Have you ever found yourself in a Joseph Pit? Have you fought spiritual battle after battle to the point that you wondered if you were on Satan's hit list? Have you thwarted Satan's plans and exposed his schemes? Are you aware of the spiritual warfare going on around you? If so, the demons probably know you by name. They've certainly tried to destroy my family and now, they are trying to destroy me. With each of my battles, God's truth has surfaced uncovering the things that divide. Whether my battles involved cultural, financial, false teachings, surrendering relationships that drain my energy, my family's health or my battles with cancer, I've captured my trials and triumphs in my writings to the glory of God. Laurie Wheeler Lanter

READ THIS COLUMN TO FIND OUT ABOUT LAURIE'S STAGE 4-RECURRING METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

READ THIS COLUMN TO FIND OUT ABOUT LAURIE'S STAGE 4-RECURRING METASTATIC BREAST CANCER
CANCER JOURNEY...

About Me

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Join me on my journey with recurring metastatic breast cancer. I know that I am a sojourner and an alien here on earth for my real citizenship is in heaven where my real home lies. Oddly enough, I am not afraid to die but I am somewhat afraid to live.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

THE SECOND OPINION

Today, Mike took me to see this awesome, zany, christian Oncologist to get a second opinion.  The enemy did not want us to make this appointment because Atlanta traffic made us 1&1/2 hours late for this appointment across town. I called to cancel but she said to come anyway. Four doctors have discussed my unusual case and she wanted to study me and follow my journey. This Christian Oncologist works entirely with Jewish Oncologists and she has a real sense of humor about her cohorts. She gets along beautifully with all of her Jewish comrades and she humorously said; "Hey, we can't help it if they got confused somewhere along the way." Anyway, she poured herself lovingly over all my information, "working as unto the Lord", making a time line of my recurring cancer to take home to study, taking home my CD's of my bone and CTscan to show her radiologist husband. I am an odd case. She has seen two patients in her practice that have my situation. About 1 in 700 cancer patients find themselves in my situation. She highly suspects that both my mother and I were/are positive for the BRCA gene which is a mutation in cells that greatly increases cancer risks. This BRCA test, a simple but expensive (@ $3,000.00) blood test, is forthcoming for me and my daughters.


I told her to give it to me straight, that I could handle anything because I was grounded in Jesus. That is when she laughed because she knew that all my doctors, surgeons and GP were Jewish. Anyway, after looking at my file, she said; "Man, you've got lots of cancer." She also said; "Man, I don't see how you look so good for being so sick." Upon reflection, her words helped the gravity of my illness sink in a bit (just for 5 minutes and I got over it and put back on my coat of Praise). Now, having said this, her overall demeanor was extremely positive. She said that although I am stage four, because I tested positive for the Her2 Gene and am Estrogen Positive, my type of cancer responds best of all to herceptine. Herceptive and Taxol and Carbo Platine in some combonation is the standard treatment. Not to sound trite, but I thanked the Lord for giving me "Cancer for dummies" since the treatment is so status quo. The only kink in the day was discrepancies in my bone scan and my CTscan which went undetected since I had the procedures performed at different out patient surgical centers and comparisons were not made. My CTscan says that I have cancer in my sternum. My bone scan says that I'm clear. This second opinion revealed the possible need to add Zamata to my chemo mix to take care of the bones. Praise God for this "God" day with an Oncologist who "loved on" my information to the point that I just might have a new medicine specific to my needs. LA
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1 comment:

Christy Young said...

I'm so thankful to have good doctors that care. I'm glad that you had this second opinion. I am considering coming in tonight or tomorrow morning - depending on what Dadoo thinks you two will be doing the remainder of this week. I would love to see your beautiful bald head! I'll make sure you get your "exercise" on! It puzzles me that your doctors think you need to be exercising more. Why is that? To strengthen your heart because all of the chemo is taxing it?

I love you! Talk to you soon!

June 23, 2010 at 6:11 AM

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THANK YOU GEORGIA CANCER SPECIALISTS: Dr. Szabo, Dr. Vollas-Redd, Dr.Galleshaw

I appreciate all the hands that contributed towards my well being; especially those that first got my symptoms under control. Thanks to Dr. Stephen Szabo who presented the facts of my case in a very palatable manner, forthright but believably reassuring packaged in a calm and kind demeanor. Many thanks go to Dr. Szabo, Connie, Trish, Dana and the rest of the GCS team, from Emory at Johns Creek, for intellectual decision making, jovial environment and careful handling of my port. I came to Dr. Szabo at the advice of my GP because I was extremely symptomatic of what we originally thought was Lymphoma. A biopsy revealed that I had Recurring Metastatic Breast Cancer. I praise God that my cancer was sensitive to the first line of treatment. Dr. Szabo, through the use of Taxol & Carboplatin & Herceptin, caused tumors that were originally measured in centimeters to now be measured in millimeters. The tumors in my neck that had involvement in my jugular vein are now virtually non existent. And, what was once a large pleural effusion in my lungs in now a small pleural effusion. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dr. Stephen Szabo!!!

Thank you, Dr. Gina Volas-Redd, for your second opinion and for sharing so much of yourself and your time with my case. Dr. Volas-Redd is all about patient care. She was genuinely interested and challenged by the facts surrounding my illness. Energetically, she "worked as unto the Lord" pouring over my information, making a time line of my cancer history to take home to mull over. She noticed a discrepancy in my tests and brought that fact to light. I praise God for using her to bring the facts of my case to the light of day.

As I transition now to Dr. Jan Galleshaw, a Breast Oncologist whose specialty in Breast Cancer, she will implement a cancer management plan to monitor and keep my cancer in check using as few meds as it takes. Since, I am in this for the long haul, I need to save some ammo for down the road. My Breast Cancer is made up of three components: Estrogen receptor, Progesterone receptor & the Her-2 gene. One of these components will be in the driver's seat of my cancer at all times for the rest of my life. The Her-2 Gene is aggressive and will always require Herceptin to keep it suppressed. I'll be monitored to see if either of the harmones, Estrogen or Progesterone, is ever driving my cancer. If so, Dr. Galleshaw will add an anti- hormone treatment to Herceptin. I will be getting three brain MRI's annually since the Her-2 gene portion of my cancer likes to make a bee-line to the brain. If and when that happens, I will get pin point radiation. I do, apparently, have cancer in the Sternum and ribs and, once approved, will get Zamata added to Herceptin. A CT scan on Monday will confirm this diagnosis and I'll be on my way to my second line of treatment that is unique to my needs. Praise God for great Oncologists at Georgia Cancer Specialists. May God continue to bless your practices Dr. Szabo, Dr. Volas-Redd and Dr. Galleshaw.


CANCER HISTORY:
I have Recurring Metastatic, Stage 4, Breast Cancer. I have tested positive for the Her-2 Gene and am Estrogen Positive and Progesterone Positive. I had Breast Cancer that was contained in the ducts resulting in a lumpectomy with radiation at age 38. At age 40, I had Breast Cancer that was inconclusive as to whether it was contained in the ducts resulting in a Simple Mastectomy with no reconstruction and was in remission for 14 years. Apparently, aggressive Cancer cells lay dormant before awakening and growing in my lymphatic system after menopause at age 53. I've had bi-annual mammograms since age 38 but my cancer did not originate in the breast. I do not know the actual point of origin. But, what I do know is that I serve a God who not only knows the point of origin, but He knows every minute detail even down to the number of hairs on my head (which isn't too many right now). God is sovereign over my life and I am not afraid because I trust Him completely. I am proud to be one of His Saints with all of who I am, in life and in death. And, if God calls me to walk this walk, I'll do it to the best of my ability with all the grace that He bestows for as long as He bestows it. LA