My Pink Planner Thanks Volunteers!

All too often, I feature news about survivors becauseI created My Pink Planner to help connect survivors with people who want to help them. The other part of the equation is the volunteer.
I could not have made it through treatment without my network of volunteers. People I had never met were making my family meals. Friends were cleaning my house. Relatives were taking me to treatment. And Johnnie's friends parents were picking him up from the babysitter.
In honor of the upcoming holiday, I would like to publicly thank all the volunteers who helped make me a healthier survivor. Here is the list of my My Pink Planner volunteers:

John Michael, Vicki, Caroline, Eileen, Maureen, Clare, Paula, Diane, Cadie, Denise, April, Genapher, Mary Alice, Jenni, Mary G., Mrs. Kitchin, Barbi, Terrie, Cathy G., Nancy, Michele, Cathy S., Jo, Vong, Estella, Susan, Amy, Pam, Lisa R., Susan and Stacey, Sherri, Lisa T., Tony, Dad, Mom, Kathy, Brian, Nicole, and Jim.

I also wish to thank my husbands' co-workers, the Chinese restaurants' delivery man, the drive-thru workers at McDonald's for telling me I looked good bald, and the survivors who would stop me to give me encouragement when my hair was growing out. Thank you!

Surviving Annual Check-ups!

Yesterday, I underwent the annual reminder that I had breast cancer -- the CT-scan and bone scan. Since I am a four-year survivor, I have become less anxious of the testing. I feel fortunate that we have the technology to detect cancer and drugs to cure our disease, but while the fear of recurrence dims it never totally leaves your mind.
But I had what I thought what was a good sign when I won $3 in the Missouri Lottery as i bought my morning caffeine. I know I am lucky to have discovered my cancer. I am lucky to have had such wonderful doctors and nurses. But the full day of testing would shake me to the core.
I first went to the lab for blood draws. No big deal. Denise, my nurse and friend, put in an IV line where later in the day the Imaging technicians would inject radioactive dye for the CT-scan. Denise is so great because I can never feel her needle sticks. Then I'm off to drink the yummy, chalky concoction that will make it possible to see my bones on the bone scan.
While I wait four hours for the chalky substance to take effect, I knock out the CT-scan. Again, no big deal. It's a quick look at my abdomen and chest.
Then I wait three hours in the cafeteria passing the time doing some work on my laptop and talking to some work friends on my cell phone.
The bone scan which is ordinarily easy made me incredibly claustrophobic. The plate of the machine was about 2 inches from my nose for 30 minutes. I closed my eyes and prayed the whole time. I promised God I would finish all the personal projects i have left undone for weeks. I promised Him I would have date nights with my husband and read more books with our son.
After the 30 minutes, the technician said the radiologist wanted to know if I had fractured my rib when I broke my ankle earlier this year. He saw something on my rib and wanted another look. The tech apologized because she didn't want to freak me out, but he really wanted a closer look at my ribs.
So, here's another 30 minutes under the plate. More prayers. More prayers.
After I left, I was dazed. i thought, this is going to be okay. Don't worry. But if it wasn't, the cancer would be in the bone. We can overcome it. I know we can, but I don't want to go through it again. But my tumor had been close to my chest wall. There is always a possible stray cell that could have metasticized to the bone, but please, God, don't let it be true.
I called Diann, my doctor's nurse, and left a message telling her I did not want to wait the weekend not knowing the outcome of my test. She kindly called back within 2 hours saying my tests were clear and not to worry.
I am not trying to be morose or pessimistic, but every test is a battle of the mind and will. You can overcome the fear with the help of God and the people he places around you.

My Pink Planner keeps Christina Applegate in our thoughts!

According to the Associated Press, actress Christina Applegate, star of television comedy,"Samantha...Who?," is receiving treatment for an early form of breast cancer.The news service reports her cancer was detected through an MRI. As survivors, we can all understand how emotional this time is as you sift through information and treatment options. I cannot imagine the pressure from the glare of the media spotlight that she must also contend with. My Pink Planner wishes her well during her journey to healing.

Chrissy's Survivor Story

Chrissy's story is the first "Survivor Story" which can also be read on http://www.mypinkplanner.com/. These stories are about real women whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.


People tell me I am a survivor. But I am not.

I didn't have breast cancer. I didn't go through chemotherapy. I didn't have radiation.

Yet, cancer changed my life forever.

My sister is a breast cancer survivor. Another sister survived thyroid cancer. My mother died from breast cancer when she was very young.

I was a living time-bomb, so I became a member of a local cancer study. The study looked at siblings and family members with a strong history of breast cancer.

In 2004, I was a single mother with a young son. I could wait my turn for cancer to change my life -- or I could take control of my future.

I researched loads of websites. Talked to my doctors. Spoke to dozens of women who were lucky enought to be breast cancer survivors. I wanted to get the statistics on my side so I decided to do something that some may think was drastic -- I had my breasts removed profilactically.

I've heard the concern and confusion from people asking me why I did this. Yet the answer is plain and simple. I wanted to do everything I could to try to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible for my son...and for me.

Today, as a result, I feel more confident now. I still sometimes worry about every little bump I notice on my beautifully-reconstructed breasts. I'm not saying I coudn't still get breast cancer, but having my breasts removed has improved my chances dramatically.

Here's to the women who were part of any breast cancer research, and make it possible for my sisters and me to remain healthy.