I found out that this lady lost her fight to IBC this morning. Her name is Susan, her husbands name is Warren. I don't know much more than that other than she had been okay earlier this month, nad now is in the hands of God. He battle against IBC ended this morning at M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas around 10 AM.
I just wish a cure could be found, it's hard to know what a deadly disease Breast Cancer can be, especially IBC. I still have hope though, I have heard of survivors of IBC up to 17 years.
I have a stupid business trip to go to tomorrow night - only an overnight trip, so not bad. I just don't feel like being away for a night.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Update on my Mom
My mom's been down lately. Her Oncologyst is about to be fired. I have been reaching across the country to get her the best medical advise that I can. I started with my "IBC friends" on the message board. http://www.ibcsupport.org/
The people on this board are so supportive and helpful. I got in touch with a very esteemed Medical Oncologyst from M.D. Anderson in Houston, TX. I recieved his e-mail address from a lady with IBC. He wrote me back on Easter morning, which amazed me that he was working on Easter, let alone to e-mail a non-patient. (M.D. Anderson is the 1st IBC Clinic in the US)
I also got a referral to a very good Medical Oncologyst that works in Oakland Kaiser. She got her residency at M.D. Anderson. I hope that she follows the protocol of M.D. Anderson.
A ways back I did get another referral for a Medical Oncologyst at UCSF. I put a call in to the clinical trial center to see if I can get her in to there, Dr. Hope Rugo is a great IBC dr. who's treated most of the patients here in the Bay Area.
I am making steps to getting her a new doctor that will not give up on her. I feel like I should have gone to Medical School.
The people on this board are so supportive and helpful. I got in touch with a very esteemed Medical Oncologyst from M.D. Anderson in Houston, TX. I recieved his e-mail address from a lady with IBC. He wrote me back on Easter morning, which amazed me that he was working on Easter, let alone to e-mail a non-patient. (M.D. Anderson is the 1st IBC Clinic in the US)
I also got a referral to a very good Medical Oncologyst that works in Oakland Kaiser. She got her residency at M.D. Anderson. I hope that she follows the protocol of M.D. Anderson.
A ways back I did get another referral for a Medical Oncologyst at UCSF. I put a call in to the clinical trial center to see if I can get her in to there, Dr. Hope Rugo is a great IBC dr. who's treated most of the patients here in the Bay Area.
I am making steps to getting her a new doctor that will not give up on her. I feel like I should have gone to Medical School.
frustration begins with TTC
Frustrating times it has been, we've only been trying for 3 months. I think we are going to start charting after AF comes in a few days. I cannot get the hang of the O timing.
I hope to Conceive soon....
I hope to Conceive soon....
Thursday, March 13, 2008
My friend David - RIP 5/23/04.
This is a very good picture of my best friend David who was taken at at 25, in 2004. I miss him so much. I hope that he can hear me talking to him, not a day that passes that I do not think of him or talk to him. Rest in Peace my dear, dear friend.AF came
Well, we had a visit from AF on Monday. I almost thought I may be m/c because I was bleeding so heavy, but I think I'm okay now. I called the Dr. and after the bleeding slowed, I knew I was okay, just a heavy AF.
My hubby was upset that I got AF, it was cute. He told me he can't wait to be a parent now, and it's my fault. I just got some books to prepare us both. He is very cute, and ready to be a daddy.
My hubby was upset that I got AF, it was cute. He told me he can't wait to be a parent now, and it's my fault. I just got some books to prepare us both. He is very cute, and ready to be a daddy.
definition of IBC
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
What is inflammatory breast cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare, fast-growing type of breast cancer. It is often called IBC for short.
Unlike other breast cancers, this type of cancer may not cause a lump in the breast. So regular breast exams and mammograms often fail to catch it early. Because it grows so fast, it usually has spread by the time it is diagnosed.
What causes inflammatory breast cancer?
In this type of cancer, the cancer cells often do not form lumps in the breast. Instead, they form sheets, which doctors call cancer nests. These nests block the lymph vessels that normally keep lymph fluid moving in the skin of the breast.
When the normal flow of lymph fluid is blocked, it can make the breast look swollen and red and feel warm, as if it were infected. The swelling may cause lots of tiny dimples in the skin. Sometimes it causes a lump that grows quickly, but you can have inflammatory breast cancer without having a lump in your breast.
What are the symptoms?
Inflammatory breast cancer can cause one or more of these symptoms:
A breast that is swollen, red, and warm
A breast that is tender or painful
An area of itching in the breast
A change in the nipple. Sometimes the nipple pulls back into the breast instead of pointing outward.
A change in the skin, especially an area that looks thick and pitted, like an orange peel. Sometimes there are ridges in the skin and small bumps that look like a rash or hives.
An area of the breast that looks bruised
Swollen lymph nodes under the arm
One or more lumps in the breast
How is inflammatory breast cancer diagnosed?
A biopsy is needed to diagnose this cancer. During a biopsy, the doctor takes a sample of the breast or the breast skin. The sample is looked at in a lab to see if it contains cancer cells.
It’s very important to diagnose inflammatory breast cancer quickly so that treatment can begin. But because it is rare, doctors may not recognize the symptoms right away. The cancer is often mistaken for other problems, like spider bites, an allergic reaction, or mastitis, which is a breast infection that is usually treated with antibiotics.
Antibiotics do not help inflammatory breast cancer. If your doctor has given you antibiotics and your symptoms do not seem to be getting better after a week, call your doctor.
After a biopsy shows that you have this type of cancer, your doctor will order more tests—such as a mammogram, a bone scan, or a CAT scan—to see if the cancer has spread.
How is it treated?
It's very important to treat this cancer as soon as possible, because it grows so fast. Treatment starts with anticancer drugs, or chemotherapy. These drugs help shrink the cancer.
Drug treatment is usually followed by surgery to remove the breast. After surgery, radiation treatment is used to try to kill any remaining cancer cells.
More chemotherapy or hormone therapy may be used after radiation, especially if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
How do you cope with having inflammatory breast cancer?
Finding out that you have this cancer is scary, because it is a very serious disease. But there is reason for hope, because treatment is improving. These days, many women are still free of cancer after 5, 10 and even 15 years.1
Talking with others who have the disease can help. Because the disease is so rare, finding a support group can be hard. But thanks to the Internet, it’s possible to find women who are very willing to listen to you and share their own experiences through online support groups and chat rooms.
What is inflammatory breast cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare, fast-growing type of breast cancer. It is often called IBC for short.
Unlike other breast cancers, this type of cancer may not cause a lump in the breast. So regular breast exams and mammograms often fail to catch it early. Because it grows so fast, it usually has spread by the time it is diagnosed.
What causes inflammatory breast cancer?
In this type of cancer, the cancer cells often do not form lumps in the breast. Instead, they form sheets, which doctors call cancer nests. These nests block the lymph vessels that normally keep lymph fluid moving in the skin of the breast.
When the normal flow of lymph fluid is blocked, it can make the breast look swollen and red and feel warm, as if it were infected. The swelling may cause lots of tiny dimples in the skin. Sometimes it causes a lump that grows quickly, but you can have inflammatory breast cancer without having a lump in your breast.
What are the symptoms?
Inflammatory breast cancer can cause one or more of these symptoms:
A breast that is swollen, red, and warm
A breast that is tender or painful
An area of itching in the breast
A change in the nipple. Sometimes the nipple pulls back into the breast instead of pointing outward.
A change in the skin, especially an area that looks thick and pitted, like an orange peel. Sometimes there are ridges in the skin and small bumps that look like a rash or hives.
An area of the breast that looks bruised
Swollen lymph nodes under the arm
One or more lumps in the breast
How is inflammatory breast cancer diagnosed?
A biopsy is needed to diagnose this cancer. During a biopsy, the doctor takes a sample of the breast or the breast skin. The sample is looked at in a lab to see if it contains cancer cells.
It’s very important to diagnose inflammatory breast cancer quickly so that treatment can begin. But because it is rare, doctors may not recognize the symptoms right away. The cancer is often mistaken for other problems, like spider bites, an allergic reaction, or mastitis, which is a breast infection that is usually treated with antibiotics.
Antibiotics do not help inflammatory breast cancer. If your doctor has given you antibiotics and your symptoms do not seem to be getting better after a week, call your doctor.
After a biopsy shows that you have this type of cancer, your doctor will order more tests—such as a mammogram, a bone scan, or a CAT scan—to see if the cancer has spread.
How is it treated?
It's very important to treat this cancer as soon as possible, because it grows so fast. Treatment starts with anticancer drugs, or chemotherapy. These drugs help shrink the cancer.
Drug treatment is usually followed by surgery to remove the breast. After surgery, radiation treatment is used to try to kill any remaining cancer cells.
More chemotherapy or hormone therapy may be used after radiation, especially if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
How do you cope with having inflammatory breast cancer?
Finding out that you have this cancer is scary, because it is a very serious disease. But there is reason for hope, because treatment is improving. These days, many women are still free of cancer after 5, 10 and even 15 years.1
Talking with others who have the disease can help. Because the disease is so rare, finding a support group can be hard. But thanks to the Internet, it’s possible to find women who are very willing to listen to you and share their own experiences through online support groups and chat rooms.
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