Recipes for living, loving and laughing:Jo, Elliott, Cloey & Zoey's adventures

 Elliott surprised me with a few items to celebrate my negative BRCA tests ♡ A tote bag. A super soft blanket with positive words on it and the last one, which I will hang.

 All 84 genetic markers are negative. This means no radical mastectomy, but I will have to have a lumpectomy, of course, radiation, and then some sort of magical pill to try to keep cancer from coming back.  " Genetic testing can be used in many ways, but here we’ll focus on its use in looking for gene changes linked to cancer." Great information at American Cancer Society.  American Cancer Society

2/23/2022   As I wait for my BRCA results I read this article and thought I'd pass it on:   "It might have started when you felt a lump. Or maybe you simply went in for a routine mammogram only to find out something wasn’t quite right this time.  Your doctors ordered a biopsy, and the results confirmed your greatest fear. Finding out you have breast cancer can feel like a punch in the gut. There are probably a million questions running through your mind: What just happened? How did this happen? Am I going to be okay? You are feeling scared, anxious, overwhelmed —maybe even angry. Or you may go completely numb. Whatever you are feeling, it’s “normal” (whatever that is.)  Every woman’s journey is unique. We are not physicians, we’re merely sharing our experiences in the hopes it brings you some calm, order, and a little motivation to advocate for yourself during this time. What to Expect When Newly Diagnosed:   1. You will meet with a breast surg...

2/21/2022 I don't know what triggered this feeling. I have been fine. Last night we were with the grandkids, other grandparents, the grandkids' parents and a couple of others. Maybe being in such a happy gathering did it. I am not going to speculate but I came home and cried.  I cried for my daughters and my best friend who lives on the other side of the country. I cried in fear of what I would hear from the BRCA test. I cried for what was. 

 I forgot I had cancer for awhile. I read the girls the book I bought " Nana has cancer but cancer doesn't have nana. " it seemed that The 4-1/2 year- old was much more interested than the 6- year old. The older one prefers non- serious books.

2/17/2022 My EKG went well so I am cleared for whatever is ahead. I'm surprisingly not terrified. If I had known months ago this would happen... The big C word...I would have assumed terror would be my daily being. I haven't quite figured out why it is not. I didn't expect this so if you have any insights, let me know! I am so impressed with Sutter. I got a call from the medical oncologist's office telling me they would be watching for when I am scheduled for surgery and the doctor will work with my surgeon. It's so refreshing to not have to chase people down. Then again we are talking about cancer and not when the office door will be put in. We have a busy weekend. The girls are staying over tomorrow night and we love picking them up from school, Saturday night dinner with six friends, and Sunday is Dylan's second birthday party and then he starts preschool. We have a great life. I am far from ready to give it up.

 2/17/2022 They are not the permanent ones, but they are stuck. No more retainer, which was not very comfortable. After 1 1/2 hours, this is what I have and what my permanent bridge and crowns will look like. One huge task almost done. 

 2/13 2022 It's available and I'm eligible so off I went to target yesterday. I have a low-grade fever, some dizziness and fatigue. It's not nearly as bad as shot number 3.  I'll continue this post another time. I don't know how people work and have cancer at the same time. This is a full-time job! This week I have my every three-month blood work for my rheumatologist with whom I have an appointment this week.  I have an appointment to get an EKG from my primary care physician. I have an appointment for a genetic test and in between all that I am having a bridge made and four crowns this week. OMG . I did get a manicure. My nails are white with a pink ribbon on one of them. Hopefully I will be able to play mahjong next week and we will have the two little ones Friday over night so I'm looking forward to that.  2/15/2022 Well this has been and will continue to be quite a busy week. All the blood tests are done; I still have two doctors tomorrow.  AND I had a derm...

My blood pressure was high, but I do have "the white coat syndrome."

 2/10/2022 I really can't say enough positive things about Alyssa.  It's a long road ahead for sure. We have an appointment with my surgeon February 28th. That is the pre-op assuming my BRCA comes back negative. We have lots to do but deciding on a surgeon was step 1. Next step is getting cleared from my primary care physician for surgery, have the genetic testing, have blood work done, surgery (which surgery will not be decided until my genetic tests come back) and then an oncologist, probably radiation - I'm figuring this may be finished around June and we can still get to Canada this summer.  We are so thankful to our daughter who sent Dr. Baker our way. She is a woman who only does breast surgery.  The Oncology Building at Sutter was very impressive. It was clean, modern and everyone was so very nice.  The highly educated and knowledgeable P.A. spent well over an hour with us. She showed us my scans, had data, etc. I   over with different treatment...

 2/9/2022 We had our first opinion doctor's appointment today. He is an older gentleman with relics of the past in the office. He went over my tests and examined me also using an ultrasound. My tumor is small, stage 1,  but before he recommends a lumpectomy with three to six weeks of radiation, he is taking blood tomorrow to test my genetics. It seems that having a mother with melanoma, her brother dying from melanoma and being an Ashkenazi Jew, my chances are higher for the BRCA gene. If it comes back positive an absolute double mastectomy. He can do an aesthetic flat closure. If negative the above and years on meds is the protocol. There is a small sigh of relief but waiting 11 days will be nerve wracking. 

 2/6/2022 You may remember I wanted to see the surgeon, Dr. Baker, who only does breast surgery. Her receptionist was nasty, and I didn't get an appointment. For some reason when I called today, I got scheduling and the woman was super nice. I am seeing; however, a Physician's Assistant, who will go over everything with me. I can then make the surgery appointment and then see Dr. Baker for a pre-op (thus shorter) visit. Of course, I can always cancel the surgery, but I would like to have two opinions. Kind of questioning it but I'd probably have to wait another month to see Dr. Baker and at this point it has been over a month. So much to think about!!

 I spent last looking at them. I thought maybe maybe I could just buy a padded bra. But of course not! You have to have something to put in the cups. Sigh...there are many with what are called pockets in which a "prosthetic" goes. Ugh. Or I can just "stay flat" as they say.  Elliott says this is premature. I know it is a lot, but I have to be thinking of these things. Don't I?  As I get closer to Wednesday I get more and more nervous. The surgeon is supposed to be really nice and very good, but I think I'm supposed to have a team, oncologist, plastic surgeon just in case. I have read that reconstruction is a 10-hour operation and at 70, I just don't think it is going to happen. Not sure which is worse: losing my breasts or losing my hair!!  The good news is that I do believe our insurance will pay for these "things."

 2/4/2022 Last night we spoke to our northern CA family. This issue of "how to tell the kids"came up. One is only two but the other two, with whom we are very close are 4 1/2 and 6. They are bright and precocious.  I bought  Nana Has Cancer, But Cancer Does Not Have Nana by Deborah Kim. We decided that reading them a story over zoom made sense. Next week or after I see the surgeon, I will ask them to sit down and pay attention. They will and they will probably ask questions most of which we are prepared to answer. Here's hoping it goes well!!

  This World Cancer Day, let's pledge together to create a Cancer-free future, support the fighters, admire the survivors, and spread more awareness to protect our loved ones. #WorldCancerDay Source: World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/ Learn more at www.worldcancerday.org The theme this year is Closing the Gap. (Did you really think I'd stay away from politics?) "Similarly, the survival of children diagnosed with cancer is more than 80% in high-income countries, and less than 30% in low- and middle-income countries. And breast cancer survival five years after diagnosis now exceeds 80% in most high-income countries, compared with 66% in India and just 40% in South Africa." WHO

  2/3/2022 Please don't put off a mammogram.  Women ages 40 to 44  should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms (x-rays of the breast) if they wish to do so. Women age 45 to 54  should get mammograms every year. Women 55 and older  should switch to mammograms every 2 years or can continue yearly screening. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer. All women  should be familiar with the known benefits, limitations, and potential harms linked to breast cancer screening.  Women should also know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast changes to a health care provider right away. Some women – because of their family history, a genetic tendency, or certain other factors – should be screened with MRIs along with mammograms. (The number of women who fall into this category is very small.) Talk with a health care provider about your ri...

2/1/2022  Yay so after going through hoops to get the first referral to call me, I insisted that Dr. Nelson refer me to Dr. Barash. I have an appointment next Wednesday so we can enjoy the beach for the rest of the week, and I feel a bit settled.  I had two teeth pulled in the front and am waiting to get a bridge and two crowns. That appointment had to be moved but that's nothing compared to breast cancer! 2/2/2022 How am I feeling you ask? More nervous and scared by the second.  Elliott is amazing and does most everything at home now but he cannot do everything. How do women with kids do this? It is mind boggling. I found myself looking at post mastectomy clothes last night!