Monday, January 24, 2011

Once Again, The "C" Word

It's time for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure in South Florida. This will be the 20th year the race has been run in West Palm Beach.  I will be there.  Since I have many new readers, I thought I'd re-run my original post about my daughter's fight and defeat of breast cancer.  My post is in honor of the survivors and in memory of those valiant women and men who lost their battle.

I've put up a PayPal donation button over on my sidebar.  I  have a goody basket of assorted items to give away to someone who makes a donation.  You can donate any amount, it doesn't matter.  100% of your donation to my Komen page will go to research a cure for this disease.  The prize is my incentive for you to donate.  Thank you.


No, not THAT "C" word. The other one: CANCER.

I would be happy to be called a cunt everyday for the rest of my life if only I never had to hear my beautiful daughter say to me, "Mom, I have breast cancer."

My blood froze, every muscle in my body turned to water, and the horrible screaming I heard was actually me. We all cried. Her father, her husband, me and my daughter. Then I got drunk and threw up in her backyard.

After that we all put on our big girl panties (men included) and dealt with it. Next Saturday, January 29, her husband, my daughter, myself, Mulder, and several friends and co-workers, will once again participate in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure. Our group being none too athletic will be walking the 5K course along the intra-costal waterway. We get to meet and talk to survivors, mothers walking for daughters, sisters walking for sisters, sons walking for mothers. Whether they are walking for survivors or in memory of, every person does this walk or run for someone they love very, very much. It is why I walk so joyfully WITH my daughter - a survivor.The story down below was written right after Christina was diagnosed. She asked me to share it with all my friends - real and cyber.   

     

A Message from Christina …                         
                  

My daughter, Christina, asked me to do this – for YOU! Christina is 28 years old. In April of this year she felt a pain in her left breast. She also thought she felt a lump. The lump seemed to enlarge and decrease but the pain stayed. She made an appointment with her gynecologist. He did a quick breast exam and told her not to worry about it because there was no history of breast cancer in our family and SHE WAS TOO YOUNG TO HAVE BREAST CANCER.

By early June, the pain was becoming worse and she went to see our family doctor. The family doctor gave her a breast exam and did feel something like a mass, she doubted Christina had cancer – maybe a breast cyst, and scheduled her for a sonogram. The sonogram did show a mass, still possibly a fibrous cyst but the family doc referred her to a breast surgeon. The surgeon did another sonogram to confirm and decided to do a breast biopsy. He was pretty sure it was just an infected cyst but wanted to be sure.After the biopsy, the surgeon told me he was very relieved because when he stuck the anesthetic needle in he felt a “pop” and lots of fluid and blood began to come out. He was 98% sure at this point it was an infected cyst, he drained all the fluid he could but went ahead and did the biopsy because he just needed to be sure. She is only 28 and with no history of breast cancer he felt that cancer was not really an option but just in case, he did the biopsy.

The biopsy showed AN EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE FORM OF BREAST CANCER.Christina has had a lumpectomy and is now going through chemotherapy and will have radiation. She has large breasts so the removal of the 4cm tumor has left her one breast scarred but it’s not too bad. She has had a port inserted for her chemo because her veins are not very large. Her hair will fall out completely by her 29th birthday, September 25, 2006. We had fun buying wigs. She bought a wig her normal hair color and style (brown and straight) but decided a blonde wig was also in order. She is also thinking about having a double mastectomy and reconstruction.


HER MESSAGE TO YOU IS – NO MATTER HOW YOUNG YOU ARE, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY, IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND GET TO A DOCTOR THAT WILL TREAT YOU. DEMAND TESTS, DEMAND THAT THE DOCTOR TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY.She has spoken to over a dozen women ages 21 -32 who have gone through or are going through the same thing she is and all of them were told initially – YOU ARE TOO YOUNG FOR BREAST CANCER. Don’t believe it – YOU’RE NOT!




Christina is 4 1/2 years cancer free. She feels great, has been losing weight and working with a trainer. Her hair came in the most beautiful warm brown and so curly. If I do say so myself, she is gorgeous. She has also learned that the crap you get in life isn't to be worried about. Have some fun and joy every single day. Don't save the good perfume - use it! She's a funny, smart, talented, beautiful woman. She wants to be a mother, soon. I have no doubt she will make a wonderful mother and in time, a fabulous grandmother.

18 blew out from under the bed:

Akelamalu said...

Cancer is no respector of age, as your daughter's story proves. Thankfully she is a survivor and a brave one to allow her story to be told to help others. x

Ron said...

It was so powerful and touching to read this again, Nitebyrd.

"Have some fun and joy every single day. Don't save the good perfume - use it!"

Brava! Awesome message!

And I'm so ecstatic to hear she is doing well and cancer-free!!!!

Thanks for sharing this, Sis!

X to you and your daughter!

Anonymous said...
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tattytiara said...

I am so glad you get to do with with your daughter. I can't even imagine what it's like for a parent to hear those words - it just sounds too painful to imagine. Congratulations to Christina on continued good health!

Danielle said...

Hugs to you and your daughter!

wendy said...

such a worthy cause to run for.
HATE THE C WORD.
My best friend had breast cancer and had both removed.......but seems to be fine now.
Frightening.

run, baby run.

Dianne said...

heroes!!
both of you

Riff Dog said...

Good for you. And I'm happy for Christina. Fuck cancer!

Vixen said...

Very touching to read hon.... *hugs to both* Thank you for sharing your story with us.

A Daft Scots Lass said...

A great post!

Cancer can be beaten..

Casdok said...

Strong message.
Enjoy the race.

Sandra said...

It's terrific how involved you are. I applaud you. This is me standing on my computer chair and applauding....here you write about worthy causes and I write about clacking balls.

Indi said...

nitebyrd ' Run Forest run.' I will be with you every steo if the way. I can't run much these days, my runnig years are pretty much over due to joint pain. The C word is a very needed fund.. the disease will one day be cured, but I fear as we cire one aweful disease, another one pops up.. I am proud of you to run nitebyrd.. love the pink running shoes...groovy pumps.


Indi

xxx

Anonymous said...

I will be back to donate as soon as I have something other than stink bugs in my pockets.( even the spiders are running from these nasty buggers!)

Danni said...

I came over to talk about the fairy party and ended up sobbing.

I'm happy you and your family are so involved in this together and most of all, that you can do the walk with your daughter by your side. She's sounds like a toughie and someone who will inspire a lot of people. Fuck Cancer!

P.S. I'd love to see photos and hear about why you chose your tattoos. I have a fairy on my shoulder myself. :)

Jennie @ Modern Mamaz said...

WOW - I can't even imagine how emotionally exhausting all of that must be for not only her, but you too. Thanks for sharing though, I think everyone just assumes they aren't at risk until they are much older.

UP said...

Thanks! I lost my dear sister-in-law to Breast Cancer the day after Christmas 2003. My wife, her sister, has never been the same, and neither have I. Too soon, too much, too sad.

Love ya.

UP

Red Shoes said...

Bless her heart... she will be in m thoughts and prayers. That is something that no parent should ever hear from their children...

Continued mojo to your family...

~shoes~