Post-Surgery Letter to Friends and Family

Dear Family and Friends,

If I have already sent you this news, please forgive me for repeating myself. I have learned that many of you have not heard about our latest challenges in Colorado.

First of all Don is doing well. His health is stable, he is surrounded by an excellent team of caregivers, and his treatments are going well. So he is really enjoying his time in Colorado.

As you know, we lost our Mom to colon cancer just one year ago this month and we are still recovering from that terrible loss. Then one year later, early this month, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. On March 9 I went to the outpatient surgery for a lumpectomy and left after an overnight stay having had a full mastectomy. My surgeon believes the entire cancerous tumor itself was removed. Unfortunately, it had already spread to 7 of the 15 lymph nodes he also removed. This means it is considered to be stage 3 cancer and possibly in my bloodstream. Tomorrow (on the first anniversary of Mom's death) I go for a PET scan to hopefully rule out stage 4 cancer. Stage 4, or metasasized cancer ,would mean it is active somewhere else in my body. We will know more tomorrow. Discovering whether it is stage 3 or 4 will determined the type(s) of treatments recommended. In addition to Ken, I think Mom will be with me during this test tomorrow.

Recovering from the mastectomy has been more painful, and takes longer, than I ever thought, but everyday is better. I'm asking all my family and friends to join my Care Team in this new adventure. I need lots of support in terms of encouragement to eat right, get exercise, and take advantage of the many holistic, spiritual tools and resources we all know make a big difference. But first and foremost I need each and everyone of you to always "see" me as well, healthy and whole even when I might be whining. Ken has been my rock and he will need your support too.

I am so grateful for all the prayers, candles and good wishes I've received over the past few weeks. They mean a lot to me. Please keep them coming, and ALWAYS "visualize" me as healthy and joyful. 

Love, Kate

The Very Beginning - letters to my friends and family

February 27, 2011

Dear Friends and Family,

As expected, I do have to have a partial mastectomy. It is scheduled for next Wednesday morning, March 9. The surgeon will remove the entire large lump in my right breast, plus 1-2 lymph nodes for testing. He will remove about the size of a lime from my breast, but that should take care of any possible cancer. After the pathology report, we will know if cancer was involved, but the pre-signs are bad enough the surgeon will err on the side of removing possible cancer over worrying about saving parts of my breast. Ken has given his approval.

Ken will be with me all day Wednesday at the hospital. It is an out-patient procedure, but at Poudre Valley Hospital. Ken is actually going to take all day Wed, Thurs and Fri off. We will find someone to be with Don Wednesday, Ken will handle Thursday and Brian will be here for Friday. So Ken and I will go up to SunHaven Friday, Sat and Sunday for further recovery time.

If all goes as planned, even if it is cancer, I will done at that point. If not, then depending on the pathology report I may have to go back for a complete mastectomy and/or consider radiology. He says chemo will be highly unlikely.

Thanks everyone for all your love and support. I appreciate all the success stories, candles and prayers! They make a difference!

March 10, 2011

Message from Deanna-

Kate Taylor went in yesterday to have a lumpectomy to remove a lump in her right breast. Once they got into surgery they determined that it was cancer and took her whole breast and 15 of her lymph nodes on the right side. They think it is stage 3, not 4 cancer (into her lymph nodes, but not any further). They'll know for sure once they test the tissue. They are hoping they got it all and that she won't have to have radiology. She was looking good, but in pain when she woke up. Originally it was supposed to be outpatient surgery, but since it was a more major surgery than they anticipated they suggested she spend the night at the hospital. When I left, the hospital yesterday that was what she was going to do.

Keep her in your heart and send her healing energy as she heals.

March 17, 2011

Last week my out-patient "lumpectomy" became a full mastectomy when cancer was discovered in my right breast. News from the doctor today was not as good as expected and hoped. First bad news was the doctor did not remove this @#$%^* drain from my side, or my stitches, although he did finally remove the bandages. Hopefully the drain and stitches will come out next Tuesday.

Secondly, pathology showed while the cancerous tumor was completed removed, 7 of the 15 lymph nodes removed also had cancer. This indicates the cancer made it to my lymph system. This means I will need a CAT scan or PET scan soon to see if the cancer has spread. If so, the doctor will recommend chemo. I will visit with an oncologist and listen, but I am unlikely to chose any kind of aggressive chemo. This means it is time to get really serious about my health. I intend to get as serious about my health and recovery as I am about Don's health and care.

So I'm asking you to join my Care Team. I need lots of support in terms of encouragement to eat right, get exercise, and take advantage of the many holistic, spiritual tools and resources we all know make a big difference. But first and foremost I need each and everyone of my support team to always "see" me as well, healthy and whole even when I might be whining. Ken has been my rock and he will need your support too.

Thank you for all your prayers, candles and good wishes over the past few weeks. They mean a lot to me. Please share my "news" with anyone who might be willing to be part of my positivity support group. I welcome the good vibrations!

Even though today was discouraging, I'm looking forward to this new challenge in this adventure called life!

March 21, 2011

Right now I'm still trying to recover from the surgery. Last weekend was particularly difficult as I had some painful complications. I think next step is a PET scan and talking to an oncologist about possible hormone treatments- supposedly a kinder, gentler form of chemo- we will see. Apparently the cancer is estrogen driven, and I do run high estrogen. I'll know more after my doctor appointment tomorrow. It's a lot to understand and decide in a short amount of time, plus I have my brother's care to manage at the same time. I'm reeling, but Ken is my rock.