Breast Cancer Awareness Pictures

 Shaved Heads for Susan!


Aaron Ratliff
                        Eddie Avila










Luke Parker   Ben Gordon


You guys rock!

A close-up of the shirts

The outside of my door is covered with pink ribbons
signed by students and staff!

The inside of my door is a laundry line of breast cancer
awareness slogans and well-wishes!

My shirt made and signed (on the back)  by my 4B  class!
Thanks Julia and Eliza!

     What a busy day! Two classes celebrating Shakespeare's 448th birthday complete with cookies, brownies, chips, and drinks. One more party tomorrow and the Bard of Avon will be aptly remembered. We actually combined Shakespeare's birthday and Breast Cancer Awareness. Strange combination, I agree, although Shakespeare does mention breasts and/or bosoms quite often!
     Two of my students, Mackenzie and Hailey, covered my classroom door with yellow paper and put up the pink paper ribbons the other students and teachers signed. It's looking great! My 4th B block designed and decorated T-shirts for Relay for Life this Friday. They look great. I'll post pictures soon.
     Special thanks to Mrs. Tindall, Natalie's mom for buying the T-shirts for the whole class. Thanks to Natalie for coming up with the idea. Also, thanks to Julia and Eliza for decorating a shirt for me and having the class sign the back.
     This post is actually a day late. I wrote the first part last night after helping Jarret with his school's Relay for Life banner. We didn't get home until after 8:00. I fell asleep before I posted.
     Today (Thursday) we finished up Shakespeare's birthday bash. No more cookies or brownies please! So far my students have cut out pink ribbons, boxing gloves, and very small shirts. We're hanging the boxing gloves on the ends of the ribbons and hanging the whole thing from the ceiling outside my door.
    Jarret and I will be at the Needwood Middle School tent site on Friday. We will have the heavy bag and some boxing gloves so people can "take the fight to cancer." Come by and see us.
    Rhonda Barlow, the Relay captain for Brunswick High encouraged me to walk the survivor's lap. I didn't feel right about it at first because technically I'm not a "survivor" as yet. But when I thought about it, I guess I am. I mean, cancer isn't winning. I am fighting it. So, yes, I'll be walking!

   Ahhhh, the weekend. A chance to relax and catch my breath. Nothing much going on, just the usual - laundry, housework, working out, watching some sci-fi on Netflix...
   I am cutting my hair a little shorter today. It's too hot on my neck when I work out and have one of those hot flashes from hell!
    My students continue to surprise me with their caring and support. Everyday I receive hugs, gifts, smiles, and jokes. I'm afraid I've unleashed the beast in my students! After making it OK to actually say the words "boobs" and "breast," they came up with "slogans!" Here is sample:

booby-dooby-do    stay perky   tit-tits-hooray!   no boobs? no problem!  I'm too sexy for my hair!

   I've received permission from my principal to make my classroom door the Breast Cancer Awareness Door. We will put ribbons, cartoons, pictures, and facts about breast cancer. Unfortunately, I can't use some of the above slogans. :( We may be using quite a few astericks! You know, like b**by-d**by-d*!

   For the last few days I've been all over Brunswick looking for breast cancer "stuff". Like shirts, stickers, ribbons, hats, etc. Nothing! I was so disappointed. Relay for Life is Friday, and I wanted to wear a cool shirt. Jarret and I went today and looked in the mall - nothing. We finally found a shirt, hat, key chain, and really cool pink boxing gloves in Dick's Sporting Goods. We then went to Michael's (where I had looked previously) and Jarret found quite a few items! I especially wanted some scrapbook pages and stickers. He must have had his radar on because he kept finding all kinds of things!
He is the most awesome husband and best friend in the world!

Shared Grief is Half the Grief

     Shared the news with my students yesterday. It was more difficult NOT to tell them. Since my students are a large part of my life, and breast cancer now IS my life, I needed to combine the two. It is still hard to let the words "breast cancer" out of my mouth because everytime I say it, I know it's true and not some horrible nightmare. Although it does get a little easier with the telling because I can feel the love. ( cue the sappy music!)
     I spoke with the sophmores first. Most of these students are on their second round of literature with me. We have a unique relationship! After the shock wore off, I told them about the specifics of the surgery and the after effects. They are an amazing group and the love and support they demonstrated will definitely carry me through. Love you guys! The slogans and "boob" jokes kept me laughing all day.
     My freshmen are very caring and supportive, too. I've recieved many emails to that effect. At least we have Romeo and Juliet to see us through to the end of school. 
     The crazy part is the number of students that raised their hands when I asked how many of them have someone in their family who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. It is the plague of our nation.
    
     Everything is at a standstill for now. My next appointments will begin May 1. We have to be at Mayo at the ungodly hour of  6:40am for lab work - 9:45 is the MRI - 1:40 is the meeting with the surgeon - 3:30 is the meeting with the plastic surgeon - and finally on May 2 at 3:00, we meet with the oncologist. Whew!
    Jarret and I are spending Monday and Tuesday nights in Jacksonville to save on gas and time. We'll get to spend time with the grand babies!
     It looks like my surgery will be sometime in the middle of June.

Have a great day everyone. Ya'll are like a good bra - very supportive! 

      Tough day today. It seems like every time I go to an appointment, I get more information that I have to deal with. Let me back up. Yesterday was my appointment at Mayo. I agreed to go and get a second opinion which is always a good idea. I had all intentions of keeping everything in Brunswick. It's convenient and I like my doctors. But after experiencing the caring atmosphere and professionalism of their breast cancer clinic, I am completely won over.
     I called them this morning and said. "Let's go." They called me back this afternoon with all the preliminary appointments. It's wonderful! I don't have to do anything except show up. They take care of everything!
     I met with Dr. Isley, who talked to me about my options. It looks like almost every decision I have to make is dependent on the sentinel lymph node. So far, I will have to take either Tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor which will block or prevent estrogen. It's a five year prescription.
     According to pathology report the tumor cells are ER (estrogen receptor) prostive (good), PR (progesterone receptor) positive (also good), but HER2 positive (bad.) Here is some info from the Mayo Clinic site:

HER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. In about 1 of every 5 breast cancers, the cancer cells make an excess of HER2 due to a gene mutation. This gene mutation and the elevated levels of HER2 that it causes can occur in many types of cancer — not only breast cancer. This is a gene mutation that occurs only in the cancer cells and is not a type of mutation that you can inherit from a parent.

    Because the HER2 is positive, I will have to undergo chemo therapy. I'm thinking about cutting my hair shorter and shorter so by the time I lose it, it will have been a gradual change. Jarret says he will shave my head for me before it looks too ratty! :)  I'll have to get some cool "do-rags." Should I go with the pirate or thug look?

     Back to my day. With all this information running around in my head, I'm having a difficult time keeping up with my job. Being a school teacher is tough enough without the added stress. I really care about my classes and giving them the best education possible. Let's just say I'm glad there's only five weeks left!
     On another note, Jarret is making sure I'm working off my stress and building my muscles at the same time. Two hours in the gym this evening working on triceps, quads, calves,  and chest. Plus 25 minutes on the treadmill. I should be in tip top shape by surgery time!
     One more thing, and then I'll go. Everyone knows I chose the butterfly as my totem a few years ago when I was going through many life changes. One of the first gifts Jarret gave me was a necklace with a silver butterfly on it bearing this inscription: "Just when the catapillar thought her life was over, she changed into a beautiful butterfly." Now, more than ever, the symbol of the butterfly stands to remind me how changes can be painful, but they bring beauty and strength.
     Here is a picture from the lobby of the Mayo Clinic. I took it as a sign.

Happy weekend to eveyone!
Tomorrow is my appointment with the doctor at the Mayo Clinic. Hopefully, he will just confirm what Dr. Arlauskas has already said. Elizabeth, my daughter from another mother, is going with me. We can have some girl time!
Jarret and I went to the second plastic surgeon on Friday. Every time we go to another doctor we get more information that both encourages  and scares us. There's much more to this surgery than implants; it's taking stuff out and reconstructing. What we're really hoping is that the sentinel node comes back negative. That means I won't have to have radiation or chemo. I found the following information about my particular type of cancer on www.breastcancer.org :


       Mucinous carcinoma of the breast — sometimes called colloid carcinoma — is a rare form of invasive ductal carcinoma (cancer that begins in the milk duct and spreads beyond it into nearby healthy tissue). In this type of cancer, the tumor is made up of abnormal cells that “float” in pools of mucin, a key ingredient in the slimy, slippery substance known as mucus.
Normally, mucus lines most of the inner surface of our bodies, such as our digestive tract, lungs, liver, and other vital organs. Many types of cancer cells — including most breast cancer cells — produce some mucus. In mucinous carcinoma, however, mucin becomes part of the tumor and surrounds the breast cancer cells. Under a microscope, it looks like the cancer cells are scattered throughout pools of mucus.
Research suggests that only about 2-3% of invasive breast cancers are “pure” mucinous carcinomas — meaning that this is the only type of cancer present within the tumor. About 5% of invasive breast cancers appear to have a mucinous component within them, with other types of cancer cells present as well. Mucinous carcinoma is extremely rare in men.
Although mucinous carcinoma can be diagnosed at any age, it tends to affect women after they’ve gone through menopause. Some studies have found that the average age at diagnosis is in the 60s or early 70s.
Even though mucinous carcinoma is an invasive breast cancer, it tends to be a less aggressive type that responds well to treatment. Mucinous carcinoma is less likely to spread to the lymph nodes than other types of breast cancer.

I may be young at heart, but I must have old boobies!

So, to get me in the best possible condition for the upcoming surgery, I am taking extra vitamins and supplements prescribed by Dr. Cabeca my "lady" doctor to help build up my immune system. Coach Jarret is getting me in physical shape. And I thought I trained hard for Tough Mudder! Check out the pics from today's training!

♥ Breast Cancer Awareness ♥

Humor!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to see the humor in everything, even things that aren't supposed to be funny. I think that's why Jarret and I get along so well; we share a quirky sense of humor!
I realize breast cancer isn't exactly a laughing matter, but come on, who can resist a good boob joke?!
My friend and colleague, Phyllis Sartin, told me about a shirt she wants to get for me after my surgery. It says:

Ladies, get your mammogram!

Catching Up!

To get everyone up to speed, here is what's been happening for the last month:


February 11 - Jarret and I completed the Tough Mudder course - 11 miles and 25 military obstacles!
February 22 - went to my regularly scheduled mammogram - cam back "iffy."
February 27 - had an ultrasound on the "iffy" area of my right breast.
March 13 - met with Dr. Arlauskas about the results - wanted a biopsy.
March 20 - biopsy and interestingly enough, mine and Jarret's 2nd anniversary!
March 23 - results- mucinous carcinoma
March 30 - Dr. A. went over options- suggested plastic surgeons
April 5 - Dr. Bowen, plastic surgeon goes over options of which there are many!
April 13 - appointment with another plastic surgeon, Dr. Easterling
April 16 - Mayo clinic for a second opinion -
Whew!