After discovering Ted Talks about 2 years ago, I instantly became enthused. One of the talks I watched recently effected my thoughts and habits a great deal. The typical understanding of meditation is to clear the mind completely of all thought for a certain duration of time. This is what I believed until I watched Andy Puddicombe's talk, "All it takes is 10 mindful minutes."
http://www.ted.com/talks/andy_puddicombe_all_it_takes_is_10_mindful_minutes
In his talk you find out that this style of meditation is actually quite different from stopping all the thoughts in your brain, but actually, "Allowing thought to come and go without the usual involvement. Familiarizing ourself with the present moment."
As intrigued as I was by this new information, I dug deeper into Andy's research and found his website:
http://www.getsomeheadspace.com/
I have found these methods and guided meditations extremely helpful so far in my life and I believe it can help everyone increase their happiness presence of mind.
Love, Mitch
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
"Angel-like" tumor...
Great news yesterday from the surgeon. She named my breast cancer, "Luminal A", which sounds, not only pretty, but angel-like, don't you think?
She said that under normal conditions, she would be recommending a lumpectomy and possible radiation, (read: super easy, smile-ear-to-ear cancer treatment,) but, as she paused and looked at her notes, "Your family brings a whole new layer of complication to the table."
Setting aside all the discussion as to the burden my family has been to me, due to my predecessors it appears I'll be getting the royal treatment, seeing everyone on the cancer team, maybe even someone not on the cancer team, but on the female anatomy team.
- Myriad Genetics will test my blood for the B.R.C.A. genes, (doctor slang = bracka)
- Surgeon will deconstruct my front side and do a double mastectomy.
- Plastic surgeon will reconstruct my front side, (Martin said, "Use restraint - Pamela Anderson might not be a model you want to consider.")
- Based on genetics, if bracka is found, the surgical gynecologist will take out my ovaries.
- Based on pathology done during surgery, they will take lymph nodes if needed.
- If the lymph nodes aren't taken, a radiologist will be involved with radiation, if needed.
- Post surgery, an oncologist will determine if chemo will be needed, but only if the cancer markers found in my blood are high. This is not expected, according to the surgeon.
Due to the number and extent of the team involved in my teardown and rebuild, I won't be heading in to surgery until mid-July or so. All-in-all, this is very good news for someone visiting the 3A Clinic at Huntsman Cancer Hospital.
Hold off on the shopping for lasagna ingredients.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Inner Light and the Lasagna Ledger
My children inspire me.
Mitch called yesterday and he has done some great research on meditation, Ted Talks and websites on keeping the inner light burning and focused. He shared some great visualizations. Have you seen, Remember the Titans? Mitch is the character, "Sunshine", no doubt.
And Alyssa, pen name "Hello Titty", has initiated a blog so we can all exchange information. The first post is her medical explanation, including cool illustrations, of what I said in the email yesterday.
Here is the link to the blog... http://lasagnaledger.blogspot.
I'll see if Mitch won't mind sharing his meditation research on it for all of us.
Please make comments on the blog and if you're inspired to share a story or two about something in your life, we would all love it. (Brad and Rob, keep it clean, cousins, keep it clean.) We want everyone to be able to read and participate, if desired, so let Alyssa know if you aren't able to comment. alyssavonputt@yahoo.com
When Hillary returns from YMCA camp today, I have a feeling she'll write a theme song for our Lasagna Ledger group. All together now, "Mell... ted... cheez... (back beat) boots and cats and boots and cats... Pah... stah... too... (back beat) boots and cats and boots and cats..." It'll be the Lasagna Wrap.
Wow, how lucky am I?!?
~Kirsten
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Boobs, Biology, and Blogs
Hi friends and family of Kirsten Mama K Thumper Henry Fox!
After receiving my mom's email and noting how many friends she has in her "inner circle" (37! I'm skeptical..), I thought how great it would be if there was a tool we could use to stay updated and on the same page about information, progress, and general Kirsten news. And then I remembered the internet! So here is a blog. I'm new to blogs, so if this one is amazing, it's beginner's luck.
Let's start with some bookkeeping:
If you are one of those dear friends my mom has with a heart of gold and some time to spare, it appears your kitchen will soon turn into an Italian restaurant mass producing lasagna. To keep things from getting repetitive, here is a link to check out what and when other star friends are cooking for the Foxes:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BHN97vC95611hp47WGA5uqxb_Rqs7efh1gjxJGeIz98/edit?usp=sharing
Use this information wisely and to assess who has been reading Food & Wine regularly.
Next to some information and medical mishmash (please don't cite me):
Put simply, invasive ductal carcinoma is when the cells in part of the breast grow out of control and can potential spread to other areas of the body. This is bad because cancer cells grow and duplicate faster than healthy cells and can clump together to cause tumors (they are the teenage boys of the cell world). The tumors will smoosh and bully normal healthy cells, which leads to other problems. This is a good picture:
Less simply, the cancer forms in the lining of the milk ducts in the breast and can spread to other breast tissue and possibly to the lymph nodes. The lymphatic system is part of both the circulatory and the immune systems and it runs throughout the entire body. The fluid (and it's passengers) in lymphatic system drains into the large veins entering the heart, i.e. mixing back in with the blood and recirculating through the body. An ideal transport for insidious cancer cells.
According to the MRI Kirsten got, the cancer is currently small and contained only in the breast tissue. This is good!
The imaging also said that the tumor is high grade. A high grade tumor is one that closely resembles healthy cells and tends to grow quicker. This isn't great.
The cancer is also receptor positive, meaning both of the hormones estrogen and progesterone promote growth of the cancerous cells (along with promoting growth of healthy cells). Using hormone medications to eliminate or block estrogen and progesterone will slow or stop the growth of all breast cells, including the cancer cells. Essentially, since it has a stomach it can be starved. This is good!
Mama K is meeting with a surgeon on Monday 6/16 to make a game plan for treatment. I'll be back then to give you mostly correct medical information and updates on the lady of the hour!
Ta ta for now!
-Alyssa
After receiving my mom's email and noting how many friends she has in her "inner circle" (37! I'm skeptical..), I thought how great it would be if there was a tool we could use to stay updated and on the same page about information, progress, and general Kirsten news. And then I remembered the internet! So here is a blog. I'm new to blogs, so if this one is amazing, it's beginner's luck.
Let's start with some bookkeeping:
If you are one of those dear friends my mom has with a heart of gold and some time to spare, it appears your kitchen will soon turn into an Italian restaurant mass producing lasagna. To keep things from getting repetitive, here is a link to check out what and when other star friends are cooking for the Foxes:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BHN97vC95611hp47WGA5uqxb_Rqs7efh1gjxJGeIz98/edit?usp=sharing
Use this information wisely and to assess who has been reading Food & Wine regularly.
Next to some information and medical mishmash (please don't cite me):
Put simply, invasive ductal carcinoma is when the cells in part of the breast grow out of control and can potential spread to other areas of the body. This is bad because cancer cells grow and duplicate faster than healthy cells and can clump together to cause tumors (they are the teenage boys of the cell world). The tumors will smoosh and bully normal healthy cells, which leads to other problems. This is a good picture:
Less simply, the cancer forms in the lining of the milk ducts in the breast and can spread to other breast tissue and possibly to the lymph nodes. The lymphatic system is part of both the circulatory and the immune systems and it runs throughout the entire body. The fluid (and it's passengers) in lymphatic system drains into the large veins entering the heart, i.e. mixing back in with the blood and recirculating through the body. An ideal transport for insidious cancer cells.
According to the MRI Kirsten got, the cancer is currently small and contained only in the breast tissue. This is good!
The imaging also said that the tumor is high grade. A high grade tumor is one that closely resembles healthy cells and tends to grow quicker. This isn't great.
The cancer is also receptor positive, meaning both of the hormones estrogen and progesterone promote growth of the cancerous cells (along with promoting growth of healthy cells). Using hormone medications to eliminate or block estrogen and progesterone will slow or stop the growth of all breast cells, including the cancer cells. Essentially, since it has a stomach it can be starved. This is good!
Mama K is meeting with a surgeon on Monday 6/16 to make a game plan for treatment. I'll be back then to give you mostly correct medical information and updates on the lady of the hour!
Ta ta for now!
-Alyssa
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