone tries it out let me know if it has helped you.

"You Can and You Will" by Art Ritter

"You Can and You Will"

It’s easy to say
That there’s simply no way
To succeed and you’re at a standstill
But go for it now
And I think that somehow
You’ll find that you can and you will

Someday you might find
That deep in your mind
Comes the thought that you can’t climb that hill
But if you dig deep inside
With all of your pride
Then I tell you, you can and you will

Some people will rant
And shout loudly “You can’t!”
And grave doubt in your mind they’ll instill
Be resolved and take heart
For what sets you apart
Is believing you can and you will

Put your fears on the shelf
And have faith in yourself
If your goals you’re to ever fulfill
With a difficult chore
You can give up or soar
So believe that you can, and you will.

Go and set your goals high
Give things your best try
And don’t listen to nay-sayers shrill
For you never will know
How far you can go
If you don’t say “I can and I will”

Art Ritter
Cancer Survivor
Three Time Marathoner (slow but a marathoner all the same)
Three time TNT fund-raiser
All in my 50's!

This is why we run!

I watched this INCREDIBLE video on my fellow blogger and friend, Art's blog, http://racn4acure.blogspot.com/ Many of us hear "your crazy " at the thought of running a marathon. As I have now made the decision to run my first marathon in Dallas and have recruited my husband and running partner Chris as well as my son Kevin, his friend Steve and I think my sister-in-law Cindy?? Which leaves us just 2 shy ( Carla & Chris??) of the original Team Ambo that ran the Dallas Half Marathon for our brother Jim Minich who lost his life to Leukemia.
Please take a moment to watch this inspiring video, this is why we run~


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtiSEKx7Yfk

Race Planning for 2009!

This is my friend Donise and I getting ready to go for a run today. Donise started training for her first 5k! about 4 weeks ago. We are working on picking a local race around the end of March, beginning of April to run together.

I am pretty sure I have settled on which race to do for my first marathon. I decided to stay here locally for this first one. It is an event I have had my eye on ever since high school when I ran track for Richardson High. Sometimes we would go to White Rock Lake to run and I always thought it would be great to someday "Run The Rock".

As of now the race calendar for 2009 looks like this;
March/ April - 5k ( TBA)
June 6th- Komen Race for the Cure 5k, Plano,Tx.
December 13th- White Rock Marathon! Dallas, Tx.

MRI & Tumor Marker Test Results

NORMAL-NORMAL-NORMAL!!!!!!

So far what I know is the MRI today was normal! I do not know what the PET scan had picked up last week, but TODAY with the further testing, all of you prayer warriors and our Lord's hand of protection, my tests are all normal and my tumor markers are back in normal range!! I will have some more info. tomorrow, however my very good friend ( you know who you are :) called tonight and told me I needed to put "something" on the blog to let all of you know how today went :)

It was a long day, the test took 2 hours, but by the time I got home I already had an e-mail with the good news! The staff , technicians, doctors & nurses are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. They all take good care of me during some of the most difficult moments. I am so thankful for all of them :) Thank you Dawn and Emily for being so patient today and waiting :) It is our tradition to go get lunch after testing, usually at Brio :) We were all starving and it was good! Thanks for all of your thoughts, prayers, e-mails and calls. I went today feeling very calm and at peace. I could feel your prayers.

My wonderful nurse & friend wrote in the e-mail " you are so normal, it is not normal"! Now that's what we want to hear ~

So I'll stand on Your truth, and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the VICTORY, by the power of Christ in me

Monday @ 11 am

MRI will be on Monday morning @ 11:00 to look at the lymph node area in between the pectoral muscles. They will be trying to get a closer look to determine what is showing up on the PET scan.

If possible, please lift this up over the weekend and Monday @ 11:00 am.
We are praying specifically that the test is conclusive, shows nothing to be concerned about or that the area of concern is gone altogether, and that my tumor markers are normal ( lab results also on Monday).



chorus to "In Me" by Casting Crowns

I'll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong

Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your truth, and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

Thanks all~ Elayne

PET scan results

Well, we may have clicked our heels together just a little too early. I saw my oncologist today and received the test results. Good news and not so good news.

Not so good first~ The PET scan showed a very small ( about the size of a q-tip head) area which they feel is located in the lymph node between the muscles in the pectoral area. This is on the same side as the original cancer. At this point, no-one is sure exactly what it is and the challenge is going to be figuring it out. Because of the location ( between the muscles) and how small it is, it will be very difficult to get to so a biopsy does not seem to be an option. If needed, they will have to do surgery to cut it out. This apparently will be complicated again due to the size & location.
So... what we are doing first is an MRI to try to take a closer look at it. This is where the prayer comes in ~ please pray that the MRI reveals what it is so I do not have to have this surgery and that it is not cancer. God has answered us so many times before so we need lots of prayer warriors on this one :) It could be that we just keep an eye on it and check it again in 3 months to see if there is any change. Just don't know right now.
They also did more labs to check my tumor markers ( which were elevated last month). Please also be in prayer that they have returned to normal and have not increased.

The good news~ There are NO other areas showing anything from all the tests! Other than a bit disappointed I am feeling well. I had a Zometa treatment today and experienced a lot of dizziness , however it seems to be going away. Tim came over after work to get dinner and a movie for us so he would be here with me until Chris got home :) Gotta love having sons!
I will keep you posted~ our dinner and movie are here :)

One more test ~ Monday

Tomorrow morning ( Monday) at 10:30 I have my final test hopefully for a few months. This will be the PET scan.

Then on Thursday morning, I will have a Zometa treatment followed by my check up with the oncologist.So, another busy week with apts., tests, etc.

Specific prayer requests~ My right arm is pretty messed up from last week, so they may have to try to get the IV in the left arm for both the test and Zometa. We are praying for "1 stick" for both of these. Also that there are no complications and the test results from the PET scan also show NED ( no evidence of disease) as were the results from last weeks tests. Thank you all for remaining so faithful through this journey~ Elayne

Test Results

Great News today! Tests look good :)
Here is the e-mail from my oncology nurse ( who knew I would be waiting for these results :)

"HELLO
THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE SOME NEWS. YOUR REPORTS READ NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. YOUR T 11 AND T 12 IS STABLE, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. NOW YOU CAN BREATHE".

Thanks everyone~ Still have a PET scan on Monday, but this is great news!

What a wonderful God we have -- He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4

A long day~

The tests for today are over. It was a long day and I am glad to be home :) I don't have any results yet but want to thank all of you that are thinking about and praying for me/us. I wanted to share something that happened today because I believe there is so much power in prayer and I love to share these experiences when we see God working in big or small ways.
When I arrived at the hospital, they put an IV in my arm for all the injections for the tests. In the past we have had a lot of trouble with my left arm getting the IV in because of so much scar tissue having formed from all the needle "sticks".
So, we began using the right arm which we were unable to use for many years since 13 lymph nodes have been removed. Usually it goes pretty well but not today :( The IV was started and the injection successfully put in for the bone scan. Then I went to have the CT.
Something was telling me that something was wrong. I felt strongly that I needed to tell the person getting ready to load me up with the CT injection that I felt she needed to check the IV. Sure enough it was not working properly, there was a kink in it. It would not have been fun for that stuff to go into my arm instead of the vein. She looked up and said "Oh, Thank you".
After getting Deb ( the one that puts the IV in) and 4 sticks, 1 IV line popping out and 3 "blown" veins later we were good to go!
We always pray for protection, wisdom & discernment, as well as for my doctors, nurses and technicians. Today, we once again saw the answers to prayer .So, thank you all for praying today, please continue to pray as we await the test results over the next few days.
Now, it's time for Advil and my Dead Sea salt bath :)
Goodnight all~

Prayer for tomorrow's tests~

Hello everyone!
Well, tomorrow ( Tuesday) is test day once again. I will ( after drinking that nasty contrast) be having a bone scan, CT chest/pelvic scan and chest x rays. It is a long and difficult day but it will be over tomorrow and Chris will be with me :) Next week I head to Arlington for a PET scan. There has to be one week in between these tests because of all the contrasts, dyes etc. that is injected.
Specific Prayers;
I am a bit more concerned this time as my tumor markers are elevated and the CT angiogram showed a small area of concern on my spine ( T11). These may or may not mean anything.
I would really appreciate prayer for today, tomorrow and as we wait for results. Please join us in praying for NED ( no evidence of disease) OR better put~ for healing!

Otherwise, I have felt ok, the pain in my rib and neck has increased and we are also praying for relief from that again.Advil does seem to help and there is a lot of tension in the muscles around those areas. I am doing yoga, massage, and Sea salt baths for that. My parents brought me Dead Sea bath salts and minerals from Israel ~ how wonderful! My blood pressure has again gone up too high and I am trying to find a balance with my meds. to keep it under control. I am once again back on the beta blocker and BP medication ( half dose).

I have been able to run and do all as usual. I am very easily running 4 miles at a good pace and still have my sights on a marathon. I have started training a couple of clients and am fortunate to be one of those people who "love their job"!
Thanks everyone for hanging in there with me~

So ever since we fist heard about you we have kept on praying and asking God to help you understand what He wants you to do; asking Him to make you wise about spiritual things; and asking that the way you live will always please the Lord and honor Him, so that you will always be doing good, kind things for others, while all the time you are learning to know God better and better, We are praying, too, that you will be filled with His mighty, glorious strength so that you can keep going no matter what happens -- always full of the joy of the Lord, and always thankful to the Father who has made us fit to share all the wonderful things that belong to those who live in the Kingdom of light. Colossians 1: 9-12

My friend has cancer~

What do I do, how do I be a friend when my friend is living with cancer?

I decided to touch on this because I think this is a tough area for everyone. Just last week I sent an e-mail to a few friends after talking with my counselor and decided I needed to be specific about how they could help. Realizing that others don't know what you need if you don't ask. Many people can't or won't ask so I hope this puts a voice to those that need it. There are some do's & dont's here that I hope you find helpful. I realize that it is very difficult to know what to say or do so hopefully some of this will help you and your friend. After 10 years of living with cancer these are a few things that I have found helpful~

~ phone calls, cards, e-mails, comments on their blog, etc. Sometimes phone calls are too much, especially if your friend is going through treatments and does not feel well. If you are a caretaker, maybe encourage letting voice mail pick up the calls until the person feels up to returning them. Don't be discouraged if you don't hear back from them, it still means a lot.

~ going for a walk or run together if your friend is well enough. This is always a nice change and helped me both times. Getting outdoors and moving is very therapeutic however sometimes your friend may need encouragement to get out there.

~ Staying positive about your friends future. Talk about goals, plans, life. There are plenty of doubts regarding the future and talking about moving forward is very helpful.

~ talk about your life and family ( hopefully the positive things). Your friend wants the distraction of other people's lives. Not to dwell on theirs all the time.

~ No-one wants to be in this situation, and your friend definitely does not want to be perceived as "unable". If they are up to it give them opportunities to help you or others. This may be in a big or small way. Whatever they may be up to, use your discretion so they don't feel "obligated" if it is too much. Many people going through or that have been through cancer like to "speak" to groups or encourage others in any way that is helpful. If there is an oppurtunity, ask them.

~ Get together. Do the things you always did together. Go out for lunch, coffee, shopping etc. If your friend is not up to that just visit, talk, watch a movie together. Work on a project together ( photos, painting, family journals, etc). Especially during times that family members are away. Idle time is very difficult, so filling in some of that time is helpful.

~ Let your friend know you are praying for them. I can personally tell you I know when there is prayer being lifted up for me. Trust me-they know.

~ Let them know how you feel about them, that you love them and what they mean to you.
~ Have Fun! Laugh!

What to avoid~
~ Questions, questions, questions. It is very difficult for the person with cancer to continually be answering questions. Each time it brings the situation to the forefront of their minds and they have to then work very hard to "shake it".
It is understandable that you want to know what's going on and how your friend is "really" doing. I have been in the same position with many friends. If they have a blog or newsletter that is the best way to keep up with the details they want to share. Otherwise asking someone like their caretakers, or family would be a better alternative.

~ Don't ask them if they are going to die or how long they have to live. Yes, people do ask these questions. This is troubling enough with out having to answer that question. Remember, be positive and look forward with them. If they want to share that, they will.

~ please do not feel the need to tell your friend about everyone you know that has cancer and how horrible a time they had or that they did not make it. This really does not help. If the story does not have a happy ending it is not appropriate to share with your friend or their family members.

~ please avoid introducing your friend as "this is the one with cancer" or "cancer patient". Your friend is trying to live a normal life and their "normal" name works just fine :)

~ If your friend is in treatment, be encouraging about the beautiful person they are to you. Avoid focusing on what it may be doing to them physically. It is temporary. It is not helpful to your friend if you take one look at them and begin to cry or have a horrified look on your face. Just remember who that person is~ your friend.

Most people are affected by cancer in one way or another. I hope that sharing this is helpful to you and your friend should you ever be in this situation.

I know some of you are also survivors, family members, caretakers, etc. Your thoughts left in the "comments" section would be great to share on this subject from your own experiences.

New Years 21 mile Bike Ride~

Happy New Year everyone! Chris and I had a very nice time ending 2008 and beginning a new year in 2009. It was just the two of us this year.
We sometimes like to do "movie marathons". I think it began one year when the boys were younger and we watched all the Rocky movies in one night. Last night we made it through 3 , had a glass of pink champagne at midnight, put in movie #4 and we were out.
New Years Day 2009!

Today we did one of our favorite things. It is a 21 mile trail ride on our mountain bikes. The weather was perfect! We started riding this trail many years ago and I noticed today how easy it has become since we have started running. I used to struggle to make it to the 6 mile stop point and by mile 21 I was hobbling to the car. Thankfully we are past that part now :)

We like to go at all different times of the year as the beauty of the landscape is so different depending on the time of year. Texas, for the most part is ugly in the winter but out here there is a natural beauty that I love.
We always see different animals and wildlife. No snakes this time :) I did, however almost run over an armadillo. There was a large group of people out riding their horses today and we rode past bunch of cows.

We always enjoy seeing so many people out, riding bikes, horses, running, hiking, kayaking etc. We even ran in to a few we knew, including the headmaster and his wife ( the boys former English teacher) from high school. We rode the last 2 miles in with them and enjoyed visiting.

This stop was very cool. We parked our bikes and walked down to the creek where there was an old bridge, or what is left of it. It is the bridge that Bonnie and Clyde escaped on after robbing the Pilot Point bank~ as the story goes. All these years and we have just whizzed by on our bikes never knowing it was even there.

Famous Bonnie & Clyde bridge

This is a not so famous bridge but a pretty part of the ride.


We had a great time and a great start to a new year! I hope you all had a great day today too and pray for a safe and healthy 2009.

Does Your Life Have a Purpose?

Does Your Life Have a Purpose?
by Dan Miller

People living on the islands of Okinawa and Sardinia are more likely to reach 100 years of age than people living anywhere on earth. These people attribute their long lives not to healthy eating, leisure living, or great genes, but to a term they love to use -- ikigai which in essence means "sense of purpose."

To expand it a little, ikigai is related to positive life-satisfaction, self-esteem, morale, and a sense of having meaning in one's life. So people who possess ikigai have defined "that which makes one's life worth living." Unfortunately there is not really an American English equivalent word, but we certainly understand the concept -- it's what all of us long for, as well.

This goes beyond a basic spiritual sense of purpose and eternal connection. Having resolved our spiritual position, it's that feeling that our life is valuable and that our future is worthwhile, even if our present circumstances are dark. In studies of these island dwellers it appears that having ikigai is not connected to economic status at all.

Now what about you? Is your sense of having purpose and a life worth living independent of your circumstances, or has your current situation also deflated your confidence in the value of your life? While the holiday season can be a delightful time of year, for some this upcoming month will also be stressful, emotionally taxing, and a reminder that goals were not achieved this year.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
1. Do I know where I stand spiritually and have I resolved how I will spend eternity?
2. Have I discovered my "purpose" now -- here on earth?
3. What did I accomplish this year that I should be celebrating? (It's easy to get too busy to notice all you have accomplished.)
4. What can I do to have a daily sense of ikigai in 2009?

Got the go ahead to train for a marathon!

Hi all~ today I saw my cardiologist to go over the results in more detail from the CT angiogram. Everything with my heart looks good and I have the ok to train/run a marathon! I will remain on a very low dose of the beta blocker as it seems to keep my BP where it needs to be with out much in the way of side effects. I go back in 3 months for a follow up. So, that was all good.

I have been concerned about the report referring to "multiple areas on the ribs & spine" so the doctor called and spoke to the radiologist to get more details. It appears the rib that was noted is the area that we already know about and the spine seems to be something new but was noted as being very small. This is an area (t 11) that has been noted before but not as cancer. So... the tests in January will tell us more but for now that was overall good news. I am feeling good, just have some pain in my rib area but have been able to continue running. Chris and I braved the cold tonight and ran a "quick" 4 miles :)

Please continue to keep the upcoming tests/results and Gods healing in prayer with us.
Merry Christmas!!
Elayne

test results

I received the CT angiogram test results a few days ago. I felt pretty confident that it would be ok and it was, my heart looks good. What I was not expecting was the test to note "multiple spots on the ribs and spine,indicating metastatic disease". However, it also refers to these areas as being in the "healing" stage. My nurse said sometimes there is more cancer than shows up on the scans and then begins to show up when it is getting smaller or healing. My tumor markers are slightly elevated, one in range one out of range, but they are slowly going back up, which is not great news. I have my next set of tests set up for January 13th & 22nd. My Dr. feels we need to be cautious and compare "apples to apples" meaning my last scans that were done in Sept. to the next set in Jan. Same tests done in the same place by the same people. Remember, the cta was focusing on the heart, not the cancer. So, we have to take another complete look again.

I would like to ask everyone to be in prayer over these next weeks for healing and for comfort. Our God is not a God of statistics, He is still a God of healing and miracles!

I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see His goodness to me here in the land of the living. Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and He will come and save you! Be brave, softhearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and He will help you. Psalms 27: 13-14

This is YOUR opportunity to let the new administration know where you want the country to go – I hope you will take advantage of it.

Hi, my name is Elayne, I am 44 and I am fighting breast cancer for the second time in my life.I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that has spread to the bones.

At this point in my life I am not only surviving but thriving as a wife, mother and runner.

I would like to see more research and options, especially for people like me that tend to have few options left as a stage 4 cancer patient.

There are now hormonal and targeted therapies being used which do not destroy the rest of your body in the process as with the traditional chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. I think there is great hope in targeted therapies and should be a continued area of research and development.

I would love to see more focus on environmental issues. What is being allowed to be put in the foods we are eating that are loaded with hormones,preservatives and antibiotics as well as what is acceptable with our air quality. On preventative care through a healthier lifestyle overall beginning at childhood.

Cancer is affecting so many people and so many families that we as a nation need to be proactive instead of the traditional reactive society that we have been.
There are many alternative and holistic approaches that most doctors know nothing about. They know very little to nothing about nutrition. These should also be areas that doctors are knowledgeable in and can offer as choices. These may all be keys in being proactive or increasing survival for those of us fighting this battle and those who do not yet know they will be fighting it as well.

Thank you~ Elayne Minich
10 year breast cancer survivor

If you would like to send a letter to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance to let our new administration know what your top priorities in the fight against cancer are click on the link below~
http://komenpolicy.org/campaign/priorities_vote/xuweun82yjne3n7i?

Almost made it one week~

Well, I am back on the beta blocker ( Coreg) as of today. My BP was just getting too high again ( (145/93) and as you can imagine it is not a great feeling. I spoke to the nurse today and she said it will be a matter of getting the dosage right. I have either been too high or too low. This is the tricky part and hopefully this swinging back and forth is not causing any further problems to my heart.

Friday morning is my CT angiogram. Would appreciate prayer for this test, the results and getting the BP under control again.

Thanks again everyone for your continued support~ Elayne

CT Angiogram next week

Yesterday I had an apt. with my cardiologist as we tried to untangle this medical mess. Kind of scary when even the specialists don't know what to do with you :)

Basically, I just had too many things all hit at the same time over the last few weeks and figuring out what caused what to happen is impossible.

So, here's the plan. Although my BP has been going up again it is not dangerously high but high enough to make me uncomfortable. The doctor is having me wait one more week to give my body some time to adjust and then decide if I need to go back on the beta blocker.

The CT angiogram is scheduled for Friday the 12th. For those of you that have been praying, please keep these things in prayer over the next week or so as well as for discernment for my doctors. I know all this will "level" out as soon as we figure it out. I am actually feeling much better, so it is just a matter of checking the arteries in the heart and monitoring the BP right now.

She also explained the bundle branch block to me yesterday, which I don't think I can re-explain other than a "blip" in the electrical impulse in my heart that happens when I exercise. I am allowed to run right now, but not alone until after the CT which will tell us more and hopefully the results will be fine and will not show any problems or hinder my running.

No more Americano's for me :)

Today I woke up to no coffee in the house so I did what every serious coffee drinker does- went to Starbucks! I ordered an Americano ( very strong) and it was great. However I then checked my blood pressure a while later to find it had shot up to 145/95. This just falls under the "dumb guy" category :)
It has come back down now, however Chris and I have noticed that since last week after receiving my Lupron injection it has been climbing back up along with headaches. So, we are suspecting the Lupron/hormone changes.
After consulting with my doctors it has been decided that I will have one more test for my heart which is a CT angiogram. This test will take a good look at the arteries. The cardiologist feels more comfortable to give me the ok to train for a marathon after these test results.
I have been off the beta blocker for a couple weeks now and can't say I am sure it's the right thing as my BP is going up and I feel some chest discomfort.
With all this somehow, my running is getting better :) We usually run about 4 miles for our regular runs. Saturday, we went ahead and did 5 and are planning to bump up to 6 this weekend. We are not in training right now, so this is just to keep in shape for when training starts again.
Overall, I am feeling better than the last couple of weeks, but adjusting to changes with the meds always takes some time. Please keep this in prayer as I adjust to the meds., have the CT angiogram and for discernment. And as always~ for continued healing!
Thanks everyone~ Elayne

A new week~

It has been about a week since the last post and this past week has been about the same. Today however I am finally feeling better.
Not sure what exactly threw me off these past 2 weeks but Chris and I feel it was a combination of several things. I had the Zometa treatment, out of medical menopause and stopped the beta blocker all on the same day. Also, had a lot of loses these past weeks of 4 friends and Chris's Grandma Doris.
I continued to have chest pain, fatigue,headaches and just not feeling well. So, we decided that I just needed to rest for several days and that is what I have been doing.
I finished reading a book, slept a lot, watched movies and the Cowboy game with Chris, Kevin & Nikki today. Tonight Chris and I made our Pumpkin Rolls for Thursday!
We did walk ( not run) 4 miles on Saturday and 4 more today. Tomorrow, if all is ok we will try to run.
This Tuesday I start the Lupron injections again. We are praying that I will tolorate the effects from the injections without problems and that the other problems will continue to get better. I am still off the beta blocker and blood pressure meds and my BP is remaining in normal ranges~ as i am reminded by Dr K those are the "victories" :)
As I am writing this I realize that it has been one year now since I began these 2 blogs. Much has happened this past year and another year means another VICTORY!

Thanks for your support and prayers through all of this~have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

This is what I am Thankful for~ :)

THINK PINK

Tough Week

Since the last post, things have been kind of tough. As I mentioned last time I did come off the beta blocker. After a few days I started feeling really bad. Chest pains, palpitations, fatigue, breathing wasn't right and my left arm and hand felt weird.
So, I started back on the beta blocker and called a new Cardiologist that I was scheduled to see next week. They had me come in today instead.
My apt. lasted 3 hours and included another echo, stress test on the treadmill and then another echo. My injection fraction number was still good, in normal ranges and everything looked ok. The doctor did mention something called exercise induced bundle-branch block. She wants me to have another test done, I can't remember what it is called but the test is a CT scan that takes pictures of the heart after an injection is given. I believe it exposes you to high levels of radiation so I will need to discuss this with my oncologist first.
As far as the beta blocker, she said to stop taking it. IF, I begin to have all the problems like I had this weekend then she will have me come in to the hospital for a closer look at the heart.
I have been off ( again) the beta blocker for 24 hours so far and am doing ok. Chris and I ran tonight about 3.5 miles. I cut out about the last 1/2 mile and went home while he finished running 4 miles. I can't say I felt great but after not running for 8 days and having a bad week it is no wonder I did not feel so great.
I am praying that I will find the right cardiologist. I did like her and she is very much on board to keep me running but also to make sure it is safe.

On Thursday I received a Zometa treatment and although it went well I am sure it played a role in how bad I felt this weekend.
I will also be starting the lupron injections to put me back in a medical menopause this week.

We attended our neighbors funeral on Saturday ( see family blog), Our Grandma Doris is now in Hospice care in Michigan ( today is her 94th? Birthday). She is not expected to be with us much longer and....
Someone hit Chris on the highway on his way home from work tonight. He is fine, says his neck hurts a little but we are afraid his car might be considered totaled and we just paid it off not long ago :(

Please keep Grandma Doris and our Minich family in prayer. This verse just keeps going through my mind~

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

"Fruit Loops"

Anytime there are changes made with medications, treatments, doctors, etc. it will through you for a loop.

My "loops" this week have been weaning off the heart medications and my body thinking it is an estrogen machine deciding to take itself out of a medically induced menopause. So, guess what... I get to do it all again, Lupron injections and all the fun that comes with being kicked into menopause. Oh..... please pray for me :) and Chris :)

I have not felt quite right since stopping the heart meds. But each day is getting better. My blood pressure is going up and the dizziness has stopped, which is good as long as it doesn't go up too high. I see the cardiologist on the 26th and hopefully all will remain well and I can stay off the 2 heart meds.

Had a Zometa treatment yesterday and so far so good, just tired. Have not needed anything for discomfort at this point.
Have not run since Saturday and we can't wait and get back out there.

All this just comes with the territory, tweaks and adjustments. Some days you just feel like a big "Fruit Loop" :)

Thanks for your continued love and support~ Elayne

Stopping the Beta Blocker

After getting my lab results back last Friday and seeing that they were all normal, no problems with my sodium or potassium, I decided to cut the beta blocker in half again taking it just once a day.
Today, I spoke with the cardiologist and let him know that I was feeling much better on the lower dose. My BP has gone back up to normal levels and I am not getting dizzy when I stand anymore.
He said it would be ok to just stop taking the beta blocker.
Here's where the prayer request comes in :) Please keep in prayer that this transition off of these 2 medications ( BP med & Beta Blocker) goes smoothly and without complications. For protection of my heart. I have been nervous about this ( kind of feel like I am dropping my safety net) so please keep that in prayer too that I would have peace about this decision.
This is a great praise to be able to get off these two medications!
Thanks~ Elayne

I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world. John 16: 33

Donate a FREE mammogram online

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman.

It takes less than a minute to go to their s ite and click on 'donating a mammogram' -- for free (pink window in the middle). This does not cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate a mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Please pass it along to people you know.

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com
AGAIN...
PLEASE ASK 10 FRIENDS TO TELL 10 FRIENDS.
Thanks.

BP continues to be too low

Had another tough day today with my blood pressure dropping to 86/51 and is remaining below normal. I have been having ALOT of trouble with dizziness and fatigue from this and my BP drops when I stand up. I called the cardiologist again and he wanted me to come in. This time he cut the beta blocker ( chemical pacemaker) in half but said he did not want me to come off it altogether. He also said he has no idea why this is happening. Said my sodium levels could be too low or I am dehydrated. I kind of doubt both of those as I drink water all the time and take electrolytes during my runs.

Sooo... tomorrow, I go to my oncologist to have labs done and discuss this with him. I am not sure if, since my heart is functioning at normal levels that I need to be on the beta blocker anymore. I may have to seek another opinion. As of today I am completely off the BP medications and the beta blocker is down to the lowest dose.

Chris and I are praying that I can get off both of them, for discernment for us and my doctors. I don't want to be foolish with my heart, want to be careful, but not remain on meds that I don't need to be on. Would appreciate your prayers on this as we figure out what is wrong and what to do.
Thanks~ Elayne

Some Updates

Hi everyone~ Just wanted to give you a few updates. I did speak with the oncology nurse and all the MRI's of my lower back are fine. I am beginning to question my running shoes :) But.. that was good news that there is no sign of disease or disk problems, etc.

Yesterday afternoon I had a bit of a scare. My blood pressure dropped to 90/46 and needless to say I did not feel very good :( We cut the BP medication in half about two weeks ago because it was dropping too low. I spoke with the Cardiologist's nurse and they have told me to stop taking it altogether. Thanks Dawn, Natasha & Diane for your help yesterday :)

Most of you know I have been hoping and praying to be able to get off several of these medications which all have side effects. We all had been praying about the tests that I had last month to show the function of my heart, which both came back showing a normal, healthy heart. I believe God is answering another prayer!
Please keep this in prayer that this transition off the blood pressure med. will go without any problems.
Thanks~ don't forget to VOTE!

Happy Thoughts :)

This is definitely a "happy thought" :) Chris and I went on a 4 day camping trip and as always it was just not long enough. Is there something wrong when you start wondering how much the park host makes and how much you would save on bills??? :)
We had a great time and I will post the rest of our pics and adventures on the family blog later.

Chris is finished his PE exam but it will be a while before we know the results.

What I know so far from an e-mail from the oncology nurse is that all the tests ( 3 MRI's) show no sign of disease, no herniation, nothing. Which is of course wonderful news! Just don't know why my back hurts so much ? I am waiting for a call from the nurse to see if there is anything I should be looking at. otherwise... another prayer answered!

Friday is over :)

Well, Chris has finished his PE exam and I have made it through another set of tests.
Chris is very relieved to have it done, but he will not know the results for a couple of months. He is now taking a few days off for some R & R.

The MRI of my back ended up being 3 MRI's and took 3 hours. So... what does one do in a tube with the sounds of jackhammers, bings, bangs etc. so loud you have to wear earplugs for 3 whole hours?? For me mostly this is a time of prayer, practicing relaxation that I have learned from doing yoga, including relaxing the muscles in your body as they are tense in this situation. I am even able to fall asleep :) And of course, when anxiety and/or boredom sets in "happy thoughts " :)

This is a coping tool I have learned to use when I get anxious, upset, worried, etc. I think of places, people, events, etc. that have happy memories for me. Basically, taking your mind somewhere else. This strategy has been very helpful, especially at the beginning of this diagnosis. Chris is great in bringing up "happy thoughts" when needed :) Mostly they are of peaceful places and the outdoors especially where we have gone camping

Thank you for the prayer support, so far I have the results for one of the 3 tests ( lumbar spine) and there is no sign of metastatic disease! It was fine :) Please keep this and Chris's test results in prayer as we wait for the rest of the results. Should know on Monday for me.
Thanks~ have a great weekend!

Big Day Friday and updates

Hi everyone~ this Friday will be busy for both Chris and I. We would like to ask for prayer support for both of us.
Chris will be taking his Professional Engineer license exam. It is an 8 hour exam that he has been working hard to prepare for.
Also, I will be having an MRI of my lower back~ pelvic and lumbar spine. It will take about 1 1/2-2 hours for this test. I have been having pain in my lower back for quite some time and we need to check it out. We think it is from running, as my left hip and knee also hurt but we have to air on the side of caution. This was not a scheduled test, we were waiting to see if the pain went away after a month and it has not.

I am continuing to take half the dosage with my blood pressure medication and so far so good!

Thanks for those of you that were praying for my mom, she is home and feeling better. She sees her doctor this Friday.

God has been so good to us :) Thanks for your support, e-mails, posts and prayers!
Elayne

Trying again to lower BP medication

I will be trying once again to lower my blood pressure medicine. Tonight I will begin taking half the dosage. Since all my tests have come back showing a normal, healthy heart I am hoping to reduce and be able to get off some of these medications. Especially the two for the heart as they both cause fatigue and dizziness.

Last time I tried to do this my BP went right back up and I did not feel well. Please pray that it will work this time and that I may soon be able to eliminate them all together.

Thanks~ Elayne

Time~ what a difference it makes..

Yesterday I had my annual Fall Southern Living "girl" party. I have been doing this for about 6 years. However last year because of the place I was in I couldn't even begin to wrap my mind around having people over for a party, but one year later I was able to not only celebrate these friendships and time together but I also was able to paint my entire kitchen ( no small job :)

Chris and I ( well I tried :) painted the dining room last year as a way to help me focus on smaller projects instead of looking out to the future which was at the time too difficult. I still have anxieties about what the future holds and still very much use this technique of smaller projects, goals and time lines which has been very helpful. Before I knew it a year had passed and many things have been accomplished! I was pretty much unable to even help last year. This year I tackled it by myself with the exception of my son Kevin helping one Saturday afternoon. Thank you Kev!

Calling on your circle~

Several years ago my back was really hurting. I thought I popped a rib out or maybe broke it. I did see several different doctors including a chiropractor that all thought the rib was "out". Even had adjustments done and going to physical therapy.
It continued to get worse, sometimes I couldn't even breath because it hurt so bad. But... after a few weeks it would ease up and sometimes go away. So, I did not think it was cancer because I had been told "if it's cancer, it won't go away".
Finally, I decided to get to the bottom of it and find out what was wrong. I was preparing for a half marathon and didn't want the rib to "go out" during the race. My new primary care doctor did a good job at looking very carefully at the rib because of my past history. They saw something suspicious on the x ray and had me do more tests.
This is when you are going into panic mode. We prayed so hard that it would be a broken rib but the more tests done the worse it looked.
To be honest at first I didn't want to tell anyone except Chris and the boys and contemplated not telling anyone else. I couldn't believe after 9 years I was back here facing this monster again. Only this time it seemed so much worse.
Because we believe so much in the power of prayer and the support of friends and family we did, after getting final results let everyone know. That was hard. Your life is turned upside down within moments and everyone knows it.
I can tell you this, when we have asked for prayer this time and the first time, I can actually feel the power in the prayers that you all are lifting up and there is great comfort in that. So, call on your circle of prayer warriors, become a prayer warrior for others and don't ever underestimate the power of prayer. From our Sunday school lesson this week on prayer~
"God can do in 5 seconds what we can't do in 5 days, weeks, months or years".

Insight into a survivors mind~

Dear everyone~ I am thankful that things have slowed down after a very intense year and half and am looking forward to beginning the healing process. I thought it might be helpful to others going through a cancer diagnosis and for their families, friends and caretakers to share some of my experiences, thoughts,beliefs and insights of things that worked and those that did not in helping me cope with a diagnosis of an "incurable" cancer. I will now start posting as these times come to mind and hope that my experiences will help with insight to anyone affected by cancer, weather it is you or someone you love and care about. Maybe it is a stranger or someone you work with.

For these posts I will not send an e-mail notice out. Just check them as you feel you would like to or pass on to someone that it may help. For today I will start with where I am now in all of this but then I will go back to the beginning from diagnosis.

Last night I watched part of an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. She too this past year has been battling breast cancer. Her journey has been documented and she said a couple of things in the interview that were so simple yet so important. I thought I would add my own experiences on to some of hers.

1) Understanding the survivor AFTER treatment is done~ in my case the treatment will be on-going but for most there is an end as there was for me the first time. Although the majority of us do not want to be pitied or babied we do want people to understand this is not "getting over the flu". The healing process brings a whole new dimension to this fight along with fears, doubts, anxieties as well as hope for a future and trying to figure out what your "new life" looks like. Our bodies and minds have been through a war and need a lot of time to recover. So, we need time and patience :)

2)This is NOT my life story just something in my life, a part of my life. What is appreciated is being treated like you treat anyone else or the relationship as it was before. Sometimes changes do have to be made if the relationships were not healthy to begin with or worked on to change them.However, the survivor may not have the mental or emotional capabilities at this time to work on these unhealthy relationships. They may have to be put on the "back burner". Overall, day to day we are the same people and want nothing more than to live a "normal" life. But.. we are fighting for that life.

3) I cannot say I am in remission or cancer free. I can say I believe in Gods healing power and that they are not seeing any "active" cancer at this time. Having the prayer support and support of family, friends, church family and even the strangers that cheered me on by my name as I ran the half marathon do wonders for us! The connection of others is vital and the power of prayer is shown all throughout this blog and my journey. So, thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

More posts later on "living my life with metastatic breast cancer"~

October is breast cancer awarness month~

Now Playing - We Will

View our short film about Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

http://cms.komen.org/komen/NewsEvents/NowPlayingKomenVideos/index.htm

One in 8 women will get breast cancer in their life. Know what the risks, warning signs, prevention and treatment options are.

Results from Cardiologist!

Good Monday Morning everyone~ just got home from my echo and visit with the cardiologist. I am happy to tell you I once again have a NORMAL HEALTHY HEART! I do have to remain on the blood pressure and beta blocker medications for now.

Of course my big question was "do I have any restrictions"? The doctor said no :) Kevin has already asked me if I will run a half marathon in Arizona, I believe in February. Team Ambo what do you think??

My challenge is going to be the meds I am on. The beta blocker ( for my heart) in particular interferes with the endurance. Not sure what to expect, but I have been given the ok to try :)

He is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trusted in Him, and he helped me. Joy rises in my heart until I burst out in songs of praise to Him. The Lord protects his people and gives victory to his anointed king. Psalm 28: 7-8

And I will give you a new heart -- I will give you new and right desires -- and put a new spirit within you. . Ezekial 36: 26