It's A Family Thing

Tattoo Session #3 September 9, 2011

2011-09-10T08:22:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I went for my third session on my Pirates of the Caribbean chest piece. I didn't bother posting after my second session because it was just some more outlining and shading. Yesterday, we added colour! Photographs do it no justice. Jarkko's doing an amazing job. I have no more sessions booked before our trip to Disney in October. Hopefully we can get back at it soon!!! Jarkko wanted the top part that shows, including the cover-up of the old tattoos, to look decent before our trip. I think he did it!!!

Click on picture for larger version.

The tattoo Gods were shining down on my yesterday as the appointment before me was a no-show (something I will NEVER understand...who misses a tattoo appointment?) Because we had more time, we were also able to do the Steamboat Willie I'd been wanting. He's on the outside lower part of my right arm. He looks incredible! and reminds me of my dear sweet Dad. So happy to have it done before our Disney trip too! Not related to my scar cover-up, but a really important piece to me.

Click on picture for larger version.

A Pirate's Life for Me!

2011-07-29T06:52:00.010-04:00

Content Warning
This blog post contains content only suitable for adults.

Last Friday, I had my first chest tattooing session. The first 2 hours was spent reviewing drawings, designs and drawing with Sharpies and stenciling on my chest. This is a huge project which involves covering up some old tattoos. Once we were happy with the designs and their placements, I sat for a 2 hour tattooing session, complete with Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks blasting in my ear buds!

As promised, here are a few photographs. Warning, these do show my bare chest complete with mastectomy scars.

Before ~ mastectomy scars and old tattoos we're covering.

Artwork ~ designs superimposed over a photograph of my chest.
Left breast will be covered with a Kraken tentacle;
Right breast will have an open treasure chest with gold coins, the cup for the Fountain of Youth and Tia Dalma's necklace.

More artwork; The Black Pearl!!! The bow of the Flying Dutchman is in the top picture.

Stencils and lots of blue sharpie!!!

After first session. The Black Pearl is above my left breast; it's hard to see in this photo, but above my right breast is the bow of the Flying Dutchman surfacing. There will be a water vortex and waves added later. The signature Skull and Crossbones is centred on my chest with "Dead Men Tell No Tales" along my collar bone. There will be Hidden Mickey's hidden throughout the design. There is one in handle of one of the torches and there will be one hidden in the suckers on the Kraken tentacles! Jarkko is an amazing artist and came up with some "ironic" ideas for this design, like the "open chest" *smile*

Everything has healed wonderfully and the detail is amazing. It's hard to see in these photos as I'm cover in stencil and tattoo ink! I will publish detailed upclose photos when the piece is complete.

My next appointment is scheduled for August 19th...I can't wait!!!

It is not the destination so much as the journey, they say.

2011-07-22T07:11:00.010-04:00

The above is a quote from Captain Jack Sparrow and is suiting to today's post as I embark on the final leg of my journey. Today we start my chest tattoo. My wonderful tattooist, Jarkko, has been drawing the piece and says he has some surprises for me. I'm not allowed to see until today! *smile* I'm very excited and very nervous at the same time.

I'm not sure how much we will get done today; I'm hoping we can get most of the outline done. It all depends on how my pain threshold is today. I will post before and after photos after today's session once the bandages come off; hopefully tomorrow.

Tia Dalma: You know of Davy Jones? A man of the sea, a great sailor. Until he run afoul of that which vexes all men.

Will Turner: What vexes all men?

Tia Dalma: What indeed.

Gibbs: The sea?

Pintel: Sums?

Ragetti: The dichotomy of good and evil?

Jack Sparrow: A woman.

Tia Dalma: A woman. He fell in love.

Gibbs: No, no, I heard it was the sea he fell in love with.

Tia Dalma: [annoyed] Same story, different versions. And all are true. See, it was a woman as changing and harsh and untamable as the sea. Him never stopped loving her. But the pain it caused was to much to live with, but not enough to cause him to die.

Will Turner: What exactly did he put into the chest?

Tia Dalma: Him heart.

Ragetti: Literally or figuratively?

Pintel: He couldn't literally put his heart in a chest. Could he?

Tia Dalma: It was not worth feeling what small, fleeting joy life brings.

Dead Men Tell No Tales

2011-06-24T19:22:00.001-04:00

New Page 1

I know, I know, I've been negligent in my blogging. I've really felt no need to update. Since my revision surgery things have been going along wonderfully! I still have a little pain and discomfort but nothing like before my revision.

I'm about to embark on the final stage of my long journey though; tattooing my reconstructed breasts. I am however putting a different twist on the usual reconstructive breast tattooing. To quote my plastic surgeon: "I know you won't do nipple tattoos, but I know you'll do something. Whatever it is, I want pictures!".

Well, she's right and she'll get her wish. I have a consultation with one of my favourite tattooists on July 9, 2011, for a Pirates of the Caribbean themed chest piece! WOO HOO

I'm a Disney nut and have been a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean since long before the Johnny Depp days (gasp, I know! but he has made Pirates even better!). I've loved POTC since I first visited Walt Disney World in March of 1972. I'm dubbing this tattoo, my "Dead Man's Chest". ARRGH!!!

I've been researching what Pirates "elements" I want to incorporate in my chest piece. I have 2 amazing POTC Artwork books that have been a fabulous help. So far I've come up with the Disney Pirates skull (goes without saying), the key to the Dead Man's Chest, a Kraken, an Incan coin, Tia Dalma's Pendant and of course, the Black Pearl. The tattoo will start at my collar bone. The collar bone will say "Dead Men Tell No Tales" in "Pieces of Eight" font, and the tattoos will go right down my chest/breasts to cover my mastectomy scars.

I'm not sure how/if he can incorporate everything I have envisioned, but I know he'll do his best to try! We'll work out all those details at my consultaton on the 9th. My first tattooing session is scheduled for July 22, 2011. I can't wait!

ARRRGH Mateys!

Excuse our appearance...we are currently under reconstruction...again!

2010-09-27T16:21:00.010-04:00

I can't believe it's been over 9 months since Dad's passing. Life has been absolutely CRAZY this year. We listed our house for sale; finally found a buyer in July with a 3-week closing date; moved into Dad's house and are currently living in renovation hell! You'd swear we're in an episode of Hoarders!

I saw my plastic surgeon in July during the chaos and again today. I have never been happy with how my reconstruction healed, so I am having a revision surgery on December 10th...5 days after we get back from a fun-filled family vacation at Disney World.

The surgery should be about 2 hours in length; she will remove my current implants, perform a capsulectomy (removal of scar tissue) and insert higher profile "shorter" implants. This should make the implants sit little lower in my chest (they currently feel like they're on my shoulders!) and will be a bit wider at the base to help with the "flat" spots; this will all hopefully give me a bit more of a natural look. I have requested my guardian angel anesthesiologist too (explained here). Hopefully he's available that day.

I'll have a lot of preparation to get done in a VERY short period of time. Our kitchen reno is scheduled to take place while we are away at Disney, so that gives me only 4 days to try unpack and organize my new kitchen (EEEEE...I'm getting my dream kitchen, I can't wait). I'm sure I won't get it all organized, but will at least try to get enough done so I can easily access a few things after surgery. I'm scheduled to work the Monday to Thursday before my surgery, but may need to take a half day off here and there to try get things ready at home.

Stay tuned....

On a blogging hiatus

2010-01-21T06:54:00.013-05:00

Since the passing of my dear dad on January 15th, 2010, my urge to blog has completely stopped. I'm in a daze these days and the past few weeks are all a blur. I'm numb and it all feels like a bad dream that I just can't wake up from.

My unhappiness with my new foobs seems so inconsequential at this point. I really haven't thought about it much these days; I guess that proves what the real important things in life are and it doesn't really matter what my chest looks like...it's just not that important! Things may change as time passes, but for now, I can live with them...at least now they won't kill me.

I have lost both my parents in under 3 years to this fucking disease and at least for now, it can't catch me!

Good night dad...I love you!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

Surgery update...finally!

2009-12-22T09:10:00.026-05:00

I've done my surgery update finally. It's a bit long, so hope I don't bore anyone with it!

Surgery Day ~ November 25th, 2009

My surgery wasn't scheduled until 12:30, so we headed to London the morning of surgery. My husband and I arrived at St. Joseph’s around 10:30. Dr. Temple was ahead of schedule so I was taken into Day Surgery early. At this point, the nerves hit. For my mastectomy in July, I didn't have the nerves. I should have seen this as a little foreshadowing that things weren't going to go so smoothly.

First, I changed into my sexy gown and then Dr. Temple came in to mark me up with her trusty Sharpie!

Next came the part I dread, and that didn't go so well...the lab tech arrived to put in my IV. Not such a fun experience. I have small veins and it's usually difficult to give me an IV...today was worse! My wonderful caring husband held my hand for support (and for me to squeeze). She couldn't do it and tried poking and poking and poking at both hands. After about 10 minutes of this, she gave up and was going to speak to the OR staff. At this point I'm just about in hysterics. Despite my tattoos, I HATE needles and was almost at the passing out stage. I started to cry and could not turn off the waterworks. Shortly after a medical student working with Dr. Currin, the anesthesiologist, arrived. She did her 20 questions with me regarding medical history. She said not to worry about the IV, that she'd do it down at the OR. Ok, I felt a little better now. Since the hospital staff would probably frown on me bringing my dogs and cats with me, I brought Mickey and Minnie for moral support! This picture was taken by my hubby just before they wheeled me out.

About 10 minutes later, Dr. Currin's medical student and a very handsome orderly (had to mention that...I hate seeing a good looking man when I'm looking my worst!) arrived to wheel me down to the OR. They park my gurney in the hall just outside my OR door. The student doctor says she's going to do my IV now. Nope, my body had other ideas! She tried a couple of times in my right hand and ended up blowing 2 veins. My right hand turned a lovely purple colour! She said she was sorry and was going to speak to Dr. Currin and have him take a look at me. I start crying again!

Dr. Currin comes out of the OR and starts chatting to me. He looked familiar. He took one look at the Oriental goldfish tattoo on my right arm and says "I remember you, you have the carp on your arm!" He starts to laugh. He had been my anesthesiologist for my mastectomy in July. I knew I recongized him! He's older and English and had this aire about him that just wanted you to cuddle him like a grandfather or a teddy bear. He was such a sweet man. He put a tournequet on my lower left arm (instead of the usual upper) and started to slap my wrist VERY hard! OUCH!!! Next thing you know, I had an IV needle in me. He had that sucker in there in under 15 seconds and with no freezing first. What a wonderful doctor!!! The nurse hooked up my IV and started the antibiotic drip.

A couple of minutes later, they took me into the OR. As usual, I moved myself to the table and tried to get comfortable on a table that's only about 12 inches wide! They covered me with wonderful warm blankets. Dr. Currin rubbed my shoulders and said "You've been through a rough time today, I'm going to give you a treat. I'm going to give you the best buzz you've ever had." Whatever he gave me was WOW! Can I have some of whatever that was to go please? He put something into my IV and left me buzzed for a couple of minutes while the nurses hooked up the blood pressure cuff, heart monitors, etc. With my previous surgeries they had hooked me up wide awake and then just put me under. This time was definitely different!!! :-) They finally put the oxygen mask on me and told me to take couple of deep breaths. They injected the Propofol (a.k.a. Diprivan; think Michael Jackson, may he rest in peace) and out I went.

Skip to Recovery. I wake up and with worst sore throat EVER! I could hardly speak...the worst laryngitis I've ever had. I had been previously told that I was difficult to intubate and they had to use a special type of tube on me. Apparently this time was no exception. The recovery nurse told me the sore throat was from that. Other than the throat, I felt pretty good with very little pain although I'm sure the morphine I had been given during surgery was still at work. I'm lucky and wake up very easily from anesthetic and never feel nauseous, etc. As soon as I was able to sit up, the nurse gave me some Tramacet for the pain. I had two drains in (yuck ~ I HATE the drains).

After about 30 minutes, they took me back to the Day Surgery Unit where my hubby was waiting for me. The same very handsome orderly mentioned above got me some ginger ale and a cherry popsicle to help with the throat. He was very very kind and chatted with me for a few minutes. Shortly after that, Dr. Temple came in to see me. She laughed at my throat and said Dr. Currin really had to ram my throat a few times to get the tube in. I told her how wonderful I thought he was and she said if I decide to do nipple reconstruction or if need to do a revision surgery, we can request him again. I've made a mental note of that because I have a feeling there'll be a revision in my future...but more about that further on.

About an hour after I was in back in Day Surgery, I was allowed to leave. Yes, as hard as it is to believe, my previous mastectomy and today's breast capsulatomy and implants are day surgery. I was given two cards with my implant serial numbers (one for each side) and a prescription for Tramacet as well as a heavy duty antibiotic to prevent skin infection. I joked with my hubby that if they ever find my body and can't identify it, they can use my implant serial numbers to identify me. The nurse and I talked about the serial numbers and noted a recent case where this had been done. We both wished the authorities had never released that type of information because they are a lot of sickos out there. If someone would go to the efforts of disfiguring a body so much that it can't be identified (cut of finger tips and knock out her teeth), then we said we could see women being mutilated to remove their implants as well. But I digress. I was also given the instructions for the home care nurse.

DH went to get the car and the nurse wheeled me down to the hospital entrance. I was starving so part way home we stopped at McD's to get me some chicken nuggets and fries. The drive home was uneventful. It was good to get home.

Skip to next day. Good thing I had experience emptying drains. When I called the homecare people, I was advised someone wouldn't be here until Friday (my surgery was on a Wednesday), but I could call if there was an emergency or I had any problems they would send someone over. I saw my first homecare nurse on Friday. She's a neighbour of mine and she had visited me back in July after the mastectomy.

My tubes were removed on Monday. Dr. Temple had ordered that they had to come out on Day 5 regardless of home much drainage I still had. Removal was virtually painless and it felt good to have them removed. Sleeping with them in is next to impossible! I was pretty sleep deprived at this point. The nurse showed me the tubing and explained how much was actually in my breast (nearly faints)...I didn't need to know that!!! LOL I did enjoy many naps with my fur-nurses. Cats are the BEST fur-nurses. Raven (the little black cat) never left my side. Animals definitely have an instinct for when you're not feeling well. Both of my dogs who can be pretty rambunctious didn't jump on me once during the healing process.

Skip to next week. I'm so depressed and hate my new foobs. I have this horrible arm pit cleavage (for want of a better term) and to me my foobs look like flat hamburger buns. I spent about a week crying. Everytime someone would ask how I was doing, I'd start crying. I was miserable. I had moments where I had wished I hadn't done reconstruction at all and had opted to remain a no-boober.

I had my follow-up appointment with Dr. Temple on December 7th. My sister came along as driver and moral support. Margo was there too (my angel Margo). Dr. Temple said I was healing nicely. When she asked what I thought, I started to cry. I told her I didn't like how I looked and had been afraid to tell her for not wanting to hurt her feelings (silly I know). She said I still had a lot of swelling in my chest muscles and that it will take quite some time for things to settle down. She said not to be silly about hurting her feelings. 10 - 15% or reconstruction patients require some sort of revision surgery. I'm to go back to see her on June 21st, 2010, the day she returns from her maternity leave. If I'm still not happy then, we'll schedule a revision to place them differently, or perhaps change the profile and/or size. I currently have medium profile implants. Dr. Temple showed me some massages to do on my foobs. I'm to push them up, push them down and push them together to create cleavage. This is done because there's scar tissuing forming and this is to help put the implants where I want them. She said to do them everytime I sit on the toilet, or whenever. I told her "hell, I'll do those at work! LOL" They joked about the guys looking at their watches wondering what time Shari starts work! LOL I almost obsess about the massages. I'm constantly doing them. Anyone who doesn't know I've had reconstruction surgery could see me and think I was constantly playing with myself! :-) The only down side is the massages to cause some discomfort. That's probably from breaking up the scar tissue.

Once Dr. Temple left the office, Margo sat next to me and we had a good chat with me and my sister. If you recall from my first blog entry, my sister tested negative to this nasty mutation. Please read here from an old blog of hers for an account of our genetic testing and my positive result. Margo said she understood my emotions and that I'd been through so much in the past year (3 surgerys virtually removing every female part I had). She was going to have a psycologist friend of hers, Colleen, give me a call to talk. Margo is so wonderful!

After my appointment I felt so much better. I can wait six months. I'm hoping with the constant playing with my new foobs, that things will settle down and I'll start to like the way I look.

For your viewing pleasure, this is how my foobs look today. I have to say the incisions are healing very well. Dr. Temple definitely is a talented plastic surgeon. Her incisions are very fine.

I finish my sick leave tomorrow, and start Christmas vacation on December 24th. I'll be back to work on January 4th, 2010. It will be good to get back. I have certainly missed everyone and my work (yes, I love my job and the work I do!).

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for all your support in 2009. I couldn't have done this without you. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2010.

Love,
Shari

Sorry; I've been neglecting my blogging responsibilities!

2009-12-12T12:44:00.004-05:00

Sorry I haven't updated since my surgery. That update blog will be difficult to write and I've been on a emotional roller coaster since surgery. I will update sometime over the holidays when I feel more up to it. I am healing well (at least physically!). I'll update about my day of surgery and the roller coaster ride that followed. Again, sorry for not updating...will get to it soon!

4th and Last Fill ~ better late than never!!!

2009-10-13T16:45:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the late posting, but my life has been crazy for weeks!

I had my fourth and final fill on September 21. This fill was incredibly painful. There was 100cc more room in each expander; however Dr. Temple could get no more than 75cc in each side. My poor body would stretch no more. This suited me fine as the pain was excruciating. It was so bad; I had to take a couple of days off work afterwards. Thanks goodness the pain is all gone; just a little discomfort every now and then.

My exchange surgery is scheduled for November 25 at 12:30. Dr. Temple has ordered me 395cc implants; she thinks that size will look pretty. I can’t wait to have the exchange surgery done and have this all behind me.

Here are a few photos after the 4th fill.

I Survived!!!

2009-09-11T08:38:00.011-04:00

Wednesday was my first day back to work following my PBM. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to make it with the pain I was in from Tuesday’s fill, but when I woke up Wednesday morning, the pain was gone!!!! There’s still a very slight tightness in my chest, but that’s it! Since the pain only lasted the first day, maybe I will complete the rest of my fill at the next visit on September 21...I'll see how it goes and she uses 50cc syringes; I can always stop after one.

Going back to work Wednesday and Thursday was exhausting, but I did manage to work a full 7 hours each day. I have today off ~ I usually don’t work Fridays. On my first day back, I received the most beautiful bouquet of sunflowers from my cohorts in crime, er, I mean my co-workers, Mark and Tammy! Thank you both! They are beautiful. Mark said since I was returning to work, so was the sunshine. So very sweet.

Many many of my girlfriends at work copped a feel of my new foobs with many varied reactions. The hardness of the expanders surprised quite a few! LOL Everyone said I looked great. I’m starting to get out of my funk and am feeling much better about myself. Those negative thoughts are beginning disappear. It’s good to be back and to have the “distraction” of work. I had really missed all of my friends and coworkers!!!

Fill #3...almost there!

2009-09-08T15:16:00.016-04:00

I had fill #3 today. OUCH! At my insistence, Dr. Temple put in 100ccs on each side instead of the usual 75. Most of the pain is not in my chest strangely enough; most of the pain is in my left shoulder, shoulder blade and back. My fault, I know! My last fill went so well with virtually no pain and very little discomfort, that I thought I would try more. I’m in a fair amount of pain, although it’s started to subside a little...thank you Advil. My drive home was not fun and very uncomfortable. Since my last fill went so well, I didn’t take a driver with me today...OOPS! Lesson learned.

I’m now at 350ccs, so have only 100 more to go. She said I may only need one more, but after today, I may have less put in next time. We’ll see how long today's pain lasts and how I feel for the next appointment. I’m scheduled for September 21st.

Dr. Evans assisted again today, so with one on each side, today’s fill went just as fast as the last one. Dr. Temple started to giggle near the end of the fill and said “you’ll really notice the difference now!” And, boy what a difference there is!

Here are a few photos after today's fill. The dots are little bandaids they put on after the fill...after seeing them in a photo, they look like bad fake nips to me! LOL The right one leaked when the needle was removed and even after the bandaid was put on and soaked through my t-shirt...I looked like I was lactating! LOL They are coming along really nicely and I am beginning to really like the way they look in clothing...undressed I still am having problems with the way I look, but in clothing, I'm beginning to look pretty "normal"...which is very important to me.

Larger pictures will open in another window.

BRCAnxiety

2009-09-07T09:02:00.007-04:00

There are some cute t-shirt sayings out there that play on the whole BRCA thing (I have quite a few of them myself), but I’ve come up with one that’s not so cute ~ BRCAnxiety. I am beginning to wonder if learning of a BRCA mutation isn't somewhat like having Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). I have more anxiety now than pre-surgery. I’ve even started having panic attacks in the middle of the night...what a treat that is combined with night sweats! I think I’m becoming sleep deprived...my insomnia has returned full tilt! Last night I received a grand total of 2 hours of sleep. I do have some other unrelated personal issues going on right now, and those seem to just escalate my anxieties. Not a minute of my day passes where it doesn’t come creeping back into my mind.

I am an otherwise healthy woman in my mid-forties, have had a hysterectomy, BSO, PBM and am part-way through the reconstruction process. After watching my mom suffer for three months after a terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis and learning of my own predisposition for cancer, I just can't move on. Every little ache and pain sets me off. Peritoneum? Pancreas? Residual breast tissue? Something else??? Since the BSO results in the early onset of menopause, my risk of dying of heart disease rises to the top over my cancer risk!!! So now I need to try to get more exercise, eat healthy and try to focus on good health....not very successful these days but I'm giving it my best. It just seems so unfair! I want my old pre-BRCA life back.

I've just contacted my employer's EFAP program and am awaiting a referral...at least it's a start! I have to keep reminding myself that I need to be my own advocate.

Sorry if my posts of late seem rambling, but blogging to me is like journaling and is very therapeutic. It helps to get this all off my chest (No pun intended!). Thanks for always being there, for your caring and kinds words and most of all for always listening to my ramblings.

Luv & Hugs,
Shari

Counselling following a positive BRCA test result...or should I say the lack thereof!

2009-09-05T08:56:00.018-04:00

I find I’m not alone in my struggles with this. It seems I’m not the only one who was never offered any type of personal counselling after positive BRCA mutation tests results and their devastating effects on a person. It’s sad really. I have BRCA sisters all over the world and I know of very few who were offered any type of personal counselling after receiving positive test results.

Sure, we received “genetic counselling”, but nothing to deal with the personal issues associated with it...the fear of cancer, our perception of cancer risk, the sense of being “different”, making the decision to have preventative surgery, the huge loss following surgery, second guessing yourself afterwards..."did I make the right choice?", self-image, etc., etc. It’s a big deal and so many people in our lives, both personal and professional, just brush it off. They figure once you’ve had your surgeries and are “on the other side”, you should just get on with your life and forget about the whole thing. Well news flash, it DOESN’T go away, even after surgery!

It’s sad really, in this day and age, we can test for things such as a BRCA mutation, and have preventative surgeries to reduce our risk of cancer and probably save our lives, but we still don’t know how to treat the people aspects of it...it all seems so cold and clinical. Don't get me wrong, medically, I’m not complaining, I’ve had the best medical team you could ever ask for...having a BRCA gene mutation is like having a gold card for medical care, but the mental and emotional aspects of it all seem to get left behind.

I was never really offered any type of support from my genetic counsellor other than a support group in London. That’s over 2 hours away from me and just wouldn’t work. My sister just confessed to me yesterday (yes another confession...it’s good for the soul), that last Fall she was so worried about me and how I was reacting to all of this (if you don't remember, she tested negative...maybe a little "survivor's guilt"?) that she emailed our genetic counsellor for help. Her response was blah! Apparently other than the aforementioned support group, the only other offer was a “non-denominational spiritual advisor” at the LHSC. That’s not what I’m looking for. No other counselling was offered or was available...if she could come up with something else, she would let her know....needless to say, she never heard back from her.

I have even thought that maybe this is "female" issue. If it was mainly men dealing with this (and there ARE men who deal with this) and they were having to remove body parts, that you could bet your butt there’d be more resources available, but I hope that this isn’t the case; that we’re past all that. This is the 21st century! But again, I digress...I'm feeling rather sensitive these days! I know there is some support out there, maybe in the bigger medical centres, but so far, I’ve found none really available to me.

All that being said, thank goodness for the internet and online support groups such as Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), BRCA Umbrella, the world of blogging and even Facebook. As Lisa said, at least we have each other.

I love all of my BRCA sistas...I really don’t know what I’d do without you!!! ♥ XOXO

Feeling the loss of my feminine self...

2009-09-04T21:16:00.022-04:00

My BRCA sista and blog buddy, Lisa, made the following comment today on Facebook about this whole process and what she said rang so true with me...“The mental impact is kinda huge though and comes at you when you're least expecting it.” Lisa’s statement has inspired today’s blog about this mish-mash of emotions I’m feeling...the timing couldn’t be better. There are no such things as coincidences, right?

As I recover from my mastectomy the message I get from family and friends is “you’ve made the right decision”.

But some feelings are just beginning to rear their ugly head...I am starting to suffer difficulties in adjusting my self-image to my bodily loss. I see myself as “mutilated” and am terrified of rejection.

I feel that following my hysterectomy and mastectomy that all that was my former female self is gone. I know I am more than just boobs and tubes, but at times I don’t feel like it. I’m scared!

From what I’ve read, these reactions are common apparently. My breasts were a symbol of my femininity, my desirability, my ability to entice. We live in a very breast-oriented society, and it's like everything I can offer a man is gone. It isn't a vanity thing. It's an essential part of my core existence as a woman. Wrong or right, that’s how I feel and feelings are very very real no matter how “sane” or “insane” they may seem.

This BRCA thing with its horrendous chances of developing cancer (and yes, with every new ache or pain I develop, in my mind, "I must have cancer" ~ I think I've had every type of cancer in the last year and a half)...but I digress. As I was saying, this BRCA thing that resulted in me having a preventative total hysterectomy and bilateral mastectomy is a terrible test, and it has the potential to destroy a person...ME! It also has the potential to offer the greatest growth...one day...maybe... but I need to feel secure, that I’m loved for me and not because I’m “attractive”.

At times I find myself starting to withdraw into myself. It takes a great deal of sense of self to project myself as a woman following the mastectomy. I feel damaged. I feel a total loss of confidence.

My family doctor sort of brushed aside my fears, telling me to “'give it time”. Time alone will not take care of this...perhaps an intervention would be a better idea!

I try to wear a happy, confident mask...I even joke about the new bigger boobs I'll have when I’m done with the reconstruction process, but at the same time I’m trying to deny these feelings. I’ve been afraid to let anybody know how I’ve been feeling.

Sorry for the ramblings and please consider this post my Confessional.

EDIT: Please read the comments people have left...I am so lucky to have my BRCA sisters for support...seems I'm not alone.

Listen Carefully....it whispers.

2009-09-01T01:00:00.000-04:00

Fillin' those Foobs!!!

2009-08-24T18:50:00.014-04:00

Today's fill went extremely well and was a very well attended event. Of course there was Dr. Temple, nurse Christine and my angel Margo, the nurse practitioner; but today's audiance also included Dr. Evans, Carlos, a clerk (student maybe? not sure?), and a photographer, DH. Yes, today's session was photographed from start to finish so everyone can see the process. I hope it doesn't freak anyone out. It looks a lot worse than it is!!! Notice how Dr. Temple managed to somehow dodge the camera's eye (other than her hands)...next time!!!

I received 75cc in each side today...I wish she would have given me 100 as I feel pretty fab after today's session...maybe next time. She didn't want to give me more because of my "small frame"...bleh...I could have taken it! I have 450cc expanders and so far I have 250cc in each. At least I'm over half-way full. My next fill is set for September 8th...I can't wait!!!

Images will open up in a new window.

Syringes and other medical-type goodies needed for the fill.

Dr. Evans

Carlos

Margo!!!!!

Dr. Temple finding the fill ports.

Needles in and tubes attached ready for the saline-filled syringes.

Since Dr. Evans was helping out Dr. Temple, they filled both sides at the same time and were done in no time flat...no pun intended!!!

and a special message for you cancer...CAN'T GET ME!!!

I'm still here!

2009-08-12T13:11:00.007-04:00

Sorry, but I've been bad at updating my blog. To be honest, I just haven't felt up to it; physically and emotionally.

I had my drain tubes removed on July 23, no problem. It was actually painless and it sure felt good to get those drains out!

After that though, I sort of went downhill. Physically, I've been in a fair amount of pain and discomfort. Emotionally, I been on a rollercoaster. Today is the first day that I've actually felt sort of human.

I saw Dr. Temple on August 4 for a follow-up appointment. She said the incisions are healing nicely and everything looked good. She then sprung on me "are you ready for a fill?" Well, I wasn't expecting that, but I thought why not. I was terrified after seeing the syringes, tubes and needles, but believe it or not, I felt nothing when she inserted the needle into my chest. She put in 50cc into each side. I tolerated that very well, so she put in another 25cc in each side. That was enough. I definitely felt that...it was tight! 100cc was put in at surgery, so I'm now at 175cc's per side.

The week following has been hell. I've had horrible nerve regeneration pain where my breasts used to be. I've also had horrible rib pain following the fill. I'm living on ibuprofen to help with the swelling and pain and today is the first day I've felt somewhat human. I hope the fills get easier but I have a feeling they won't.

Dr. Temple also broke my heart and told me I likely won't be able to go on any of the big rides at Disneyworld when we go on our family trip this October. She said the pain will probably be horrible and she's unsure about damaging the expanders. She said we'll keep talking about it each appointment and see how I'm progressing.

This is what an expander looks like. The round disk is the filling port. A needle is inserted through your chest into the port and then a large syringe filled with saline is attached and injected into the expander.

My next fill is scheduled for August 24. I couldn't get in earlier as Dr. Temple is on holidays. DH will be going with me next time, so I'll be getting him to take some photographs of the fill process.

Here is what I look like on day 26. I have a little more shape following the fill last week. Click on the thumbnail for a larger picture (will open in a new window).

Viewer Discretion is Advised!

2009-07-22T16:01:00.017-04:00

Don't say I didn't warn you!!!!

Here I am at day 5 out of my PBM and I'm feeling pretty good considering what I've been through. I am tired and sleep a lot but I blame a lot of that on the lovely cocktail of pharmaceuticals they have me on!

Of course I was a nervous wreck on surgery day...the thing I dread the most is the IV. I have small veins and they always have a difficult time putting the IV in. I had the same lab tech and pre-op nurse as I had for my hysterectomy. I thought that was kind of strange, but was also a little comforting.

I saw Dr. Temple around 9:45 just before I was going into surgery. She quickly marked me up and then we were good to go. Surgery went very well. It was scheduled from 10:00am - 1:00pm but I was out and awake by 12:30pm. I did have to stay in recovery until about 5:00, but I did come home that night. DH had me home by 7:30.

These expanders will sure take some getting used to and they definitely feel like I have waterwings stuck up under my arm pits!!! 100cc was put in the expanders at surgery, so I'm not totally flat...and these puppies do sit high...I can only imagine what they'll be like as I fill up!

I'm going to post photos as I progress. Just a warning, you may find these images to be personal, graphic and contain partial nudity. Don't let the Franken-boobs scare you!!!

These were taken on the day of surgery, July 17, 2009, just after we got home from London. I still have the gauze on.

Click on the thumbnails for larger pictures (will open in a new window).

After two visits with home care, I now only have the steri-strips on the incisions and no more gauze. The home care nurse said the incisions are perfect.

The following were taken July 21, 2009, day 4 after surgery. Aren't those drains lovely? They are scheduled to come out on the 23rd. I can't wait!

That's about it for now. I'm in the lazing around recovery stage and am enjoying it. I'll update later!

T-5 and counting!

2009-07-12T11:28:00.008-04:00

I can't believe my PBM is only 5 sleeps away! I've been suffering from the worst anxiety and insomnia EVER!!! I know this is par for the course and will pass in time. My doctor gave me a script for sleeping pills, but I was afraid to take them (I'd never had sleeping pills in my life), but 2 weeks of no sleep and the pleadings of a pre-op nurse convinced me to use them...I'm so glad I did. The past 4 nights I've had the most heavenly, peaceful, restful sleep that I've ever had.

I've been busy "nesting" and getting everything ready at home for my return from surgery; I've actually been compulsively cleaning and organizing. I actually defrosted and cleaned out my big freezer this morning...YUCK! It has been very therapeutic and has keep my mind off of things...and it's been good for the soul. I'm starting to feel more at ease with everything ahead of me.

I just wanted to say "thanks" to everyone for all your support and words of encouragement.

I'll try update as soon as I can.

(((BIG HUGS)))

Boob Voyage!!!

2009-06-05T11:41:00.006-04:00

My Boob Voyage party is set for Saturday, June 27, 2009 @ ma sista’s house in Kincardine. WOO HOO!!!

I’m finally getting the boobs I’ve always wanted!!! and I'm “celebrating” the departure of my former girls! They’ve served me well, but it’s time to say tata to the TaTas!

My mastectomy is scheduled for July 17, so as I embark on this journey, I want to celebrate with friends.

Thanks to everyone for all your support. (no pun intended!)

Bald is Beautiful!!!

2009-06-02T20:12:00.005-04:00

I DID IT! Last Saturday, May 30th, 2009, I shaved my head in support of Cops for Cancer.

This is me with my long-time friend, Constable Darryl Campbell.

I raised close to $1300!!! WOO HOO!!! Thanks to everyone for their generosity.

I need my Mom...

2009-05-19T13:36:00.008-04:00

I had my final consultation with the plastic surgeon this morning and it went very well. She explained the procedure, my scarring, expanders, fills, size, etc. etc. etc. So much to digest!!! But I'm glad things are moving ahead. However, on my drive home from London, I was alone and had a lot of time to think....I went over and over all the little details trying to get everything planned out in my head; work, home, care for my fur-kids, care at home afterwards, you know, that kind of stuff. I'm just trying to get mentally and emotionally ready for this huge event...and then I got really sad...

It just hit me how much I need my mom for this. I need her to talk to, to squeeze my hand and reassure me; to be here and stay with me after the surgery, to tell me I still look like her little girl when I feel like I have water wings in my chest. Moms are supposed to be there to help us get through these big life changing things, right? But, my mom is the one person who isn't here because of this nasty BRCA2 gene! This damn BRCA thing that has me at this place, is the same thing that took her from me. When I think of my upcoming surgery, its not having my mom here that gets me crying...not the surgery itself or the loss of my natural breasts (although I'm sure that will come as the day approaches).

I lost my mom 2 and a half years ago to ovarian cancer. It was the most devastating thing in my life. I know that she is around me, watching over me and would be proud that I am doing these preventitive surgeries.

I know I will get through this just fine (and am mostly excited to have it done - well, sort of) and that there will be all kinds people who will support me when I need it...and I am not going to feel sorry for myself, but this one thing does not feel right and I wish I could change just this one detail. You know?

You'll have to excuse me; I'm pretty emotional from the surgical menopause, and I'm trying to quit smoking...today's not a good day!

Don't mess with the Papaya!!!

2009-05-02T09:06:00.005-04:00

I just had to share this video. My niece, Maia, took part in the Kincardine Karate Club's "break a board" fundraising event. Maia is only 6 and by far the smallest in the club. I don't think Auntie Shari has ever been so proud!!!!! WAY TO GO PAPAYA!!!

FINALLY!!!!!

2009-04-29T16:33:00.004-04:00

I finally have a much-awaited surgery date!!!

JULY 17, 2009 @ 10:00

...not that I wanted surgery smack dab in the middle of summer, but I've waited so long for a date, I'll take what I can get.

Now reality hits and I have a million questions flying through my head. I'll deal with that when I've digested the newness of having a date.

and the planning, oh yes, the planning begins, work, home, care for my fur-kids, and especially the most important thing, my...

BOOB VOYAGE PARTY!!!!

(details to follow!)

Cops for Cancer ~ May 30, 2009

2009-04-23T20:53:00.005-04:00

THE PINK LOCKS ARE GOING!

On Saturday, May 30, 2009, I'll be shaving my head in the Kincardine Cops for Cancer event. It takes place at Sobey's parking lot. Come on out for a fun-filled event...and to see me go bald!!!

To sponsor me for this fabulous event, please visit my personal site.

Click here to visit my personal page.

Thanks to everyone for your support!
Shari

About Cops for Cancer

Police officers across the province play a leadership role in organizing the Canadian Cancer Society's Cops for Cancer events by involving the community in fundraising and cancer awareness activities. Police officers both men and women agree to have their heads shaved at a public place (such as shopping malls or city hall) or participate in bike rides. The police officers collect pledges from co-workers, friends and family.

To date, the Canadian Cancer Society's Cops for Cancer program has raised more than $16 million across Canada!

Funds raised help the Canadian Cancer Society fund the most promising research projects in the country, provide information services and support programs in the community and advocate for public policies that prevent cancer and help those living with it.

Messages of Love

2009-03-29T16:39:00.008-04:00

Today being the 2nd anniversary of Mom's passing, we decided to send her messages in Heaven. We did this at the Station Beach at the Boardwalk where Mom used to love to walk.

Mother Huron

My niece Maia...she was sending messages to Grandma Nancy and MooMoo (her beloved kitty she lost a few years ago)

Wayne sending his message.

Maia sending her messages.

There they go!

My message...it gently started to rise out over the lake and northwards; then all of a sudden went straight up really quickly and disappeared up into the clouds. It must have hit an up-current; but I like to think mom reached down from Heaven and grabbed it!

In Loving Memory of Mom ~ June 8, 1941 - March 29, 2007

2009-03-29T06:17:00.002-04:00

In Loving Memory of my mom, Nancy Anne Storms
June 8, 1941 – March 29, 2007

"Hi mom it's me again"
Just came to say hello,
I miss you mom so very much,
more then you'll ever know.

I see your face almost every night,
in every twinkling star.
I feel that you're still with me,
whether it be near or far.

I know you didn't want to die,
but a part of me died too.
I'll never be the same again,
because I don't have you.

Remember when I called you, mom,
it was almost every day.
But you just kept on talking,
you never pushed me away.

I wish that I could turn back time,
if only for one day.
So I could hold you in my arms,
and kiss your tears away.

I will always remember you mom,
even though we're far apart,
and the love I have for you,
will remain within my heart.

Me and Mom

You never said "I'm leaving"
You never said goodbye
You were gone before I knew it,
And only God knew why

A million times I needed you,
A million times I cried
If Love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died

In Life I loved you dearly
In death I love you still
In my heart you hold a place,
That no one could ever fill

It broke my heart to lose you,
But you didn't go alone
For part of me went with you,
The day God took you home.

My beautiful mom...I miss you so much!!!

ROSES FOR MY MOTHER

If Roses grow in Heaven,
Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother's arm
and tell her they are from me.

Tell her I love her and miss her
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her a while.

Because remembering her is easy,
I do it everyday,
But there's an ache within my heart
that will never go away.

Don't think of her as gone away
Her journey's just begun,
Life has so many facets
This earth is only one.

Just think of her as resting
From sorrows and tears
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days or years.

Think how she must be wishing
That we could know, today
Now nothing but our sadness
Can really pass away.

And think of her as living
In the hearts of those she touched
For nothing loved is ever lost
And she loved so much.

Rest in peace mom...I love you and miss you so much!
Love Shari
xoxo

Research Study: caring for a family member with advanced ovarian cancer

2009-03-03T16:40:00.006-05:00

I'm participating in another study. This one is being conducted by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in conjuncton with Ovarian Cancer Canada. They are gathering information from family members who have cared for women with late stage ovarian cancer who have passed away. They are gathering information on the cancer patient's experience, the family's experience, opinions on the health care system, etc. Boy are they going to get an earful from me. I already have 2 pages of notes regarding delays, screw ups, etc. from when mom was undergoing treatment.

Information will be gathered during a one hour confidential telephone interview, but the researcher told me today with the response and feedback she's getting it will likely be more like 2 hours!

For more information, please visit the National Ovarian Cancer Association.

Happy Birthday Tracey

2009-02-15T07:17:00.003-05:00

BRCA Umbrella

2009-02-09T18:00:00.026-05:00

My internet buddy and BRCA sister,
Leigh-Ann Jones, has created a fabulous new network for those who have tested positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, BRCA family and friends.

Bringing together people who have
tested positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2,
the breast and ovarian cancer gene.

BRCA Umbrella, BRCA Gene and You

Go on over and check it out!

The Downside of Not Doing DIEP Reconstruction

2009-02-01T19:45:00.007-05:00

Since my initial appointment with the breast surgeon last August, I was hoping to have DIEP reconstruction when I had my mastectomy. As I previously posted, I am not a good candidate for DIEP so will be having expander and implant reconstruction. I'm pleased with this idea, but there is a downside...

Since August, I've been eating a little extra in hopes of building up a little more belly fat. You know, the more belly fat, the bigger the boobs! I was telling everyone "I'm not putting on weight, I'm growing boobs". We'll, hasn't that just backfired on me! No DIEP means no tummy tuck that goes along with it.

Guess I'll now have to get rid of the excess the old fashioned way! Good thing I at least enjoy yoga and pilates! I think I'm going to have to learn to love sit-ups too!

I'm Good to Go!!!

2009-01-28T18:20:00.007-05:00

I got my MRI results from January 19th this morning and everything's ALL CLEAR!!! Even the small mass found during my previous MRI has disappeared!!! WOO HOO!!!! This is such a HUGE relief. I've been a basket case waiting for the results. This just re-emphasized there's no way I could just do increased surveillance...surgery is the only option for me.

Now I just wait for my surgery to be scheduled...

I also want to wish a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear husband, Wayne. He's my rock and I couldn't go through all this without him! XOXO

Bye Bye Bloating

2009-01-22T14:51:00.004-05:00

For as long as I can remember, I've suffered from abdominal bloating and with fairly regular bouts of irritable bowel syndrome. I've also been having ovarian cysts for years. These kept showing up during my ovarian cancer surveillance ultrasounds. One large one was discovered last year and I had to go back for retesting...talk about scary!!!!

Anyway, since my hysterectomy, all these have disappeared. I feel like a new person! Obviously with my ovaries being removed, ovarian cysts aren't going to be a problem any longer, but my horrible abdominal bloating and the irritable bowel syndrome have disappeared completely. I still have a little tummy fat, but the bloating is gone! My digestive system is also as regular as clockwork. After some googling and researching, I discovered all of these are a symptom of endometriosis. As I said before, when Dr. Vilos did my hysterectomy he discovered quite severe endometriosis that had attached to my bladder and throughout my abdominal cavity.

The hysterectomy has made me a new woman!!! It feels so good to feel good again!!!!

Green Goddess

2009-01-22T07:53:00.009-05:00

I know this isn't a makeup blog, but in my eyes, it sort of qualifies as a 'beauty' blog...you know, more of the internal beauty thing and being healthy. Since I found out my BRCA2 status, I've been trying to use only natural and organic beauty products.

I received the Green Goddess Collection yesterday. It's from Cargo's PlantLove line and I just had to rave about it!!!!

PlantLove has the embodying the mantra, "Red Lips. Green Conscience.". CARGO introduces a new revolution in eco-friendly beauty. The PlantLove™ professional collection, a complete line of eco-fabulous makeup in a stunning array of breathtaking colors and textures, is as beautiful as it is progressive. The only prestige color brand to carry the globally recognized ECOCERT™ natural designation for its comprehensive environmental commitment, Plantlove™ by CARGO is truly beauty with a conscience. From natural and organic ingredients, to its environmentally award-winning compostable packaging, Cargo PlantLove™ lets us go green glamorously.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrance
- Synthetic Dye
- Petro-Chemicals
- Phthalates

What it has:
- Eco-Product
- Eco-Packaging
- Eco-Process
- No synthetic dyes, colour or fragrance

I tried the palette this morning and the products are gorgeous!!! They go on like silk. Trust me, this picture does the palette absolutely NO justice at all...it's so much prettier in person.

Being Green can be glamorous!!!

Monday's Appointments Update

2009-01-21T18:46:00.005-05:00

Monday was a long day!!! We left home at 8:00 am to head to London and didn't get back home until 8:00 that evening.

I first had my MRI. I had to check-in about 30 minutes prior to my scheduled time, which I did, but of course they were behind schedule and I went in about an hour later. I HATE MRIs, so I'm hoping that will be my last one ever. I should have my results next Wednesday, the 28th...my husband's birthday!

Later on in the afternoon, I had my consultation with the plastic surgeon. I first saw her Resident, then her Fellow and finally I saw Dr. Temple. The Fellow explained the reconstruction options in great detail, complete with some not-so-nice operating room photos. I saw lots of before and after photos as well. Afterwards, she examined me. She then left the room to speak to Dr. Temple. When Dr. Temple came in, she took one look at my abdominal and said it looks like I am not a candidate for DIEP reconstruction, BUT after hearing what I did about it, I wasn't that upset about it anyway. I was told that once surgery started, if they didn't feel the blood vessels were good enough for DIEP, they would automatically do a TRAM Flap...no way! I do not want a TRAM under any circumstances. I don't want to lose abdominal muscle and strength. I have a fair amount of abdominal scarring from previous surgeries and it's not that she couldn't do DIEP, but some blood supply has probably been cut off to the abdominal and as such, I probably wouldn't heal properly and could end up with necrosis!!! YUCK!!!

So as it now stands, I'll be having a mastectomy with immediate expander reconstruction. I should have my surgery scheduled shortly. They figured I'll have this stage done within 3 - 4 months. Once the expanders are in, I will have to make weekly trips to London for saline injections to fill the expanders. Once I'm filled one size larger than my implant size, I will be scheduled for exchange surgery at which time the expanders will be removed and the implants inserted. Following that there will be 2 smaller surgeries for nipple reconstruction and tattooing.

My surgery will likely be day surgery. Can you believe it??? Who would have thought they'd send you straight home after a mastectomy????? They said if all goes well, the surgery will be about two and a half hours and I'll be sent home with home care to tend to my drains, etc. They said this surgery should be easier on me than the hysterectomy was. That remains to be seen!!! I can't imagine this is going to be pleasant. Even though it's day surgery, I will still have about a 6 week or so recovery. She said she has no problem giving me as much time off work as I need as the expanders are not the most comfortable things in the world!!!

That's about it for now. I'll update when I get my MRI results. Fingers crossed they are fine. I don't want the need for a biopsy or the dreaded "C" to screw around with this surgery!

Thank goodness for MRIs

2009-01-17T19:19:00.003-05:00

Although a breast MRI isn't the most pleasant of experiences, it certainly beats the alternative...the dreaded mammogram!!! I head to London on Monday for a follow-up breast MRI that was recommended after my last one. My previous MRI results from this past April showed a small "something" that was too small (6 x 7 x 5 mm) to characterize and a follow-up was recommended. My appointment is at 12:40. My breast surgeon, Dr. Muriel Brackstone wants this done before my mastectomy.

Then, at 2:30, I have my first consultation appointment with the plastic surgeon, Dr. Claire Temple. We're going to discuss my reconstruction options.

My two appointments were originally scheduled on 2 separate dates scheduled 4 days apart. Margo, the nurse practitioner who works with both Dr. Brackstone and the plastic surgery team worked her magic and got me scheduled for both on one day. With Bruce County winters, I'll be lucky to make one trip to London in January, let alone two!!!

I will update how everything goes as soon as I can.

Where did the year go?

2008-12-31T08:33:00.004-05:00

Suddenly it is the end of December...again...and we realize that with giant strides we started in January and within a blink of an eye, 2008 is gone!

A big "Thank You" to each and every one of you, for the huge impact you had on my life this year. Especially for all the support I have received...without you, I'm sure that 2008 would have been much more difficult.

May 2009 mark the beginning of a tidal wave of love, happiness and bright futures.

To those who need someone special, may you find that true love.

To those who need money, may your finances overflow.

To those who need caring, may you find a good heart.

To those who need friends, I am always here for you.

Thank you for being my friends!!

Wishing you all a very happy and HEALTHY 2009!!!

2008-12-24T05:09:00.001-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

2008-12-23T07:09:00.018-05:00

A Politically Correct Christmas Story

12 Days of Christmas...the Canadian way, eh!

But seriously everyone, today being the 23rd, I figured a holiday post would be appropriate. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. Celebrate and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.

We interrupt our regular scheduled programming to bring you a Menopause Moment...

2008-12-20T05:56:00.020-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Menopause Survival Kit ...

Put M&M's into a cute container and follow these directions ...

To temporarily calm your craving for chocolate eat the BROWN one ...

At the first sign of hot flashes eat the RED one ...

Eat the ORANGE one to minimize depression ...

The GREEN one calms your frustrations, when you want to be left alone ...

If you feel a headache coming on eat the YELLOW one ...

The BLUE one reduces bloating ...

If all symptoms occur at the same time ...

eat the WHOLE DAMN BAG!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All kidding aside, at 6 weeks post-surgery, I'm definitely into full-blown surgical menopause. I was definitely in peri-menopause before my surgury having very irregular periods, and already experiencing night sweats and some hot flashes. Well, I'm not sad to see the periods go and as for the night sweats and hot flashes, well, they've intensified some, but nothing I can't handle. I am experiencing some insomnia and irritability, but nothing major (at least DH hasn't complained too much about my mood swings). I may have more symptoms yet to come, but so far, I feel pretty damn good!

If this is menopause...so far, it's a breeze!

Surgery Update and Pathology Report

2008-12-19T06:25:00.032-05:00

My follow-up with Dr. Vilos went very well. His resident saw me first; unfortunately, I can't remember her name, but she's wonderful...she was terrific after my surgery as well. She certainly remembered me...I was the one who had my uterus attached to my bladder and the complications associated with that (bruising of the bladder and bleeding) from my severe endometriosis. She asked how I was recovering, examined me and removed one lone stitch that hadn't came out on it's own. I then saw Dr. Vilos to discuss my recovery, pathology report and return to work date. Everything was fabulous. He noted some abnormal things found in my pathology but they are benign and he said it was nothing; don't worry about it; there was no cancer or pre-cancer....THANK GOODNESS!!! This was a HUGE worry for me as so many women have this preventative surgery only to find cancer with the pathology anyway. Here are the results:

cervix - no pathological abnormality
endometrium (uterine lining) - proliferative phase (first phase of menstrual cycle)
myometrium (middle layer of uterine wall) - adenomyosis (the dreaded endometriosis)
right fallopian tube - adenomatoid tumour (benign, relatively rare neoplasm occurring primarily in the genital tract)...leave it to me to have something rare!
left fallopian tube - no pathological abnormality
right ovary - follicle cyst (is formed when the follicle does not release its egg)
left ovary - cystic corpus luteum (these occur when the corpus luteum fills with fluid or blood to form a cyst)

It sounds like a lot, but Dr. Vilos assures me all of it means nothing just...NO CANCER!!! YIPPEE!!! Having all these abnormal results just reinforces that surveillance would have been a bumpy road and chosing surgery was my only option. I've already had scares with large ovarian cysts showing up on transvaginal ultrasounds in the past and that was not fun. I can't say enough about Dr. Vilos...I couldn't have asked for a better surgeon. His knowledge, skill, caring and compassion is incredible. When I was leaving and thanked him for everything...he gave me a hug. He is definitely a doctor who cares very much about his patients.

I'm happy this stage of my journey is over....now it's on to the next stage and being completely on "the other side". That journey starts in January with another breast MRI and my first visit to the plastic surgeon, Dr. Claire Temple, with surgery hopefully in late winter / early spring...let's hope the surgery scheduling Gods and Goddesses shine on me for that one!

I want to wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy Holiday Season and New Year. Thank you to all my "readers", family, friends and internet buddies...I couldn't make this journey without you.

Love
Shari

London Bound

2008-12-18T06:47:00.004-05:00

Looks like the weather Gods are smiling upon me. I panicked yesterday when I saw the snow squall warnings for today as I didn't want to miss my follow-up appointment with Dr. Vilos. The warnings have now been cancelled and the forecast is for sunny periods....YEAH! I'll update shortly about how my appointment went. I've been feeling really good so I'm hoping all is well.

A Study of Breast and Ovarian Cancer in High Risk Families

2008-11-15T18:43:00.004-05:00

I received a big envelope in the mail yesterday from London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), London Regional Cancer Program. It contained a consent form and a research questionnaire as part of a research study to improve understanding of the prevention and treatment of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. LHSC has been invited to participate in a multi-site research study called Risk Factor Analysis of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Study. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Steven Narod of Women's College Research Institute, Toronto. This is a 10 year study and I will need to complete follow-up a questionnaire every two years after completing my baseline questionnaire.

When Karen Panabaker, my Genetic Counsellor, originally asked me to participate, I said I'd be more than happy to.

This is going to be interesting and if taking 30 minutes out of my day to complete a questionnaire can help someone else out in the future, I'm all for it!

Thought for the day.

2008-11-14T14:02:00.010-05:00

The BRCA Crystal Ball ~ Blessing or Curse?

I was the first in our family to learn of the genetic mutation. Going by our family history, I inherited the mutation from my mother who inherited it from her father who inherited it from his mother. That was my great grandmother Lavina.

Knowing you are BRCA+ is often viewed as either a blessing or a curse. Yet, many days it certainly feels like both to me. I guess that is how life is...grey and not black and white, right? Nothing is ever perfect. Life is hard and full of tough decisions.

When all is said and done, the knowledge is a huge blessing in my eyes. Not knowing wouldn't keep me safe. Knowing gives me choices...choices my mother never had.

Now on the lighter side of things...

2008-11-12T11:39:00.005-05:00

What to do with all those leftover tampons and pads?!?!?!?!

How about some tampon Christmas crafts?

or a tampon blow gun?

for more fun ideas, go to Tampon Crafts

and to find out how to make these stylin' maxi pad slippers, go to http://www.uglydress.com/maxpadslip.html

On the other side...well, partly anyway!

2008-11-12T08:27:00.007-05:00

I thought I had better post an update. I had my hysterectomy and BSO on Friday, November 7th, 2008, at St. Joseph's Health Centre in London, Ontario. My surgeon was Dr. George Vilos. I can't say enough about this man...he's a fabulous doctor and man. The entire staff at St. Joseph's from the nurses, to doctors, to the office staff and porters were FABULOUS!!!! I couldn't recommend a better facility. I received the best care anyone could ask for.

I was originally scheduled for a Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) and a Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). My surgery started out as planned, but part-way through, Dr. Vilos had to change to abdominal. I had very bad endometreosis (I never knew...explains why I never had kids) and my uterus had attached itself to my bladder. This made surgery much more difficult. Dr. Vilos ended up doing a subtotal hysterectomy (with preservation of the cervical stump) instead of a total. During surgery blood started to appear in my urine so Dr. Vilos called in a urologist to do a cystogram (bladdar scan) to ensure there was no tearing of the bladder from removing the uterus. There was no tearing, but definitely some bruising. I had blood in my urine until Sunday when I was released from the hospital. It was really bad on Saturday and Dr. Vilos thinks that was from irritation from the cathetar and because I was on heparin (blood thinner). He told the nurse to remove the cathetar and things started to clear up right way.

I did have a bit of a melt down on Saturday. I was in some major pain and was terrified by the amount of blood in my urine. I imagine some of my emotional state was caused by suddenly having no hormones either! At one point I told my sister I wished I hadn't done the surgery, but she said mom would have wanted me to do it; I knew she was right. During a crying spell and while my sister was consoling me, Dr. Vilos walked into the room. I tried to hide my tears, but he was incredibly caring and sympathetic and kept telling me not to worry, I was going to be fine.

After the cathetar was removed on Sunday, I had to prove I could pee on my own 3 times before they would consider releasing me. Dr. Vilos showed up at my room around 5:00. He asked if I was peeing on my own...I said lots...and he said "go home!" I asked when he wanted to see me again and he said in 6 weeks and not before :)

So now I start on my road to recovery. I still am in a fair amount of pain and imagine I will be for a while. DH has been fabulous waiting on me hand and foot. Since I'm not too sure about tackling our big old staircase, I've been sleeping on my own on a fold-out couch in our TV room in front of the TV and fireplace. It's quite nice and cozy. My cat and 2 dogs have become little nurses. I know they can sense when you're not well, and these 3 haven't left my side. My cat sleeps with me at night and won't leave me until I wake in the morning...it's so sweet.

That's about it for now, I'll update again when I have more news and feel up to it. Thank you to everyone for all your emails, messages and good wishes. and an extra special thank you to DH, Wayne. I couldn't have done this without you!!! xoxo

2008-11-07T13:02:00.002-05:00

We all hope you're back on your feet soon!

Lots of love and hugs !

xoxo

Surgery tomorrow...

2008-11-06T05:03:00.002-05:00

I'm off to London today. My Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy is scheduled for 8:00 tomorrow morning. I'm to be at the hospital at 6:00 am so that's why we're heading there today. There's a guest house adjacent to the hospital so will be staying there tonight and dh will be staying there while I'm in hospital. We're going to do a little shopping today and then go out for a nice dinner tonight.

I'm pretty nervous at this point but am so ready to get this over with. I've been told the stress relief will be unsurpassed and the emotional weight removal is enormous.

I'll update as soon as I can. Thank you to everyone for your good wishes and prayers. I couldn't do this alone.

Too cute not to post

2008-11-04T04:38:00.003-05:00

UTTER FRUSTRATION!!!!!

2008-11-03T17:01:00.007-05:00

Since I still haven't received my referral for the plastic surgeons or a date for my follow-up MRI, I called the nurse practioner who works with the breast surgeon and the plastic surgeons, Margo, to ask again if she's heard anything. Short answer...NO.

She had wanted my MRI done before my hysterectomy this Friday, however she said "they must have thought differently". She said they won't want to do the MRI now until at least a month after my surgery. AAAAAHHHHHHHH That will push my mastectomy / reconstruction surgery date even further. I asked about surgery timeline and she said honestly it will probably be months because of resources (mainly operating room time). I was so upset when I got off the phone, I was almost in tears. I just want this over with!!!

One good thing, Margo said she's going to visit me Friday afternoon when I'm back in my room after my hysterectomy. I really like Margo and it will be wonderful to see her.

Lucky

2008-10-31T05:47:00.005-04:00

I received this story this morning from Sandy, a very dear friend of mine, and I just had to share. It's a very touching story; especially for those animal lovers out there like me.

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.' Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease...in fact, she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the ho spital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.

Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so hausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap. Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed. When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day.

It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

Remember...live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget...the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards - They are the ones that care for us.

Preparations...

2008-10-30T19:30:00.010-04:00

Yikes...it's only a week away. We'll be heading to London on Thursday the 6th because they want me at the hospital at 6:00 am on the 7th. There's no way I'm getting up that early to drive to London, especially since I won't be allowed to even have a coffee!!!

Like I said in my previous post, I've been trying to get organized so have started packing my little overnight bag for my hospital stay. Besides the usual toiletries, etc., I'm packing some fun things to make my stay a little nicer. Here's what I've got so far:

Breast Cancer Teddy Bear I won at the Breast Cancer event at Critter Cravings in Kincardine a few weeks ago. Critter Cravings is an awesome store and where we purchase all our dog and cat food and treats...many many treats!

A bright pink photo album filled with pictures of my family and pets.

Since I was told to pack full coverage underwear (the nurse actually laughed and said "no thongs") because I'll need to wear pads after my surgery (EWWWWWWW!), so I bought some regular underwear at Walmart, but also got this sexy little number. They have an adorable black kitty print and say "Itty Bitty Kitty Committee".

I was also told to bring slippers for walking, so I'm bringing these! Should be good for a laugh.

They said I could bring my own pajamas for the 2nd day, so following with the theme, these babies are packed! They are black adorable flannel pjs with black cats sleeping on little white clouds...too cute!

I'm also hoping I'll get the laptop I want this weekend so I can take it with me too. Apparently you can take your laptop into the hospital; just not cell phones.

I've also told my hubby that I want a TV hooked up as soon as I'm in my room. My most favourite TV show, Ghost Whisperer, airs Friday nights and I don't care how groggy or drugged up I am...I am not missing it!!! LOL

Well, that's about it for now...I'll try post again before I go in to get spayed! Just my little bit of dog and cat lover humour at work there!

The Countdown's On

2008-10-28T18:05:00.008-04:00

T-10 days and counting.

My BSO / LAVH is scheduled for November 7th and boy is reality starting to set in. I've started have some big bouts of anxiety and am verging on the odd panic attack...not fun!!! A good cry, a scream or two, a hot bubble bath and a soothing cup of tea usually does the trick to calm the nerves though.

My pre-op went really well. I had a telephone interview instead of having to drive to London for another appointment. That was a nice change. It was 101 health questions and then she told me what to expect post-op. She said I should only be in the hospital 2 nights, but then it's 6 weeks of doing nothing! It sounds nice, but I imagine that will drive me crazy after a couple of weeks. I'm going to buy lots of novels to fill the time. I'm also planning on purchasing a laptop and wireless router this coming weekend so hopefully I'll be able to keep up on the message boards and update here from the comfort of my own bed.

I've been trying to get everything in order and organized so that I don't have too much to worry about or do post-op. I have 90% of my Christmas shopping done so hopefully will feel up to completing it about 3 or 4 weeks after the surgery. I hope so or the stockings could be a little bare this year.

Well, that's about it for now...time for aforementioned hot bath and cup of tea!

2008-10-10T19:49:00.003-04:00

Thanksgiving is the time to remember
all the wonderful things in life you have.

Warm wishes to everyone.

Army of Women

2008-10-08T18:31:00.009-04:00

If you are a woman or have a wife, mother, daughter ... this is a revolutionary project that needs your help. The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation have join forces to create the Army Of Women initiative. This project has two goals :

"To recruit one million healthy women of every age and ethnicity, including breast cancer survivors and women at high-risk for the disease, to partner with breast cancer researchers and directly participate in the research that will eradicate breast cancer once and for all."

"To challenge the scientific community to expand its current focus to include breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women."

Unfortunately, this project is currently only open to women residing in the U.S. because, at this time, it only involves American researchers. They are hoping to open the project up internationally in the near future. However, I know there are American gals / guys who read this blog and my Canadian readers all probably know at least one American woman that they can share this information with. This is an important, fresh approach to finding a cause and cure for breast cancer that will benefit all women. The link for the project is here. Pass it on!!!

Shopping for the Cause

2008-10-06T19:08:00.008-04:00

Help support the cause! These fabulous companies donate proceeds from the sale of these products to the fight against breast cancer. There are many many companies out there doing the same thing, but these are my favs! Happy shopping!!!

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals® Pink Posy Eyecolor

philosophy - shower for the cure 3-in-1 bubble bath, shower gel & shampoo

philosophy's - she colors my day bubble bath

Bath & Body Works - In Touch Breast Self-Exam Glove

Bath & Body Works Limited Edition Cancer Vixen™ Kit

Bath & Body Works Limited Edition Cancer Vixen™ Mentha Lip Tint in Pink Mint

Bath & Body Works Limited Edition Cancer Vixen™ Wild Berry Body Lotion

Bath & Body Works Limited Edition Cancer Vixen™ Wild Berry Hand Wash

Bath & Body Works Limited Edition Cancer Vixen™ Wild Berry Body Cleanser

Feel Your Boobies!

2008-10-05T19:47:00.011-04:00

Now that I have your attention!!!

REMEMBER...

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Did you know the most common in cancer in Canadian women is breast cancer? October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so think pink and support awareness by sporting a pink ribbon.

This year it’s estimated a whopping 21,400 women will develop breast cancer, and 5,300 women will lose their battle against it. That’s about 407 Canadian women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week.

Best defense? The pink ribbon campaign promotes prevention and early detection, more research, supporting women and families living with breast cancer, and educating women to “feel their boobies” to stem breast cancer.

So, what’re waiting for? Feel your boobies!

For more info about breast cancer and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, click www.cancer.ca.

Check out the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation website to find out more ways to you can help @ www.cbcf.org.

In the Family Airs Tonight!

2008-10-01T05:11:00.005-04:00

PBS' award-winning independent non-fiction film series presents:
by Joanna Rudnick

National PBS Premiere on P.O.V.

Wednesday, October 1st at 10pm(EST)*

*times and dates of broadcast differ by location:

US: Check Your Local Listings Here!
Canada: Check Your Local Listings Here!

When Chicago Filmmaker Joanna Rudnick tested positive for the "breast cancer gene" at age 27, she knew the information could save her life. She now faces an impossible decision: remove her healthy breasts and ovaries or risk incredible odds of developing cancer. A co-production of Joanna Rudnick, Kartemquin Films and The Independent Television Service (ITVS).

My previous post about In the Family and the trailer can be found here...

http://pinkandteal.blogspot.com/2008/05/in-family.html

Pass the Torch

2008-09-30T16:00:00.001-04:00

Passing of the Torch represents the hereditary link between breast and ovarian cancer marking the transition from Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Please take some time to honour cancer survivors and those at high risk, remember those whose lives have been lost to cancer, and recognize families that have been affected by cancer.

Little Princess Pumpkin

2008-09-28T11:06:00.007-04:00

I suddenly and unexpectedly lost my sweet Princess Pumpkin this morning. Words cannot express what I am feeling right now; I'm not feeling anything really...I'm just numb.

Life just sucks sometimes and can be so damn unfair. Why do these horrible things happen???????????????????????

Rest well my sweet little one.

My Little Princess Pumpkin
1996 ~ 2008

A thousand times I've thought of you,
A thousand times I've cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death, I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
No other one can fill.

It broke my heart to lose you,
But you did not go alone.
For part of me went with you
The day God took you home.

Oprah, Christina Applegate and BRCA...tune in Tuesday September 30, 2008

2008-09-27T16:18:00.006-04:00

Christina Applegate talks to Oprah about being diagnosed with breast cancer and why she decided to remove both of her breasts. Tune in Tuesday, September 30th for a show every woman needs to see. Go to Oprah.com for more information.

View the trailer here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PLloIojq5Q

I'm really looking forward to watching the show on Tuesday.

Thank you Christina and Oprah!

She Colors My Day

2008-09-09T18:40:00.013-04:00

Looks like one of my favourite brands, philosophy, is creating a new bath product, She Colors My Day.

Award-winning artist Amy Grant recently announced a special partnership with Cristina Carlino, founder of philosophy inc., and art of grace, a company for greater purpose and not profit. Grant just recorded “She Colors My Day,” a song written by Carlino, and her business partner Stuart Matheson.

Inspired by the artwork of her daughter, Carlino and Matheson authored and co-created a heartwarming song that celebrates the relationship between a mother and her daughter. The She Colors My Day single recorded by Grant will be available to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. philosophy will support art of grace by creating a She Colours My Day inspirational bath product and will donate 100% of its net proceeds from the sale of the product to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund.

The bath product will be available exclusively at philosophy.com. She Colors My Day is a high-foaming green bubble bath to celebrate the bond between mothers and daughters and help give back to a very worthwhile cause. I absolutely love philosphy's Shower for the Cure and am really looking forward to the release of one as well.

To view the infomercial go to:

http://www.philosophydirect.com/flash/players/amy-and-philosophy.html

Listen To “She Colors My Day” by following these links:

WindowsMedia
http://media.emicmg.com/artists/amy_grant/audio/wma/full/100/she_colors_my_day_final_mastered_256k_stream.asx
Real
http://media.emicmg.com/artists/amy_grant/audio/real/full/she_colors_my_day_mastered_256k_stream.ram
Quicktime
http://media.emicmg.com/artists/amy_grant/audio/quicktime/full/100/she_colors_my_day_final_mastered_256k_stream.qtl

Reality is starting to set in...I have a date for my first surgery!!!

2008-09-02T11:25:00.010-04:00

I received a letter from Dr. Vilos' office this morning; my Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy, Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy is scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2008 - 8:00 - 10:00 AM at St. Joseph's Health Centre in London. Preadmission is at 6:00 AM...great! We either have to leave home at 3:30 in the morning or go to London the night before.

I have a ton of paperwork to fill out and return to the Preadmission Department. Preadmission will be in touch with me to set up a pre-admit appointment.

After receiving this letter this morning...the nerves hit; I have a huge knot in my stomach; reality is setting in!

TURN UP THE VOLUME!!!

2008-09-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

SEPTEMBER IS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

LISTEN CLOSELY...IT WHISPERS

Fast Facts About Ovarian Cancer...

Ovarian cancer is the most deadly type of cancer that women can develop.
Ovarian cancer affects 1 in 70 Canadian women; is diagnosed in 2,300 - 2,600 Canadian women each year and claims 1,500 lives a year across the country.
Ovarian cancer is currently the 5th leading cause of death among women.
There is no early detection screening test currently.
All women should get yearly pelvic exams.
Ovarian cancer is difficult to treat because it's often resistant to current treatments.
Survival rates are better at the early stage.
Most common in older white women.
A small number of ovarian cancers are hereditary, linked to the same genes that are linked to breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2.
The best person to treat ovarian cancer is a gynecologic oncologist.

The Silent Killer

Ovarian cancer is often referred to as the "silent killer' because ovarian cancer symptoms are few and often mimic that of many other illnesses. There may be no symptoms present in the early stages, and if there are they are very slight and vague.

Symptoms

Have you been diagnosed with?

Irritable bowel syndrome
Gastritis
Depression
Stress
Urinary tract infection
Constipation

OR, do you have No clear diagnosis, despite persisting symptoms?

Common warning symptoms include:

Abdominal bloating or discomfort
Changes in bowel function
Unexplained weight gain and a distended abdomen from fluid build-up
Nausea
Infertility or changes in menstruation patterns

If these symptoms persist for three weeks or longer, see your health practitioner immediately. The list of symptoms may make for scary reading. It can be very worrying to think that you may have the signs and symptoms of a malignant disease. Remember, ovarian cancer is a relatively uncommon disease. Although it can occur at any age, ovarian cancer rates rise after menopause, peaking from age 60-75. The hereditary form, found in families where many close relatives have or had ovarian cancer, tends to occur at an earlier age. Failure to find the disease in its early stages is partly due to lack of sensitive detection tests and to the fact that health care providers and women themselves may ignore warning symptoms.

For more information, go to:

Canadian Cancer Society

National Ovarian Cancer Association

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

Hereditary Breast + Ovarian Cancer Foundation

It's a go!!!

2008-08-25T19:34:00.010-04:00

I had my appointment with Dr. George Vilos in London today. I was really anxious about this one as he was to decide whether or not I'm a candidate for laporoscopic surgery because of a large abdominal scar I have from liver surgery back in 1992.

After a very thorough adominal exam, followed by a vaginal exam, he says he can do it! YIPPEE!!!!! I am thrilled to say the least. I didn't want to have an abdominal hysterectomy as that may interfere with my planned DIEP breast reconstruction surgery and would be a much longer recovery time.

Before I left his office, he had me sign a consent form for a Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) with Bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy (BSO). He said I would be scheduled for October or November. That's quick! He said if I have any questions or concerns, not to hesitate to call him. He said his secretary will be calling about dates, etc.

I really liked Dr. Vilos...he was very nice and put me at ease right away. He had a great sense of humour and made a few jokes that really relaxed me.

Dr. George Vilos

Now I wait patiently for that phone call from his secretary!

Cancer as a Fungus

2008-08-25T06:47:00.007-04:00

This video is a fascinating interview from Doug Kaufmann's TV show, "Know the Cause", with Dr. Tullio Simoncini, an MD and oncologist. Dr. Simoncini is a Roman doctor specialising in oncology, diabetology and in metabolic disorders.

I won't get into this hotbed topic, or theories of pharmaceutical company conspiracies, etc., etc., but just let me say, "treating" cancer is one of the most lucrative businesses on earth. I do recall having a conversation with my sister when mom was undergoing a chemotherapy treatment at the chemo clinic in Wingham..."I wonder how much money is running through all these IVs?". If cancer was actually cured (and my bet is that it can be) then there is no profit for the big pharmaceuticals. Just my 2 cents.

This video is about long, but well worth watching! Many thanks to Wendy for bringing this to my attention!

http://www.knowthecause.com/Shows/TullioSimonciniMDWithDougKaufmann/tabid/109/Default.aspx

What a Fabulous Night!

2008-08-17T11:07:00.016-04:00

This year I participated as team captain of the team, "It's a Family Thing", in the Kincardine event on August 15, 2008. My fundraising goal was to raise $1000.00. Thanks to everyone's generosity, I surpassed my goal and raised $1265.00! 36 teams participated in Kincardine's event and an estimated $80,000.00 was raised, my team contributing $2500.00!!! THANKS TEAM! AND WAY TO GO KINCARDINE!!!!!!!!

Walking the Survivor's Lap with dad.

I'm the one in the "Pre-vivor" t-shirt sporting the teal and pink "fauxhawk". What a fabulous night!

The Morning After

Kincardine Relay for Life Blog

2008-08-11T15:07:00.007-04:00

Mike Brough of The Coast FM - 95.5 Classic Hits, who is on the Entertainment Committee for the Kincardine Relay for Life has created a web site for Relay. You can check it out at

http://www.kincardinerelay.blogspot.com/.

2008-08-10T10:51:00.004-04:00

It is with great sadness I am writing this. Yesterday morning my dear Shadow Cat left us. Shadow was with me for almost 20 years. Although she was still a frisky, spry kitty (she even caught a mouse her last night with us), her poor old body was failing her very quickly and I didn’t want her to suffer any longer.

The house seems so quiet without her. You who knew her know how vocal she could be. I keep waiting for her to walk up to me and start meowing to be petted…we will miss her dearly.

SHADOW CAT
1988 ~ 2008

I stood by your bed last night
I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying,
You found it hard to sleep.

I meowed to you softly
as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you,
I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast,
I watched you pour coffee,
You were thinking of the many times,
your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at my grave today,
You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you,
that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house,
as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you,
I smiled and said "it's me."

You looked so very tired,
and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know,
that I was standing there.

It's possible for me,
to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty,
"I never went away."

You sat there very quietly,
then smiled, I think you knew...
in the stillness of the evening,
I was very close to you.

The day is over...
smile and watch you yawning
and say "goodnight, God bless,
I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you
to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you
and we'll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you,
there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out...
then come home to be with me.

~ Author unknown

A Thought Worth Pondering

2008-08-08T08:07:00.010-04:00

"It isn't easy for any of us to transcend the past, or pain we might have suffered. Yet, there are gifts in those pains, and we can choose to let light into the dark places. We are not alone!"
~ SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy)

I have found many gifts in this process...

Going to the doctor has become routine and I can now go without freaking out like I used to. I mean I would try to avoid a tetanus shot or blood work I needed. Now I can't even work up a good panic attack prior to tests anymore! With a life long medical / needle phobia this is a lot to say.

I now feel I get the medical care I have always felt I needed. Doctors don't tell me I am overestimating my breast cancer risk and try to talk me out of even basic screenings. This happened many times in the past when I stated my concerns of the breast cancer history in our family. The BRCA2+ result is like the gold card for excellent medical care it seems.

Now I am not a paranoid person who worries too much about cancer. I am a responsible person who takes care of my health!

My FORCE friends who are amazing!

My sister is BRCA negative so this means the family curse on this limb of the family tree ends with me. I don't have to worry about my sister's daughter and since I don't have any children it is like the family curse is lifting for us. My sister's daughter, my niece, won't have to bare this weight; for that I am truly thankful. IT STOPS HERE!!!

I truly believe how we see things determines so much of how happy we are in our lives. Occassional pity parties are fine but allowing for the possibility of good to come from pain is a fine trait too.

Random thoughts, reflections, ramblings and feelings of insecurity...

2008-08-02T08:00:00.010-04:00

I have known my BRCA2 status for a little more than four months now and I often have thoughts that I am different and abnormal because I have this genetic defect. I know that everybody has genetic abnormalities and that I am among the lucky few who happen to have defects that can be identified in these early days of personal genetics doesn't always keep these thoughts in check. I am lucky because I can do something to protect myself from these defects - but sometimes it is still hard to feel lucky or normal.

This journey often reopens the all-too-raw wounds of watching my mom pass away from ovarian cancer last year.

I also noticed along my journey that I build great anxiety before every medical appointment and often get very down a few days afterwards regardless of how the appointment goes. I feel sure this is because each time I see another doctor it reinforces the reality of my situation and makes it more difficult to deny. I often feel trapped between the fear of cancer, the fear that surveillance won't protect me, the fear of surgeries to reduce my risk and the fear of cancers associated with this gene that I cannot do anything about to reduce the risk of. I have been seeing many wonderful doctors and sometimes seeing the fear, sympathy or empathy in their faces somehow makes me feel bad - it reinforces that these really are tough decisions and there are no easy answers or solutions. I’ve been told by my doctors I have a 40% to 60% chance of developing ovarian cancer and a 99% chance of breast cancer. Like anyone who carries the defective gene, I might never get cancer, or I might only get it when I’m very old; but I’m not a gambler; especially with those odds.

I have received varying responses from family and friends about my decision to have a total prophylactic hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy and a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction…a father who doesn’t want me to have surgery, but understands and supports my decision; a grandmother who’s totally in denial about the whole thing; a sister and husband who fully support and encourage the surgeries; friends who totally support me; some who just don’t get it; others who think I’m mutilating myself; and every opinion in between. Some think I shouldn’t do anything until I get cancer and some that say cancer might be cured in a few years if I could just wait. I’ve received responses like "anyone can get cancer", "so, you have a bad gene, you'll be fine", or "you don't have cancer so what are you worried about?".

Lately, I often stare at myself in the mirror, imagining the loss of my familiar shape. I wonder, how will the man I love and married feel about breasts that will be surgically reconstructed, incapable of feeling his touch? What will happen to me emotionallly, sexually, etc. with surgical menopause post-hysterectomy?

The thought that I have this mutation is never far from my mind...at times I even second guess my doing the BRCA test. No going back now…

Why I Relay

2008-07-30T17:19:00.005-04:00

This mp3 file is a message recorded by myself to be aired on The Coast FM Classic Hits 95.5, Kincardine's very own radio station. The Kincardine Relay for Life's Entertainment Chair, Mike Brough, asked all the team captains to record a message about why they participate in Relay for Life. So, press play and listen to Why I Relay...

I relay in memory of my mother who lost a brief but brave battle with ovarian cancer in 2007.
I relay in honour of my father who is an 18 year survivor.
I relay for myself as a carrier of the breast and ovarian cancer gene mutation.
I relay in memory of those who have lost their fight.
I relay in honour of all those still fighting.
I relay for everyone whose lives have been touched by cancer.

Relay For Life is more than just raising money for a good cause, it is a way to honour and remember family and friends. It is a way for a community to comfort one another in their times of grief and celebrate in their times of joy. And it is a way to take up the fight against cancer, to change our future, so that one in three people will not be diagnosed with cancer, so that one day, we will have no reason to relay.

I Feel a Great Weight Has Been Lifted

2008-07-25T19:13:00.022-04:00

I don't know where to start this post. If it seems all over the map, that's because I'm so happy, I don't know where to begin, so I'm just spewing everything out...hope it all makes sense!

I had my appointment this morning with Dr. Murial Brackstone. I spent just over an hour with a nurse practitioner, Margo L. Bettger-Hahn, RN, BScN, MScN, before I saw Dr. Brackstone. Margo is a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Breast Care and Plastic Surgery Programs. Margo is awesome! First she gave me a very thorough breast exam, then we talked and talked and talked. She answered all of my questions without me having to even ask. Right from the start, I told her I wasn't interested in surveillance, that I wanted a mastectomy. She just smiled and said good decision, that's what Dr. Brackstone would recommend anyway.

Margo L. Bettger-Hahn, RN, BScN, MScN
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Breast Care and Plastic Surgery Programs

When we were discussing reconstruction techniques, she asked me what type I was interested in. I told her I had been wanting FREE TRAM Flap because I didn't want the loss of abdominal muscle associated with a TRAM Flap. When I said this she asked me if I'd ever heard of a DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforation) Flap...I nearly fell off my chair. That's the reconstruction I really wanted, but thought it wasn't being done much in Canada yet. She said that the plastic surgery team of Dr. Claire Temple and Dr. Douglas Ross (no, NOT George Clooney, although he's pretty damn good looking!) have been doing DIEP for just over a year now. You have no idea how happy this made me! I was hoping to get Dr. Temple; and getting Dr. Temple to do a DIEP is just so amazing to me! :)

The DIEP flap uses skin and fat from the lower abdomen. No muscle is taken with this procedure. An incision (surgical cut) is made in the lower abdomen and you receive a “tummy tuck” in addition to the breast reconstruction.

These pictures aren't accurate, as I will be having circumareolar (skin sparing) mastectomy.

After talking with Margo for over an hour, I then met Dr. Brackstone. She's fabulous too! She also gave me a breast exam. Then we discussed my BRCA2 status, surgery and my previous MRI results from April. The small "indeterminant" spot on my MRI was nothing; she said not to worry about it as it is a normal occurrance in an aging woman's breast (AAGH! aging!!!). We then discussed my BRCA2 status. She told me with my BRCA2 status (a major deletion mutation), my likelihood of developing breast cancer at some point is more like 99% (not the previous 80 - 90% I'd been told), so it may as well be 100%. She said mastectomy is really the only decision to make or else the stress and constant worry, will drive me nuts. I agree, it already is! I don't like the idea of having MRIs every 6 months for the rest of my life and constantly waiting for results. After my surgery and reconstruction, I will have a less than 2% chance of developing breast cancer (that's less than the general population) and will no longer need to have mammograms, ultrasounds or MRIs. There's no point because I will have no breast tissue left. She told me I will need to have the hysterectomy done first, because of the abdominal surgery involved with the DIEP. The only downside to the DEIP is that it will likely be a 10 to 12 hour surgery. DH isn't too thrilled with this idea (nor am I), but it is a complicated surgery because it's microsurgery and it'll be worth it in the end.

Dr. Muriel Brackstone, MD, FRCPC

Margo was going to send in my referral to the plastic surgeons today. Margo is also the nurse practitioner working with them with breast cancer and reconstruction patients. She told me when I have my referral with Drs. Temple and Ross, she will more than likely be there. She said if she's not, to have them page her and she'll be right there. How wonderful! I have a feeling Margo is going to be a big part of this for me and will be a great support.

Dr. Claire Temple, MD FRCSC

Dr. Douglas Ross, MD MEd FRCSC

Now it's not 100% a given that I can have this type of reconstruction, but she figured I was a good candidate for it. Once I receive my referrals to the plastic surgeons, they will discuss it with me, and will schedule me for a CT Scan to map out the arteries in my abdomen.

When I have the surgery, Dr. Brackstone will first remove the breast tissue. This is done by circumareolar (skin sparing) circular incision around the areola and nipple, leaving all the breast skin intact. She then removes all the breast tissue. She said her part's the easy part! Pathology will be done on all my breast tissue to make sure there is no cancer cells. Once she's done her part, then Drs. Temple and Ross will work their magic. I have included a description below of what DIEP is. After the DIEP surgery, there will 2 smaller surgeries later on. One to reconstruct nipples and one to tattoo the areola area. I did ask Margo about nipple sparing and she emphatically said "no way" since you would be leaving breast tissue behind. She said "don't worry, we'll make you some nice new ones!" :)

I feel so much better after today's appointment. Things are starting to move forward and I feel a huge weight has been lifted.

What is a DIEP flap?
DIEP stands for Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator. This is the named vessel for which the tissue to be transferred is based. “Flap” is a plastic surgery term referring to the tissue which is to be transferred. The deep inferior epigastric vessels arise from the external iliac vessels (the external iliac vessels become the femoral vessels in the leg). The deep inferior epigastric vessels course beneath the rectus abdominus (the major abdominal “six pack” muscle) on each side. These vessels send off branches to the muscle as well as through the muscle into the overlying fat. These perforating branches are those which are identified, preserved and transferred with the overlying tummy fat to reconstruct the breast.

Definition DIEP Flap:

Perforator flaps represent the state of the art in breast reconstruction. Replacing the skin and soft tissue removed at mastectomy with soft, warm, living tissue is accomplished by borrowing skin and fatty tissue from the abdomen.

A slim incision along the bikini line is made much like that used for a tummy tuck. The necessary skin, soft tissue, and tiny feeding blood vessels are removed. These tiny blood vessels are matched to supplying vessels at the mastectomy site and reattached under a microscope.

Unlike conventional TRAM flap reconstructions, use of refined perforator flap techniques allow for collection of this tissue without sacrifice of underlying abdominal muscles. This tissue is then surgically transformed into a new breast mound. The abdomen is the most common donor site, since excess fat and skin are usually found in this area. In addition to reconstructing the breast the contour of the abdomen is often improved much like a tummy tuck.

Restoration of the nipple and areola follow. Scars fade substantially with time. For many women the reconstructed breast may be firmer and have a more youthful appearance than their natural breasts."

2008-07-22T14:11:00.026-04:00

Today's appointment with Dr. Steve Power went extremely well. I just love Dr. Power, his beside manner is the best!!!

First, I got my CA-125 (carcinogenic antigen 125) blood test results. The results came back low, low, low, which is exactly what we want!!!

Dr. Power did another TVU (transvaginal ultrasound) and everything looks great! My uterus is normal, my right ovary is small and inactive and my left one was ovulating! YIPPEE!!!

Despite having some hot flashes and night sweats, this means I'm not quite at menopause...yet! It's wonderful having Dr. Power do the ultrasound...he explains everything you're seeing on the screen and there's no waiting for results.

We talked a little more about Dr. Vilos and the surgery. He again reiterated that Dr. Vilos is the best and I couldn't ask for a better gynaecological / laparoscopic surgeon. He said because of my BRCA2 status, an abdominal wash and pathology will be done on absolutely everything they remove just to make sure there are no cancer cells present at all.

Dr. Power doesn't want to see me again until after my surgery...unless it doesn't happen within the next 4 months; then he wants to see me again for another ultrasound. He figures I should have the surgery within a month or two of seeing Dr. Vilos. I'm not an emergency case, but am considered higher risk because of my BRCA2 status and will more than likely get bumped up the surgical list.

That's about it! It's off to see the breast oncologist, Dr. Muriel Brackstone, on Friday.

Feeling Anxious!

2008-07-20T07:31:00.007-04:00

I'm starting to get pretty anxious again. Time sure flies! It seemed like forever before I had my doctors' appointments and look at that calendar! I have 2 this week.

I see my gynaecologist, Dr. Steve Power, again this Tuesday. Unfortunately DH is unable to attend with me this time, so I'll be heading to London alone. All should be fine though, this is just a follow-up. I have a pile of questions to ask him, so hopefully we'll get a chance to have a long talk. I've made myself a list this time so I don't forget to ask anything!!! Instead of having just the prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of tubes and ovaries), I'm going to opt for a total hysterectomy. If I'm going to go this far to avoid cancer, I may as well try to avoid all female cancers. With no tubes and ovaries, I don't need a uterus. "Why keep the basket if you have no eggs!"

Unfortunately, I don't see the gynaecological laparoscopy specialist until the end of August. I'm hoping this can be done by laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy, however Dr. Power was unsure if I am a candidate for laparoscopy because of a HUGE abdominal incision I have from liver surgery in 1992. I just want this surgery done so badly that I don't care and will do the abdominal surgery just to get this over with. I'm very anxious as it is recommended this surgery be done by the age of 45 and I'm 44...so let's "gid 'er done"!

Then, this coming Friday, I finally get to see the breast oncologist, Dr. Muriel Brackstone. DH is able to attend this one...I'm glad. I have a lot of questions to ask her as well and have made myself a list for her too so I don't forget anything. I've pretty much made my decision and I'm not going to opt for the surveillance route; I'm going to ask for a bilateral mastectomy. I've done tons of research on various reconstruction options and surgeries, so will discuss those with her, however, I imagine for most Q&As I will have to wait until I get a referral to a plastic surgeon. I'm hoping I'm a candidate for nipple-sparing FREE (muscle sparing) TRAM Flap (transverse rectus abdominous myocutaneous flap: a type of reconstructive surgery). I love the idea of using my own body to reconstruct my breasts as opposed to silicone implants. And as an added bonus, one of the "side effects" of a TRAM Flap is a permanent tummy tuck!!! If I am not a candidate, then I will go for implants. I'm hoping the wait for that referral won't be so long.

There may be the possibility of doing both surgeries at once. This is a much longer and complicated surgery (ranging from 8 - 12 hours), with a longer hospital stay and recovery time, but it would be one or two less surgeries. I don't know if this is an option, but it won't hurt to ask!

If anyone has any suggestions of questions I should ask, feel free to send 'em along!

NIH, Sanger Researchers Develop Assay for Assessing BRCA2 Variants

2008-07-09T08:45:00.003-04:00

NIH, Sanger Researchers Develop Assay for Assessing BRCA2 Variants

[July 8, 2008]

By Andrea Anderson, a GenomeWeb staff reporter

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Scientists have developed a functional assay for distinguishing between dangerous and neutral mutations in a breast cancer susceptibility gene.

In a paper appearing online in Nature Medicine this past Sunday, researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute described how they used mouse embryonic stem cells to evaluate the functional implications of 17 BRCA2 sequence variants. They found that this assay could effectively and reliably categorize risky BRCA2 mutations — which can dramatically increase an individual’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer — as well as relatively innocuous mutations.

“Our assay is likely to improve our understanding of unclassified mutations because it allows for analysis of all types of BRCA2 mutations,” senior author Shyam Sharan, head of NCI’s Genetics of Cancer Susceptibility Section, said in a statement.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, which tend to be inherited in some families, can dramatically increase an individual’s cancer risk. For instance, those carrying a mutation in one of the genes have a 35 percent to 80 percent risk of developing breast cancer by their 70th birthday. In contrast, the average American woman has a 12.3 percent risk of developing breast cancer in that time.

But BRCA1 and BRCA2 sequence variants don’t all confer the same risk. Some are extremely deleterious (unfortunatly, that's what mine is...the complete Exon 19 is missing) while others are neutral or low risk. Distinguishing between these extremes can be tricky, since mutations are often identified through genetic tests of families with a history of breast and ovarian cancer.

“Segregation analysis in cancer-afflicted families provides the most reliable information to distinguish between deleterious and neutral alterations identified in BRCA1 or BRCA2,” Sharan and his colleagues wrote. “However, there is an enormous need for a functional assay to classify variants for which such information is not available, because most mutations are rare, and familial data are often insufficient.”

That also makes it difficult to interpret BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic tests for those carrying unclassified or minor mutations — such as the 1,900 known BRCA1 or BRCA2 variations that don’t disrupt the gene product in an obvious way but may still affect gene function.

For this study, Sharan and his team exploited the properties of mouse embryonic stem cells to develop an assay for systematically testing BRCA2 variants. Specifically, the researchers took advantage of the fact that mouse stem cells need a functional copy of BRCA2 to survive.

The human BRCA2 gene can complement — that is, take over the function of — mouse BRCA2, but only if the human BRCA2 gene is functional. To test the functionality of various BRCA2 sequence variants, the team generated mouse embryonic stem cells that were missing one copy of BRCA2 and one conditional BRCA2 allele.

Then, they added bacterial artificial chromosomes containing individual human BRCA2 variants, inactivated the lone copy of mouse BRCA2, and looked at whether the cells could survive by relying on that human BRCA2 gene.

Variants that could not rescue the BRCA2 function in these mouse embryonic stem cells were classified as deleterious mutations, while those that could were considered neutral mutations. The researchers further characterized the variants using plating efficiency experiments and testing the cells’ sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents.

All told, the researchers tested 17 BRCA2 variants. As expected, mutations with known functional effects could not rescue the BRCA2 function while neutral mutations could. Among the previously unclassified variants, they found examples of both neutral and deleterious variants. Overall, the researchers classified eight of the 17 mutations as deleterious. The remaining nine appear to be either neutral or low risk.

While the researchers emphasized the assay’s promise for evaluating BRCA2 variants, they were quick to note that it will take time before the assay can be used as a clinical tool. “[U]ntil the assay is fully validated,” the authors warned, “caution must be exercised when using these data to make clinical decisions.”

According to a statement from the National Institutes of Health press office, Sharan is interested in collaborating with commercial organizations to develop the diagnostic test.

In the meantime, the authors are optimistic that such assays will eventually be used to characterize not only BRCA2 variants, but also variants in other disease-associated genes.

“We have established that this assay is accurate and is one of the most comprehensive among those available to date, allowing analysis of virtually any type of mutation,” they wrote, “and it may also serve as a model for investigating other human disease-associated genes that result in a phenotype detectable in [embryonic stem] cells.”

2008 Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada Report Card

2008-07-09T08:01:00.002-04:00

Report from the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.

2008 Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada Report Card (pdf document opens in new window)

BRCA2 and Resistance To Therapy

2008-07-08T07:35:00.003-04:00

This was previously released in February. I found it while doing some research. This may explain why my mom didn’t respond well to chemotherapy treatments. Cisplatin was one of the chemo drugs mom was given. Looks like BRCA2 mutations, can mutate again to resist certain chemo. This is very very scary...

Taken from HUM-MOLGEN News

Scientists have gained new insight into how changes in BRCA2 can affect a cancer's resistance to therapy. BRCA2 mutations are associated with an increase in breast and ovarian cancer risk, as the gene's normal function is to repair damaged DNA. But these cancer-causing faults are bad news for the tumour itself, as they also render it sensitive to DNA-damaging chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin. Unfortunately, many BRCA2 tumours develop resistance to cisplatin.

Two papers published online in Nature reveal how this resistance occurs. The teams, led by Alan Ashworth and Toshiyasu Taniguchi, show that some cancer cells can acquire secondary 'reactivating' mutations in their BRCA2 gene, switching it back on and allowing the cancer to repair the DNA damaged by the drug's assault. Such mutations were found in several cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer patients. The discovery raises the possibility that blocking BRCA2 function in such patients might allow doctors to overcome drug resistance and continue with cisplatin treatment.

Authors:
Alan Ashworth (The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK)

Toshiyasu Taniguchi (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA)

Abstract from Author, Toshiyasu Taniguchi's Paper:

Ovarian carcinomas with mutations in the tumour suppressor BRCA2 are particularly sensitive to platinum compounds. However, such carcinomas ultimately develop cisplatin resistance. The mechanism of that resistance is largely unknown. Here we show that acquired resistance to cisplatin can be mediated by secondary intragenic mutations in BRCA2 that restore the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame. First, in a cisplatin-resistant BRCA2-mutated breast-cancer cell line, HCC1428, a secondary genetic change in BRCA2 rescued BRCA2 function. Second, cisplatin selection of a BRCA2-mutated pancreatic cancer cell line, Capan-1, led to five different secondary mutations that restored the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame. All clones with secondary mutations were resistant both to cisplatin and to a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor (AG14361). Finally, we evaluated recurrent cancers from patients whose primary BRCA2-mutated ovarian carcinomas were treated with cisplatin. The recurrent tumour that acquired cisplatin resistance had undergone reversion of its BRCA2 mutation. Our results suggest that secondary mutations that restore the wild-type BRCA2 reading frame may be a major clinical mediator of acquired resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.

UK Study:Better Life Expectancy in Women with BRCA2 Compared with BRCA1 Mutations Is Attributable to Lower Frequency and Later Onset of Ovarian Cancer

2008-06-21T06:10:00.004-04:00

The following article is from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18559571?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

I wonder if other studies have been done with larger numbers and what the results have been. The study mentions that this is "the first formal assessment of life expectancy in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in these genes".

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Jun;17(6):1535-42.

Links Better Life Expectancy in Women with BRCA2 Compared with BRCA1 Mutations Is Attributable to Lower Frequency and Later Onset of Ovarian Cancer.

Byrd LM, Shenton A, Maher ER, Woodward E, Belk R, Lim C, Lalloo F, Howell A, Jayson GC, Evans GD. St. Mary's Hospital, Hathersage Road, Whitworth Park, Manchester M13 0JH, United Kingdom. Louise.Byrd@cmmc.nhs.uk.

PURPOSE: No formal assessment of life expectancy in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in these genes has been reported previously. We have evaluated life expectancy using actuarial analysis and assessed the effect of breast and ovarian cancers on premature death in >1,000 BRCA1/2 carriers.

METHODS: Families with pathogenic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have been ascertained in a 10-million population region of United Kingdom since 1996. Mutation carriers and their first-degree relatives were used in an analysis of breast and ovarian cancer incidence and mortality as well as to derive and compare an actuarial assessment of life expectancy.

RESULTS: Six hundred twelve BRCA1 and 482 BRCA2 female mutation carriers were identified from 482 families. Life expectancy was significantly reduced for BRCA1 carriers compared with BRCA2 (P = 0.0002). This effect was attributable to an increased death rate from ovarian cancer (P = 0.04). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a better long-term survival from early-stage ovarian cancer in BRCA2 carriers but no significant differences in deaths from breast cancer or from women presenting with late-stage ovarian cancer. There was no other major contributing cause to death other than breast/ovarian cancer in BRCA1/2 female carriers.

CONCLUSION: Interventions to reduce ovarian cancer incidence are likely to have a greater effect on life expectancy in BRCA1 compared with BRCA2 carriers. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(6):1535-42).

I'M OUTRAGED!!!

2008-06-06T06:42:00.013-04:00

This was all over news feeds this morning...I am absolutely INFURIATED!!!!!!

Stacey Fearnall, a waitress in Owen Sound, ON, who raised over $2,700.00 for shaving her head for Cops for Cancer has lost her job for being bald!!! What if she was undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments and lost her hair, would she receive the same treatment and be fired? The owner, Dan Hilliard, of Nathaniel's Restuarant located at 215 8th Street East in Owen Sound, ON, says this is an employer-employee matter and not a public matter. The owner is quoted in the Toronto Star as saying that "his customers would have been appalled by her shorn head". WTF!?!?!? I call BS!!!! I think Stacey's new do looks beautiful; and her ex-employer looks like a complete idiot!!! When I shaved my head last year when my mom was undergoing her chemotherapy treatments, I received nothing but praise and support from my employer. This is an outrage!

Talk about a human rights violation let alone an Ontario Labour Code wrongful dismissal. For the record, there are male waiters at this restaurant who are bald and / or shave their heads!!!! I hope she sues the pants off him for discrimination and wrongful dismissal!

I for one will NEVER EVER set foot anywhere near this man's restaurant.

CBC News - Waitress loses job after shaving head for cancer charity

CTV News - Woman fired after shaving head for cancer charity

Toronto Star - Waitress laid off after shaving head for cancer

MacLeans - Owen Sound, Ont., waitress laid off after shaving head for cancer charity

Yahoo News - Waitress loses job after shaving head for cancer charity

Sympatico MSN News - Waitress loses job after shaving head for cancer charity

Do a search on google...this has hit the news across the entire country; people are outraged!

ANNUAL ULTRASOUND/CA125 - DOES NOT INCREASE OVARIAN CANCER SURVIVAL

2008-06-04T17:27:00.014-04:00

Not that I ever doubted I was making the right decision having prophylactic surgery, this seals the deal for me. I'm even more confident and content in my decision.

The following is from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

Screening for Familial Ovarian Cancer: Poor survival of BRCA1/2 related cancers.

Gareth R Evans, Katja N Gaarenstroom, Diane stirling, Andrew Shenton, lovise Maehle, Ann Dørum, Michael Steel, Fiona Lalloo, Jaran Apold, Mary Porteous8, Hans F.A. Vasen, Christi van Asperen and Pal Moller

1. St Mary's Manchester, United Kingdom
2. Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
3. Western General Hospital, United Kingdom
4. Rikshospitalet Radiumhospitalet, Norway
5. University of St Andrews, United Kingdom
6. St Marys Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
7. Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
8. SE Scotlang Genetic Service, United Kingdom
9. Netherlands Foundation for the Detection of Hereditary Tumours, Netherlands

Abstract Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of annual ovarian cancer screening (transvaginal ultrasound and serum CA125 estimation) in reducing mortality from ovarian cancer in women at increased genetic risk.

Patients and methods: A cohort of 3532 women at increased risk of ovarian cancer was screened at five European centres between January 1991 and March 2007. Survival from diagnosis of ovarian cancer was calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared for proven BRCA1/2 carriers with non-carriers and whether the cancer was detected at prevalence or post prevalent scan. Screening was performed by annual transvaginal ultrasound and serum CA125 measurement.

Results: 64 epithelial ovarian malignancies (59 invasive and 5 borderline), developed in the cohort. 26 tumours were detected at prevalent round, there were 27 incident detected cancers and 11 interval. Sixty-five percent of cancers were stage 3 or 4, however, stage and survival were little different for prevalent versus post prevalent cancers. Five year and 10-year survival in 49 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers was 58.6% (95% CI 50.9-66.3%) and 36% (95% CI 27-45%), which was significantly worse than for 15 non BRCA-carriers (91.8% (95% CI 84-99.6%) both 5 and 10-year survival p=0.015). However, when borderline tumours were excluded, the difference in survival between carriers and non-carriers was no longer significant.

Conclusion: Annual surveillance, by trans-vaginal ultrasound scanning and serum CA125 measurement in women at increased familial risk of ovarian cancer is ineffective in detecting tumours at a sufficiently early stage to substantially influence survival in BRCA1/2 carriers.

My mutation…easily explained.

2008-05-25T20:20:00.007-04:00

A lovely anonymous poster on the FORCE Message Boards gave a fabulous description of my gene mutation. He/she put if very simply in laymen's terms.

My mutation is EX19DEL (aka c.8332-?_8488+?del)

All these weird question marks in the mutation name are a hallmark of the HGVS (Human Genome Variation Society) naming rules for big deletions / rearrangements.

All the lab typically knows is that a certain exon (or sometimes several of them) have been moved out of its proper place.

The easiest way to think about the exons is to imagine a novel published in a magazine, a chapter in every issue. If you have a stack of magazine and want to read the whole story, you read a chapter, skip a bunch of pages after it, pick the next issue, skip some pages before the next part of the story, and read on.

If it was a gene rather than a novel, then the in-between text you skip would be called an "intervening sequence", or intron. And the chapter you read would be called an exon.

Now suppose a chapter is missing. Maybe the whole magazine issue is lost, or maybe somebody ripped out a bunch of pages. Either way you don't have the whole story. Just how many "intron" pages are missing along with it wouldn't really matter for the reader.

But the HGVS rules demand that the lab reports the exact position of the lost part, to a letter, exon and intron alike. So a report would have to say something like

c.8332-?_8488+?del

which means that the loss is from the "letter" 8332 in the story, to letter 8488, and they also miss an unknown number of "intron" letters before the "exon" chapter (that's minus-question mark), and an unknown number of letter after the exon (that's plus-question mark).

This kind of notation would typically draw a blank stare from a geneticist, of course. Are they, like, supposed to memorize where a letter 8332 is located in the story? So thankfully, the lab might explain the numeric mumbo-jumbo it in more transparent terms. Like, "it means that the exon number 19 is gone".

Mutations of this type are known as "large deletions" or "rearrangements". These "rearrangements" are not common. To make the matters worse, the traditional sequencing tests typically missed them. New, more sensitive tests have only become available recently.

Guess I was lucky. By the sounds of this, my mutuation wouldn't have been found a few years ago!

Shower for the Cure

2008-05-25T05:41:00.010-04:00

Philosophy's Pink Ribbon Shower Gel is a three-in-one shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath with the sweet scent of fresh, floral peony.

Shower for the Cure is Philosophy's pink ribbon shower gel - a creamy all-in-one formula that can be used as a shampoo, shower gel or bubble bath. This long-time Philosophy favorite contains a touch of milk proteins and fruit essences to provide a delightful experience for your senses. Shower for the Cure represents the spirit of every woman and 100% of the Philosophy net proceeds from the Shower for the Cure is donated to the Women's Cancer Research Fund.

As you cleanse your body and lift your spirits using this shower gel, you'll also feel a warmth in your heart knowing you have helped support the Breast Cancer Research Fund, which brings health and wellness to others.

"A shampoo, bath and shower gel that is truly unforgettable.

unforgettable...she is a mother who can think only of the welfare of her children.
she is a wife who wonders if her husband will still love her.
she is a daughter horrified of the thought of breaking the news to her aging parents.
she is a sister, a soulmate, the best girl you know.
she is a friend; a real bosom buddy.
she is a neighbor who now needs a friend.
she is an executive who has lost her control.
she is an employee who wonders how she will keep her job, pay her bills, take care of her child, while trying to recover.
she is a patient who fears losing her life.
she is a doctor who must now save her own life.
she is a beauty who will always be beautiful.
she is a woman who never did feel beautiful.
she is famous and now she wishes she wasn't.
she is a stranger who you can't see, but she can see you.
she is a person whom you have yet to meet.
she is you, she is me,
she is...unforgettable."

Philosophy Shower For the Cure Bath & Shower Gel is also available in Super Size 32oz at QVC.

Yet Another Referral

2008-05-22T19:39:00.010-04:00

I got another referral today. Dr. Power’s office called me with a referral to Dr. George Vilos. He’s apparently a gynaecologist laparoscopy genius! Dr. Power is reluctant to do laparoscopy on me because of a large abdominal incision I had from liver surgery back in 1992, so he wanted me to see an expert to see if I'm a candidate for laparoscopy. I'd never heard of Dr. Vilos, but apparently, he’s one of Canada’s best! Dr. Power said I could speak to him about having a total hysterectomy as it can be done vaginally with laparoscopic assist. If I'm not a candidate for laparoscopy, I'll have to have my surgery abdominally.

Out of curiosity, I Googled him and he’s done a little with Da Vinci™ surgery. I don’t think he’s done a Da Vinci™ hysterectomy, but I’m going to ask him about it for sure!

One down side though…my appointment isn’t until August 25th…the wait seems to be getting longer.

My Appointment with Dr. Power

2008-05-21T18:37:00.006-04:00

Yesterday's appointment with Dr. Power went really well. Dr. Power is a fabulous man. His bedside manner is amazing and he puts you right at ease. The staff was fabulous too. I asked him if he sees many BRCA+ women and he said Genetics sends most of their referrals to him.

We discussed surgery options, etc. To make sure I don’t have any cancer because that changes the surgery completely, he did a trans-vaginal ultrasound on me to make sure my ovaries were ok; which they seemed to be. He did the ultrasound himself and explained everything we were looking at. He also brought my husband into the room with us. Hubby sat at my head so he didn’t see the nitty-gritty of the whole procedure, but he did get to watch the monitor. I think it may have been a little traumatic for him and I don’t think the poor man will ever be the same. LOL

He also sent me for a CA-125 test just to be sure (even though it is 70% unreliable). I go back to see him on July 22 and then we’ll go from there.

In my nervousness, I did forget to ask him a few questions, so I’m going to email him. I am going to ask about having a complete hysterectomy to alleviate the risk of uterine and cervical cancer as well. I also want to know if I do decide to go with a mastectomy and reconstruction, if the two procedures can be done at the same time. It will be a longer surgery and recovery, but would be less actual surgeries.

Well, that’s about it. I'll update as I find things out.

At least the first step is over...

In the Family

2008-05-18T10:14:00.007-04:00

In October 2008, PBS POV (documentaries with a Point of View) will air Chicago filmmaker Joanna Rudnick's In the Family.

When Joanna tested positive for the "breast cancer gene" at age 27, she knew the information could save her life. She also knew that she would have to make heart-wrenching decisions about whether or not to remove her breasts and ovaries, or risk developing cancer. In the Family is a moving document of one young woman's struggles, and her efforts to reach out to other women while facing her deepest fears. Joanna Rudnick chronicles the lives of several women currently undergoing the process of genetic testing -- following them from their decision to seek testing, through the testing process, and in the aftermath when they are coming to terms with the information they receive. These stories of the first generation of women to live with the knowledge that they are predisposed to a life-threatening disease will teach us what it means to survive a diagnosis of high risk without being consumed or defined by it. They will help us to understand the psychological, legal, ethical, cultural and social complexities of genetic testing for a mutation, which affects the entire family, for which there is no cure, and wherein the only treatments currently available involve enormous quality-of-life sacrifices.

There was a sneak preview of the film this weekend at the FORCE conference in Tampa, FL. DVDs were sold at the event, so I am frantically trying to obtain a copy. The response to the film was outstanding!

Watch the trailer...and have your kleenex ready.

Your Weekend Read

2008-05-16T07:45:00.005-04:00

Urgent - Stop Bill C-51

2008-05-11T18:42:00.006-04:00

I am writing this because there is legislation pending in Parliament, known as Bill C-51, which could in fact make it illegal to sell, purchase or use natural health products. This means that the vitamins, supplements, homeopathics and herbal medicines that you rely on for optimal health, could no longer be available. As Canadians, our freedom to choose the healthcare of our choice is being threatened. We need to let our MPs, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health know how we feel about this potential destruction of our legal right to choose.

The following is from NHPPA (Natural Health Products Protection Association)
www.nhppa.org

Natural Health Products are Under Immediate Threat

Many Canadians rely upon natural health products for their health. These products are endangered and consumers need to act now to save them. Since 2004 when the Natural Health Product Regulations were introduced, natural health products have been increasingly threatened. The new Regulations were Health Canada’s response to consumer demands for the government to protect their access to natural health products. The Regulations have had the opposite effect.

To “legally” sell a health product the new Regulations impose a licensing requirement. The problem is that 60% of licence applications have failed. These have been the “easy” applications. Expectations are that 70-75% of applications will fail. For the NHP Community this means that 75% of NHPs we rely upon for our health will become illegal.

This creates the following scenario:

75% of natural health products will become illegal;
Illegal products must be voluntarily removed or be subject to Health Canada enforcement;
Health Canada has publicly announced it is hiring more enforcement officers and is holding recruitment meetings at universities;
Bill C-51 gives Health Canada unprecedented enforcement tools to force natural health products off of the market.
Bill C-51 reads like a Police State Manual

There has never been a death in Canada caused by a natural health product. Considering that there are multiple deaths every year caused by common foods such as peanuts and shellfish, it is clear that natural health products are extremely safe. When you consider the health benefits of natural health products, including that many of us rely upon them for our very lives, it becomes clear that the real danger in regulating them is to “over-regulate” them off of the market.

Bill C-51 gives Health Canada unprecedented power to take natural health products away from us. Traditionally in Canada we have had the rule of law. This meant that it was not okay for the State to take our property without a warrant and without Court supervision to prevent arbitrariness and abuse. Now to “protect” us the State can seize the property of persons in the natural health product industry, including natural health practitioners, makers of natural health products, and retailers. This would be problematic even if there had to be a realistic safety concern for the seizure, but there does not have to be a safety concern. Under the new law the State can seize without a reason, without a warrant, without limits to what can be seized, without a time limitation, and without reporting the seizure to a Court. In some cases seized property can be forfeited to the State without Court approval. Owners will have to pay the costs of the seizure, transport and storage of seized things, even if it turns out that there was not a safety risk. The State still needs to get a search warrant if they are going to search someone’s home, but if it is not a home they do not need a warrant and can trespass on private property without any liability. Small family businesses are subject to the same maximum $5,000,000 fines as large corporations. Directors, officers and agents of a company can now be personally charged for the misdeeds of the company.

Even more troubling is that the State does not have to consider the health risk caused by their seizures. When the State seizes our natural health products, they are taking away our right to choose. That is, they are making our health decisions for us. We are then forced to use other treatments such as chemical pharmaceutical drugs which can be dangerous and ineffective. For those of us who only get relief from natural health products, the State forces us to suffer and in extreme circumstances, to die.

The seizure of Empowerplus is an example of where deaths resulted from the State seizing a natural health product that is now freely on the market. There is something wrong with “health” legislation which allows the State to seize health products without considering whether we need the products. There is something wrong with the State making personal health decisions for us. Health decisions are fundamental to our personal autonomy. There is something wrong with the State being able to seize our property without prior Court approval, without clearly defined reasons for the seizure, without time limit, and without Court supervision. There is something wrong with the State being able to trespass on our property without any recourse. Surely we can draft “health” protection legislation that does not read like a police state handbook.

Urgent Call to Action
Bill C-51 was introduced into the House of Commons on April 8, 2008. The Bill is not yet law, but will become law unless Canadians act quickly. It is essential that you let key Members of parliament know that:

You are opposed to the police state powers in Bill C-51;
You want them to vote against Bill C-51;
You want your access to natural health products protected.

Members of Parliament pay attention to personal efforts by voters you should:

Send a hand written letter to:
Phone your local Member of Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office to voice your concerns.

Stephen Harper’s phone numbers are (613) 992-4211 and (403) 253-7990.
Tony Clement’s phone numbers are (613) 944-7740 and (705) 746-9053.

For your local MP’s number go to:
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

You can send your letters without postage to:

Name of person letter is to such as Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Additional information is available at:

Call To Action - Your Freedom and Health is at Risk! Bill C-51

Missing Mom on Mother's Day

2008-05-11T06:19:00.004-04:00

I miss you mom!
Today and everyday
you are always in my heart.

Love Shari

Gardening for the Cause

2008-05-09T06:33:00.012-04:00

I had a fabulous birthday and was spoiled rotten by my husband, family and friends. The dinner hosted by my sister and all the gifts I received were absolutely wonderful! but I just had to point out one extra special gift.

Last year I created a memorial garden for my mom in our backyard and love to spend hours working in it. I received this lovely gardening set from the Papaya and Boogie Shoes....for those who don't know, they are my beautiful nieces, Maia and Ran. :)

This set is made by Midwest Quality Gloves and is available at Home Hardware. Both the gloves and apron are from the product line, Canadian Hope, and are embroidered with the yellow cancer ribbon. Midwest Quality Gloves donates $1.00 from the sale of each glove and apron set to the Canadian Cancer Society in support of cancer research.

The Gloves are a combination of jersey and cotton canvas with PVC dots on the palm for gripping power.

The Apron is a lightweight and comfortable cotton waist apron with deep front pockets to make it ideal for working in the garden.

Thank you girls! Your Auntie Shari loves you!!!

Now if only the weather would get a little nicer, I can get out in the garden and get at it!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARI!

2008-05-07T10:35:00.001-04:00

glitter-graphics.com

Toronto project to track genetic origins of cancer

2008-04-29T16:15:00.007-04:00

Decade-long study may lead to new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease

Apr 29, 2008 08:00 AM
Megan Ogilvie
Health Reporter
Toronto Star

Cancer researchers from around the world banded together today to announce the launch of a massive international effort - headquartered in Toronto – to map the genetic origins of cancer.

The International Cancer Genome Consortium, one of the largest global research endeavours since scientists cracked the human genome, plans to catalogue the genetic changes found in 50 of the most common cancers within the next decade.

Experts say the project will help researchers uncover the genetic roots of cancers, a feat which will likely lead to new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease.

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), located in Toronto, will host the international consortium’s secretariat and will house its data coordination centre.

Ontario, which has already committed $30 million to the consortium, gave the project another boost today with an additional $10 million.

John Wilkinson, Ontario’s Minister of Research and Innovation, said the consortium is a textbook example of how the province, through strategic investments in research, can be a global innovation leader.

“It’s clear the ability to solve global problems is through collaboration,” he said. “Researchers from around the world have decided to join together to crack the genomics of the 50 most common cancers that plague mankind.”

The consortium has an open invitation for any research organization to participate and already has project commitments from nearly 10 countries, including China, France, India and the United States.

Each project will tackle a specific type of cancer and must agree to the consortium’s policies and contribute at least $20 million to sequence 500 unique samples.

Dr. Tom Hudson, scientific director and president of the institute and an executive member of the consortium’s interim executive committee, said cataloguing the genetic mutations involved in 50 types of cancer is too large a project to be undertaken by one country alone.

The consortium’s goal to map 50 cancer genomes is 25,000 times larger than the output of the Human Genome Project, he said.

Ontario researchers, coordinated by OICR, plan to map the genetic mutations involved in pancreatic cancer. Hudson said the decision to analyze pancreatic cancer was influenced by both Ontario’s critical mass of top-notch researchers in the area and the need to find answers for a deadly cancer.

“We wanted to go after a very tough cancer,” he said. “It has had improved the least in its survival rates in the last 20 years and the mortality rate is very high.”

Dr. Lincoln Stein, a world leader in genome informatics, was recruited to the OICR from the U.S. and will lead the consortium's data coordination centre, which is predicted to be the largest health informatics database in the world.

Studying cancer genomes will help scientists understand the complex biological mechanisms that cause cancers to grow and spread throughout the body.

Hudson said the project may also help pinpoint environmental factors, including viruses, that contribute to different cancers.

Review of "Am I Next In Line" by Monique Achtman

2008-04-27T08:46:00.007-04:00

Once I started Monique's book, I couldn't put it down. This is a definite must read for anyone facing the BRCA cancer gene, or for those with family or friends facing the BRCA cancer risk.

I felt a flood of emotions as I read this; happy because I didn’t feel so alone in my fears; sad because it brought back the all-too-raw memories of losing my mom to ovarian cancer; worried that I might be next; relieved that my sister and my niece won't need to feel the stress and emotional turmoil I'm going through; and a strong feeling of déjà vu with many of her experiences paralleling my own.

I hope that this book will help other women who are as frightened as little girls when they ask, Am I next…?, it certainly gave me tremendous hope.

Am I Next In Line can be ordered here.

Alternative eco-friendly die-cast cookware

2008-04-25T19:09:00.013-04:00

The following excerpt is taken from the Canadian Cancer Society website

"Teflon™ and non-stick cookware and cancer risk
Non-stick cookware has raised concerns among the public about its possible association with increased risk of cancer. One concern is that cooking with non-stick products may increase cancer risk. Another concern is that potential cancer-causing chemicals used to make non-stick products are released into the environment during manufacturing."

The jury is still out on the health effects of Teflon™ and other chemically created non-stick cooking surfaces, but I tend to err on the safe side. Of course manufacturers deny any health risks associated with their product, but other investigations and studies have shown otherwise. I use stainless steel pots and pans, however I still like using non-stick frying pans...maybe that is saying something about my cooking skills! LOL Ok, it's more for the ease of cleanup, and the fact you don't need to use much cooking oil to keep foods from sticking.

Today we took GeeGee on a shopping trip to Zellers and WalMart. Since I was in the need of some new frying pans, I took a look to see what was available...and look what I found! I was thrilled, I didn't know these existed. I found these at WalMart at a fairly decent price. The 28cm one was $42.99, and the 24cm one was "rolled back" to $19.99 from $36.99. I couldn't resist and bought both sizes.

from Starfrit

Alternative eco-friendly die-cast cookware
Cerem-ECO non-stick surface
from 100% natural ceramic powder
CHEMICAL FREE - Easy to clean
Made of 99% recycled aluminum
Even heat distribution
Extra thick base never warps, buckles or bends
Integrated induction base is for use on all stovetops including induction

There's lots of information out there. Be your own advocate and keep informed and up-to-date on new research and new healthier choices in products that are available. Some good information about different types of cookware can be found at the following link:

It's Your Health - The Safe Use of Cookware from Health Canada

Stemming the Tumorous Tide

2008-04-21T16:47:00.003-04:00

Apr 17th 2008 SAN DIEGO
From The Economist print edition

Cancers grow from stem cells. That discovery should translate into better treatment for tumours of all types

STEM cells have a controversial reputation, but in truth they are what makes human life possible. Each tissue in the body grows from a particular sort of stem cell. When it divides, one of its daughters remains a stem cell while the other eventually turns into whatever tissue its mother was designed to produce—be it blood, muscle, nerve or whatever. That is how healthy tissues are renewed, and it is now looking likely that it is how unhealthy tissues are renewed, too. Indeed, many researchers think that the underlying cause of cancer is the brakes coming off the regulatory system that stops normal stem cells from reproducing too much. For one of the most important medical discoveries made in recent years is that cancers, too, have stem cells and that these appear to be the source of the rest of the tumour.

This helps to explain why cancers are so hard to deal with. Treatments that kill the bulk of a tumour, but leave the stem cells alive, are only buying time. On the other hand, if all of a tumour's stem cells could be killed then it would torpedo the old wisdom that no patient is ever cured of cancer, but merely goes into remission. True cures for cancer would be possible.

The cancer-stem-cell theory, though plausible, was based on animal experiments and its relevance to humans was untested. But a series of studies reported this week at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, in San Diego, has changed that. They suggest both that cancer stem cells are very relevant indeed to survival, and that going after them is an excellent idea.

The relevance of cancer stem cells to survival was shown by William Matsui of the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Centre in Baltimore. He looked at samples from 268 people with pancreatic cancer and found that the pattern of stem cells in their tumours predicted how long they would live. Those whose tumours had stem cells at their edges (the “invasive margin” in the militaristic jargon of the cancer-warriors) lived on for an average of 14 months. Those who did not lived an average of 18 months. Not a huge difference, but confirmation that cancer stem cells have an impact on the outcome of disease.

Bombs away
Such stem cells, then, are as bad as theory suggests they should be. The question is, can they be eradicated?

Animal tests suggest this is hard. For reasons as yet unknown, stem cells are resistant to standard cancer chemotherapies. With this in mind, Jeffrey Rosen and his colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, compared samples from breast-cancer patients taken before and after 12 weeks of chemotherapy. They reasoned that if stem cells were resistant in people as well as mice, then the proportion of stem cells within a tumour would increase as more vulnerable cells were killed off in disproportionate numbers.

And that is exactly what happened. Among women treated with old-fashioned chemotherapy, the share of stem cells within their tumours rose from 5% before treatment to 14% afterwards. Dr Rosen, however, went further. In a parallel experiment he looked at a group of women being treated with a new drug called lapatinib. In these people, the proportion of cancer stem cells decreased from 10% before therapy to 7.5% after they were treated.

Lapatinib is a product of the growing field of molecular medicine—the design of drugs to attack specific protein molecules associated with particular diseases. In this case the protein attacked is HER2, a molecule often found on the surface of breast-tumour cells. Ironically, however, it was not lapatinib's effect on HER2 that made it potent against stem cells. Lapatinib, it turns out, also inhibits the activity of a protein called the epidermal growth factor receptor, which has been found to be important for stem-cell proliferation. When its activity is blocked, a stem cell's daughters both lack stem-cell qualities and the chain of “stem-cellness” that the system depends on is broken. Hence the proportion of stem cells in the tumour falls.

It is too early to tell if Dr Rosen's discovery is a life-prolonging one. But Dr Matsui and his colleague, Carol Ann Huff, are thinking along similar lines.

Alongside Dr Matsui's pancreatic-cancer work, they have been looking at treating multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, with a combination of heavy artillery and guided missiles: high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy to kill the bulk of the cancer cells and antibodies called rituximab. These bind to a protein called CD20 that sits on the surface of cancer stem cells. It was expected to kill them.

Not every experiment works, and this one did not. As expected, patients left with the fewest cancer stem cells after the therapy lived longest. But this was the luck of the draw, for the rituximab failed to kill the cancer stem cells. Indeed, Dr Huff and Dr Matsui could see stem cells coated with the antibodies alive and well in their samples.

The next step, Dr Huff and Dr Matsui agree, is to bring in even more powerful missiles. Another proprietary antibody that binds to CD20, called tositumomab, is radioactively labelled. If this coats the myeloma stem cells in the way that rituximab does, the radiation should kill them.

Researchers at the University of Michigan, where tositumomab was developed, have already begun such an experiment. Andrzej Jakubowiak, who is leading the trial, says four patients have been on the treatment long enough to be evaluated, and three of them have already been taken off other drugs and appear clinically stable—which for advanced myeloma is an unusually good success rate. The laboratory data also look promising. The radiological bombs seem to be destroying the cancerous stem cells in exactly the predicted manner—although Dr Jakubowiak rightly cautions that too few patients have been treated to allow firm conclusions.

The upshot of all this is that the stem-cell hypothesis of cancer growth looks a good one. It explains a lot of things, and allows biologists to look at tumours in a new way—almost akin to developing organs, albeit ones with no function and growth that is out of control. That insight, and a better understanding of stem-cell biology, may be the chink in cancer's armour that people have long been searching for. And that is a truly optimistic thought.

Thingamaboob

2008-04-20T10:52:00.005-04:00

The fashion accessory every girl should have!!!

Get your's today!

Click here to order your Canadian Cancer Society Thingamaboob.

I have the best sister in the world!!!

2008-04-19T15:40:00.003-04:00

Please read my sister's blog entry for today...

http://becomingfive.blogspot.com/2008/04/cancer.html

I am so blessed to have Tracey. Not only is she my sister, but she's my best friend. I don't think I could handle this journey without her.

I love you so much!!! Thank you Tracey. xoxo

WAY TO GO CANADA!!!

2008-04-18T12:51:00.006-04:00

Health Canada
2008-59
April 18, 2008
For immediate release

Government of Canada Takes Action on Another Chemical of Concern: Bisphenol A

OTTAWA - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, and the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, today announced that the Government is taking action to protect the health of Canadians and the environment from another chemical of concern.

Canada is the first country in the world to complete a risk assessment of bisphenol A in consultation with industry and other stakeholders, and to initiate a 60 day public comment period on whether to ban the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles which contain bisphenol A.

The comment period will begin on April 19, 2008, once the Government publishes a summary notice of its assessment findings in Canada Gazette, Part 1.

"Canada has been the first country in the world to conduct risk assessments on a number of chemicals of concern, as a result of a new initiative announced by the Prime Minister on December 8, 2006 known as the Chemicals Management Plan," said Minister Clement. "We have immediately taken action on bisphenol A, because we believe it is our responsibility to ensure families, Canadians and our environment are not exposed to a potentially harmful chemical."

Health Canada's screening assessment of bisphenol A primarily focused on its impacts on newborns and infants up to 18 months of age, however health risks for Canadians of all ages were considered in the screening.

It was determined that the main source of exposure for newborns and infants is through the use of polycarbonate baby bottles when they are exposed to high temperatures and the migration of bisphenol A from cans into infant formula. The scientists concluded in this assessment that bisphenol A exposure to newborns and infants is below levels that may pose a risk, however, the gap between exposure and effect is not large enough.

To be prudent, the Government of Canada is proposing to reduce bisphenol A exposure in infants and newborns by proposing a number of actions: to ban polycarbonate baby bottles; to develop stringent migration targets for bisphenol A in infant formula cans; to work with industry to develop alternative food packaging and develop a code of practice; and to list bisphenol A under Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Environment Canada scientists also found that at low levels, bisphenol A can harm fish and aquatic organisms over time. Studies indicate that it can currently be found in wastewater and sludge treatment plants.

"When it comes to Canada's environment, you can't put a price on safety," said Minister Baird. "Not only are we finding out about the health impacts of bisphenol A, but the environmental impacts as well. That's why our Government will be moving forward and will work with the provinces and stakeholders to keep bisphenol A out of our environment, and take the necessary measures to ensure its safe use and disposal."

For more information, please visit the Chemical's Management Web site (http://www.chemicalsubstanceschimiques.gc.ca/)

or call 1-866-891-4542.

Media Enquiries:
Laryssa Waler
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Health Canada Media Relations
(613) 957-2983

Eric Richer

Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441

Environment Canada Media Relations
(819) 934-8008
1-888-908-8008

What Exactly is Bisphenol-A?

2008-04-18T09:00:00.008-04:00

Bisphenol-A (BPA), is a chemical that mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen.

BPA has been found to stimulate prostate cancer cells and causes breast tissue changes in mice that resemble early stages of breast cancer in both mice and humans. One study found an association between ovarian dysfunction and higher levels of BPA in urine.

BPA is primarily used to make polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that are used to line metal cans for food, such as cans of soup. Polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers that contain BPA will be labeled recycling #7.

What do those recycling symbols mean anyway?

Poly(ethylene terephthalate): Soda bottles, water bottles, vinegar bottles, medicine containers, backing for photography film.

High-density Polyethylene: Containers for: laundry/dish detergent, fabric softeners, bleach, milk, shampoo, conditioner, motor oil. Newer bullet proof vests, various toys.

Poly(vinyl chloride): Pipes, shower curtains, meat wraps, cooking oil bottles, baby bottle nipples, shrink wrap, clear medical tubing, vinyl dashboards and seat covers, coffee containers.

Low-density Polyethylene: Wrapping films, grocery bags, sandwich bags.

Polypropylene: Tupperware®, syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, diapers, outdoor carpet.

Polystyrene: Coffee cups, disposable cutlery and cups (clear and colored), bakery shells, meat trays, "cheap" hubcaps, packing peanuts, styrofoam insulation.

The hotdog of plastics! Products labeled as "other" are made of any combination of 1-6 or another, less commonly used plastic.

Safe plastics recycling guide:

Some important recent studies of Bisphenol-A

Smart Plastics Guide Healthier Food Uses of Plastics

In the News

2008-04-18T06:42:00.003-04:00

April 18, 2008

April 17, 2008

April 15, 2008

Health Canada bisphenol A announcement imminent