Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We've created it to keep friends and family updated about Lois's Journey with Breast Cancer. Get started by reading the introduction to our website, My Story.
Visit often to read the latest journal entries, visit the photo gallery, and write us a note in our guestbook.
Tom and Lois have 4 adult children all married and 14 grandchildren. They live in Missoula MT. Click on "My Story" and read how this journey began.
Lois's Journey with Breast Cancer
I want to share my journey in hopes it will help others that may be going through similar trials.
On March 31, 2011 I was laying down on the couch with my head resting on a pillow looking towards the TV watching the News. A news clip came on of Dr. Brad Pickhardt and Dr. Valerie Knudson talking on "Facing menopause in 2011".
http://www.kpax.com/news/dr-brad-changing-face-of-medicine/ As they talked about how they have found that estrogen can increase the risk of breast cancer, the risk of heart attack and stroke in some women, I looked down at my own breasts thinking that I use estrogen cream. I noticed that my right breast appeared to be closer to my chin then my left, so I felt both of my breasts and felt the right one to be a bit swollen on the top, so felt deeper with my fingertips and discovered a lump about the size of a hazelnut in the shell. I felt concerned but did not tell Tom as he was sleeping. I decided I would call my Dr. in the morning. My thoughts went to my Mother who died of breast cancer in 1973, yet I know that we know much more about breast cancer these days and that I have had a Mammogram every year for the last 20 years. The next morning I called and got an appointment a 3 PM with Mary Huddle APRN (advanced practice RN)at the Women's Care Center. I still had not told Tom, because I didn't want him to be worrying all day as he was driving his bus. At the appointment, Mary believed it was something to be looked at further so made an appointment for me at Community Breast Care on Tuesday April 5 for a Mammogram and Ultrasound. I had my last mammogram and exam last July and there was no sign of a lump then. I went home and told Tom about the lump. At the Mammogram and ultersound appointment on Tuesday, the radiologist ordered a biopsy. So the next day April 6, I had a biopsy done. They told me the results would be in Thursday or Friday and if I did not hear by midday Friday to call Mary Huddle. I was handling all this news OK since I relied on my faith in God and felt encouragement by the prayers of my Church friends at Tuesday’s bible study and worship, and Wednesday’s ladies yoga and then Thursday’s ladies yada yada meeting. On Friday at 4 pm I called Mary Huddle's office since I had not heard anything. Mary called me back around 4:40 to tell me that the biopsy does show cancer. She gave me the cell phone # of the Breast Care coordinator at St. Patrick Hospital, Char Houska. I called her and she explained scenarios of what could be the next steps to take, and gave me encouragement that Breast cancer now a days if caught early is 100% curable. She told me she will call me Monday afternoon to tell me further results of the biopsy telling them more of what kind of cancer it is, how advanced the cancer is, what stage it is and what can be done. Tom and I went to Home Group a couple hours later. More encouragement and prayer from my wonderful friends. Sunday April 10th at Church I along with others that needed healing went forward to be anointed with oil and prayed for. I have felt a peace from the Lord from the beginning, yet sometimes my mind will wander to the what if’s. But with the peace in my heart and the prayer and encouragement from friends I am doing good. My prayer is that it is a short journey to healing, yet I believe that whatever the journey is, it will bring opportunities for showing the Lords glory and mercy, plus share what He is doing in my life.
Here is a link to the song called "Blessings". This song had touched me before I found out I had breast cancer and really encouraged me after I found out.
http://youtu.be/SGniRk_GcLs Please feel free to leave messages, comments, suggestions, advice, etc. (you may be helping someone other than me)
