My prognosis is good…
I didn’t want to leave any of you hanging after reading my book and perhaps finding out about my breast cancer diagnosis for the first time through it. Thankfully, I discovered the breast lump that I could feel early and it turned out to be Grade 1a Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. The other good news about my kind of cancer is that it was highly Estrogen & Progesterone Receptor positive. That means that taking a small dose of an aromatase inhibitor aka the estrogen stripping pill for the next 10 years should greatly reduce my risk of recurrence.
Thankfully, God in His grace led me to accept that I needed to have a mastectomy on the diseased side and my surgeon was able to remove the other buried tumor completely. He was so, so good to me to move me through the stages of acceptance that I needed to go through and to let me explore other options, and firmly close all the other doors so that I knew that taking this major step was the step I had to take. He did that for me in regard to needing radiation therapy as well.
There are some verses in the Book of Isaiah in the Bible (chapter 30 verses 19-21), which say, “O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold Him. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” He did this for me. He directed my steps and helped me emotionally be ok with each very difficult step that I had to take.
So, back to my prognosis. Even though my surgeon removed all the macro-cancer (the solid cancer that could be removed) from my left breast by doing the radical mastectomy and by taking two of my lymph nodes, and even though the radiation fried the field involved and destroyed whatever micro-cellular cancer that may have been residual in that area, I know that my body is not fully cancer free. No one really is! It’s just that most people (hopefully) have an intact immune system and good health and their bodies can stop cancer cells from growing and causing harm. With this knowledge, and with my history of finding the best help through functional medicine or integrative doctors, I was very grateful to find the Block Integrative Cancer Center in Skokie, IL.
Dr. Block has a book out called LIFE OVER CANCER, which outlines his center’s research-based approach. I am working with them to keep tabs on a wide range of labs that my conventional oncologist doesn’t track. These are designed to let me know early if any of the 5 body terrains that they’ve identified as precursors to cancer get off track. I’m taking supplements to help bolster my immune system that was weakened by my years of toxic mold exposure. I’m watching my diet - off of sugar, trying to be dairy and meat free and eat as healthy as possible, juicing still, being intentional about detoxification, etc. And, Dr. Block is huge on exercise, so I’m being more intentional about that as well. I am also careful about my stress load, because for me and for a lot of people excessive stress can really open the door for cancer. I am not living in fear! Praise God for lifting that from me early on. I’m just doing my part to be vigilant and give myself the best chance I can to keep cancer at bay and live out God’s plan for me.
So that’s “the rest of the story” as of now, and I am so, so grateful to the Lord for walking with me through all of this hand in hand. I’m also tremendously grateful for Tim, my kids, my parents and brother, my extended family and my Christian friends who prayed so faithfully for me and helped me in all my weakness! I feel so blessed and am rejoicing to be on the other side of the wall of fire that God led me through. One last verse - also in Isaiah - which sums up my cancer testimony is this promise from my heavenly Father: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you….Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:2 & 4)
