Kristine Diener

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Just this last Spring I was diagnosed with Cancer.  This news has taken over our lives with so many doctor appointments, tests, surgeries, waiting for test results and big decisions.  It's come at a time when I am feeling great, actually fabulous so it's been a shock to hear this diagnosis and then hear what I must do to overcome it.  


Dave, my sweet boys, daughter-inlaws, niece, Step-daughters, Grandchildren, dear friends  and family have all been so supportive and sending me their prayers and worries for me.  I am so overwhelmed by all the love and support I am feeling and I am so grateful for having you all in my life.  We have been so busy with all these medical steps that many dear friends do not yet know what's happening here.  Because of this, we felt it would be best to create this Caring Bridge account to keep those who wish to check in on me a place to check on how I am doing.  

In May of this year I went in to have my annual mammogram.   It showed that I had a very small spot in my right breast.   It was so small it could not be detected by 2 of my doctors.  Had I not had a 3D mammogram it probably would have gone undetected for a much longer time.  A biopsy was done of this area and it was found to be cancerous.   On June 12 I had a partial lumpectomy of my right breast.  Seven lymph nodes were also removed and unfortunately one had a trace of the cancer cell.  The pathology confirmed that it was a very aggressive and fast growing type of cancer.  
     
So much has happened and we've had so much information to process it's been very overwhelming.  Luckily,  we were able to put together what both Dave and I feel is a very good medical team and treatment plan to combat this disease.  On July 19 I will begin the first of 6 chemotherapy treatments.  Each infusion will be followed by 3 weeks of rest.  This will then bring us up to November.  Then I will have a few weeks of a break and then begin 7 weeks of daily radiation treatments.  All of these treatments will be taking place in Westlake at the UCLA Medical Group.  


Dave and I have been trying to learn as much as we can before my Chemotherapy begins.  This is an unknown territory to us both and we are worried about how I will respond.  My Oncologist has me on a series of meds to prevent side effects.  My chemo cocktail is aggressive and results in hair loss within the first 3 weeks.  I have a wonderful lady who has come to my home to fit me with wigs thatI have purchased.  She will also come to our home to shave my hair evenly when that day arrives.  Can't imagine being bald as I am so used to having such a mop of hair.  This will be a tough day.  We have been told that everyone responds differently and many manage without horrible side effects.  So hopefully I will do well.  I know many of you have gone through this ordeal or are still in recovery from this process.  There are many success stories out there with the right treatment program for this cancer never to return.  I am going to hang on to this knowing that mine is early detection and that I will get through this time.  


One more thing...... Make sure your loved ones are getting their Mammograms on time!  Always get a 3D mammogram!  I have always been very diligent in getting my annual screening done and this has still developed in me.  Due to that one lymph node of mine having that little trace of cancer in it, and that it is an aggressive type I must go through the whole Chemotherapy treatment.  If my lymph nodes were all clear, I would only have to do the  radiation treatments.  So early detection is so key here and would make all the difference in the world as to what someone would have to go through in their treatment.  Also, the older women get the higher the chances are of being diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  So take care of getting your Mammograms annually.

Dave will be managing my updates for me as we move forward.  He has been so wonderful in all of this and I am worried about him throughout this process.  It's going to be a long haul.  We have managed to spend the last few days before my treatment begins with my sons and their families.  Kyle, Kelly, Ryan, Nicole and Baby Owen  Just relaxing swimming and sitting on the beach as much as we can.  The best medicine ever.  


Please keep us in your prayers and check in whenever you wish.