Kathie’s Cancer Journey
Donation protected
A little over four and a half years ago our mom, Kathie Smith, began a battle with breast cancer. She went through chemo and radiation at that time and has been getting good reports from her doctors. We had hoped that this would continue. Unfortunately it looks like there were some lingering cancer cells and the fight for full recovery has begun again.
Ashlee and Haylee
Here is our mom’s most current story: Early this year I started having trouble using my right arm. I went to my doctor and she ordered an MRI that showed small tears in my rotator cuff so she ordered physical therapy. PT was very painful (and not helping) and a lump began to develop on the side of my neck. Several scans/tests later, they were still not able to find a cause for the pain, but my blood work was showing that my cancer may have returned. I went to Houston where all the experts are and after many other tests/scans, it was determined that my cancer has returned and I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. There is one small defined cancer tumor in my supraclavicular lymph node and there are also free-floating cancer cells entangled all around my brachial plexus nerve. This is what is making the use of my right arm very limited and extremely painful. I will have two more scans at the end of this week, and then mapping next Monday for a very specialized form of radiation. The plan at this time is to do radiation 2 times a day, every day, for 3 weeks. This could change after this week’s scans but that is what I am expecting as of now. Having twice a day treatments in smaller doses will reduce the chance of permanently damaging my brachial plexus nerve and permanently limiting the use of my arm. They have started me on an estrogen blocker and when radiation is over, I will start taking a chemotherapy pill. It’s been a tough 6 months of constant pain, not being able to use my right (dominant arm), and lots of pain killers. I’m on limited duty from work (bc I cannot use my arm) Ugh! Having all these test over that last several months and waiting for actual treatment to begin has been frustrating. I am ready to begin treatment and put the fight for good health behind me. Love you all! K
Ashlee and Haylee
Here is our mom’s most current story: Early this year I started having trouble using my right arm. I went to my doctor and she ordered an MRI that showed small tears in my rotator cuff so she ordered physical therapy. PT was very painful (and not helping) and a lump began to develop on the side of my neck. Several scans/tests later, they were still not able to find a cause for the pain, but my blood work was showing that my cancer may have returned. I went to Houston where all the experts are and after many other tests/scans, it was determined that my cancer has returned and I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. There is one small defined cancer tumor in my supraclavicular lymph node and there are also free-floating cancer cells entangled all around my brachial plexus nerve. This is what is making the use of my right arm very limited and extremely painful. I will have two more scans at the end of this week, and then mapping next Monday for a very specialized form of radiation. The plan at this time is to do radiation 2 times a day, every day, for 3 weeks. This could change after this week’s scans but that is what I am expecting as of now. Having twice a day treatments in smaller doses will reduce the chance of permanently damaging my brachial plexus nerve and permanently limiting the use of my arm. They have started me on an estrogen blocker and when radiation is over, I will start taking a chemotherapy pill. It’s been a tough 6 months of constant pain, not being able to use my right (dominant arm), and lots of pain killers. I’m on limited duty from work (bc I cannot use my arm) Ugh! Having all these test over that last several months and waiting for actual treatment to begin has been frustrating. I am ready to begin treatment and put the fight for good health behind me. Love you all! K
Organizer
Ashlee Hartt
Organizer
College Station, TX