Thursday, November 29, 2012

BRAC Blessings

When I was diagnosed with cancer and my surgeon wanted to do a genetic test, I had no idea the impact those test results would have on my family.  I knew that it would matter for my own treatment, but I was completely oblivious to how it would affect my mom, my sister, my kids and my nieces.  My eyes were soon opened!  My test came back positive for BRCA2.  Thanks to this information, I knew that I needed to have a bilateral mastectomy rather than a lateral mastectomy.  Being positive for BRCA2 puts me at a 12% risk of a second breast cancer within 5 years of the first, as well as a 16% risk of subsequent ovarian cancer.  We also learned that each of my first degree relatives has a one-in-two chance of having the same mutation.  And so the testing began!  My sister, Stacy, was the first to be tested after me.  She was also positive for BRCA2.  She took her results in stride and was only angry that because we didn't know about the test before I was diagnosed I didn't have the same opportunities for prevention.  My mother was next, and felt sure that since two of her daughters had it, that she would absolutely have it too.  She was right.  My sister, Sheryl, was a little more hesitant and unsure about whether or not she wanted the test.  She had worried about breast cancer ever since we lost our beautiful Aunt Laura to the horrid disease.  She pestered her doctor to start mammograms as early as possible due to our family history, and was sure that she, not her baby sister, would be the next in our family to have breast cancer.  Praise God, she was spared from any further worry for herself or her two daughters when she received her negative test results! Mutations in the BRCA2 puts the carrier at risk for an 84% risk of breast cancer by the age of 70 and a 27% risk of ovarian cancer by the age of 70.  The options currently available for those who are BRAC positive are increased surveillance such as self exams, clinical exams, mammograms starting at age 25-35 and CA125 testing (blood work); chemoprevention such as tamoxifen which has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer and oral contraceptives which may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and preventive surgery such as a mastectomy (removal of the breasts) and oopherectomy (removal of the ovaries).  Mom and Stacy chose to have the preventive surgeries just after they received their test results and Sheryl (along with our kids, husbands and Dad and StepMomma) took on the role of care taker for us all. We are now almost 2 years out from all those tests, decisions and surgeries and we are all cancer free.  In September, my daughter, Taylor turned 18 years old, which is the youngest age that one can submit to the BRAC test.  I had known I wanted her tested since I found out my own results.  She went back and forth about whether or not she wanted it, but when she turned 18 she decided she wanted to know once and for all.  She was tested in October and she is also positive for BRCA2.  She will start monthly self exams and semiannual clinical exams and CA125 testing.  We obviously had hoped that she would join Sheryl and the girls in the negative club, but we are still thankful to know!  What a blessing BRAC Genetic Testing has been to our family.  Knowledge truly is Power!  The power to prevent, the power to screen and the power to stop worrying.
ALL FACTS ABOUT BRAC GENETIC TESTING TAKEN FROM "UNDERSTANDING YOUR GENETIC TEST RESULT" BROCHURE PROVIDED BY MYRIAD LABS

Friday, November 23, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving

Therefore since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we can offer to God an acceptable service with reverance and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.  Hebrews 12:28-29
I am thankful for my salvation and the hope I have in Jesus Christ my Lord and savior.
Psalm 28:7 -The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.
I am thankful for my family, my husband, my daughter, my son and my stepson, my Daddy, my mom, my stepmom, my sisters, my brother-in-law, and my nieces. They have each played important roles in my life and through it all they have taught me so much about life, laughter and love. 
Psalm 69:30  I will praise the name of God with song, And shall magnify Him with thanksgiving
I am thankful for my Pastor, my church, the entire church staff and my entire church family.  They have taught me, inspired me, loved me, prayed for me and made my husband and I a part of the family.  They have supported me in my walk with Jesus and helped me in my ministries and missions.
1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting
I am thankful for my friends, my home, the food in my pantry, my warm socks, my blankets, running water, my bodywash, my toothpaste and tooth brush, my clothes, my health, my ability to love and receive love, my sewing machine and the ability to sew....this list could go on and on!
1 Thessalonians 5:18  in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I thankful for the cancer journey and all that God has taught me.  I am thankful for the many ways he has used me and the cancer, some of which I don't even know about.  I am thankful for all that has come from my families cancer journey, our closeness, our strengthened faith, our involvement in Relay for Life to raise money for awareness, research and quality of life programs, our ministries, Caps of Hope and Cancer Care Ministry.  I am thankful for the opportunity to speak and share my testimony with others and I am thankful for the burning desire to share the Hope of Jesus Christ with as many people as I can. 
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!  NOT JUST DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY!  GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sharing the Love

I know it is no secret that I love to sew.  Taking pieces of pretty fabric and turning them into something beautiful and useful brings me great joy. I first caught the sewing fever when I decided I wanted to make quilts.  I saved up and bought a sewing machine and Mom bought me a how to book for my birthday.  Using that book, I made my very first quilt for my son, Zachary.  I was definitely hooked on sewing after that!  The next couple of years I made quilts for all three of my kids, my husband and the rest of my family.  Venturing out to sew anything other than quilts didn't occur to me until I started looking for knee length skirts to wear on my first mission trip to the DR.  Comfortable, knee length skirts are difficult to find these days, especially when you are tall and have long legs!  Therefore, I decided to be brave and make my own skirts.  I purchased a pattern and asked mom, who had made clothes for my sisters and I as children, to come over and show me how it's done.  We spent a very pleasant afternoon together cutting, sewing and laughing and completed a skirt!  We were so proud!  I went to slip the skirt on and was shocked when it would only fit over one leg!  I was a size 8 at the time and had followed the size 8 pattern.  Heartbroken, I broke the news to Mom, who then sheepishly admitted that she forgot to mention that pattern sizes are rarely the same as store bought clothing sizes!!!!  After taking my measurements and comparing to the pattern, we discovered that according to the pattern I should have made the size 14!?! skirt!  Lesson learned!  Once I realized that I could make more than just blankets I started searching for even more ways to use this wonderful new skill.   Around the same time that I was branching out in sewing skills, I also started looking for a project to do with our Women on Mission group at church.  I came across a chemo hat pattern online and was thrilled by the idea of merging my two loves, missions and sewing.  My beautiful aunt, Laura, died from breast cancer when I was 17 years old, and I thought this would be a wonderful tribute to her, sharing the love of Christ and God's word to cancer patients through the caps.  I presented the idea to the Women on Mission group in May and they thought it would be a great project for the fall since we would not be meeting over the summer.  That July I was diagnosed with breast cancer myself, and what was suppose to be a one time sewing project blossomed into the Caps of Hope Ministry.    These days pretty much all of my sewing time is taken up in caps and that's just fine with me.  I get the occasional urge or opportunity to make something else for family and friends.  I got to make my daughter's friend's play costume and my friend's daughter's flower girl dresses.  My passion is with the caps though and I find much peace, joy and relaxation in putting together the fabrics, cutting, sewing and mailing or delivering the caps.  This morning I got to share my love of sewing with a sweet friend, teaching her what I know about making a pillowcase dress for her twin daughters.  The first thing I taught her though, was how to make a chemo cap!  The more helpers I can get the more caps we can get out there! Whether it's knowledge, quilts or caps, it feels good to share the love, all in the name of Christ!