You, your sister, and family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Many, many blundervibes and virtual hugs being sent.

...sending lots of prayers and positive thoughts to your sis and to you, Judy.....

Sending many prayers and blundervibes to Nancy, you and the rest of the family! What Pat said about your experience and helping Nancy though this. She couldn't have a better guide than you!

Well, I talked to my sister a while ago, and here's the scoop. The kind of cancer she has is rare--only 5-15% of breast cancer cases are this kind. It's called multi-focal invasive lobular carcinoma. The "multi-focal" part of the name means that it originated at several different places at once--not one place, like most breast cancers. Her doctor has never personally seen it before. The margins of the lump they removed in her biopsy were not clean, meaning the cancer extended to the edge, so they definitely have to go back in and take more out, and will do a sentinel node biopsy on that side. They have been watching some calcifications on the other side for the past year or so, and in light of what's going on now, they will biopsy that area as well. The kind of cancer that she has is one that doesn't show up in mammograms or ultrasounds. Fortunately, the doctor thinks it's not a fast-growing cancer, and also said there are lots of trials going on at the hospital since it's the university hospital, so she is sure she can get into one, and will have lots of people looking at her and studying her and will get extra good care that way. My sister said she made it clear that she doesn't want to be involved with any placebos, that she wants to be involved in a trial that compares two drugs, like tamoxifen or raloxifene vs: something else--preferably drugs that are already known to have good results in preventing further cancer. The doctor she has been seeing is going back to Pakistan, so she is recommending that my sister be treated by the head of the department. Nancy will hear within the next few days when her surgery will be--most likely during the first full week of July. Any further treatment and/or surgery will be decided upon after the results of the procedures done then.

And that's how things are....

What Larry (and others) said. You're from strong stock and it sounds like the medical people are the best. We're pulling for Nancy; prayers and Blundervibes going to all your family and to the docs. We love you!!!!

God Bless you.
Good luck getting into a trial group.

Thank you for taking the time to update us. We'll be sending lots of prayers up about Nancy.

Dear Judy: Wishing your sis the best! Funny I was in my Drs. office yesterday and read a neat story all about the Komen Foundation and the woman that started it, more than a decade ago. I felt compelled to send out my annual donation early. (they send me such nice postal stickers & such)

*anyhow I can't think of a better time to give. And to anyone that hasn't given to the Komen Foundation, you can have your donation dedicated to someone's name. They send you this neat memorbillia of that person. It's really quite personal, & you'd have to see one to appreciate it. I still cherish my boys Great Grandmother Rose Towe (who succumbed to breast cancer at an advanced age) plaque. It's a great way to serve her memory. I know if she were here, she'd love it! Great luck Judy.

Thanks for the plug, RB. And thanks, everyone, for everything!

Prayers & vibes just said again...

Get well wishes Nancy! There's blundervibes all around. Our thoughts are with you. Hope to see you at an Arlo show soon, we can all take over a diner afterwards.

Best wishes and positive thoughts for your sister, Judy! I hope she recovers well.
I ended up with traditional gall bladder surgery with the incision down the right side; mine was far too inflamed and diseased to take out laparoscopically. I've got a nice row of staples; it looks like a zipper was installed. I'm recovering well; I'm beginning to feel more like me and less like me floating in a drugged out haze. The important thing is that the PAIN! I'd had as a constant companion for the past five weeks is gone. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers; they helped a lot!

Sue, sorry you had to have the traditional surgery, but I'm SO glad for you that it's finally gone and are out of pain. The staples will be out soon and you'll be feeling a whole lot better as soon as they come out.

Best wishes for a very speedy recovery!

Sue--sorry you couldn't go with the new and improved method, but glad your surgery is over with and you're already feeling better. The mother of a friend of mine is going through the same deal right now, and is just waiting till she's been off Coumadin long enough so it's OK for her to have surgery.

Ugh. Can we all just work on being healthy from now on?

Sorry Sue ya had to go thru what ya did on the gallbladder. Hope things go better for ya. & Vibes & prayers still going out to you & judys sister & everyone else...