Guest post by Karen @ Karen & Gerard Zemek
My routine mammogram turned out not to be so routine. Something suspicious showed up. I had a few cysts that were aspirated and were not cancerous; however, the biopsy on another suspicious mass turned out to be Cancer. I though how can that be? I feel fine! Thank God I followed up with a mammogram in six months as was recommended and caught it early.
Emotionally
After being told I had Cancer in my right breast in August of this year, I felt a little scared but also confident that I would be okay because so many have gone through this before me and survived. I determined not to let it control me but to go about life as much as normal. I never had surgery before and only went to the doctor for annual checkups. I always felt I was in good shape and healthy for my age. I shared my news with my friends and co-workers asking for their prayers because I really wanted to beat this thing and not need Chemo. I was very worried that if something went wrong and I didn’t make it through surgery, that my husband would be totally lost so I made a list to help him out just in case. This gave me the peace of mind I needed knowing that I was prepared for the worst, but hoped and prayed for the best.
Decisions
The surgeon gave me the option of having a lumpectomy where he just removes the cancer and some tissue around it and the first to lymph nodes to see if it spread, followed by chemo if necessary, then radiation treatments for 33 days and then take a pill for five years or have a mastectomy, remove the entire breast, and be done with it or have reconstruction if desired. After reading through the brochure, I chose to have the lumpectomy and save my breast. I called my Pastor and arranged to be anointed for healing the Sunday before my surgery. This was the first time I ever did this.
Surgery was scheduled and the only pain I experienced was when the “mapped” the area where to cut and inserting a big needle into my squished breast. I experienced no pain afterward and thought after surgery, I’d be able to resume my normal activities in a week or two, including going back to work and playing tennis and working out at the gym. WRONG! The surgery went very well and my incision looks good.
I was feeling good and felt a bit guilty for being home all day so I went back to work two weeks later but after just two days decided it was too soon. I couldn’t believe how tired out I was at the end of the day. I rested through the day more than I thought and just wasn’t ready for such a long day. The doctor gave me six weeks to heal and so I decided to just take that time off work since they were okay with that. This was the biggest change in my life. It was nice being home and having so much free time to do whatever I felt like doing. I spent most of the day on the computer but rested when I felt myself getting tired. I loved being home with my cats and dog through the day and walked the dog for some exercise. I learned in the support group that I should exercise 4 hours a week and walking counted.
Eating Habits
Another huge change was that after attending a cancer support group right before I had surgery, I discovered that what we eat is very important because certain foods help the cancer to grow and others help feed the good cells to fight it off. Sugar is not my friend; donuts are my enemies. I used to have two or three donuts every Friday but I cut them out. I also started drinking green tea because it’s supposed to be very good for one’s body. I added more fruit to my diet and started eating vegetables, salad and started drinking V8 vegetable juice. I also went looking for some healthy snacks and came home with some sliced unsalted almonds, pitted prunes and fruit and nut trail mix.
Doctor Visits
I have to keep seeing different doctors for each phase of my treatment which involves many doctor appointments, bills to pay, insurance forms to complete, and FMLA forms to get filled out for time off work. I have follow-up appointments with the surgeon, appointments with a medical oncologist concerning the need for Chemo and learning about the pill I’ll be taking for five years, and the radiation treatments to look forward to every day for about 6 weeks except on the weekends. I am deciding if I should work half days during this time or just continue to stay off work until the end of these treatments.
Attitude
I am so thankful that I feel good and that the Cancer was in my breast rather than an actual “working” part of my body. I am praying for others and still trying to be a blessing to others just like before I was diagnosed with Cancer. I believe God has healed me and am thankful for this break I have from work. Life is precious and I am learning to focus on what’s most important--relationships with others. I am overwhelmed with all the prayers and encouragement I’ve received from friends, family, co-workers, church members, and bloggers.
Please don't forget to donate by clicking here for Keep a Breast or here for Susan G Komen.
****My sister is also offering a Breast Cancer related giveaway on her site. Check it out HERE.****
My routine mammogram turned out not to be so routine. Something suspicious showed up. I had a few cysts that were aspirated and were not cancerous; however, the biopsy on another suspicious mass turned out to be Cancer. I though how can that be? I feel fine! Thank God I followed up with a mammogram in six months as was recommended and caught it early.
Emotionally
After being told I had Cancer in my right breast in August of this year, I felt a little scared but also confident that I would be okay because so many have gone through this before me and survived. I determined not to let it control me but to go about life as much as normal. I never had surgery before and only went to the doctor for annual checkups. I always felt I was in good shape and healthy for my age. I shared my news with my friends and co-workers asking for their prayers because I really wanted to beat this thing and not need Chemo. I was very worried that if something went wrong and I didn’t make it through surgery, that my husband would be totally lost so I made a list to help him out just in case. This gave me the peace of mind I needed knowing that I was prepared for the worst, but hoped and prayed for the best.
Decisions
The surgeon gave me the option of having a lumpectomy where he just removes the cancer and some tissue around it and the first to lymph nodes to see if it spread, followed by chemo if necessary, then radiation treatments for 33 days and then take a pill for five years or have a mastectomy, remove the entire breast, and be done with it or have reconstruction if desired. After reading through the brochure, I chose to have the lumpectomy and save my breast. I called my Pastor and arranged to be anointed for healing the Sunday before my surgery. This was the first time I ever did this.
Surgery was scheduled and the only pain I experienced was when the “mapped” the area where to cut and inserting a big needle into my squished breast. I experienced no pain afterward and thought after surgery, I’d be able to resume my normal activities in a week or two, including going back to work and playing tennis and working out at the gym. WRONG! The surgery went very well and my incision looks good.
I was feeling good and felt a bit guilty for being home all day so I went back to work two weeks later but after just two days decided it was too soon. I couldn’t believe how tired out I was at the end of the day. I rested through the day more than I thought and just wasn’t ready for such a long day. The doctor gave me six weeks to heal and so I decided to just take that time off work since they were okay with that. This was the biggest change in my life. It was nice being home and having so much free time to do whatever I felt like doing. I spent most of the day on the computer but rested when I felt myself getting tired. I loved being home with my cats and dog through the day and walked the dog for some exercise. I learned in the support group that I should exercise 4 hours a week and walking counted.
Eating Habits
Another huge change was that after attending a cancer support group right before I had surgery, I discovered that what we eat is very important because certain foods help the cancer to grow and others help feed the good cells to fight it off. Sugar is not my friend; donuts are my enemies. I used to have two or three donuts every Friday but I cut them out. I also started drinking green tea because it’s supposed to be very good for one’s body. I added more fruit to my diet and started eating vegetables, salad and started drinking V8 vegetable juice. I also went looking for some healthy snacks and came home with some sliced unsalted almonds, pitted prunes and fruit and nut trail mix.
Doctor Visits
I have to keep seeing different doctors for each phase of my treatment which involves many doctor appointments, bills to pay, insurance forms to complete, and FMLA forms to get filled out for time off work. I have follow-up appointments with the surgeon, appointments with a medical oncologist concerning the need for Chemo and learning about the pill I’ll be taking for five years, and the radiation treatments to look forward to every day for about 6 weeks except on the weekends. I am deciding if I should work half days during this time or just continue to stay off work until the end of these treatments.
Attitude
I am so thankful that I feel good and that the Cancer was in my breast rather than an actual “working” part of my body. I am praying for others and still trying to be a blessing to others just like before I was diagnosed with Cancer. I believe God has healed me and am thankful for this break I have from work. Life is precious and I am learning to focus on what’s most important--relationships with others. I am overwhelmed with all the prayers and encouragement I’ve received from friends, family, co-workers, church members, and bloggers.
Karen and Gerard Zemek
www.twitter/kzemekPlease don't forget to donate by clicking here for Keep a Breast or here for Susan G Komen.
Current Giveaways
- Bad Ass Survivor Pendant
- BC Frame/Cross
- Breastless in the City
- Cooking For A Cure
- Digital Invitation
- Glass Pendant
- Halloween Rubber Stamps
- My Healing Companion - Cancer Journal
- Orglamix Organic Eyeshadow
****My sister is also offering a Breast Cancer related giveaway on her site. Check it out HERE.****
If you would like to take the Blogging for Boobs Breast Bash button to add to your site, here is the code;
<a border="0"
href="http://talkinwithteenie.blogspot.com/search/label/blogging%20for%20boobs%20breast%20bash"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://images44.fotki.com/v1581/photos/1/1396159/6896765/Untitled-vi.gif"/></a>
