krista colvin's [putting on my big girl panties + kicking breast cancer in the ass]

from lifestyle to my life

I do a monthly lifestyle segment for our local Portland morning show- AM Northwest. Today's segment was about 'Tips for Helping Cancer Patients'. [The emphasis is on the first month or so of hearing the words "Cancer"]

click here to view the segment
My hairs a bit thinner... the topic a bit heavier, I hope you find my tips helpful. #andnowyoucanputmyvoicetotheface

 

Here are my notes from the segment:
April 26, 2010   Segment for AMNW- How to support a newly diagnosed cancer patient?

Knowing you have Cancer is different than knowing the Severity or How to Treat it.

• Tests may include: ultrasounds, mammograms, biopsies, MRI's, CT, PET scans. 
• Official Diagnosis + Treatment plan happen after ALL the information is in.
  This can take several weeks after hearing "you have cancer". 
• You Can expect to have 2-4 medical appointments a week for several weeks.

 

Diagnosis Month is a Whirlwind of Appointments + Well Meaning Family + Friends

• Important to remember that YOU don't know how to beat it/fight it/ until you know what you are dealing with. 
• Thinking of you/praying for you/Here to support you... over the well meaning: "my aunt had... xyz cancer, she beat it, you can too" or here is how to beat it via xyz book etc.
• Thinking of you via cards, notes, facebook messages, etc. preferred over phone calls, Instant Messaging on FB etc.

Helpful Gifts

• Binder with pocket dividers, paper, pen.
• Small notebook to jot down notes
• Envelope to collect business cards in.
• Baked Goods
• Medicine organizer
• Treatment Basket or Bag

 

Do

• Texts or a quick call "I'm at the store can I bring you anything... milk? bread?"
• Snacks: fruit, muffins, ready to eat/on the go.
• Meals: prepared + easy to clean up.
• Be the "Designated Appointment Driver"
• Be the "Note-Taker"
• Be the "Child Care Provider"
• Be the "Cook"
• Help Schedule Appointments or clear appointments from your calendar
• If you are close... the tell them what you are going to do instead of asking what can you do.

USEFUL WEBSITES:

• www.LotsahelpingHands.com -Site helps you create + organize your community as to how they can best help. [I created a small team of my girlfriends to help me manage 3 areas: SELF.HOME.ENDEAVORS]
• The American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
• Washington Breast and Cervical Health Program offers free women's health exams, pap smears, and mammograms to qualified individuals. 360.514.1663 http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/bcchp/.

in the life section

To view the full article click here

I mentioned earlier + briefly that our local paper The Columbian was following my story. Today the paper hit the matt. I had planned on it being a big feature but I wasn't prepared for the reply I got tonight when I ran up to the mini-mart to grab some copies to send my parents + my best friend. [my mama doesn't do the net].

I placed 4 copies on the counter and the gal said something like "It must have something good in it". My reply, as I flipped the paper over, pointed to the front page bottom banner + waved my hand in front of my chest "It's a story on my breast cancer". She immediately replied "Congratulations!" as if it was a good thing.

What? Did she not hear me.... BREAST CANCER. Not my business was just featured. Not my home is on the garden tour. B  R  E  A  S  T    C  A  N  C  E  R  do I need to spell it out?

The next question was debit or credit...

unchartered waters

It isn't just about me...
 

 It's about us.

Who knows exactly how this will affect my kids... I can tell you now that the first month, which I've dubbed the diagnosis month, is much different from this month, which I've dubbed treatment. The flurry of activity ranging from phone calls to flowers to last minute 'play dates' [so that mommy can go to another doctor appointment] affected them. They noticed. Of course they did. That's what kids do. 

They observe.

They react.

 

They rally.

Just like my family, girlfriends, neighbors, facebook friends, twitter community, colleagues, former students,  + community have.

Because it's not about me, it's about us.
 

biopsy marks the spot

X marks the spot... where the radiologist took a biopsy of the 'kernel' size spot #2 in my right breast. This was an MRI guided biopsy and this particular spot was not seen in other diagnostics. She was located about 3 cm deep into my breast. the small mole looking thing is indeed a lovely mole on my breast ;). The pink edging are just marks left from the larger bandage protecting the incisions.

poked + prodded

 
  pics + tidbits from the power port surgery... march 19, 2010
Here with my Chica Dana keeping me company!

 

it hurts when they can't find your vein for the iv... the bruise lasted for about a week.
 

Chatting with Erin Middlewood from The Columbian newspaper... she's following my story. She's a mom too. p.s. this purple gown has dual layers with warm air making me all fluffy + warm...

And when the surgeon arrives, it's time to stop using your cel phone + get down to business! Dr. Kilway explaining what my power port does + where he'll tuck it into my chest... Mind you Troy The Columbian Photo Editor will be scrubbing in to take pics so I'm confident Dr. Kilway won't accidentally drop a junior mint in me or leave some random bandage in me to fester for eternity.

Here's the port tucked into my chest about my left breast. When the bandages are off, you can't see the port...but you can run your fingers over it + feel it. The nurse when then use this to place my IV in for my chemo drips... no more bruising on my arm.... thank god cuz that crap hurts like a son-of-a gun.

This neck picture is the part that creeps me out. Can you see the small tube in my artery... eek, yuck. i keep thinking i'll turn my head and turn into some nasty bloody saturday night skit...i loathe those nasty blood squirting skits. Dr. Kilway assured my during my last visit this would indeed NOT happen to me when I turn my head suddenly to yell at the kids in the back seat of the car...

telling the kidlets

I prepped the kidlets... mommy has a lump, found it while in the tub last night when you walked in. Mommy is going to have the doctor look at it... yada yada.. keepin' it real simple.

Then when the Obgyn said it felt cancerous + suggested I chat with my kidlets to prep them. I took her seriously.

Now added to the dinner convo was mommy is going to have biopsy to see if this lump in her chest is cancerous. Explained that there are all kinds of cancers. Old people, Young People, Kids, Mommies can get it and there are so many kinds. Sometimes you hear about someone's grandpa dying of cancer.

But when the calll came, it was hubby's turn to step up to the plate and tell the kids. He talked to them privately in the car, doing his best to explain. Tears where shed, questions were answered and both kidlets came into the house quickly to hug me.

The next morning my sweet 7 1/2 year daughter looked at me and in wonderment said "you don't look like you have cancer" my reply with hands up in the air with the same bewilderment in my tone... "I KNOW!"

Later we got dressed to go out for lunch. I purposely didn't dress in my usual black comfy clothes. Instead I picked out a colorful cheerful blouse, springy headband and lived up to my daughter's expectation of looking cancer-free.

As I prepped my outfit I was reminded of how when I went to visit my father after his open heart surgery he wore a scarf around his neck. Very euro [which he is but he's more member's only than len goodman]. My mom made a comment... but I realized my dad was trying to hide his large scars from me, protect me from the ugly reality. 

And now here less than 10 years later I was doing a bit of the same... protecting my own daughter. Putting on a cheerful exterior to hide the dreary interior.

thinking ahead

 

keeping things in perspective

 i feel carefree...
  

i feel thankful that i don't have bigger problems in my life. i feel strong.

i am in awe of the power of medicine. the power of nature + how it feeds on our soul + gives to our soul.

 

look mom, no appointments today!

wow... it was like having a day off... ferris bueller style. no one called my name [well i did get a reminder call about tomorrow's appointment but i let it go to voice mail- ferris didn't have voice mail back then did he...]

it was a normal mom today... got the kidlets ready for school. rushed them off the bus stop with the dog in tow. i put away dishes, helped make the beds, opened up curtains. didn't take a shower. headed off to coffee. met up with some girlfriends. took a walk in the woods. tried to determine just how far we walked. girlfriend drove me to pick up really expensive meds that insurance covers most of [think $1,900 meds with my share being $130- phew] back to cute lil' downtown for thai food, shopped in a couple of my favorite boutiques, grabbed joe out of the camas antique window to treat to a latte + chat design, ran into elida,  last visit to lily to purchase cute clothes because cancer can be ugly but i don't want to look sick or ugly.

so i showered + put on non-mom-walking clothes to go to my son's science fair at school in order to support him + show everyone that this mama may have breast cancer but doesn't look scary sick + can still babble on about nothing or babble on about cancer or pressure another mama about when their new mesa restaurant is going to open so that we can all imbibe on some specialty margaritas + babble on about bobbles + trinkets + sunshiny days.

ps... 1 month ago tonight i found that lump

i'm trying...