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CAR_RAFFLE_RULES_AND_REGULATIONS final.pdf
My journey through cancer officially started on May 5, 2010. Three weeks prior, I decided to finally see the doctor about the lump on my far left breast. I wasnt really worried; after all, lots of women in their early 40s have cysts, right? I was working from home the day the radiologist called and said, I am sorry to tell you this. You have invasive lobular carcinoma. I had no idea what that wasshe had to spell it out for me. She told me to stay off the internet and gave me the names of several resources I should contact to go from here. From that point on, my life would never be the same.
For the first few weeks, the only people to whom I could utter the news were couple of good friends and my husband. In fact, it was so difficult to absorb, I actually told my surgeon I was too busy to commit to all the appointments and we needed to work around my schedule. I had two busy kids, a demanding job, and vacation plans; and were just going to have to squeeze in appointments where it was convenient. Thank goodness she had dealt with my type before and we developed two schedules one based on my timeframes, and one based on hers. I was literally sitting at the airport early one Sunday morning in May on my way to a meeting for work when it came over me like a tidal wave. I could not get on that plane. I called my boss and came home. My surgeons schedule had me in for an appointment Monday morning and we immediately got started on what she termed as the process. This word turned out to be very significant to me and is what kept me going when I felt weak, tired, sick, and frustrated. This was just a process and it would eventually be over.
My process involved four surgeries and four rounds of chemotherapy. As far as cancer survivors go, I was told I was one of the lucky ones. It was only Stage 1 and was very treatable. All but the last surgery happened in a matter of just over four months. During this whirlwind, I lost a summer with my family, all my hair, and about 10 pounds off my small frame. However, what I gained was something I could have never imagined.
People from work, many of whom I had not taken the time to really know personally, filled my house with food, flowers, cards, and offers to help. My parents and friends helped with laundry and making sure the kids got where they needed to go. Girlfriends took time out of their busy lives, travelled to my house, and kept me company while I slept on the couch after treatments. Care packages and cards came from loved ones out of town. My husband handled everything so amazingly well and our relationship is stronger than ever. The list of ways I have been blessed goes on and on.
When I look back on the experience, as weird as it may sound, it was a gift. Yes, I am alive, and for that I am eternally grateful; but its so much more than that. I had no idea how much I was loved. I had no idea how much I could love. I understand now what it means to be present in the moment. Unimportant things that seemed so important before are suddenly easy to let go. My priorities are straight . I eat better, love deeper, and laugh more.
I am a survivor because I listened to my doctors and followed the process. I am thriving because of the love from my family and friends, and the resources made possible by foundations such as Side-Out. Side-Out supports organizations that are vital to helping cancer patients manage the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, and coming out of it thriving. I dont ever want to go through it again, but I also wouldnt trade one single moment. My cancer experience brought me where I am today and I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. Every day is a gift!
Kasey McEuen,
Wife, mother, daughter, sister and breast cancer survivor
11/7/11
My name is Diane Buckingham. I am a wife, mother, daughter and sister. I was diagnosed July 5th 2010 with Breast Cancer. I found the lump myself about a month earlier. I'll never forget sitting on the couch and thinking something felt sore in my left breast. I felt around and found the lump. It was tender to the touch and I could actually feel the circumference of it. I cried. I knew it was not just fibrotic tissue. So when the diagnosis came in I already had an idea it would not be good. But I guess you are never prepared to hear someone say the "cancer" word to you. My doctors were fast acting and I had a lumpectomy on July 11th. The cancer was sent off and came back with a name "Triple Negative, Stage 2a, Grade 3". It didn't seem so bad. The surgeon got clean margins, my nodes were negative - it hadn't spread. The thing is you go home and do your homework. This is when it got ugly. About 10-20% of breast cancers test negative for both hormone receptors and HER2 in the lab, which means they are triple-negative. Since hormones are not supporting its growth, the cancer is unlikely to respond to hormonal therapies. It also tends to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer. The studies say that triple-negative breast cancer is more likely to spread beyond the breast and is more likely to recur after treatment. With all that said they say I have a 50% chance of it reoccurring or even death within the first five years even with treatment.
I have always been a fighter and I refuse to be a statistic. Right before all this happened I felt the best I ever had. I was doing Zumba fitness regularly, camping, hiking and walking. I felt great! I am 43, have a great job, wonderful family and I am FULL OF LIFE! I am taking a positive attitude in my fight against Breast Cancer. I will win this battle. I have good days and bad days. Who am I kidding I have one good week and one very bad week. On a bad week, after Chemotherapy, I have nausea and am very fatigued. My hair has fallen out even my eyelashes and nose hair. The side effects of chemo are not pleasant! However I am continuing to work. I am a Realtor and have had my license since 2003. I am the Agent Services Director at Keller Williams Realty. The agents need me and they have been some of my biggest supporters. I am very thankful to be surrounded by such a wonderful
group of people.
My life has changed. I am now very humble and aware of what is most important in life - my family. I have not been able to go to any of my 9yr old son Noah's YAFL football games. I am missing out something that is so important to him. I am so very appreciative of my husband, mother, father and two brothers for all their time, patience and effort to keep things running and as normal as possible. I have become a slave to my couch and bed when not working. Trips to the store are a chore. I am not my usual vibrant self who can't sit down for very long because there always something that needs to be done. I am not the wife, mother, daughter or sister I used to be. But this is all just a bump in the road of life. I will beat the odds. I am not a quitter nor will I take this lying down, for long. I am a survivor!
About 1 in 8 women in the United States (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. More than 1 in 4 cancers in women (about 28%) are breast cancer.
A womans risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.
About 70-80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history. These occur due to genetic abnormalities that happen as a result of the aging process and environment.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells that occurs as a result of abnormal changes in the genes responsible for regulating growth of cells causing the cells to divide without control or order. The mass of cells that results is called a tumor. If the tumor is malignant (cancerous) it can spread to healthy breast tissue and eventually to the lymph nodes in the armpit which gives the cancerous cells a route to spread through the body, called metastasis.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Initially, there may not be symptoms because a lump may be too small to notice. Often, abnormal areas turn up during routine mammograms which lead to further investigation. A lump in the breast can either be painless, hard, and unevenly edged or tender, soft, and rounded. Other symptoms include swelling of all or part of the breast;, skin irritation or dimpling; breast pain; nipple pain or the nipple turning inward; redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin; nipple discharge other than breast milk; and a lump in the underarm area.
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