The 14th in a series of articles
about breast cancer survivor Carol Mohrbacher. We have been following
her progress for more than a year.
* * *
She writes: “The past seven months has been a period of ‘good
news’ from my oncologist, Dr. Dean Peng, Kaiser and my surgeon,
Dr. Jennifer Lin Khoe.
“Each visit brought a continuing blessing of increasing indicators
that I was in complete remission from both the breast cancer and the
bone cancer that I had been diagnosed with back in January 2007. I am
so grateful for all of these good reports.”
Meantime she has gone back to work, this time at Valley View Casino
Buffet, which she is enjoying immensely.
She also successfully completed the San Diego Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk
for the Cure in November.
“The ensuing holidays were special, even though I celebrate every
day as Christmas! My latest mammogram in January was clear and all looked
great. In late February I went to have my series of blood work-up, for
my upcoming visit with Dr. Peng on March 6.”
She looked forward to checking in and hearing more good news.
After a few minutes in the exam room watching the doctor’s face
as he reviewed her latest reports she knew something was up.
He told her that the CA2729 was back up to a very high level, 61 vs
38 or below.
The CA2729 blood test is used for patients with metastatic breast cancer.
The CA2729 tumor markers are substances in the body that usually indicate
the presence of cancer.
These markers are usually specific to certain types of cancer and are
usually found in the blood or other tissue samples. The markers are
thought to be produced by the cancer cells and are a way of determining
whether cancer is present in the body. A blood sample is mixed with
specially shaped proteins to detect whether the patient is responding
to cancer treatment. The markers are used for follow-up monitoring,
and to diagnose the presence of cancer.
This was not good news. Dr. Peng said the other tests were normal and
she was not experiencing weight loss.
“But again, reality struck!” she writes. “The beast
is alive and still attempting to take my life.
“Dr. Peng gently suggested doing the infusion of Aredia and taking
Femara again…feeling that possibly those two, though brief experiences
‘battered the monster back for a period.’ ”
She firmly said no. She refused to again endure the brutality of the
chemo treatment and the Femara’s side effects.
“At this time, I would continue to pray and believe God for a
‘complete’ healing.”
When she got to her car she was in shock. The news was unexpected. “Not
that I thought it wasn’t possible…just thought I was experiencing
a ‘season’ of remission at the least.”
She called her husband at work and broke the news and then called her
kids and closest friends.
She readied for work and pondered how to handle the news. When the buffet
closed, she asked her supervisor if she could go home early to talk
over the news with her husband.
She writes: “I got home and it was good to have Don, our dog and
cat right there to hug and love. Living with cancer is a new experience
for me and my family. Talking about it is one thing, but the reality
that it lurks in one’s life is another. I can honestly say over
the last year plus that I haven’t spent much time thinking about
it. But this latest news for some reason caught me off-balance and bouncing
with it has been harder this time.”
Over the next few days she realized that she had again spiked her life
to the max with many activities, instead of slowing down commitments
and taking care of herself, including more sleep and less stress etc.
She writes: “I am hoping this latest bit of news is just a ‘warning’
that I had better get back on the ‘slow down’…so my
poor battered immune system has a chance to kill off the beast that
continues to lurk in my body! I think I got the message this time.”
She’s going to go inactive with her Mary Kay business and put
her “gift service” Express Executive Gift Service, www.XpressBaskets.com
up for sale. She plans to resign from the Chamber of Commerce board
and is on inactive status with the Valley Center Rotary.
Last year when first diagnosed with cancer she turned over the presidency
of Patrons of Special Care for Special Seniors Foundation, the Alzheimer’s
Care organization she founded—to Michael F. Alessio.
“Then I began putting my life in order…purchasing two cemetery
plots and taking care of other business. I focused on doing those things
I wanted to do personally in this life, which included a 14-day adventure
via the Rockies to the Sturgis Bike Rally in August last year, the 3
Day Breast Cancer Walk and returning to work where she could be with
people.”
She writes: “Don’t misunderstand me, I am not boxing up
my life. I am putting my life in order. Something everyone needs to
do when you are considering your mortality. How can I make life easier
for those who will be left behind when I depart to heaven? I don’t
plan on going soon, but now is the time to do what has to be done.
“I will continue to share as I walk through this life of ‘living
with cancer.’ I look forward to every minute of every day and
am thankful the Lord again has given me a reminder to get my life in
order and LIVE!
“I will update, as time goes on. I am enjoying my husband Don,
our kids, Carolynn, Cythia, Nick and Kym, and all the wonderful grandkids,
William, Rylee, Dylan, Mia and Kadance and friends more than ever. I
find great peace in sharing my life with you readers and reminding myself
and everyone who reads this, that every day is a gift and for me every
day is Christmas!”
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