My Wife Has Breast Cancer

Breast cancer gene discovery 'most important for 20 years' (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:22:00 +0000

Article here

3 YEARS!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:38:00 +0000

Well, for me it seems like it was a LONG time ago (longer than 3 years) but today marks the 3 year anniversary of Jenn having her surgery to remove the cancer. All check ups since that day have been great and I/we are still looking forward to that day when we can declare her CANCER FREE!!!

New test can predict spread of breast cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Article here

Team finds breast cancer gene linked to disease spread (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:38:00 +0000

Article here

25 Breast Cancer Myths and Misunderstandings (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:23:00 +0000

Article here

New treatment - Zoledronic Acid

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:16:00 +0000

They want to try another new treatment as well...this one is called Zoledronic Acid. Jenn would get an IV type transfusion every 6 months. It is supposed to have a 36% reduction of breast cancer recurrence when compared to a group who did not take the drug. At $1000 per treatment and with the Oncologist saying that insurance would not likely cover the treatment, it could get costly. But at a 36% reduction rate...no cost is too high for Jenn's health.

An article about Zoledronic Acid can be found here and here.

New treatment - Arimidex

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:13:00 +0000

After visiting her Oncologist today, they are putting Jenn on a new monthly pill. She was taking Tamoxifen but now is moving to Arimidex. The biggest shocker I think was that the Tamoxifen was $1.90 for a month's supply...the Arimidex is around $95 per month.

Surgery went well

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:46:00 +0000

Overall the surgery was a success. We were at the hospital at 7:45AM, went through all the pre-op stuff and Jenn was in surgery about 10AM. The surgery was over around 11AM and the doctor called me in to say that everything looked good and the procedure went as planned. After she came out of recovery we went to her room for a little R&R before going home around 6PM. Jenn is a little sore (obviously) but considering that this procedure used to have about a 2 week recovery time, the new way that they perform historectomies is a lot better. Jenn will come out of this with 3 new scars but it could have been much worse...

Surgery tomorrow...

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:05:00 +0000

As the next likely place for cancer to show up after the breast is the ovaries, they are taking out her ovaries tomorrow in an outpatient surgery. I will post an update once the surgery is complete...

Bone drug helped stave off breast cancer (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:40:00 +0000

Article here

This could be big - "Breast cancer 'master gene' breakthrough" (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:14:00 +0000

Article here

New breast cancer screening test would use saliva (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 23:04:00 +0000

Article here

Pink network cables

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:54:00 +0000

Being that I am in the computer geek business:

National Breast Cancer Foundation CAT5 cables

Fewer breast patients may need chemo (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:12:00 +0000

Article here

Weight gain hurts breast cancer survival (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:02:00 +0000

Article here

Ironically enough, Jenn has been working out sporadically at the gym and for a while and for the last two weeks we have been going together. I actually saw her run for the first time since we got married I believe! I let her know that if this doesn't motivate/inspire either of us to stay on the fitness train...I don't know what will...

Marijuana Compound May Stop Breast Cancer From Spreading (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:41:00 +0000

Article here

Cancer treatment may risk heart damage (Article specific to breast cancer).

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:10:00 +0000

Article here

Certain cancers mean more divorce (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:19:00 +0000

Article here

I believe this article contradicts my relationship with Jenn at least from my perspective. I think our relationship was tight before the diagnosis and her getting breast cancer has only made it tighter than it has ever been before. The article does single out breast cancer in one paragraph:

"There's a myth that if you get breast cancer, your husband will leave you," she said. In fact, she and her colleagues found that survivors of breast cancer were less likely to get divorced than similar women without the disease."

It also mentions that the divorces are higher within newly married couples. I think that has some to do with our situation as well. We will have our 10 year wedding anniversary next month but I could see where just becoming newlyweds or being in the first few years of your marriage, it would put an additional amount of strain on the relationship...

Last reconstructive surgery completed

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:55:00 +0000

Jenn had her final reconstructive surgery yesterday. We were in Lawrence at 6:15AM and we were out of the surgical center around Noon. A "short one" in the sense of surgeries that she has been through previously. She is at home recovering right now...plenty of pain pills to make her happy. She went for a return checkup this morning and all seemed well. A followup visit will happen again next week...

Updates to follow...

Fruits, veggies don't stop cancer return (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:25:00 +0000

Article here

Jenn - Follow-up: 6 Month Mammogram

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:01:00 +0000

Dear Ms. HAUGH:

Concerning: MA Mammo Screening Unilateral Left of 6/26/07
Report forwarded to: Dr. John Keller

Recommended Follow-up: 6 years

The above breast examination did not show any sign of cancer, according to the radiologist's interpretation. Please remember that early detection requires a combination of mammography, monthly breast self examination, and yearly breast physical examination.

I read it several times but for some reason typing it, I almost lost it...

Only 9 1/2 years to go...

GI to serve in Iraq after cancer battle (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:15:00 +0000

Article here

Breast cancer genes can come from father (Article)

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:55:00 +0000

Article here

Last tube removed

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:19:00 +0000

Jenn had the 3rd drainage tube removed yesterday. She will go back Tuesday for a visit to have her tape that covers her stitches "refreshed" and then go back in 2 weeks for another checkup...

Doctor visit

noreply@blogger.com (Jim) — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:28:00 +0000

Jenn went back to the doctor yesterday, all seems to be going well. She had 2 of the 3 drainage tubes removed and will have the last one removed on Friday...