Thursday, June 6, 2013

Cancer - there is no easy way to spin it - update letter to friends and family

bcc: extensive list of friends, family, coworkers and extended community - and it's okay to forward

In what may be the most ironic sequence of events in my life, I was diagnosed with breast cancer one week ago. My sincere apologies for sending this out via email but I started the individual call process and it was exhausting... so this is a selfish shortcut.

As most of you know, my mother received a diagnosis of Stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma in mid January. Her diagnosis was a polarizing event and I had taken a leave from work to re-focus on priorities and help her fight the good fight.
Exactly four months after her diagnosis (and exactly three weeks ago), I saw a lump in my breast and made an appointment for the next day. On Friday 5/17, my primary physician felt the lump, thought it was most likely a benign cyst and referred me to mammography for a mammogram and an ultrasound. 
On Monday 5/20, I could no longer see/feel anything amiss in my breast but I went to the appointment anyway knowing that, at 40, I could use a baseline.

The turn of events from there has been head spinning.
The mammogram turned up no evidence of a cyst but the radiologist noticed calcifications in my left breast that he thought warranted a biopsy.
"Seventy-five percent of these are nothing," he explained. "And the remaining 25% are usually just areas that are atypical cells." 
Unfortunately,  based on the proximity to my chest wall, a needle biopsy was not possible and an excisional biopsy was ordered.
Three days later, I had a lumpectomy. The decision to remove the entire affected area was a "while we're in there" type of decision. In surgery, the entire questionable area was removed. 

One week of waiting, fretting, worrying later and I was chiding myself for those wasted days of worry for what would surely turn out to be nothing. I was also chiding myself for agreeing to what would probably turn out to be an an absolutely unnecessary surgery without so much as a second opinion.

The cell phone rang during the middle of a memorial for a friend's mother. I left to take the call, already emotional. 
"You're calling to tell me everything is normal," I whispered, walking away from the crowd.
"I wish I were," she replied.
And then I was light-headed; my ears felt fuzzy, filled with cotton. 

On Thursday 5/30, I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (early stage breast cancer). Obviously the news was not as good as we'd hoped but it was not as bad as it could have been either. I have DCIS. In other words, cancer but it has not invaded outside of the ducts of the breast. That was the good news.

I was also told that my margins (area around the affected cancer) were not clear. While, according to what was seen on the mammogram, my surgeon got it all, the biopsy revealed cancer cells at the edges of the sample. I would need more surgery and probably radiation.

On Wednesday 6/5, I had my appointment to meet my 'team' (oncologist, radiology oncologist, breast surgeon) and to hear treatment options.
While I was told to anticipate another surgery because the margins of the first lumpectomy were not clear, I was not quite prepared for the pathology results and ensuing recommendations. I have 'extensive and pervasive DCIS' and have been advised that a mastectomy of my left breast is my best option. The pathologist also believes that invasive cancer, while not visible in the sample, is likely so I will be having my sentinel lymph nodes removed as well.

This morning I went for an MRI to do a more extensive look. While I will lose the left breast regardless, invasive cancer sightings will prevent simultaneous reconstruction and likely trigger the chemotherapy path. We also want a good idea of whether or not anything is hiding in the right breast.

I will be fine. I am scared but I'm not sad. I have bouts of swearing but I'm not generally angry. Sadness will only prove a slippery slope for me and anger will expend vital energy that I need for myself and for my family.

I spent yesterday evening walking (and walking and walking) trying to get my head around what all this means and figuring out the positive spin. And there is one. We found it quite by accident. This could have been much, much worse. Also, I am in good physical condition so recovery should be fast and uncomplicated. And, as every single one of you on this email know, I am always up for a challenge... I believe this finisher t-shirt is one I want more than any other, ever. 

You may feel like you do not know what to say. That's cool, because there really isn't anything to say. This sucks. Plain and simple. It's also something to be overcome, not something that I will allow to overwhelm or overtake me. (Okay, at times it has felt pretty damn overwhelming!)

And, I know the next question everyone asks (because everyone that I've told has already asked it!) so I'll head it off with an answer.

What I need:
Positive energy. Really as much as you care to spare (just don't take any away from my mom!)
I've cried a little, I've sworn A LOT, but most times I'm trying to see the silver lining - we caught it early and it could have been much, much worse.
So please, please, please schedule that mammogram if you've been putting it off!

What my family needs:
HUGS.
Positive energy.
The kids know. They know I'm a little frightened but they also know I am very, very strong and this will be something we get through and celebrate overcoming together. 
They also may need to talk. I've told them it's okay to talk. It's good to talk (cry, write, vent, yell, etc.). I've asked them to talk to Brandon or me if they're scared or have questions but also to friends, to trusted adults and I'll also be hooking them up with Kaiser's kid support groups.
If they talk to you, I'd love a little heads up (to me or to Brandon) just to know how they are processing things.
And my parents know. As much as I would have liked to keep this stress far, far away from them, I could not imagine if the roles were turned around and my daughter kept something like this from me. They are fine too. Scared and concerned for me as you would imagine and floored by the irony as well but confident in my fortitude and positive all the way around. Mom and I will be getting/making matching t-shirts. Hers will have feathers...

I know this is a shocker of an email for most of you and, for that, I apologize. Like I mentioned at the get-go, the one-on-one calls just didn't scale with my repurposed energy level. 
For those of you that are interested, you're always welcome to call but, since I'm an avid journal writer anyway, I'll begin to keep updates on my long neglected blog.
That's tomorrow's goal. Okay, maybe next Monday's goal...

Much love and energy to you and yours,
Stacey

8 comments:

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  2. Stacey....Lee and I just read your email just now. We are crying....very deeply saddened. We love you so much.....you are a very special gift from god that cannot be swallowed by this evil disease. Religious no spiritual yes....we know what good and love looks like....no one comes closer to this than you. I, Lee, my mom and all her friends will pray for you...a prayer chain of sorts. This will give you tons of energy. We ask that you reach deep into yourself....you are rare...special....one of a kind....like no one before you or after you.....the world needs Stacey Tinianov. Hugs and hugs and hugs and hugs and hugs.....hugs

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    1. *hug* right backatcha! One to you and one to Lee. All will be fine. Really. And I'll happily accept the prayer chain, thank you!

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  3. Hi Stacy, I just read your email and can totally understand how you are feeling.I have no words to describe how strong and positive you are and have always been. Like they say God always chooses special ones for his special assignments and he always walks with us through these. So i am sure that right now too God will be carrying you and he is with you through the most difficult path of life's journeys. I will be definitely praying for you and your family as you go through this tough phase. But i am certain at the same time things will be completely fine and you will get through this way quickly than you may imagine. Just be positive and inner strength and energy both will be with you.

    I have had 3 very close family people suffer from the same disease and one of them being my mother.If it helps i can tell you that this is a phase and it will pass and you will be completely alright and so will your mom.You are too precious my dear and you still have a lot more to offer to this world and lot more to do here, so you will have to deal with us all for lot longer LOL :) Before you know this phase will pass and you will be back in office and with all of us who love you a lot,and are eager to start bothering you again.

    Stacey, if there is anything, anything that you need or i can help with please feel free to reach out.My email is leenjohn@cisco.com and will mail you my contact numbers. I will also email you a special prayer which works wonders.

    Last but not the least your message to us all women not to push away the mammogram is just another example of how big a heart you have and what a fine human being you are.
    Lots, lots of hugs.....hugs...hugs...
    Leena Johnson.

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    1. Leena, thank you! I must say the "you will be back in the office part" made me chuckle. I'm thinking more along the lines of 'sitting on a beach in Tahiti sipping boat drinks' *grin*

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  4. Sending hugs, lots of positive attitude and strength !

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    1. Thank you Jan. I'll be crashing the bowling league in no time. But yes, I'll be using the buddy bumpers.

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