Thank you for visiting Kim's Caring bridge site. This site is created for all of the amazing people in our life who love and care about us and to keep everyone up to date on Kim's progress. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement along this journey. It has taken us a few days to process all this and actually put this on paper so to speak but as I say this is for you it is also very much for us. THANK YOU ALL! Here is what we know. Kim has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. About two months ago Kim got her annual check up to include a 3D mammogram which was all clear....... Two weeks later Kim found a lump on her left breast. She had an upcoming doctor appointment with primary care and he immediately referred her to a specialist for a sonogram. As most of you know specialists take time to get into. Kim believes that nothing happens by mistake and as fate would have it she was sent to Dr. Eric Whitacre on November 7th (Our 26 wedding anniversary). She went in for the sonogram and at that time the Dr. stated that there was a marble size mass that he didn't like the look of and took an immediate core biopsy. A follow up appointment was scheduled for Wednesday the 14th and so we would wait. On Monday the 12th Dr. Whitacre called Kim at 8:00 am with the bad news and asked us to come in at 4:30 that afternoon and to bring someone else with us. We were lucky enough to have our daughter in law Ems there to keep it all together. Here is what we ALSO know, we feel very blessed to have Dr. Whitacre in our corner. He is very like able but very matter of fact. He told us first and foremost that this is very treatable. He shared with us the pathology report and gave us a diagnosis of which we understand is HER2 +++ (triple positive). The history lesson we learned is that 1. They don't classify cancer in stages any more so he doesn't speak in those terms. 2. They don't just immediately do mastectomy anymore. They look at all the factors and do the minimum surgery needed. 3. They have come light years in the research and technology used to treat Breast Cancer. What all that mostly means is this: This is a very aggressive cancer that started in a milk duct which is where most breast cancer starts. It is invasive which mean it is leaking out of the duct. It could be in the lymph nodes or blood stream but we are hopeful that it is not. It IS TREATABLE but treatment would be very specific to her type of cancer and that a plan would be created only after testing had been completed. First she would need genetic testing to see if this is genetic. That is a simple blood test that was completed on Tuesday the 13th but will take about three weeks to get back. That could determine the type of surgery needed, anything between a lumpectomy and double mastectomy. Second she would need a specific MRI in Phoenix which is scheduled for after Thanksgiving on the 27th of November. If anything shows up on the MRI the Radiologist Oncologists will do an immediate biopsy so the doctor will have all the results needed to formulate a plan. Kim will have a surgical oncologist, radiologist oncologist and a medical oncologist. The plan will include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Here is what we definitely know! Kim is going to KICK IT'S ASS! She is going to become one of the more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the US! She is already the strongest person I have ever known and will ad this to her extremely long list of incredible accomplishments. SO.............. We will hurry up and wait. We will get to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends and enjoy being thankful. Matt Clifton on behalf of my beautiful bride.
Just wanted to give an update and celebrate that I am now graduated to every 6 month check ups!!!! Moving in the right direction. Thank you for all of the love and support during my journey! Happy Holidays and while 2020 has been let’s say an experience, this is the best thing for us personally to end the year with. Much love and stay well! K & M
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