Please keep a fellow breast survivor in your prayers today.  Karen Hammond was originally diagnosed over 20 years ago and has done very well all these years but had a call back on her mammo three weeks ago.  She is undergoing a bilateral mastectomy today at Vanderbilt.  I don't know yet what her treatment plan will be.  Its really a reminder that we can never completely let down our guard in response to this disease. God bless all of us in the fight  against breast cancer. 

Jennifer
DCIS
lumpectomy 5/02/05
32 rad tx comp 7/07/05
tamoxifen
comp. hysterectomy 4/04/06
Paducah, KY

Jennifer -

My heart stops every time I see "Pray for.....".  I HATE these reminders that we are all 'on call', but my prayers and thoughts for a good outcome are with Karen and all of my sisters.

Please let her know we are praying for her.

Hug,
Elaine

Belmont Shore, (Long Beach) CA
DX 2/08, ER+/PR+, 9.5cm (YIKES!)
IIIA, Grade 2, 2+nodes out of 4 SNB         
left br mast 3/13/08 w/tissue expander, 
dose-dense A+C 4x T4x, 33 Rads DONE 10/08! 
8/08 Arimidex five years (4 yrs to go)           
Recon: silicone implant/lift  7/09 DONE!!!
"Today is here - tomorrow is wa

Sometimes I awake in the middle of the night...and use this time to pray.  I will certainly remember your sister--my name is also Karen!!

Thanks Karen, but a clarification.  Karen is my sister in the same sense that all the other women here at Komen are, including yourself.  She is a survivor and we are all a family unified in the fight against breast cancer.  I have two biological sisters, neither has ever had breast cancer, but many of my friends here at Komen are far more like actual sisters than the two I share DNA with. Blessings to all.

Jennifer
DCIS
lumpectomy 5/02/05
32 rad tx comp 7/07/05
tamoxifen
comp. hysterectomy 4/04/06
Paducah, KY

Thanks for the clarification!

Yes please send Karen my best and  she is in my prayers. 

Hugs & thank you for letting us know
Marie

Joined 1.04

1953 Amputation below knee.  1995 Intraductial Carcinoma Biopsy (in-situ).  8.95 to 10.95 Radiation.  6.00 Rt breast Mastectomy.  6.26.00 to 9.14.00 Expansion injections.  9.00 Saline Implant.  12.28.00 Rt nipple & left lift. 1.01 Tattoo. 2002 Hasimoto's Thyroiditis.  7.02 Ablation for palpitations.  4.03 Osteoporsis. 2008 Cataracts. 

So sorry to hear about Karen....hugs and prayers sent her way... please keep us posted of her progress!

Debbie P in Dayton, TX
Diagnosed Stage II Oct 2008
Mastectomy Nov 2008 (2 lymphs removed)
After initial clean lymphs, 1 found cancerous so
Lymph removal Dec 2008 - all clear 
Cytoxin/Adriamycin 6 rounds started 12/08
    Final Chemo 4/2/09!  Femara started 4/16/09 for 5 years.

Jennifer - I know that feeling!  (about your sisters, I mean). Thoughts and prayers are with Karen and all of us!!!!

DX 5/13/08 Clearwater, FL HER2 +
IDC Stage IIIA changed 12/2/08 to IIB Grade 3
Taxotere, Carbo & Herceptin  6/11/08
Part Mas 11/5/08 SNB neg & addl node neg - CLEAN MARGINS!
Arimidex 11/25/08  35 Rads 12/15/08

Hi Jennifer--As most of the people who read the messages on this board know that this month I am a 20 year survivor.  They also know that I had a recurrence 7 years ago this month.  I don't know if Karen is having a mastectomy because she had radiation in the past or if there is some other reason.  Recurrences are dreaded, awful and disappointing but survivable.  I hope she has the same kind of recurrence as I had and that she continues with the gift of life.  If I can be of any help to her, since you have my email address, please feel free to pass it along to her.
                                                                                   Ann B.

Ann B.
12/89--Lumptectomy of left breast for 2 sites of DCIS followed by radiation and 5 years of tamoxifen. ER/PR +
12/2002--Mastectomy of Left breast for recurrence. Nodes negative. ER/PR+ Her2-. Arimidex.