Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/85232
had cancer last year, phoned Robert to ask if a group of her friends who had collectively prayed for and used positive thoughts to help her make a miraculous recovery could do the same for me. Of course Robert said yes, and then included many of our family and friends in this group. I call them my Prayer Warriors and at 7.30 pm on the Friday night before my mastectomy they all did their thing. At that time my right breast burned and I had intense pain under my right arm for about an hour. On the morning of my surgery we met with the anaesthetist and the surgeon and ran over what would happen. Saying goodbye to Robert and being taken away from him to the theatre was almost impossible to bear. I remember walking into the theatre and just wanting to turn around and run as far away as possible. I did not want this to be happening to me. It took all my effort to keep walking and climb up onto the theatre bed. The anaesthetist was amazing. I have very difficult veins and the care he took to get the anaesthetic lure in was incredible. As I went under my last thought was what would I do if I saw our darling son, Brook who was tragically taken from us 20 years ago. Would I want to go with him or would I want to stay with my dear Robert? Brook was Robert's and my only child. He passed away in 1991 at age 12 and would have been 33 this year. Robert has five other children and we have seven grandchildren. Although I am not their blood grandparent, I have been a part of their lives ever since they were born and they call me Granma. This is a role I absolutely relish and these children of course all have the same blood as our darling son. I didn't see Brook; obviously he decided I didn't need him at this time. I came out of the anaesthetic really well and although I was fully aware of what had happened, I felt so calm and at peace. I was taken into the ward and not long after Robert was able to see me. He said, "Well, you don't have cancer anymore." And that is what we have believed since. Robert and I decided right at the beginning that we would take the medical advice given; we would ask questions and make sure that it was the right thing for me, but we would not turn down any treatment offered if it sounded the right thing to do. We met with the surgeon two weeks later to get the results of the mastectomy. My cancer was a fast growing, aggressive, invasive cancer; Grade 3 (it is made up of more aggressive, "less friendly," appearing cells); 4.5cm in size (removed with a 25mm cancer-free margin); 23 lymph nodes were removed and these were all tested cancer- free; LVI positive (means the cancer cells have invaded into the blood vessels or lymphatic channels of the tumour and the possibility that cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes or other areas in the body increases); and weakly ER and PR receptive (usually higher grade tumours such as mine are not ER and PR receptive. In general it is better to have an ER/PR positive tumour. Tamoxifen can be prescribed to help reduce the chance of breast cancer recurrence.) The surgeon put me in the middle of the survival scale, but he did not know about my Prayer Warriors. We discussed the various treatments I could have and he said that we would be told the percentage my survival rate increased with the different treatments, to enable us to make decisions on what to proceed with. I have gone on to have chemotherapy. Yes, my lovely long, red hair has fallen out, the steroids I take to help prevent nausea have put on a few kilos, but my hair will grow back, the weight will come off, and I will be alive. I have now had four sessions and only have two to go. I have tolerated chemotherapy very well, with limited side effects. I am meticulous in taking the drugs prescribed and make sure I eat regularly and healthily and that I get plenty of rest. I will probably not require radiation treatment but could benefit from hormone treatment. This is something we will discuss with the oncologist at the end of my chemo. At the moment I believe I will have reconstructive surgery as soon as I am able, but I will discuss this with the medical people and Robert before I make a final decision. Robert has been there with me every step of the way; attending every appointment, there for me when I wake up frightened in the middle of the night and need to cry or talk, cooking the most amazing meals for me to make sure I keep nourished and healthy, texting our family and friends to keep them informed every time I have a treatment or any little set back, telling me I look beautiful on days when I feel anything but beautiful. I have had incredible support from my family and friends and their visits, phone calls, cards, gifts, texts help me to stay positive and keep fighting the good fight. I need to say that I have had the most amazing treatment from every medical person I have seen. They have given us the information we have needed and helped us make the right decisions for me. They have treated me with dignity and courtesy, and have been there when I have been suffering and phoned them in the middle of the night. The Cancer Society offers a wonderful service which I have taken full advantage of. Look Good Feel Better was so much fun and absolutely amazing. I have attended various treatments at Dove House in East Auckland where people with life-threatening illnesses enjoy a range of holistic therapies in a caring and safe environment. I am booked in to attend the YWCA Encore programme, a gentle exercise programme for women who have had breast cancer; and Cancer Wellfit, an exercise wellness programme offered Auckland wide by Club Physical to help those suffering with the present or past affects of cancer. I have had breast cancer, it has gone now. The treatments I am having are my insurance policy. The therapies and programmes I am having and will have will help me to overcome the effects of my illness and the chemotherapy and make me healthier, stronger and better than ever before. My surgeon told me he would get me another 30 years and at age 60 I am very happy with that. I am so grateful to my darling husband and my wonderful family and friends who have been there with me every step of the way. When I get down and negative thoughts creep in, or I think I can't do it any more, I just have to think of them and I know I can do it, I will do it. I have so much to live for and be thankful for. See you all in 30 years time. Jeannie Wood It can be hard to take in the volume of information you get because it's just so much. I'd really encourage you take a notebook or record your meetings. Cheryl. Breast Cancer Nurse