Words from WhyMommy about IBC

These words come strait from WhyMommy's fingers to my blog. She asked to spread the word(s) about IBC so here it is. I hope that it is information that you log into your memory bank, it may save someones life or yours someday. Whymommy will be at the top of my list of "Walking in HONOR or next year in Denver, SF and LA Beaches.

Inflammatory breast cancer

Monday July 23rd 2007, 3:11 pm
Filed under: About Us / Favorites, breast cancer

We hear a lot about breast cancer these days. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, and there are millions living with it in the U.S. today alone. But did you know that there is more than one type of breast cancer?

I didn’t. I thought that breast cancer was all the same. I figured that if I did my monthly breast self-exams, and found no lump, I’d be fine.

Oops. It turns out that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer. Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.

Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare” or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.

There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.

Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

Thank you for your words and your strength. I hope all of you keep this family and this mommy in your thoughts and prayers.

Why I WALK and WhyMommy!

If you happen to be new to my blog, or to my life and don't know why I walk for Breast Cancer here's a taste.


This fall will be 4 years since my MIL was diagnosed with an aggressive form of BC. Luckily it was found early and with surgery, chemo and radiation she is now doing GREAT! This prompted my (then) SIL and I to find a charity walk to show our support. My husband shaved his head. He looks great bald. I didn't think I would be as flattering bald so I walked. We raised $4000 that year. We walked 26 miles each in the Summer of 2004 through San Francisco, up and down the hills and across the Golden Gate bridge. I made friends at the walk, on the message board. Most of all I found friends who had been diagnosed or someone they loved had been diagnosed, I found a passion for doing something wonderful by not just raising $$$$ but also awareness. Since then I have also walked in 2006 with my mom and BF and also this last year AWBC SF 2007 with my BF and held a local BC walk at Starbucks near my home. I have logged about 100 miles so far in charity walks and have three Big 40 mile walks planned for next yearin Denver! In SF! and in LA! That is about 120 miles next year, but it's about the mission not the MILES.That's $5,400 worth of local walks, bunco games, yard sales and good old begging and pleading. For me, Finding a cure for cancer is even more personal.

I had stage II Malignant Melanoma when I was 14. Thankfully I didn't have to go through chemo or radiation just 2 surgeries at the site on my back. But I did feel alone and not comfortable talking about "IT". When people did find out, they were usually really surprised, including a certain dermatologist who told me that I was too young to have Melanoma. Jackass. But the thought of doing something about it seemed out of reach to a global or even local level. So I made sure my friends wore sunscreen to a point of nagging I must say.

I also have been team captain and walked in our local American Cancer Societies Relay for LIFE. Then cancer struck home again. My uncle James was diagnosed with Leukemia and for almost two years fought for his life along side of my Aunt who stood by him through all the pain. I couldn't image the feelings and physical pain that inflicted from day of diagnosis to today almost a year anniversary of the day we lost him.

There is a mommy out there who found out a short time ago that she has Inflammatory Breast Cancer (AKA Beast Cancer). We call her WhyMommy (or rather she calls herself WhyMommy). She could not wait to hear and to answer the "WhyMommy" questions that come with parenthood. She has two small children at home. I wanted her to know that IBC has taken on a life of its own in her body but has also prompted so many blogging friends to spread the word about it. Awareness is key. We are doing our part. We are spreading the word to our friends, to everyone we know. You are a victim, and a hero. You are right, Cancer touches anyone, everyone is susceptible and lets stop hiding from it. I hope that each of us reaches out and tells somone else about IBC. It may save the life of someone you love. That is the goal.

Mini Walk Complete

Mini Walk definition-
You have the option of joining at team when you sign up and commit to a Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. One of those teams has an arrangement with Starbucks to hold local community walks in exchange for up to half of our required $1,800 commitment to walk. After you join the team you set up a "mini-walk" in your community to talk about Breast Cancer and bring awareness one step closer to the people where you live. Starbucks will then donate the difference, up to $900, to your walk to make your minimum. The rest will be "banked" for other walkers who may need some extra help raising thier funds to walk. Those on the Avon miniwalk team can earn $$ too just by helping those who host. Each hour they donate in time equals $10 donated by Starbucks. Its a great deal that I plan on taking complete advantage of next year when my goal has increased to an amazing 3 walks including SF again, LA and Denver. The Western United States conqured and mid west, and East Coast looming on the horizon. Here's my mini walk story




Friday:

Charity didn't show but they did talk a little about the mini walk on the news that morning. Chris and my MIL Karen took the boys to see the new Disney movie about the rat chef in Paris while I walked the route just one more time. So I got what I needed to get done that day... well almost done and decided that I should probably get some sleep or at least try.

Saturday:
I got up at 4:45am after not being able to sleep. I even ate breakfast. I hardly ever do that but have been better about it lately. There was just too much to do. I finished pricing all the murchandise. Loaded everything into my husbands truck and left the house for Starbucks. It didn't take as long as I had thought and my mom was there just after me. We got it all set up and Starbucks set us up with free coffee and cups for our walkers. Kelli was up from Vacaville to pick up the boys so she came to help me too. Sandy and Brian came to help, then Chris and they boys too. We had a decent turn out for our first time. 4 people pre-registered and one guy came by after seeing the flyer I had left there and donated $100 for him to walk the three miles with his son. We also had great volunteer help. Mom's friend Liz came to lead at 10am which was the big group. 9 people including Rochelle the starbucks manager and her family. We had Chris and the boys, I pushed my niece Brianna. The 8am one had three walkers, a really nice gal who says that she practiclly lives at Starbucks and my mom's friend Judy and her friend Randy. We even picked grapes and black berries on the early walk.

We had a very sweet lady and her daughter pick up information. She had been diagnosed with an agressive form of Breast Cancer on Tuesday, already had a biopsy, 3 MRI's and had set up an appointment with the same Oncologist my MIL went to. We gave her all the info we could and told her about two wonderful surgeons in town who are not only wonderful doctors and can do thier jobs but also have great bed side manor. So important when they tell you they are going to have to take both your breasts less than a week after you thought everything was normal in your life. We will be walking for her because unfortunetly this was not an early diagnosis and it has metastitised to her lymph nodes.

Then the guy from Channel 24 showed up and everyone scattered. No body wanted to be in the camera's view. I did the interview myself and looked like I was a 12 year old on tv. Chris thought it was so funny he kept kidding that the cops were going to show up to haul him away. Funny honey. But all in all it went very well. We raised almost $500 some to cover our costs and some going straight to the AWBC and we did have a great time. Thank you to all of you who helped and came out to participate.

I'm such a BLOG SLACKKKKKER

Sorry about the absence. I've been so busy being mom that I haven't had much time this week to be me. T-ball on Monday nights and Wednsday nights and Karate on Wednsday and Friday nights and tball games on saturdays. Homework and reading every night and trying to keep them busy.... AHHHHAHAHHHAAHHH!!!! I'm so glad I'll no longer be a almost full time single mom and I'll be back to being the "sorta single mom" by the end of next week. I have a feeling its gonna get worse til then. Next week is teacher appreciation week and I want to do something special for Lori so that's been taking up my thoughts these last few days. I got to see Shannon today and I don't think I've seen her since her birthday party two months ago. I miss my friends.

I did get a chance to talk to my aunt Sandy today about Bunco so now I need to make Pink Bunko Score sheets and tally sheets to go on the tables. We figured that there will be about 10 tables plus the $100 she got from people who wanted to contribute but can't come. each table 4 people at $25 a person. That is $100 per table.... that is about $1000 in one afternoon. That's not including the raffle we are having there too. Thank you so much aunt sandy and her friend Vicki for doing so much work to make this happen for us. I still have to get some of the prizes and need to make a letter for that.

Mom is having a bunco party in April and I'm having one in May with about 16 people each. Thats about $400 a night. We are having another garage sale and Karen (my mother in law and breast cancer survivor) is having one for us too. We need to raise at least $900 each to qualify to walk and Starbucks will sponser the rest if we do a mini walk. I have two planned one in April and one in May. So thats our news today.