<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Decaturjulie's Journal RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/rss</link><description>Decaturjulie's Journal RSS Feed</description><item><title><![CDATA[I'M DONE!!!]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7736</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7736</guid><description><![CDATA[Today was my last radiation treatment so no more daily hospital visits for me.  I feel really good and my husband took me out for a fancy lunch after treatment.  Our waiter asked what the occassion was and when I answered my last cancer treatment he was all smiles and even brought us a complimentary Creme Brulee (my favorite dessert).  Ladies (and gentlemen) hang in there and fight the good fight. 

Prayers and love to all,
Julie]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nordies at Noon]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7633</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7633</guid><description><![CDATA[I just finished Nordies at Noon last night after someone on this site recommended it.  Sorry I can't remember who (I can't even claim chemo brain - is there such a thing as radiation brain :)  )  Anyway it was a great book although tough to read sometimes.  These 4 women are very open and willing to share their experiences.  They were all young breast cancer patients and I am older (45) but I stll found it interesting.  I would really recommend it especially for any of you out there that are in your 20s and 30s.  

I am off to the hospital for day 3 of radiation - only 30 more to go!  Have a great day.
Julie]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[One more week]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7599</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7599</guid><description><![CDATA[Just got back from the radiation oncologist and he wants me to have a post op mammogram to be sure there is nothing that was not seen previously.  I will go for that appointment next week and start radiation on the 24th.  I am so thankful for my wonderfully through heathcare providers and all the nice people at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. ]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Now on to radiation...]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7563</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7563</guid><description><![CDATA[Just got back from the medical oncologist and he has recommended 6 weeks of radiation and 5 years of tamoxifan as a follow up to my lumpectomy.  I have been hoping I wouldn't have to do chemo mostly for my kids sake.  Today is a good day!  I am going to focus on how I feel today some time in October when I am tired from radiation.  9/12 is my date with the radiation oncologist and then treatment begins.  They tell me in addition to the radiation side effects I can likely expect hot flashes when I start the tamoxifan.  Oh well at least it will be colder in the south by then (hopefully).  Hope everyone has a good holiday weekend!]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Great Pathology Reports]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7554</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7554</guid><description><![CDATA[I continue to be blessed with great news on this journey that I find myself on.  My surgeon's office called me yesterday to tell me that the labs were back and my tumor had clean margins and my sentinel node was conmpletely cancer free.  The tumor turned out to be inflitrating ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma insitu.  All of this to say no more surgery for me.  I will be having MRIs and Mammograms every 6 months.  I head to the oncologist on Wednesday to lay out the treatment plan.

I am saying prayers of healing and support for all of you that are walking this same path and prayers of thanksgiving for all of my friends and family who continue to support me.  With love and prayer all things are truly possible.

Be well and enjoy the day.]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Home from the Hospital]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7549</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7549</guid><description><![CDATA[I had my surgery yesterday and I'm feeling pretty good today.  I got a little sick from the anesthesia but that usually happens.  My Monday started with a wire localization and then dye injection for the sentinal node marker.  I have to admit I was dreading the wire proceedure but the valium definitely helped and it wasn't all that bad.  My lumpectomy went really well and the initial finding on my node was negative for cancer.  I will get my final pathology report on Thursday afternoon and hopefully all will be clear so I won't have to go back in to surgery.  I am so thankful for all the support I have gotten from friends and family and from you new friends out in cyberspace.  Now on to radiation!  ]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Great News]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7536</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7536</guid><description><![CDATA[Today is a great day.  I just found out that my MRI showed absolutely no additional findings or malignancies.  The doctor told me this almost never happens so no more tests for me this week!  I also found out that my receptor studies were excellent and my cancer is not aggressive.  I am one lucky girl.  Thanks to all of you that support me and for those of you going through a challenging time out there, I am praying for you and sending you good thoughts.  My sister in law sent me an email that said now it's time to kick some breast cancer butt.  I intend to kick away!!!]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA["I'm sorry but you have breast cancer"]]></title><link>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7527</link><guid>http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/mynbcf/members/decaturjulie/journals/7527</guid><description><![CDATA[These are the words I never thought I would hear.  I think like many people it was my belief that breast cancer was a very heriditary type cancer and even though I routinely get mammograms, I never felt that I was in real danger.  Wow was I wrong and in a big way.  After a routine mammorgram my doctor sent me for an additional series of mammograms.  I sat in the exam room waiting for the radiologist to read my films still believing that it was better safe than sorry.  When he entered the room and put my films up to try and point out a smudgy area he was concerned about, I was thinking how can he even see anything, I sure can't.  He said these cases are almost always benign but I want you to go for a needle biopsy just to be sure.  Well this news was less than thrilling but I thought hey I have given birth twice so I can handle a little needle.  The day of my biopsy I was at the hospital a little early and picked up the inhouse publication and opened it to a story on a woman my age, with kids my age and with no family history or risk factors who was a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient.  A little bell was ringing in my head which I was trying earnestly to ignore.  I went up to the breast center and was a little early for my appointment and only one other woman was in the waiting room.  The nurse came out to ask what our proceedures were and come to find out the other lady was waiting for a friend.  When she heard my reason for being there she turned to me and said "I want you to know that I am a breast cancer survivor since 1999."  She proceeded to tell me exactly what would happen in the biopsy and totally put my mind at ease.  Despite the fact that her husband had been diagnosed with prostate cancer the day before she is one of the most positive people I have ever met.  Looking back now I believe that God put those two women (one in print and one in the flesh) in front of me to show me that I would face a challenge ahead but that I would survive and be healthy.  Now that I can breathe again (I think it took about a week) I am really positive about the prognosis.  My surgery is scheduled for the 20th to be followed by 6 weeks of radiation.  I believe that everyone has a journey to take in this life and this is part of mine.  I hope this journal will be like little postcards to my friends and might help or encourage someone going through a hard time.  Stay well and be happy.]]></description></item></channel></rss>