Christina Applegate was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2008. She had inherited the gene. After undergoing a double mastectomy, she was declared cancer free. Now in 2011, she was able to give birth to her daughter Sadie.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2008. She had inherited the gene. After undergoing a double mastectomy, she was declared cancer free. Now in 2011, she was able to give birth to her daughter Sadie.
Breast Cancer Survivor Story
Breast cancer survivors love to talk about their treatments, so please bear with me. I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 1995. A mammogram showed calcifications in the ductile system of the lower half of my right breast. I had a fibrous right breast for several years and was conscientious about getting annual mammograms. I was sent to a surgeon for a biopsy and was reassured that there was very little chance that it would be malignant, but it was! He recommended a mastectomy since the entire lower half of the breast was involved and reassured me that it was almost certainly ductal carcinoma in situ and had not spread out of the ducts of the breast to the lymph system, but it had!
They removed and examined 12 lymph nodes and only found two malignant cells in the lymph node closest to the breast. A panel of seven oncologists decided that I did not need chemotherapy or radiation since no tumor was found and it appeared that the cancer had just entered the lymph system. They were quite sure they had removed the only affected node. Since the cancer tested positive for estrogen, it was decided to treat me with Tamoxifen to prevent the slight chance that it might reoccur, but it did!
In December of 1997, a blood test showed that the cancer was active. Scans found it in my right clavicle lymph node, in several abdominal nodes, and in the spine. A biopsy showed that it was breast cancer that had metastasized. I began chemotherapy shortly thereafter and have continued weekly treatments ever since. I have had combinations of eight chemotherapies (including, Adriamycin, Taxol, Taxotare, Gemzar, and Navelbine), two complete rounds of radiation (spine and brain), three hormone treatments (Arimidex, Femara and Tamoxifen), and monthly infusions of Aridea to strengthen my bones. Most of my treatments are in six-month schedules with short breaks in between.
I always plan a wonderful trip during these breaks. As a breast cancer survivor, it is important to have something to look forward to. During the first break, we took an eleven-day Hawaiian cruise. (It was the first time my husband, Bob, had been on a ship since he was in the Navy in World War II, and he loved it!) During the next break, we went on a cruise to Greece and Turkey following in the footsteps of the apostle Paul. On our last trip, we went to Israel – what a blessing!
They removed and examined 12 lymph nodes and only found two malignant cells in the lymph node closest to the breast. A panel of seven oncologists decided that I did not need chemotherapy or radiation since no tumor was found and it appeared that the cancer had just entered the lymph system. They were quite sure they had removed the only affected node. Since the cancer tested positive for estrogen, it was decided to treat me with Tamoxifen to prevent the slight chance that it might reoccur, but it did!
In December of 1997, a blood test showed that the cancer was active. Scans found it in my right clavicle lymph node, in several abdominal nodes, and in the spine. A biopsy showed that it was breast cancer that had metastasized. I began chemotherapy shortly thereafter and have continued weekly treatments ever since. I have had combinations of eight chemotherapies (including, Adriamycin, Taxol, Taxotare, Gemzar, and Navelbine), two complete rounds of radiation (spine and brain), three hormone treatments (Arimidex, Femara and Tamoxifen), and monthly infusions of Aridea to strengthen my bones. Most of my treatments are in six-month schedules with short breaks in between.
I always plan a wonderful trip during these breaks. As a breast cancer survivor, it is important to have something to look forward to. During the first break, we took an eleven-day Hawaiian cruise. (It was the first time my husband, Bob, had been on a ship since he was in the Navy in World War II, and he loved it!) During the next break, we went on a cruise to Greece and Turkey following in the footsteps of the apostle Paul. On our last trip, we went to Israel – what a blessing!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Good Morning America!
Good Morning America'a Robin Roberts talks Breast Cancer in the magazine Prevention March 2011:
“I found my lump in a self-exam! Because I was familiar with my body and the lumps, I knew this one felt different. I called the doctor’s office and said, ‘Hey, I found a lump—can you move up the exam?’ They said, ‘No, we’re booked solid.’ And I’m thinking to myself, Wow, this really happens.”
“[After completing radiation] I was in a funk. I was depressed. Also you’re mad at yourself because you’re thinking, I’m supposed to be happy. The treatment’s over. My hair is growing back.” My treatment ended in March/April of ’08. It wasn’t until the end of that summer that I started to feel I wasn’t depressed. Even when I went on vacation to Saint Lucia, I was kind of depressed, even though it was such a beautiful place.”
“I found my lump in a self-exam! Because I was familiar with my body and the lumps, I knew this one felt different. I called the doctor’s office and said, ‘Hey, I found a lump—can you move up the exam?’ They said, ‘No, we’re booked solid.’ And I’m thinking to myself, Wow, this really happens.”
“[After completing radiation] I was in a funk. I was depressed. Also you’re mad at yourself because you’re thinking, I’m supposed to be happy. The treatment’s over. My hair is growing back.” My treatment ended in March/April of ’08. It wasn’t until the end of that summer that I started to feel I wasn’t depressed. Even when I went on vacation to Saint Lucia, I was kind of depressed, even though it was such a beautiful place.”
What is Health Alberta doing about Breast Cancer?
Alberta introduced a new program in 2004 called Breast Cancer screening program. You can find more about it at this link: http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/breast-cancer-program.html
Friday, February 18, 2011
What Health Canada does about Breast Cancer
In 1993, Health Canada helped launch the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative (CBCI), along with the provincial and territorial governments, health care professionals, scientists, breast cancer survivors and support groups. This initiative set priorities and directions for research; prevention; screening; surveillance and monitoring; treatment; community capacity; and public and professional education. A renewed commitment to the CBCI in 1998 ensured ongoing and stable funding.
Why so you want to do something about Breast Cancer?
I want to do something about Breast Cancer because I have a grandmother that has died from it and a great aunt that currently has it. I have no wish to get it and I don't want any one else suffering from it. Why do you want to help?
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