Goodbye May...
Due to the long weekend we still have not heard results from Mom's MRI that she had on Friday. Hopefully the results will be clear enough for us to start moving along on treatment...
we should find out tomorrow or Wednesday.
I'll let ya'll know.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Meet Him on the beach.
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were just one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
sorrow, anguish, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why when I needed You most, You were not there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you see only one set of footprints in the sand
is when I carried you."
Great is HIS faithfulness.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were just one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
sorrow, anguish, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why when I needed You most, You were not there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you see only one set of footprints in the sand
is when I carried you."
Great is HIS faithfulness.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The imformation explosion...
WOW! I'm learning so much!
At the Dr's office yesterday we were given a totebag full of INFORMATION. It is actually quite intense. I went through it this morning and divided it into two piles: Medical Information and Caretaking Information. I am working through the 2nd pile and left the first pile for Mom, because she is far more medically inclined than I am. And knowing all that stuff will be helpful to her...not so much to me.
So...my pile includes:
Integrative Medicine info
Where to find help ...info...
support group/services
and the biggest hurdle of the day...Nutrition info
Don't get me wrong we've always been a family that focuses on healthy eating and yaknow...blahblahblah...
but apparently the nutrition needs of someone with cancer are far greater than the average Joe on the street...
So now I'm learning all about how to increase Mom's protein intake and calories and whole grains....
honestly I'm glad to have concrete things to work towards right now. I am grateful to be able to help and support Mom and at the same time take care of my own need to feel useful. I am glad for the help that has already been offered by friends. For example Mom's best friend Liz has offered to help if I want to spend a week at Camp Good News this summer...which might be in the middle of Mom's treatment. A friend from church has offered to help us get some gardening projects done so that they're not hanging over Mom's head while she is sick.
Those things mean a lot right now.
So anyway...I should get back to reading my book on cancer nutrition.
At the Dr's office yesterday we were given a totebag full of INFORMATION. It is actually quite intense. I went through it this morning and divided it into two piles: Medical Information and Caretaking Information. I am working through the 2nd pile and left the first pile for Mom, because she is far more medically inclined than I am. And knowing all that stuff will be helpful to her...not so much to me.
So...my pile includes:
Integrative Medicine info
Where to find help ...info...
support group/services
and the biggest hurdle of the day...Nutrition info
Don't get me wrong we've always been a family that focuses on healthy eating and yaknow...blahblahblah...
but apparently the nutrition needs of someone with cancer are far greater than the average Joe on the street...
So now I'm learning all about how to increase Mom's protein intake and calories and whole grains....
honestly I'm glad to have concrete things to work towards right now. I am grateful to be able to help and support Mom and at the same time take care of my own need to feel useful. I am glad for the help that has already been offered by friends. For example Mom's best friend Liz has offered to help if I want to spend a week at Camp Good News this summer...which might be in the middle of Mom's treatment. A friend from church has offered to help us get some gardening projects done so that they're not hanging over Mom's head while she is sick.
Those things mean a lot right now.
So anyway...I should get back to reading my book on cancer nutrition.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
This afternoon Mum and Dad and I met with Dr Greatorex to discuss Mom's cancer. I will do my best to relay to you what we learned and where we go from here. Mom has IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma). In the words of our pathology report this is: "a cancer that begins in the milk duct but grows into the surrounding normal tissue inside the breast. This is the most common kind of breast cancer."
Her cancer is Grade 2 which means the cancer cells are growing faster than normal cells. This is the middle grade between Grade 1 (slow growing) and Grade 3 (fast growing). The tumor is 3 cm.
In the breast there is a network of blood vessels which bring nourishment and remove waste etc. Often a concern with breast cancer is whether or not these vessels have been invaded by the cancer. This would increase the risk of the cancer returning. In Mom's case these vessels are cancer free. This is very good.
In all of this there is one big X-factor. Mom has a lump in her armpit on the same side. The big question is whether or not this lump (which is cancerous) is in the lymphnodes or if it is in the breast tissue.
IF it is in the lymphnodes (the most likely situation) then the "plan" would be surgery then chemo then radiation therapy.
IF it is in the breast tissue then it would be necessary for a mastectomy since that would be two "cancer centers". So, chemo would come first, then surgery.
We don't really know anything until we know which situation applies to mom. She has an MRI tomorrow afternoon to try to determine which shoe fits. Lord willing there will be a clear answer so that we can move forward into battle.
That's really all we have to share right now. We are so thankful for the support of so many friends and loved ones. Please keep in touch and feel free to send along any questions to my email : epherlan.1988@gmail.com
Pass on this blog to anyone who might want to be kept "in the loop". Good night!
God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Her cancer is Grade 2 which means the cancer cells are growing faster than normal cells. This is the middle grade between Grade 1 (slow growing) and Grade 3 (fast growing). The tumor is 3 cm.
In the breast there is a network of blood vessels which bring nourishment and remove waste etc. Often a concern with breast cancer is whether or not these vessels have been invaded by the cancer. This would increase the risk of the cancer returning. In Mom's case these vessels are cancer free. This is very good.
In all of this there is one big X-factor. Mom has a lump in her armpit on the same side. The big question is whether or not this lump (which is cancerous) is in the lymphnodes or if it is in the breast tissue.
IF it is in the lymphnodes (the most likely situation) then the "plan" would be surgery then chemo then radiation therapy.
IF it is in the breast tissue then it would be necessary for a mastectomy since that would be two "cancer centers". So, chemo would come first, then surgery.
We don't really know anything until we know which situation applies to mom. She has an MRI tomorrow afternoon to try to determine which shoe fits. Lord willing there will be a clear answer so that we can move forward into battle.
That's really all we have to share right now. We are so thankful for the support of so many friends and loved ones. Please keep in touch and feel free to send along any questions to my email : epherlan.1988@gmail.com
Pass on this blog to anyone who might want to be kept "in the loop". Good night!
God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
The journey begins...
Hello everyone!
This blog is about my mother, Joan Kincaid. I welcome you to read it to be informed, to pray, and to be encouraged. It is for our family, for our friends, coworkers, neighbors,...and whoever else might need to watch our new journey which has recently begun.
Several weeks ago mum found a lump in her left breast. After two biopsies they discovered that it was cancerous. At honestly at this point that is all we know. We have a meeting with the Dr. at 2 o'clock today to discuss details and "the plan".
I think Mom is doing a lot better now that we know its cancer. I feel that the 12 day wait from when we were told "it might be cancer" to when it was confirmed was intensely anxious. She is such an amazing woman (I'm sure if you know her you agree) and still keeps her chin up and goes about life with a smile...although a little more absent minded than usual. =)
I am so thankful that I am able to be home with her during this time. I just graduated from New Brunswick Bible Institute where I had a fantastic time learning and growing in my faith in Jesus Christ. God always prepares us for difficult times and right now I am glad for that Rock that I have in Christ. When everything else in life is unstable He is always there.
I will let you know how things turn out with our talk to the Dr.
This blog is about my mother, Joan Kincaid. I welcome you to read it to be informed, to pray, and to be encouraged. It is for our family, for our friends, coworkers, neighbors,...and whoever else might need to watch our new journey which has recently begun.
Several weeks ago mum found a lump in her left breast. After two biopsies they discovered that it was cancerous. At honestly at this point that is all we know. We have a meeting with the Dr. at 2 o'clock today to discuss details and "the plan".
I think Mom is doing a lot better now that we know its cancer. I feel that the 12 day wait from when we were told "it might be cancer" to when it was confirmed was intensely anxious. She is such an amazing woman (I'm sure if you know her you agree) and still keeps her chin up and goes about life with a smile...although a little more absent minded than usual. =)
I am so thankful that I am able to be home with her during this time. I just graduated from New Brunswick Bible Institute where I had a fantastic time learning and growing in my faith in Jesus Christ. God always prepares us for difficult times and right now I am glad for that Rock that I have in Christ. When everything else in life is unstable He is always there.
I will let you know how things turn out with our talk to the Dr.
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