Me and Breast Cancer?

The routine mammogram was scheduled. I had a conversation with my mother, that I might cancel it, that every two years should be plenty, why every year?? What a pain to go get squished and bother to take time out of my vacation. But, then I decided, oh what the heck, I might as well. This mammogram went a little different, they took more pictures of my left breast, and used a pin pointing squisher, you might say. I still wasn't concerned, curious but not concerned. A couple days later, I received the letter and a phone call from my family doctor's office. There was suspicion of an irregularity, please schedule to come in. Everything, started to happen very fast then, I went to see my doctor, who said "it is probably nothing, but I think you should have a biopsy". We decided to try a Stereotactic Biopsy.
Within two days, I was flat on my stomach with my left arm above my head and my left breast hanging through a hole in the table. Everyone involved in the actual procedure was very nice, comforting and jovial. But, my breast wouldn't cooperate, it was too dense. A procedure that normally takes 45 minutes, took 2 hours and 15 minutes and was unsuccessful. I could not move during the whole thing, and felt like a dried up pretzel trying to uncurl itself, when I fianlly could ! Everytime, they tried to hit the spot, my dense tissue got in the way and pushed it away. They did get one very small sample, that made them decide I should go for the surgical biopsy....

Breast Cancer

I always hoped this blog would help other people feel comfort or kinship, to someone who has experienced what they have, mainly the experience of stroke. I am not sure that happened, but maybe it will prepare someone for the future. I decided to add another experience, breast cancer, which I was diagnosed with in 2002. There are many women, that have experienced this, men also I hear, but I do not know the percentage of men.
Anyway, I went today to my oncologist and they drew the blood for my appointment next week, so my wonderful, attentive oncologist would have the medical information she needed. One thing I love about her, is her passion, you can hear it in her employees, as they talk about her, in praise, or a comment of something they didn't do exactly right, yet she demands they do. She also takes care of herself. She goes on vacations, that are adventurous, the Amazon, Africa and who knows where. She then covers her walls with pictures of all those wonderful places. She not only keeps up on all the research, she is part of it. She encourages you to be part of a study, if it fits, without making you feel you have too. Anyway, she has a wonderful smile and I thank God she is my oncologist.
More later on my experience as a breast cancer survivor, with hope it help someone.....

Making Dreams Reality

Clark and I love the ocean and saltwater fishing. Now that Clark had the bypass surgery, it was successful and he is improving everyday, we bit the bullet and bought a 1999 Campion Explorer 622. Link to see
It is a beauty....
We are now searching for doggy life jackets. We will need a tiny one with about a 21" girth and one big one with about 35" girth. Carly and Rodney are our buddies.
Carly and I are so close, Rodney and Clark are inseparable, so they will definitely be boating with us.
Our next step in the near future, at least I hope, will be for me to relocate to another region with my employer. I have my eye towards Houston Tx, Florence or Charleston SC, Pensacola Fl, Atlanta or Alpharetta, GA. I want to apply for the job that is posted in Houston right now. But, Clark needs to take things a little slower ever since the stroke. He can only concentrate deeply on one thing at a time, and needless to say, the BOAT is the deep thought right now. LOL He says he does want to move, but wants to take some time to wrap his thoughts around that task a little later. One step at a time, we will be making dreams reality......

Marathon Heart

It is the 3rd day after Clark's surgery. Around 2AM Saturday morning, his heart decided it wanted to speed up and stay full speed. In order for Clark to get out of the hospital, his heart rate needs to be below 100. But, his heart has decided to settle into a steady beat of 145. Clark is agitated and confused, probably from the morphine and who knows what, he is in the recliner where he sleeps, (I sleep in the bed beside him, figure that out).. He screams, "Get out of here, get out of here". I think he means, that he wants me to leave the room. I then figure out that the aphasia is getting in the way. What he wants is the recliner brought to a sitting position.
Once, they realize his heart won't slow down, they start him on a protocol they have for this problem. They try Lopressor pills, no doesn't work, IV of Diltrazem, no doesn't work, around 3:00 PM they try Procraine, he heart slows down to around 125. His blood pressure also drops to 72/50. Sunday, 7AM his heart is back up to 140-142. The doctor comes in around 9:30, Clark is in A Fib, he says they call what is happening to him, a "Flutterbird". They try Digoxin as a final effort in medicines. It is Monday 6AM and now his heart rate is 151-154.
A doctor who is a partner to Clarks surgeon, decides to try using the temporary pacemaker wires, that are attached to Clark's heart.(I am not sure about this, so forgive me for my ignorance, if I get it wrong). He attaches the pacemaker and pushes the button, no change, then again, it goes down to 120. But, fluctuates higher, lower, higher, lower. They decide to schedule him for a Cardioversion. They will put him in a twilight sleep for just a couple minutes, then shock his heart into rhythm. Clark, is getting depressed, agitated, and he looks so tired.
Tuesday, the doctor tries the pacemaker one more time, but it doesn't work.
Tuesday afternoon, Clark is in bed and starts coughing. He is holding his chest tightly, you can see the pain on his face. The surgeon walks in the door, to talk to him about getting him down for the CardioVersion, we look at the heart monitor. There are ??? marks, from Clark coughing so hard. Then......92? The rate just went from 159 to 92. His doctor smiles and says,"Well now, Clark you just coughed yourself out of CardioVersion". I start laughing, and hit the doctor's arm, saying "that was amazing, you walk in the door right at the moment Clark cough's his heart rate down." "The magic doctor !!" The doctor starts laughing and raises his arms up in the air, and motions like he is hitting Clark in the head, saying "You are heaaaalllled". The look on Clark's face is priceless. I am serious, you could see the relief wash over him. His whole body relaxed, tears started down his cheek, as he started smiling. It was a wonderful, wonderful moment......

Bring it on Dr. Charles

I DID IT !!! -