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Pam's Story...a brave and beautiful friend

A story of one woman's bravery, willpower, and determination to beat cancer...

 

 

This is a story about an amazing woman...my gorgeous friend Pam. 

It all started just 4 years ago when Pam's husband Dana was at the store next door to our shop.  Sue, the owner of the Riverbend Country Store, was chatting with him as he made his coffee.  Somehow they brought up Pam's illness and Sue mentioned that we owned a wig shop next door that worked with women and children with cancer on a daily basis.  Dana promptly came over and introduced himself.  We had made an appointment to get Pam a makeover for the upcoming Inaugural ball...(Dana was a police officer at the time and had gotten a huge invite).  Our new Governor had just taken office and the event was big.  Pam came in and we started chatting as I did her makeup and styled the fabulous new wig she would be wearing to wow the crowd.  I instantly found her kind and sweet.  Well...that's how it started...this lovely woman and I.....over time...became joined at the hip...we had so much in common.  We are only 10 months apart (She's older..sorry Pammy...had to say it...heheheheh) and I couldn't believe I had met such a wonderful human.  We are the best of friends.

We started going to her Medical appointments together....her hair had grown back to a very short cut after months of grueling chemo therapy and many, many surgeries.  Pam had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.  We would make a window shopping trip of it after her appointments.  We always had such fun...had lunch out and ran all over the big mall that was close by.

After we got her clean bill of health...we decided to celebrate and get our noses pierced...(Great thing for 40 year olds to do...).....Oh the adventures we've had.  OUCH!!!!!!!!  They look really cool though.  LOL

I was introduced to her amazing family.  Her parents...Ron and Lee...I wish they would adopt me.  Ron has a keen and hilarious sense of humor and Lee is sweet and kind.  Her sisters are all so cool and she has a huge extended family.  Pam and Dana have 2 lovely daughters...Morgan and Stephanie.  They've been so brave and supportive through this whole thing.  Morgan is 13 and Steph just turned 11.

I found out that Pam was amazingly artistic.  I started teaching her how to do professional makeovers...and now...she's better than I am.  It's amazing.  We traveled to a wedding in Lyndonville together (She lives there) and did a whole wedding party together.  The girls looked great!  We got invited to the wedding.....this pic was taken at the wedding.....(Pam is on the right). 

 

Here we are at a retro 70s & 80s party.......FUN! Doesn't Pam look gorgeous as a blonde? 

Several months had gone by with her feeling great...BAD news had struck.  They found a cancerous tumor on her spine....We were all devastated!  This had elevated her condition to Stage 4.   Pam had surgery to remove it and underwent radiation...this made her so ill.  Her immune system was so low...she picked up a cold...and she had to go into the hospital.  I had NEVER felt a heart pull like that in my life.  There's the most beautiful woman/friend I've ever known...laying in a hospital bed...PALE...and sick...I felt so helpless.  She pulled through ...she's so strong...but they couldn't get her fever down and it was so so scary.  Her tumor marker went down and relief was again in site.

Within 2-3 months...the marker was on the rise and another spot was found on her rib.  My heart sank for her and her beautiful family.....

I asked Dana to consider taking her to *Cancer Treatment Centers of America. They've done miracles with terminal patients. 

She made an appointment and flew out to Illinois.  CTCA covered the flight.  They are true miracle workers with this stuff.....

After Pam's first chemo treatment...we knew her hair would fall out.  They were giving her highly concentrated infusions for 3 days straight. 

My husband Chris and I had invited Dana and Pam over for an afternoon of fun once she was feeling better.  My husband and I that morning buzzed our hair off with the clippers to about an inch high...when we met she first saw us...she giggled unmercifully...then I gave her the clippers...took the guard off...and she took the rest off.  I buzzed hers down...her husband Dana right after her.  Pam has the most perfect shaped head...(She's on the left this time) I look like an alien who had been dropped WAY too many times as a child. heheheheheh (Dana..Pam's Husband, Pam, Me, and my husband Chris)

 

My daughter Sarah was in a Local Community Production of Jesus Christ Superstar...IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING!  Pam and I went to the play and Pam brought her those gorgeous flowers.  We are so proud of you Sarah. 

 

She is just going back for her third Chemo treatment this week - 4/28/05 -  we are so hopeful that this will be it.  Her prognosis before she went was grim...but with all the technology they have...it looks so good right now.  After she had recovered from this next treatment....she will go back to Chicago and be reassessed.

 

5/21/05 - Pam called me last night from CTC in Chicago....SHE IS IN REMISSION!  THE PRAYERS AND LOVE HAVE HELPED SO MUCH.  Thanks so much to all of our friends that kept her in their prayers. 

  We love you Pam!

 

9/27/05 - Pam has just returned from her "Every 3 month checkup"....again...clean of cancer...WAHOO! 

 

5/8/06 - A few more trips...and still CANCER FREE!

 

10/06.....Another Trip.....Still Cancer Free. 

 

06/08 -   Pam moved to Arizona...I miss her so much...but she is still cancer free.  YIPEE!  We had such a nice visit last week when she came for a visit.

 

11/09 - Pam Still remains Cancer Free...I love you Pam...I miss you sweetface! 

 

04/11 - Pam moved to Arizona for her health.  I miss her so much.  She remains cancer free to this day.... I love you Pam!  :D  

The facts:

 In the 1940s, a woman's lifetime risk for breast cancer was 1 in 22.  Today, it is 1 in 7. 

 When all known risk factors and characteristics are added together, including family history, genetics, smoking and obesity, more than 50% of breast cancer cases remain unexplained.

 At the same time that breast cancer rates have tripled in the past 50 years, an estimated 85,000 synthetic chemicals have been registered for us in the United States.  Less than 10% of these chemicals have been fully tested for their effects on human health.  

 Because many of these chemicals accumulate in body fat and remain in breast tissue for decades, every woman, man and child now carries synthetic chemicals - including some that induce mammary tumors in laboratory research- in their breasts and bodies.

 

Overview:
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer death (exceeded by lung cancer in 1985). Breast cancer is three times more common than all gynecologic malignancies put together. The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing steadily from an incidence of 1:20 in 1960 to 1:8 women today.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 211,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year and 43,300 patients will die from the disease. Breast cancer is truly an epidemic among women and we don't know why.

Breast cancer is not exclusively a disease of women. For every 100 women with breast cancer, 1 male will develop the disease. The American Cancer society estimates that 1,600 men will develop the disease this year. The evaluation of men with breast masses is similar to that in women, including mammography.

The incidence of breast cancer is very low in the twenties (age) gradually increases and plateaus at the age of forty-five and increases dramatically after fifty. Fifty percent of breast cancer is diagnosed in women over sixty-five indicating the ongoing necessity of yearly screening throughout a woman's life.

Breast cancer is considered a heterogenous disease, meaning that it is a different disease in different women, a different disease in different age groups and has different cell populations within the tumor itself. Generally, breast cancer is a much more aggressive disease in younger women. Autopsy studies show that 2% of the population has undiagnosed breast cancer at the time of death. Older women typically have much less aggressive disease than younger women.


 
Early Signs
 
  • A lump is detected, which is usually single, firm, and most often painless.
  • A portion of the skin on the breast or underarm swells and has an unusual appearance.
  • Veins on the skin surface become more prominent on one breast.
  • The breast nipple becomes inverted, develops a rash, changes in skin texture, or has a discharge other than breast milk.
  • A depression is found in an area of the breast surface.

 

Women's breasts can develop some degree of lumpiness, but only a small percentage of lumps are malignant.

While a history of breast cancer in the family may lead to increased risk, most breast cancers are diagnosed in women with no family history. If you have a family history of breast cancer, this should be discussed with your doctor.
How to do a Breast Self-Examination

IN THE SHOWER Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine left breast, left hand for right breast.

Check for any lump, hard knot or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

 
BEFORE A MIRROR Inspect your breasts with arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. 

Look for any changes in contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of skin or changes in the nipple. Then rest palm on hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match - few women's breasts do.

 

 
LYING DOWN Place pillow under right shoulder, right arm behind your head. With fingers of left hand flat, press right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast. Use light, medium and firm pressure. Squeeze nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast. 

*Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America offers the most sophisticated forms of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in combination with complementary therapies that include; nutrition, spiritual support, mind-body medicine, and naturopathic medicine. If you or a loved one are exploring cancer treatment options, call 800-615-3055 or Click Here to chat with an Oncology Information Specialist. Their specialists are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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