Tammy's Journey 'Through'
Some years ago, Tammy had a good friend pass away from her battle with breast cancer; this unfortunate event caused her to begin to think about the importance of mammogram screenings.
In September 2009, while lying in her bed; Tammy had an itch on her left breast and while examining herself she felt a lump.
Soon after, Tammy made her way to the doctors. An hour and a half after her visit, her cell phone rang, the nurse informed her that the doctor saw something suspicious and ordered a MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) (a) on her right breast. Tammy gave a perplexed reply, “You mean my left breast that is where I felt the lump.” The nurse asked Tammy to hold on for a second, when she returned to the phone she said, “No, the right breast.”
As Tammy headed for her MRI appointment, she encountered additional tension, you see she is claustrophobic. During the procedure, Tammy chose to repeat over and over again, Isaiah 41:10, Fear not for I am with thee. Once the assessment was completed, the images were displayed and a white ‘blob’ was pointed out; the preliminary determination was that it did not appear to be anything, but to be safe, a biopsy was ordered.
Once the biopsy was completed, Tammy was advised that the results would get back to her in a couple of days, but that if it was cancer; it looked like she was probably facing the best kind to have. Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) this is where the cancer has not broken out and remains in the milk duct.
Waiting, waiting, waiting, no one called, so Tammy called the surgeon’s office. The nurse was sorry to say it was cancer, but happily the surgeon was correct, it was DCIS. Tammy was given further instructions and a date for a lumpectomy was scheduled (b).
In addition to other personal matters that she was facing, after the surgery; Tammy had to undergo weekly radiation therapy. She thought of ways to comfort and encourage herself, doing something as simple as valet parking on treatment days. She also made herself aware that there were people whose situation was more severe than hers; she would pray for them and also found reasons to give thanks instead of feeling sorry for herself.
After dropping her son off at school, on her way to work as she did after every treatment, Tammy had to take a moment - the fullness of God’s protection and provision washed over her like never before. To be done with this journey was so amazing!!! She did it. She got 'THROUGH' it. It was a very touching moment between Tammy and God. She was eternally grateful for He had walked with her and provided for her every step of the way.
Tammy was determined from the beginning to get through this, she counted her journey with cancer a temporary one; she had no plans of making this her home. Tammy’s soapbox is to encourage you to follow through with regular checkups, to perform self examination(s) on the same date of every month so that you will notice if any changes start to occur.
Tammy was blessed with an awesome team of doctors; they consider her to be a poster child for mammograms, for this tool is what detected her cancer. She wants each of you to know that it is essential to have a doctor (physician) that you can talk to, someone who is just as concerned about educating and working with you to maximize your health.
PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE DOES NOT NEED TO BE EXPENSIVE.
WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD BREAST HEALTH, YOU ARE YOUR BEST ADVOCATE.
(a) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mri/MY00227
(b) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lumpectomy/MY00833
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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: None of the information on this site is intended to act as or take the place of medical advice. You should consult with your medical provider(s) on all aspects of your health. The information on this site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health condition.
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