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The "OLD" Stuff!!

COMMUNITY OUTREACH UPDATE

Timothy Phillips, RN, BA

October was a fantastic month for the Community Outreach Committee. On October the 3rd, we provided our 3rd Annual Breast Health Fashion Show at the Makoy Center in Hilliard. Approximately 170 guests attended the event.

Keynote speaker was Alice Krumm, RN, BSN, MS, CNOR, breast cancer survivor. Her topic was "Yes they're fake...the real ones tried to kill me".

Liz Weinandy, MPH, RD, LD provided an inservice on Nutrition and Breast Health. Jaci Holland, RNC, CRNP spoke on the topic of "Early Detection and Prevention" and also taught self-breast examination. The audience was extremely involved in all of the topics. A buffet lunch was served and several door prizes were given away. The event ended with a spectacular fashion show sponsored by Macy's. The models strutting their stuff were all breast cancer survivors. Our thanks to all who participated and assisted in putting this wonderful program together.

The Community Outreach Committee collected gift cards/donations for our Holiday Family in care of the Columbus Cancer Clinic. If writing a check, please make it out to the Columbus Cancer Clinic. Donations can be given to any Community Outreach Committee Member or mailed to the Columbus Cancer Clinic.

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Note: Discussions and information on this website are about general breast cancer issues and this website is not designed to give any specific advice concerning specific circumstances. It is important that professional medical advice be obtained before acting upon any of the information contained on this website.

Community Outreach Committee member Shirley Blanton with

Breast Health Fashion Show keynote speaker Alice Krumm

sporting a t-shirt with the title of her address.

We want to hear from you!

Tell us about your questions, your progress reports, your problems, your solutions, your bad news, and your good news!

We'll strive to make a difference and help you with an answer.

Hello Alice,

I know Alice from the book  "I Didn't Order This Pink Ribbon" by Alice Krumm. FYI...interesting read & you are in this. God works in mysterious ways & he brought Penny to your book!

....take care!

Your friend,

Mary Alice

Penny's view:

That was a wonderful book. I think it should be given to every lady that comes to group. Maybe they could work out a deal and buy a ton of her books to give to each new group member. 

Penny's cancer update:

Hey everyone,

I wanted to give an update on my cancer, not just for info on my condition, but hopefully to alert others of possible conditions in their own lives.(feel free to email this to someone that it may help)

[my diagnoses came about as follows; yearly mammogram in January that showed something suspicious. I went back the next week for a repeat one and an ultrasound. They were inconclusive. So, they said to come back in 6 months unless the breast has noticeable changes. A month later I noticed a nipple inversion. They got me right in, because that is a sign of breast cancer. They did a biopsy, which was inconclusive. I asked the surgical intern to remove it, because I could be rid of it and also he could get some more surgical experience. That is very odd for me as I am squeamish about surgeries. (I think that was an intervention from God). There are a few other things that have happened that are pretty supernatural too that I may mention below. A few days after the first lumpectomy, the surgeon called to tell me it was indeed cancer. "We, the doctors, and the pathologists are stunned. We didn't think it was cancer." I think it was hidden underneath and couldn't be seen with the other tests. I had a second lumpectomy in April that found a couple more tumors and more than 200 microscopic  tumors 'free floating' that were not picked up on the MRI.The oncologist wanted to do the chemo first (before the mastectomy) to reduce the tumors.

I finished my fourth and last chemo Wednesday. Now on to the mastectomy. I have prayed for the wisdom of whether to go ahead and get a double mastectomy. I have received, what I'm taking to be a confirmation, of that prayer to proceed with that. The chemo RN had suggested I get some funny books from the library (by Janet Evanovich) to read at my last chemo. I went to the library right away, but I always look at the dollar book section (to buy). I stumbled upon a book written by a breast cancer survivor that looked interesting. Turns out she's a surgical nurse here in Columbus. She also had the same plastic surgeon that I have (to do the reconstruction surgery) and she dedicated a couple of pages of her book to him.(this doctor's mom had breast cancer) The book is called "I Didn't Order This Pink Ribbon" by Alice Krumm. Her experience has mirrored mine, so far, and is very helpful. Anyway, later that day a relative I haven't seen in 4 years, told me Dr. H was her plastic surgeon too. She also had wonderful things to say about him.

My oncologist told me that scientific data does not indicate that I would need the double mastectomy, but if it would give me peace of mind, then to do it. My tumors were unusual in the fact that the big ones showed up on the tests (MRI) but I had over 200 small 'free floating' ones that only showed up after the lumpectomy pathology report. So, I think that could possibly happen on the other side. We all have cancer cells, and for whatever reason; diet, lifestyle, genetics, who knows, they go wild and mutate.

I have learned so much that it would be too much to write here, but here are a few things;

1) there are several types of breast cancer (and many other types of other body cancers)

2) Whatever the reason I got this has brought a lot of stuff to the surface in my life. My path in life is in a totally different direction now. I have learned the importance of forgiveness. I've had to let go of tons of resentments I had towards people, that I thought I did, but apparently didn't really. Its biblical to forgive, but I didn't realize how physically, mentally, and emotionally 'freeing' it was until God really brought it all to mind. I think He did that because it is detrimental to my healing. Plus that old saying 'unforgiving is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die!" What's kinda funny about grudges is that the people you resent don't usually know or care about whatever it is that you carry against them! Or they've honestly forgotten about it. Forgiveness doesn't mean you have to resume the relationship (that may be unwise if the other person is toxic to you), but it means it 'let's you out of the prison of bondage'.

3) I've also realized that God is my source, not my doctors, my family or friends, or money. I thought I knew that already, but I really didn't until I spent many nights laying there thinking about my mortality and what's really important in the grand scheme of life! Those quiet lonely nights, where you realize nobody can help you, is when you really seriously seek God. You do find that those are the times when you feel the real connection to Him.

4) Your prayers are worth more than gold to me, thanks!

5) Breast cancer support groups are informative and so supportive. Don't be hesitant about trying one.

~Penny

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ALICE