I'm so sorry to hear that Kathy. I know that you've been through so much over the past couple of years with back surgeries, wls, etc. Your positive attitude is amazing and such an inspiration to me and others I'm sure. Please keep us informed and I will definately keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Heather

Thanks, Laurie! I'm so thrilled to hear how well you are doing. Makes me smile. Hugs, Kathy

((((( HUG)))) gently of course... Im so sorry to hear that.... Ive been watching for your post but didint want to bug you about it.... Let us know when the next surg date will be so we can keep you in our thoughts and prayers.... Anything I can do?? Karen

(insert large sigh here) LOL. Was going to title the message "New Year, Same Old Crap". I got the pathology results today from my lumpectomy last Wednesday. The sentinel lymph node remained cancer-free which is good news. However, the surgical margins were not clear of the DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ - cancer that started in the ducts that is still within the ducts - non-invasive) so they will have to remove more to get a clean margin of tissue around the offending area. In addition, they found 2 areas of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC which is invasive cancer - some of the ductal cancer is outside the duct itself). The largest of those areas were .3 cm (3 mm). While that isn't good news... from the size - it is very early. I'm now waiting for another surgery date. Hope to hear in the next day or so. The sooner the better. Heck, I'm still sore from the other surgery so we might as well just recut rather than wait for healing to stir it up again. I do not think the IDC changes my post-op treatment. I do not think chemotherapy will be added to the mix but I'm not 100% sure of that til I get to an oncologist. I do expect radiation and hormone therapies after I heal. If this second surgery doesn't yield a clean margin... I'll opt for mastectomy. Third time is the charm, eh? I want to thank my Maysters for their support and well wishes especially over the past month. It's been a whirlwind of emotions and events for me. Love you, guys! Kathy

I was pretty proud of myself for completing that half marathon and in the rain and cold no less. However, at the time, I was saying to myself that this is stupid and was wishing my van was near and I would have quit at mile 9 1/2 but it was 3 miles to my van and I had to walk to get there and then I thought I walked this far what's another mile! We remodeled about 3/4 of our house. We lived in one bedroom and the utility room has a 3/4 bath and our garage attached in that area and that became our kitchen/dining/living room for 3 months. If you plan on living there while they are tearing it up, word of advice...check your furnace filters often and change often. You wouldn't believe the amount of dust they collect. Our furnace kept clicking off one night (during a particularly cold spell) and it never occurred to us that a clogged filter might be the problem. Especially check it whenever they are tearing out sheetrock or installing it and when they spray paint. You may need to change your filter daily. Anyway, I love my house now and my husband even (finally!) admitted that he's glad we had it done. He didn't want to at first but since it was my bonus paying for it, he didn't have much choice, lol.