Contents ix
Dedication v
Acknowledgments vi
Introduction vii
Table of Contents ix
Letter 1 What’s Wrong? Lumps or Peas? 4/30/04 1
-Mammograms--Biopsies--Ultrasounds
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 4
-Symptoms of Breast Cancer, Medical Findings, Breast Cancer Diagnostic
Tests, Medical Reports
American Cancer Society--Examining The Breasts 9
How To Examine Your Breasts 10
Feeling Your Lymph Gland Areas 11
How Mammography Works 12
A Cross Section of The Breast And Lymph Nodes 13
My Breast Screening Guide Chart 14
Letters from Auntie 15, 17
Breast Screening Guides: American Cancer, National Cancer Institute,
U.S. Preventive Services, Susan G. Kromen 20
Letter 2 Snip, Snip 6/11/04 21
-Ultrasound-- Biopsy--Mammogram
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 25
-Symptoms and Risk Factors for Breast Cancer, Diagnostic Procedures,
Cancerous Medical Findings
Needle and Open Biopsies 29
Fibrocystic Breast and Milk Producing Lobules 30
Hereditary and Non-Hereditary Risk Factors Chart 31
Letter 3 The Big “BC” and A New Vocabulary 6/16/04 37
-The BC Call--Feelings--Grades of Cancer Cells--Pathologists and Their Jobs
Tumor Sizes 40
How Cancer Cells Become Cancerous 41
How Cells Become Cancerous Masses 42
Letter from Auntie 43
Early Detection Is Early Prevention 44
x
Letter 4 Managing the News of an Unexpected Trip 6/20/04 45
-Emotional Turmoil--Telling Family Members
Letter from Auntie 47
How to Beat Cancer (City of Hope) 48
In What Countries Is Breast Cancer The Highest and Lowest? 50
Letter 5 Big Decisions and a New Medical Journey 6/29/04 51
-Meeting With The Nurse Practioner--Meeting With My Surgeon--Pathology Report--
Other Considerations (MRI, Genetic Testing, Treatment Choices)--Insomnia
Problems
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 57
-Treatment Choices, Further Diagnostic Options, Medical Findings,
Prevention, Medical Terms
Types of Breast Cancer 61
Distribution of Axillary Lymph Nodes 62
Sentinel and Axillary Node Biopsies 63
Stages of Breast Cancer 0-4 64
Lymph Node Cancer 65
Letter 6 Preparation for Surgery 7/2/04 67
-Meeting With My Family Physician For Pre Surgery Physical--MRI Results--
What Is Cancer?--Breast Cancer Occurrences--Types of Breast Cancer Occurrences--Duct and Lobe Breast Cancer--Genetic and Hereditary Breast Cancer
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, and Concepts 73
-Before Surgery, Types of Surgery Procedures, Types of Cancer and Terminology, Medical Team Members, Who Will Get Breast Cancer?
Breast MRI Machine 77
Ductual Carcinoma In Situ 78
Letter from Auntie 79
Who Will Die From Breast Cancer? How Can We Prevent Breast Cancer
Deaths? 80
Letter 7 First Surgery 7/8/04 81
-Treatment--MRI--Feelings
Types of Incisions 84
Lumpectomy 85
Staging of Breast Cancer Tumors, Staging of Lymph Cancer Tumors,
Metastases Involvement 86
Letter from Auntie 87
Letter 8 Consultation 7/13/04 89
xi
-Follow Up Meeting With My Surgeon--Feelings
Tumor Margins 92
Types of Surgery 93
Ductual Carcinoma In Situ 94
Breast Cancer Staging 95
Options for Women With Breast Cancer 97
Letter from Auntie 99
Reasons For A Lumpectomy and Reasons Against A Lumpectomy 100
Letter 9 Second Surgery 7/15/04 101
-Treatment--Appointments
Letter 10 Follow Up Results & A Third Surgery 7/29/04 103
-Meeting With My Oncologist--Meeting With The Plastic Surgeon--Third Surgery--
Follow Up With My Surgeon
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 107
-After Surgery, What’s Next?: Chemo, Radiation, Hormone Therapy,
Reconstructive Surgery?
Reconstruction: Tram Flap 112
Reconstruction: Latissimus Flap 113
Implant 114
Letter from My Auntie 115
Letter 11 Moving Forward 8/6/04 117
-Breast Cancer Support Group--Life--Trip Preparation
Letter from Auntie 119
Letter 12 Follow Up Results 8/13/04 121
-Meeting With My Oncologist--Choices
Letter 13 What’s Next? Getting Nuked! 8/20/04 123
-Miller Dwan Radiation-- Dentist Appointments--Knowledge--My Possible
Causes--Other Possible Causes of Cancer
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 128
Radiation 101, Symptoms, Procedures, Terminology, Radiation Professionals
Dose Treatment Plan 132
Linear Accelerator (How Radiation Works) 133
Radiation Side Effects and Radiation Therapy 134
Letter 14 Moving On with Treatment 9/7/04 135
-Radiation-- My Family Physician--Feelings
xii
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 139
Emotional Health 102, Symptoms and Treatments, Terminology
Survivor’s Journal 141
Letter 15 Continuing On 9/20/04 145
- ENT Physician Assistant--Radiation--Breast Cancer Support Group--Attitude
Letter from Auntie 147
Letter 16 Now and Afterwards 10/1/04 153
-Radiation--Doctor/Dentist Visits
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge and Concepts 155
-Hormones, Bones and Menopause 103, Symptoms, Tests, Procedures, Medical Findings,Terminology
Estrogen and Cell Division 158
Letter 17 Endings and New Beginnings 10/31/04 159
- Radiation--Final Diagnosis--Choices--Dr. Appointments--Stressors
Letter 18 “The Celebration of Life Trip” 11/26/04 165
Letter from Auntie 171
Who Will Get Breast Cancer? 174
Letter 19 Consultations; Life Goes On 11/30/04 175
-Dr. Appointments--Other Activities
Letter from Auntie 179
Letter 20 December Letter 12/31/04 183
- Other Activities--YWCA Breast Awareness Program--Lymphedema Treatments--
The Picture Problem--Others Have Worse Problems
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 188
Lymphedema 104, Symptoms, Procedures,Treatment,Terms
Lymphedema in the Arm 190
Lymphphatic System 191
Lymphedema--The Stages, Who Will Get Lymphedema, Treatment,
Precautions 192
Letters from Auntie 193, 195
Cans, Packages, Kitchens 194
The Highest to Lowest Incidence of Breast Cancer by Race, A Woman’s
Risk of Developing Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Deaths 198
Letter 21 Life Goes On 1/31/05 199
xiii
-Family Activities--Life Extension--Diet and Exercising--Lymphedema
--MRI’s--Thinking of Others
My Breast Cancer Diet 205
My Food Pyramid 209
Phytochemicals and Breast Cancer 210
Vitamin, Mineral Chart 211
Letter from Auntie 213
Ways To Increase Breast Cancer Risk--Ways To Decrease Breast
Cancer Risk 216
Letter 22 Healthy Thinking 2/15/05 217
-Environmental: Food, Water, Air Toxins--Diet--Complementary Therapies--
My Family Physician
Letter from Auntie 225
Letter 23 Healthy Ways 2/28/05 229
-Exercising--Diet--Books--Environmental Toxins
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge, Concepts 236
-Complimentary Therapies 105, Diagnostic Procedures, Complementary Treatments, Findings
-Exercising at the Center for Personal Fitness 242
Letter 24 Winding Down 3/15/05 243
-Breast Support Group--Spirit Team Board--Women’s Expo--Mothers Day
Walk Run--Relay for Life--Dragon Boat Race--Research: Jewish Research
-- Risk Factors and Toxins 243
Letter 25 Cancer Follow up; Diagnostic Testing; Going Going On 4/13/05 247
-Meeting with My Oncologist After Tests--Meeting With A Toxin Professional
Cancer Facts, Terms, Knowledge and Concepts 254
--Reccurrence Terminology 106--Cancer Terminology
Appendixes:
-Chemicals That Induce Mammary Tumors 257
-Six Actions To Reduce Exposure To Cancer Causing Chemicals 258
-Symptoms/Tests of Recurrence /Metastasizing Cancer/Rates 259
-Breast Cancer Facts 265
-Five Year Survival Rates; Survival Rates With Local, Regional, Distant and Unstaged Cancer; Estimated Breast Cancer Deaths by Age 267
-Breast Cancer Incident Rates by Race and Ethnicity; Breast Cancer
Death Rates by Race and State 268
xiv
-Probability of Developing Invasive Breast Cancer Over Ages 269
-Grief Stages That A Breast Cancer Patient Must Work Through 270
-Afterthoughts and Meet My Auntie 271
-Help Yourself For The Cure 274
-How To Help in Your Community 276
-Questions To Ask Your Doctor 278
-Helpful Breast Cancer Web Sites 283
-B-R-E-A-S-T C-A-N-C-E-R 286
-About The Author 288
-Chemo Cocktail Resource Guide 290
-Ordering Information 291