Breast Cancer Journey

Thoughts

I got this presentation forwarded to me and thought that it was fitting.  Some of the messages really hit home.  I thought I would share with all of you!  You can apply these to any situation.  I also thought the scenery was beautiful!  Have a great weekend everyone!  Download randy4Elements.pps

Tana

I'M IN REMISSION

That's right!  I got "the call" back from the Dr. and she said the test results looked great and there were no signs of any tumors!  My bone density test came back that I have good strong bones!  Now, I can really say that I am a breast cancer survivor!!!!  This is one of the best days of my life!  I have a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders!  I can't tell you what this really means to me.

I can't say thank you enough to everyone single one of you that have shown your support.  The fight might be over for me, but there are plenty of others out there that need your support!  Please keep praying for these unknown people, as they need your support as well!

Just because I'm in remission, doesn't mean for pete's sake, that you are getting rid of me!  No way!  I'm here for the long haul.  I might not post as often, but will still keep posting!

Love to each and everyone of you!

Tana, Breast Cancer Survivor   

The Results please.....

Today, I had a PET scan and a bone density scan done.  I'm not worried about the bone density test, but the PET scan I am worried.  That is the one that they tell you whether or not they found cancer in my body.  They give me a dose of sugar through an IV and then wait for 45 minutes and let it get into my system.  Then they put you in a tube and scan your body.  They said that it takes about 24 hours or so to get the results.  Cancer feeds off of sugar.  So if there is a "glob" of sugar in my body, that could indicate that there is a tumor there.  I plan on calling the Dr. tomorrow afternoon to find out if she has received the results.  I went in today very nervous because I'm afraid of what they might find.  Yes, I've already done everything, but I would hate to have to go through it again!

I will be sure to post the results tomorrow!

Love,

Tana

Luncheon

Yesterday I attended the 3rd annual Lunch for the Cure put on by the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the Davenport Hotel.  It was so beautiful.  I've never seen so many people wearing the color pink!  It wasn't as uplifting as I had expected it to be.  It was more about the research that they have done in other states on women who have breast cancer, how kids are dealing with it, how spouses are dealing with it, etc.  The funny thing is currently those specific programs aren't being offered here in Spokane.  Someday I think that they will be but for now, not happening!  It was good information, but not what I was expecting.

After lunch, I got the chance to meet up with Susan, a friend that turned me onto blogging!  I had a great conversation with her about what she went through, what I went through, what it's like after you are all done with treatments, etc.  I think that I got more out of that than I did the lunch.

As for my health, I'm feeling pretty darn good.  I have all of my energy back.  My hair is growing so fast!  I will try and post a picture soon.  I've actually had 2 hair cuts. 

On another note, Greg from my office forwarded to me an article that I thought was a good one.  I'm not into baseball much this year, as far as watching, but you can bet that I will be planning on watching the world series.  Click on the link Baseball story to read an amazing story.  It does give you hope. 

All my love,

Tana

Survivor Luncheon

I'm very excited for lunch tomorrow.  Tomorrow is the annual survivor's luncheon at the Davenport Hotel sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  They put it on every year around the same time.  I didn't go last year, as I didn't know I had breast cancer.  A friend of mine that has been, said that I should go next year.  So, here I sit waiting for tomorrow like a girl on the night before the first day of school.  Why am I so excited?  Because it will be a room full of people just like myself, SURVIVORS!  I will be sure to take it all in and post again tomorrow night to let you all know how it goes!

Tana

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is officially the Breast Cancer Awareness month.  I don't know about most of you, but I see Breast Cancer stuff all over. Maybe it's because I'm more aware of it now than before I was diagnosed.  It could also be because "they" have made more and more people aware of Breast Cancer.  All the advertising that you see and hear on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, etc.  Heck, even the big rough and tough sports guys are getting into it.  I was watching NFL tonight and last night and noticed, that all of the managers have a pink ribbon on their shirts.  The towels that they wipe their heads off with are pink! 

Last Friday, 10/5, the office participated in the National Lee Denim Day.  It's a day where you pay a certain dollar amount (we paid $10 each) to wear jeans to work.  We raised almost $600 in our office alone!  I went to the grocery store the other day and they were asking everyone going through the checkout stand if they wanted to donate to breast cancer research.  It makes me feel so good knowing that people out there are realizing that this is a pretty big thing and we need to get it under control.  We need to find a cure!  So I ask 2 things of my readers.

1.  Find a cause (I prefer Breast Cancer and Cystic Fibrosis) and support them.  Whether it be by monetary value, or your time.  Support them.  They need us all!

2.  For every woman out there, do your self exams.  For those men that read my blog, have your wife, girlfriend, significant other, friends that are girls,  whoever, do a self exam.  It might not seem that important, but when it comes down to life or death, it really is an important thing to do and it only takes 30 seconds to do!

Enough of my soap box.  Lots of you still ask, how am I doing.  Honestly, I'm doing excellent.  I am back to my old self again.  Lots of energy, my hair is growing so fast.  I have spikeys all over and it's getting to that stage where I won't be able to do much, because it's at that level, where it won't stay down, but if you spike it, it looks funny!

I am so excited for next week.  I get to attend a Survivor's luncheon at the Davenport Hotel.  I can't wait to see a room filled with survivors and caregivers.  I have asked this question before, but would like to see what your answers are.  I know that I am a survivor.  But when can you start calling yourself a survivor?  Do you mark it from the day of diagnosis?  The day of your last chemo treatment?  The day of your last radiation treatment?  How do you know when you are a 1 month vs. 10 year survivor?  Post your answers.  I would like to see what you all come up with!

Thanks for all of your love and prayers!

Tana