Looking towards 2010
I now know what my diagnosis is, and what I will have to go through in 2010 to get through this detour in my plans. Just as I am a bit unusual, so is my cancer. It is a type that only about 10-15% of people get, in simple terms it’s called Triple-Negative, Grade 3. Basically it just means that many of the medications generally used for most breast cancer treatment will not work for me. After many medical consultations and research I decided to go with the recommended course of aggressive chemo for 4 months, followed by radiation. The very good thing in my favor is that the tumor was caught early and there has been no spread. I am doing the full treatment because the odds of it coming back are pretty high if I do nothing, and it is a fast growing, virulent type that I don’t want to do battle with in the future! So I’m ready now for this fight!
Coming to terms with having cancer
You hear about it all the time – we all know someone who has had cancer. Over 192,000 cases of invasive breast cancer have been diagnosed this year. There are currently more than 2 and a half million survivors. I now fall into this first catagory, and plan on becoming a statistic in the other.
One thing you learn early on is that you have to wait for results over and over – the ultrasound, the biopsy, the PET scan, the pathology reports after surgery…and on and on. This is where I am now. I had a partial mastectomy and lymph node removal earlier this week, and now wait for the results that will determine what type of treatment follows. I’m pleased with the ability I’ve had so far to remain calm and not stress out about the “unknown”. You quickly learn in this situation it does absolutely no good, only harm.
Very thankful I have plenty of things to do here – lots of crafting and creating going on. Need to finish up making all the homemade holiday gifts that are in various stages of finishing. Hoping to continue to see customer orders come in, they make me very happy! I need happy!
Rest and laughter are also high on my priorities. Watching lots of comedies and laughing with friends in between crafting and naps. Feeling very well rested and in a good place as I ……wait.
It has been a difficult year for many Marylanders because of the tough economy. Many are without jobs and without food. In an effort to help those in need this holiday season, several BEST members will be donating a percentage of money from the the sales of their handmade items from December 1-14. Buyers will have a unique opportunity to support handmade and help feed hungry Marylanders.
The Maryland Food Bank provides nearly 14 million pounds of food annually to 1,000 Network Partners – including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, low-income day care centers, after-school programs, senior centers, rehabilitation centers, and other feeding programs. They supply food for over 50,000 Marylanders each week who otherwise would go hungry or not eat enough, including families with children, the elderly, the homeless, the homebound, low-income workers, the recently unemployed, and people with AIDS and other health problems. For every $1 contributed to the Maryland Food Bank, they are able to provide 3 meals to Maryland’s needy families and individuals.
From December 1st through 14th, the following participating BEST members will be donating a percentage of their sales:
blockpartypress- 10% of Etsy sales
sweetpepita- 10% of all Etsy sales
jenmenkhaus- 10% of all Etsy sales
glowgirl – 10% of all Etsy sales
yummyandcompany- 10% of all Etsy sales
atelieradornments – 10% of all Etsy sales
lanabella - 10% of all Etsy sales
lolamiren – 10% of all Etsy sales
thebrokenplate – 10% of all Etsy sales
tigerlillyshop – 10% of all Etsy ring sales
greenstarstudio – 10% of all Etsy sales
vwstudios – 10% of all Etsy sales
Take some time to visit these Etsy shops, support handmade and know that when you make a purchase between Dec. 1 – 14, you will be helping to provide food and services to someone in need this holiday season. Here are some other ways to support the MD Food Bank:
* Make a direct monetary donation
* Purchase and donate food through the Food Bank’s “Virtual Food Drive”
* Deliver the food directly to the Maryland Food Bank at 2200 Halethorpe Farms Road. Please call 410-737-8282 to arrange your delivery.