What a Week!

This has been a packed week!  I got my MRI results, talked with nutritionists, met with Radiology Oncology, got my port, and decided on what I am going to do with my hair.

First things first.  My MRI results.  I am just going to copy the summary here for those of you who are interested.  Just a side note...the size of my tumors are 2.4 cm at the largest and the others are much smaller. Ok so bare with me.  If you are not into all of the technical stuff then scroll right on past this.

IMPRESSION:

1. Locally advanced breast carcinoma in the central right breast with

2 sites of biopsy proven invasive ductal carcinoma at the 5 and 6:00

positions as detailed. There are three additional tumor foci of

anterior to the primary mass in the retroareolar right breast with

abnormal intervening enhancement. The largest anteroposterior distance

between the mass at the 6:00 position and the most anterior tumor

nodule is approximately 4 cm. There is diffuse skin thickening

involving the lower right breast. 

2. Abnormal enhancing focus, favoring an internal mammary lymph node,

in the right upper outer quadrant, approximately 11:00 position, that

measures 8 x 4 mm. This could also represent an additional focus of

tumor. 

3. At least 2 abnormal left axillary lymph nodes, the largest measures

16 x 8 mm. At least one abnormal internal mammary lymph node that

measures 5 x 11 mm. See discussion. 

4. No evidence of malignancy in the left breast.

So all that to say I have possibly some lymph node and internal mammary lymph node involvement. I will have my PET Scan on Monday to confirm these results and determine if there is any more involvement anywhere else.  After the PET scan then the stage of my cancer will be 100% confirmed. As of now they are saying I am at Stage 3c.  This sounds scary and did put me and my family through some anxiety but I decided to put that aside and just keep my eyes fixed on God.  He loves me, He knows me and he will see me through. Period!

Second...I had an appointment with the radiology oncology department.  Usually you do not see them until chemo and surgery are completed but my oncologist wanted me to see them because there was a question as to whether or not my skin was involved in the cancer.  The outcome of that appointment left them concluding that they do not believe my cancer is in my skin.  I'll take that! It was a very encouraging appointment.  The two doctors that we saw that day were fantastic!  I told them about this blog.  I hope they check it out!  One other cool thing they told me is that the oncologists have a conference once a week with all of the other oncologist in the network.  They said that my case will be discussed in their next conference.  I liked that because that means that they will work diligently to provide for me the best care possible!  Not one single detail will be missed!

My sweet mom was able to come
to this appointment with me.
She loved my doctors and
felt so relieved after leaving
that I am in good hands!

Today I had my port placed.  That, my friends, is quite the dramatic event for a "simple" port.  Let me tell you, basically I had surgery today.  Never in my life have I had surgery, been sedated, had oxygen going up my nose.  I survived and it wasn't really painful, but it is the real deal.  Some people tried to warn me that once the port is placed you may have an emotional reaction.  I really don't feel bad about it, yet anyway.  It is what it is and I'm ok with it.

Port is in!

So that leaves me with my hair.  Yes I am supposed to lose my hair.  Yes I can do it.  Yes I found a wig.  Yes their is another option.  Yes it may not work.  Yes I'm going to try it!  I got the go ahead from my team of doctors to try this therapy called cold cap therapy.  I will basically be wearing a ice cold cap on my head throughout all of my chemotherapy. This will then freeze my hair follicles during treatment and give me a better chance at not losing all of my hair.  Some hair loss is expected but many women who have done this have had great success.  I look forward to documenting this journey with all of you and to share the results.  I am prepared to lose my hair and do have a wig ready to go, but am wanting to give this a go and see what comes of it. Here is a link to all that goes into cold capping...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBJkRgHrpkw



 Finally I want to share with all of you how very grateful I am for all of your love and support.  The cards have been coming in, meals have been arriving, sweet visits from old and new friends, beautiful text messages of encouragement, wonderful childcare, house cleaning services, and donations to my fund that so greatly ease the stress of all of this.  I love reading all of the little notes that you all are leaving me in the fundraiser.  I read all of them and feel so loved by you.  God has been revealing His GRACE to me!

My aunt and uncle sent
me this great book
on healthy ways to
eat and fight the cancer!

And they even put a dollar in
every crease of the book!  So fun!

Next week Monday I get my PET Scan and then Wednesday I start Chemo.  Prayers are appreciated and please keep the cards and texts or emails coming!  They really do help me along the way!

My address is: 3979 Brandon Rd
                     Pittsburgh, PA 15212

If you would like to help me with my medical costs you can follow along at https://www.youcaring.com/barnabas-and-amanda-agwuocha-602767/update/504850

This is also shown on the upper right hand corner of my blog at all times.


One more final thing... I want to wish my sweet baby boy Toben Joseph a sweet, sweet happy first birthday.  He will be one on Sunday!  What a sweet little boy he is!

Time together buying our
little guy his gifts!

His sweet little gifts from
mommy and daddy!

First time climbing into the dishwasher lol! 

My darling little birthday boy!

Be blessed this week my friends!

Love you,
Amanda

The Waiting

Hard to believe I'm here, but here I am!  

The Bogolin Family has the special
touch with my little kiddos!

First of all I want to say thank you to each and every one of you!  Your love and support has been so amazing during my time of need!  So many of you of whom I have never met, have committed to praying for me and my family, have financially supported us, taken my children so I could attend my appointments, as well as have offered to bring us a meal.  I just absolutely love that!  You all are awesome!

Thank you for your cards, books, tissues, flowers and so much more!

This week I met with my oncologist. Boy are those appointments tough.  I show up to these appointments looking calm on the outside but my inside is anxiously awaiting the conversations to be had.  Many deep breaths and silent prayers and dear friends are what get me through these appointments.

Thank you Carlie for coming with me!
I loved having you there!
Thank you John for holding down the fort!

The long and short of this is that I will start chemotherapy on August 3rd. I will receive treatment once every three weeks for six rounds.  In between now and then are multiple tests including my MRI, Echocardiogram, Pet Scan, bloodwork, genetics testing, meetings with nutritionists, massage therapy, port placement, and a radiologist consultation! So many tests and so much waiting! Yay me!!!

Glimmer of Hope is a program to help women with breast cancer.
I heard that I may be the first woman to be a recipient of the program
and all it has to offer. How cool is that?! They provided me a free massage. Stress relief
at its finest!  I so needed that! To learn more go to
 http://www.symbolofthecure.com/about

In the midst of all of that craziness, I am finding time for my family, especially my beautiful kiddos and wonderful husband! I am making the most of my good days just enjoying them.  My children are aware of my situation to the best that they can understand.  

Here she is with those
gazing eyes! 

My oldest is 9. She is such a sweetheart and a big, big helper.  I have explained the most to her.  It's hard to tell her innermost feelings, but I have assured her that even though it may be hard, that she can always come to mommy and express her feelings and questions.  I look into her bright eyes as I explain the process and what to expect along the way and she just gazes into my eyes with a complete trust that what I say, I mean!  She is one special girl, let me tell you!


Many have asked how you can help.  Facebook has proven to be an avenue of communicating those needs but for those of you who are not on frequently or at all or perhaps miss the news feeds I would like to let you know here, some of those ways.

1. Prayer (of course)

Even My Babies are Praying for their Mama! 

2. Provide a meal: there is a meal train set up that you may sign up for.  We are not picky at all!  Even a bag of salad and rotisserie chicken counts! This will be ongoing so please keep checking for available dates. Here is the link to that: https://mealtrain.com/md91g6













3. Financial Assistance: We will be incuring some expenses through medical bills, to purchasing a wig and other head coverings, etc...  As a family of 7 we were not prepared to take on this added expense. More about this is on this page: https://www.youcaring.com/barnabas-and-amanda-agwuocha-602767/update/503103

4. Cards of encouragement along the way: My family started to write letters to me so that when things get tough they can mail me a letter of encouragement when I am going through a specific tough time.  I would love to hear from you!  My address is 3979 Brandon Rd. Pgh PA 15212.  You never know...I may write you back :)

5. During Chemo I will be there for a 4-5 hour time period.  My chemo schedule is Aug 3,24, Sept 14, Oct 5,26 and my final one is Nov 16th.   I will be at the Health and Wellness Pavillion in Wexford. If you would like to bring me a smoothie for some nourishment and sit with me for an hour I welcome the visit as well!  Just pick a date and let me know.

Ok so I think that covers most of my current needs.  I love you all so much (yes even those of you who I have never met!)  Thank you for taking the time to read my story and share it!  Keep checking back as I feel confident this story is going to get better and better! If you do not want to miss an update sign up to follow my blog and you will be automatically notified when I post a new post!

Blessings,
Amanda

This is the Beginning of Your Journey!

Hey there friends and family!  Summer is underway with lots of fun to be had by all.  Lots of fun until two weeks ago!!! I was away at my family cottage for the 4th of July when I had a rare moment to take a shower.  Ya rare because with 4 children to care for, my own personal care has been at the bottom of the list. I then noticed that my right breast looked off.  The shape, size, texture...everything just looked off. My heart sank as I had that pit in my stomach that gave me the sense that this was not good.  I held onto that worry for a complete day without sharing with anyone.  I wanted to make sure *via google* that this indeed looked like cancer.  A day later I couldn't keep it to myself any longer.  I had to tell someone.  I grabbed my sister in law and took her into a bedroom and began to tell her that something was wrong with me.  I had contained it for a whole day so by this point I had so much emotion to release. I cried and cried and cried.  Knowing we were all on vacation I didn't really want to tell anyone else for fear of ruining their time. I kept looking at my husband and seeing the joy on his face as he laughed and played with the children.  I looked at him thinking that all of this look upon his face would most certainly change once my news was shared with him.  So I waited until the evening after the children were in bed and shared the news with him.  That moment was also so tough.  He held me so tight that night.

I decided to leave the next day and work on figuring out who to call.  I really had no idea who to go to.  I landed on talking to my PCP first, which was the right thing to do.  They then sent me for a mammogram and then an ultrasound.  The lumps in my breast were tagged as suspicious and would then need biopsied.  Two days later I am getting my biopsy, which wasn't too horrible but still traumatic nonetheless! I couldn't believe this was happening to me!  I vividly remember on my way to the appointment I asked an older security guard at the hospital if he could kindly direct me how to get to the breast center.  He proceeded to point in a direction and said, "This is the beginning of your journey." Gulp!  How did he know! I mean, I'm sure he was just saying my walk was a far distance but in reality this really was the beginning of my journey and I knew it!

The moment after my biopsy.
I needed to capture the beginning of this journey.

So I'm known to have a little too much on my plate all at once! Ha! The same weekend as this biopsy I had a wedding cake to make, friends coming into town for a visit, a 12th wedding anniversary, oh and my daughters 6th birthday party! Sometimes distractions are good!

So here I am a week later with a diagnosis of Triple Positive Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  Triple Positive means that it tested positive for 1) Her2/Nue 2)Estrogen 3) Progesterone.  So basically it is hormone and gene related but not necessarily genetically related as we do not have any history of breast cancer in our family. It is aggressive.

This week I go in for and MRI to make sure I don't have cancer anywhere else and then begin the many many doctor appointments to follow.

Through this storm the Lord has given me a verse to hold onto.  I was doing my Bible Study when this verse just stood out!

Exodus 14:13-14English Standard Version (ESV)

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

I read that verse and just knew that was for me!  He will fight for me! Fear not!  Yes! Yes! and Yes! A few days later my husband got a friend request from a stranger on Facebook.  He went to his page to see if he knew the guy, which he didn't, but lo and behold this verse was that mans most recent status update.  Barnabas called me and told me this and we knew from the depths of our heart that this was confirmation of His promise to me! 

Friends as I face a new journey, a challenge, a hardship I will hold onto these promises!  I will try to keep you all updated on what is going on as much as I can.  Many of you have asked how you can help.  As we figure that out I will do my best to share those needs. I love you all and thank you for your prayers, love and encouragement!

Amanda