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			<title><![CDATA[RSS Feed for YouNews ]]></title>
<copyright>2013 Broadcast Interactive Media</copyright>
<link>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews</link>
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<language>en-us</language>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 10:20:42 CST</pubDate>
<lastBuildDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 10:20:42 CST</lastBuildDate>
<generator>Broadcast Interactive Media</generator>
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	<title><![CDATA[Wife Outfishes Husband!]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/50685732.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:39:30 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/50685732.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[My husband and I were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary at the MIssion Oak Inn.  This is a beautiful bed and breakfast on a charming lake outside Henry, Illinois.  We enjoyed a relaxing weekend of fishing and taking in the scenery.  I showed my husband up by catching a 16-inch walleye while his first fish was a 4-inch bluegill that could barely even swallow the hook!  

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	<title><![CDATA[Breast Cancer Surviver]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28678684.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:51:54 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28678684.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[In Feb.1999 I was diganosed with Breast Cancer at 54. There is no history of it in our family. I got my Mamograms every year but I found it with self exam. I got my mamogram right away and a ultrasound. I knew something was wrong and when the tec called in the Radioligist that confirmed my worse mightmare. With in a week I had the lump amnd 13 limpknodes removed. I was lucky as it was stage 1. I went thru the 30 Radation treatments with only missing a half day of work. I was a Rural Carrier at the time. I have since Retired with 31 yrs of service in McHenry, Ill. My first Great Grandaughter was born 3 weeks after my diganosis. I am Happy to repot that on 9-4-08 I am still cancer free. I made up my mind that I wasn't going to let it take me. I have a lot to live for I have 4 children 9 Grand children and 9 soon to be 11 Great Grand children. I have had 4 generations in the Race for the Cure with me. And have 5 generations now. I think it is very inportant to do self exams and get your mamograms yearly. It saved me.]]></description>
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	<title><![CDATA[BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28633579.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:51:56 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28633579.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[My name is Kari and I am a year and half breast cancer survivor.  I will never forget that day on december 22nd 2006.  I had went for my anually exam 2 weeks before and jokingly my doctor  said I should start having my mammograms, since next year I would be forty.  I had my mammogram and they said they seen something so I went for a bioptsy.  That day I recieved the results I was at work, not ready for the news I was about to recieve.  Breast cancer did not run in my immediate family.  I recieved a call from the radioligist telling me I had cancer and to call my doctor and the phone hung up.  My co-workers were wonderful, they all was around me to comfort me as I sat there and cried.  One of my co-workers drove me home and called my boyfriend whom I lived with to tell him she was taking me home and he needed to come home.  I was unable to seak with my doctor until december 26, at the time I as unaware his wife that friday I recieved the news was under going surgery for the same thing.  Once I spoke to my doctor he referred me to his wifes surgeon and the long hall began.  Through it all I had great support not only from my family but my boyfriends family whom are all wonderful.  My co workers were also wonderful sending me clothes to wear that would be more comfortable and food for my family.  I have a now 13 year old daughter that took all of this preaty hard and thought she was going to lose her mom.  We all kept our heads up, I have a wonderful doctor at the Cancer Center that they are always keeping a close eye on my progress.  I was only at stage one in my cancer, but at a  grade 3 cancer which they consider a very aggressive cancer that was also non receptive to estrogen.  I had surgery and 40 rounds of radiation and so far to this day every thing has come back with no cancer.  I want to thank my boyfriend Jim and his family,my family and especially my co workers, because with out them this would have been a lot harder to deal with.  They were  always right there and the girls I work with at AMT were always there and when I returned to work every day there was a card on my desk letting me know they were there and thinking of me.   I realize now you never take life for granted and I live every day to the fullist and watch my daughter grow and each day pray she never has to go though what I have.  Always keep your head up and look for the future and never think something cant happen to you, because cancer doesnt care who you are. ]]></description>
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	<title><![CDATA[My Sister, My Hero]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28602904.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:51:57 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28602904.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[My story began on my birthday, in April of 2007.  My sister, who lives 2 hours away called to tell me she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.  We were stunned, unaware of any family history of the disease.  My heart ached for  her, and I vowed to be there for her in any way I could.
I had a few mammograms over the last several years, but not on a yearly basis.  I knew this was my wake up call, that it was time for me to go in.  I had my mammogram in early June.  They said everything was fine, but the doctors wanted a better look at a  "blurry" area so I went in for a second.  At this point, I wasn't worried---after all it was just a "redo".  After my 2nd mammogram at the Komen office at the Center for Health...they asked me to have a sonogram.  At that time, I saw for myself what they were looking at.  After all the testing was done, I was diagnosed with stage 1 and stage 0 DCIS cancer.  My diagnosis came the day after my sister underwent her lumpectomy.
We couldn't believe that we could both be going through this, especially at the same time.  I had a mastectomy in August, and today am going in for reconstructive surgery.  We are both doing great, feeling great, and are blessed to have each other.
I don't know what I would have done without having my sister on this journey with me.  She has been my strength, my rock, and we have laughed and cried many tears together.  For the first time in May, we both participated in the Peoria Race for the Cure.  We held each other and cried together during the survivor song.  I am blessed in so many ways because of my diagnosis.  My sister and I always had a good relationship, but this has made the bond stronger than ever.  I am thankful to be here, and to be able to say she is my hero....how many people can say their sister literally saved her life?  
When I returned to work, I was thrilled that my employers took me up on a suggestion to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month.  They sponsored several activities and brought awareness to all the women in my company...urging them to get out there and get checked!  I've learned to see the good through the bad, to find humor in places I never thought I could, and have found the strength to fight breast cancer.  My prayers and best wishes to all of you patents and survivors.  GO PINK!]]></description>
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	<title><![CDATA["Pink" Times Two]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28586979.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:51:57 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28586979.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[Pink used to be just a color but now it takes on a whole new meaning.  I thought I knew fear the first time I found out that I had breast cancer in 2000 but with it's return this spring I now know it's full depth.  I had wondered, along with others, what changes this new year would bring.  My oldest moving across country, and my 2 others starting high school, and junior high was where I had my concerns until I found the lump.  After the tests, the lump was breast cancer!  Now my focus had to be on getting myself the best care possible to rid myself of this disease.  I had never really thought that something like this would happen to me since I thought of myself as a healthy active 42 year old woman.  As soon as I could think straight I tried to educate myself as much as I could about what my options.  A mastectomy and TRAM reconstruction procedure was what I decided would be the best for me.  Even though no cancer was found in my lymph nodes, chemotherapy for several months along with six weeks of radiation was the treatment plan.  The support of my family and friends got me through this very rough period of time.  I was able to go back to teaching after healing from the surgery but finding the energy was a struggle.  Life seemed to be going back to normal with hair returning and good doctor reports.  I joined the Relay Rockers, my Relay for Life team working hard every year to earn money for more cancer research.  Life's celebrations like my son getting married,and my oldest daughter graduated from college, my 50th birthday,and 25th wedding anniversary were enjoyed.  This honeymoon period lasted for 8 years!  Every six months the blood work was good and I nearly forgot about my past until closer to the next doctor visit.  I was so proud to say that I was a breast cancer survivor and felt such empathy for others that I talked with having to go through it.  But when my cough and voice changes proved to be recurrent cancer in two lymph nodes in my chest this spring, I was really hit hard.  I know that without faith in God that I wouldn't be able to do this with my strength alone.  My faithful prayer warriors hold me up when I am down.  The caringbridge site where I can journal how things are going is a wonderful way for me to keep everyone informed about life's ups and downs as a second time cancer patient.  The chemotherapy treatment this time is every week for 3 weeks and then off a week before starting up the round again.  Cancer at this point is incurable but with all of the latest research being done, it is said that it can be controlled sometimes.  I have had over 2 months of chemotherapy with several more to go.  Currently the chemo has reduced the size of the lumph nodes but it is undecided when I will be done with therapy.  My left vocal cord is still paralyzed so it won't close causing me to cough and have poor voice quality.  I continue to enjoy teaching children to read and find pleasure in creating quilts with the time and energy that I am given.  If it is in God's plan, I hope to continue giving children the gift of reading.  The quilts are made to wrap my loved ones in love.  When you see "pink" - remember the stories you have read because no one ever knows.... ]]></description>
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	<title><![CDATA[Please don't let me die like my mom.]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28446139.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:51:59 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28446139.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA['Please don't let me die like my mom'. Those are the first words I remember trying to utter as I was waking up from the anesthesia after my breast biopsy in Paducah, Kentucky. Before I was even coherent, the doctor had told me I had breast cancer, at least 4 lumps, all cancerous. My mother had died a horrible death, of breast cancer with mets to the bones, in her 50's. I was 31 years old when mine was diagnosed, and newly married. Two weeks before, I remember the awful feeling of dread that I experienced when I found the lump in my left breast while showering. Now it was confirmed, and I just knew one thing, I wanted to come home to central Illinois for my care. So we put our lives on hold and moved back to the Peoria area. I had a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy, under the guidance of my wonderful oncologist, Dr. John Kugler. Not long after my chemotherapy was over, I became sick again. Oh no, it's back, I thought. But miracles never cease...I was pregnant....even though I was supposedly in menopause from the chemo. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Taylor, in September of 1990. Fast forward a few years....to 1999. I had been toying with the idea...since I had first been diagnosed with cancer....of going back to school and into the medical field. My inspiration was not only all of the wonderful people I had met while going through all of the testing, surgery, treatments, but also all of the not-so-wonderful people I had the opportunity to cross paths with. Anyone who has been ill knows THESE people. The ones who treat you like a number, or a test. The ones who don't call you by name, and obviously don't care what you are going through in your life. There for the paycheck, mad at their spouse??? Who knows why they are so uncaring, I just knew I could try to be better. So off to school I went, at the age of....well, let's just say over 40. Xray was my goal, and while it was very tough and trying, I made it through my first year, albeit not with flying colors, but I made it. (thanks to the great ICC instructors, and a tough but caring Methodist Medical Center preceptor who didn't give up on me!) My second year into school, I went for a routine mammogram at the Susan G. Komen center. My heart was in my throat when the tech wanted the dreaded "more pictures". For some reason (age??) I cannot remember the Mammography techs name, but she is a God-send. The calcification was so close to my chest wall, I don't know how she saw it, but she truly went the extra mile, and probably saved my life.The next day, after Dr. Shile did a biopsy, it was confirmed. A second primary cancer in my right breast. Few days later, a second mastectomy, done by Dr. Denise Mammolito, and 3 days later, back in classroom for my Radiography classes. I made it through school, got my degree, but it just wasn't enough....not enough patient care for me. So Dr. Mammolito suggested Ultrasound. I love Ultrasound, the perfect balance of patient and family care, the challenge of it, the chance to make a difference in patients' lives. So many in the medical field are there for the wrong reasons, or went into it for the right reason, only to get burned out from the stress and frustration of it. Each day I try to remind myself that the patients that I am caring for have no one else at that very moment, during the Ultrasound, only me. I can try to make a difference in their life, like so many of the doctors, nurses, and many other hospital personnel have made in my life. I would not go back and CHOOSE to have cancer in my life. And while I still am attempting to pass the dreaded Ultrasound boards, (because the mind just isn't the same as it was in high school!)  I have found what I truly love to do...and I wouldn't have done it had I not gotten cancer. And I COULDN'T have done it without the compassion and care from Dr. Kugler and Dr. Mammolito, who are both amazing doctors. (Or my husband Steve and daughter Taylor, who have been behind me all the way, and by now think I will be a student until I retire!) I believe God doesn't give you what you can handle, he helps you handle what you are given.So along with the sorrow that cancer gave me, it also sent me on a path that enriched my life in ways I would have never dreamed possible.  I was given cancer, and I made the best of it. I am a survivor.]]></description>
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	<title><![CDATA[Two Time Cancer Survivor]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28430164.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:51:59 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28430164.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[I am a two time cancer survivor.  It’s hard to think back to the beginning.  It started with a sore neck.  I didn’t think too much of it at first, it just felt like a stiff neck.  But I never had one that lasted so long and was so sore.  After a few days, it was hard to raise my head off of my pillow or turn my head to back out of the driveway.  I’d had stiff necks before, but never like this.  And it wasn’t going away.  I recalled a time a friend of mine had been over and talked about her neck and how much it had hurt.  She ended up being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, cancer of the lymph nodes.  As I thought about that, I began to wonder if I looked in the mirror, would I notice anything.  So I looked in the mirror and I noticed a big lump on the left, front, lower side of my neck.  I went on into work, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything.  It did hurt, and my mind seemed to focus on the worst scenario.  What if I had Hodgkin’s disease?  What if I had to go through chemo like my friend did.  So I left work and went to the prompt care.  This was in the early fall of 1998.  Well I was referred to an ear nose & throat specialist.  It ended up being my thyroid, but after a biopsy I was told it was not malignant.  Later I had one half of my thyroid removed.  They do other tests during and after surgery to check the tumor.  A week after surgery, when I was feeling pretty good, my husband came home and told me he had talked with my doctor.  She told him I thyroid cancer.  I would have to go back into surgery and have the rest of my thyroid removed.  After the surgery, I had to have some sort of nuclear radiation, put on Synthroid medicine for the rest of my life, and eventually life got back to normal.  I felt guilty being called a cancer survivor.  I just felt I hadn’t really suffered.  I didn’t have to have chemo or radiation.  Somehow I figured I had survived cancer and naively thought I was immune to getting it again.  

 I had always been a blood donor.  When you’re diagnosed with cancer, they won’t take your blood for 5 years after you’re cleared.  Well I had gone in for my mammogram in April 2003, and had been called back again.  Then I was referred to Dr. Mammolito.  I hadn’t had a biopsy yet, but Dr. Mammolito didn’t make it sound very hopeful for me.  She thought I had breast cancer.  I had to go in to see my endoconologist.  It was 5 years ago I had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  I had hoped to give blood again.  He checked me and said I was cancer free.  I didn’t tell him I already was suspicious of having breast cancer.  

2003 marks many events that make it a hard year to forget.  My husband had been in Kuwait with the military and had just gotten home the end of 2002.  My mom passed away very abruptly in February 2003.   My older sister was diagnosed with breast cancer right after that.  My other sister’s house was struck by lightening in April.   Then I was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer on May 9th.  May 10th, we had a tornado go through Morton.  I’m sure a lot of you Mortonites remember that.  We didn’t have electricity at our house for 3 days.  After biopsies, a CT scan, PET scan, mega scan, surgery, having a port put in, seeing surgeons, oncologists, etc., I started the chemo in September of 2003.  As long as everything stayed on schedule, I would be finished with chemo and radiation before Christmas of 2003.  I was keeping my eyes focused on the end of it all, although as you’re going through the treatment, you can only manage to get through one day at a time.

I remember my first chemo.  I had to be there at 8:45 for them to draw blood from my port.  After a while, they start the chemo.  It’s very scary sitting there letting that “poison” into your body.  You sit there and wait for bad feelings to come over you.  You are told to eat ice during one of the chemo drugs to help with the bad taste.  I used to like ice, but not anymore.  I didn’t get sick till late afternoon, and remained that way for six hours.  I never got sick like that again, but remained nauseous till chemo was over.

Having breast cancer taught me several things.  I don’t know that I can honestly say I’m glad I had it, but it certainly opened my eyes to many things.  I really have empathy for other people going through chemotherapy and other major health issues.  I thought I had empathy before, but I really couldn’t understand the depression and the feeling of not being in control of the situation.  I know now how it feels to have to choose a course of action when there are no favorable choices.  I’ve also learned that as bad as it was going through all the treatment for my cancer, there are other things that can be so much worse.  Right now I am leading a fairly normal life.  Others are not so fortunate.  I am thankful that I am able to enjoy life and my first grandson.  There are so many things to be thankful for, and having gone through the ordeal of cancer, I appreciate it all so much more.  

Friends, family, & co-workers were certainly generous bringing meals over and helping in so many ways.  My neighbor would mow the yard & clean the gutters.  I felt blessed.  This was also a time I really leaned on the Lord for strength.  

Before the tornado went through Morton, all the trees looked by outward appearances, to be quite solid and sturdy.  But the tornado quickly proved that the trees were not able to withstand the storm.  The soundness of our faith is tested by “the storms of life.”  We all face storms in our life and we don’t always respond with solid faith.  We have gone through times in our lives when we question God on why this had to happen.  These storms or trials can be an excuse to separate yourself from God, or they can be used to bring you in a closer relationship with Him, which is of course what He desires.  We won’t always get the answers we want, some things remain a mystery.  One day, God will reveal everything to us, and we will understand the storms in our lives.  Until then, I hope to remain strong in my faith and able to withstand the storms.  I hope I can help others as they go through the storms in their lives just as others helped me when I needed them.

One more thing I’ve learned, I’m not immune to getting cancer again.  As a matter of fact, I’m probably more likely to get it again.  Whatever it is that causes you to get cancer – I have.  Therefore it’s so important to do the check-ups.  If you’ve not had cancer, don’t procrastinate on tests and exams to check for cancer.  Early detection will keep the treatment down to a minimum & help you to survive it.  I always had considered myself healthy, still do, but I am a two time cancer survivor.
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	<title><![CDATA[Silver Linings]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28412259.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:52:00 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28412259.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[2008 began with our family traditions of Chinese take-out by candle light, a family movie, a “glow-stick extravaganza” performed by our 2 young boys, and a general feeling of goodwill and optimism for the upcoming year. A few days later that optimism was replaced in my heart with a sensation of foreboding. I couldn’t place my finger on why I had a feeling of doom, I just felt unsettled. This emotion was paired with paranoia when I began having some pain in my left breast. I mentioned it casually to my husband and he gave me a concerned and intentional look. My mother had passed away in May of 2006 after a 19 year battle with breast cancer. She had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer at the age of 44. This was in both of our minds, but I didn’t have a lump and so I gave several excuses on why I could be having this pain – hormones, too much caffeine, etc… We both hoped that this would be the case for me, but to be honest – when I confessed about the breast pain to Todd, we both knew it was cancer. We just knew.

I went cold turkey off caffeinated sodas and when the pain hadn’t gone away after a week, I bit the bullet and called my OB GYN. Considering that I was 38 and had just had my annual appointment without occurrence two weeks prior, the office wasn’t terribly concerned. Breast pain rarely signaled breast cancer. Only about 5% of breast cancer cases reported some form of pain prior to diagnosis. Still, I needed to schedule my yearly mammogram anyway – so they recommended that I make that call today. 

God must have been looking out for me because the mammography unit had a cancellation and was able to schedule me for an appointment the following day. My good fortune didn’t stop there… when I received a phone call from the Komen Center requesting that I have a follow-up visit, another cancellation allowed me to go have a sonogram that same day. I didn’t take my husband with me because I had this superstitious hope that if I handled this as a simple mammogram misread or “blip on the film” – maybe it would come true. But when the sonogram began my original foreboding was validated. I felt a calm acceptance as the doctor located and measured a tumor in my breast. I allowed a fascination with the technology to override any emotions. But when he began investigating another area under my armpit, I started to feel alarmed. 

“What are you doing now?” I questioned.

“Well, these are your lymph nodes. It appears that you have something very suspicious occurring in this location as well.”

My heart sank to my stomach. In my brain, removing an early stage tumor seemed like something that would be emotionally challenging but not terribly life-threatening. Knowing that lymph nodes were involved changed the whole synopsis for me. My lips began to quiver and my legs started to shake. Quiet tears ran down my face leaving wet dots on the white paper covering the table. The question of my mortality whispered in my ear and cast a shadow over my heart.

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor said. 

I called my husband to come to the office and get me. The nurses allowed me to stay in the examination room while I waited. They brought me my clothes and I joked with them through my tears that they probably didn’t want me to leave this room because I’d scare all the other ladies in the waiting room. Left alone, my legs continued to shake and I thought about this phenomenon in a removed, surreal way. I picked one up off the table to see if I could still control my limbs. Yep, they were still a part of me. Weird to think that something that wasn’t a part of me was now trying to steal space inside my body. Cancer.

I spent the next 24 hours in the company of self pity. I cried in my husband’s arms and called all my close friends to gather strength from them. People handle bad news in different ways – I’ve always been someone who automatically reaches out when given a burden too great to withstand. My friends are my friends for a reason – they are wonderful people who cried with me, encouraged me, and promised to be there. After two boxes of Kleenex, I decided enough is enough. I’d drenched myself in tears and remorse. It was time to push out self doubt and take a leap of faith. I’m a spiritual person who has been reconnected to God for many years now. A painful divorce and a blessed second marriage had already shown me that God can take an ugly, hurtful event and make something beautiful from it. 

“Okay, God,” I declared. “I trust you. I know that there are valleys in life, but that I won’t be alone.”

From then on, I changed my perspective. The few times I did allow myself to think about the possibility of an early death, I reminded myself that I don’t control the world for a reason. My plan might not be the best for everyone. I faced the hardest scenario – what if I died and my two boys were then raised by my ex-husband’s girlfriend whom I didn’t care for. It was an ugly, ugly moment. I had to battle my own bitterness at this idea to make way for peace.

“Okay, Kris,” I challenged myself. “What IF she raises your children? YOU may not like it, but that doesn’t mean that your boys won’t be treated kindly. It doesn’t guarantee that they can’t be happy and healthy without you. Though you may not want her to have the gift of your children, ultimately the boys’ happiness is what is most important.” That was a very hard pill to swallow. Even now as I write this, tears stream down my face. But it was really important that I looked my worst fear right in the eye and accepted it as just that – my worst fear, but not insurmountable. Once I did that I was able to have peace and courage in my heart rather than fear. I was able to use my gifts of creativity and humor as weapons against my disease.

Telling the boys was difficult, but I’ve been in difficult places with my boys before. I’ve learned to be honest and straightforward. To be available to questions and to answer them in the kindest, most truthful way I can. To give hugs, to share tears, and to allow all of us to be human. And, of course, to always point out the silver lining. I told them that NOTHING they said or did or even thought in a moment of anger caused me to have this disease. This might be an opportunity in disguise. This is going to show us that sometimes bad things happen but it doesn’t stop us, we can get through it.

To keep the optimism going and to include the boys in our journey, we started a “funniest card contest”. Our mailbox was being flooded with cards and the boys enjoyed the silly poems and jokes. We spread the word of our contest through e-mails and my blog. While I was having bi-lateral mastectomy surgery on February 20, my dad stayed home with the boys and supervised their creation of 4 trophies made out of sculpey clay. They couldn’t decide who should make the 1st place trophy so my dad suggested there be 2. They were so proud of their trophies and took judging the 6 inch stack of cards very seriously. This was such an uplifting event in our lives and we never would have experienced it if I hadn’t been diagnosed with cancer. We were also reminded about how loved and supported we were through delivery of meals and offers for childcare. How truly blessed I am!

Recovering from surgery was tough, but it was a beginner’s lesson for accepting that there were going to be times when I couldn’t do something myself. My husband had to help me with so much at first – from putting on my socks to driving me places to caring for my wounds. Once when he finished washing my hair he joked, “That will be 65 bucks, ma’am.” 

Though my energy was low, I needed to get out of the house so Todd took me on fieldtrips. We went to every Dollar Tree in the area throughout the course of a few weeks. I teased him that I wanted to expand our tour to include Big Lots. He was such a good sport and he took on every role that came his way – home nurse, hairstylist, cook, chauffer, and cheerleader. 

Back in January, after our first consultations with surgeons and doctors, I had teased Todd. “Bet you NEVER thought you’d have to do this when you proposed 3 years ago!” He stopped dead in his tracks, took my hands, and looked me in the eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I would make the same I choice I did then.” Is there any wonder I love this man so much?

The next step in our journey was chemotherapy. 16 treatments within a 5 month period of time. You have no idea what chemotherapy is like until you’ve experienced it. Both my mother and my best friend died of breast cancer after long, courageous battles with it. Even witnessing what they went through didn’t prepare me, though now I have a new respect for both of them. Still, I was determined to face down this demon and win. We had a “Wig Out” party before chemotherapy started. Our friends came wearing either wigs or hats for the occasion and each gave me a single bead. One of my talented friends took this collection of beads and created the most beautiful necklace and bracelet so that I would have a physical reminder of all my support when I went to treatments. Again, another inspiring moment that I would have missed without my disease to create the opportunity.

After my first chemo treatment, I developed a case of Shingles on my head. I had no idea what they were but when I went to my second appointment, I was denied treatment until these healed. I was absolutely crushed. I didn’t want anything to stand in the way of me completing this leg of the journey as quickly as possible. I cried all the way home, but when Todd pulled into the driveway I was struck by the tulips blooming in our yard. Todd had re-done our landscaping the fall before and this required moving a bed of 500 tulips. The funny thing was that not all the tulips had made it into the desired location and now we had lone tulips blooming in different spots throughout the yard in addition to an organized flower bed. It made me realize that although we hadn’t planned those spontaneous blooms – they still brought me laughter and joy. I hadn’t planned to have my treatment delayed, but I needed to look for the laughter and joy this week.

My hair fell out 3 days later. It started as a light rain and ended in a torrential downpour. The Shingles had made it so that I couldn’t shave my head as I had hoped to do. The process of losing my hair reminded me of a dying Christmas tree – everywhere I looked there was evidence of loss just like when you find pine needles in your carpet in March. It seemed like I was cleaning up needles of hair for weeks. Luckily I had a very nice new wig ready when I needed it. My good friend had gone with me on this one-of-a-kind shopping event and we really had a great time trying on wigs we’d never actually wear. I got to see myself as a red-head, raven haired, and even with mermaid locks down to my hips. It was all very theatrical and fun.

And once again, near the end of chemotherapy I had an unexpected surprise. 6 weeks prior to my final treatment, I noticed hair growing on my head again. I ran to my husband and asked his opinion. “Maybe,” he replied uncommittedly. But it WAS growing! I asked the doctor about this and she smiled. “It has been heard to happen on occasion. You must be one of the lucky ones.”

“If you only knew!” I thought to myself. I have been blessed with a loving, incredible husband, two boys who have trouped through this ordeal, wonderful friends, and great medical care. I have prayer warriors across the Midwest. I have the support of my workplace who is patiently awaiting my return from medical leave. Though I didn’t need breast cancer to know how lucky I am, it certainly did validate it.

I’m about to enter the third phase of my medical journey – radiation. I don’t know what to expect but I DO know that we’ll get through it and will learn something else along the way. That’s the way life is – unexpected and wild and beautiful and sad and with lessons at every turn.
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	<title><![CDATA[Liz Inghilterra: My mother & Saint]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28383044.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:52:01 CDT</pubDate>
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				<description><![CDATA[My mother, Liz Inghilterra is the strongest and most courageous woman I know. I feel honored to call her my mother as does my older sister, Brooke and little brother, Reilly. My mother was diagnosed with stage four Breast cancer that metastasized to her lungs, bones and liver in 2005, if I recall correctly. It was pretty serious due to their only being four stages of cancer. I still remember to this day when my dad, Ron told us how bad it really was. My mother started chemo therapy out at the Oncology Center by the new mall. The chemo sure took a tool on her physically and emotionally, though she never gave up. My mom endured many months of chemo, as well as having to have her lungs drained due to them filling up with fluid constantly, which she later had to have surgery for. My mom did start to lose her hair so she later decided to shave it all off at ounce. It was something I would never forget, not only for the significance but also how beautiful she looked after her hair was all gone.  Even though she went through all of this she never gave up and her spirit and faith were amazing. She was the one that was keeping my family apart. My mom still went to work everyday even though she was physically drained. She enjoys work and that was her time when she could get away from everything and just do what she truly enjoyed. As you can see in one of the pictures posted she loves her work and the people that she works with and I really believe this is something that helped her stay so strong as well as never giving up on her self. Our family never gave up on her and we were always looking for the next best thing, especially my dad. My dad was always in contact with her doctors and also talking to doctors in other states to see if there was some new drug she could try or any promising research that had been found. Our family became closer than ever during this time but I guess something as serious as cancer will do that. My mom thankfully did go into remission which is a miracle from God still to this day and stayed in it for nineteen months but did relapse in 2007 with only liver cancer this time. She is doing oral chemo right now and her doctor has told her that she is in remission ounce again, meaning that the lesions have not grown any larger. My family and I feel so blessed to have her here with us and in our lives everyday. My mother has always been an amazing person and my hero but after all of this she has become my saint. I hope to one day be like my mother in every way, as well as have her kindness, her strength, her tenacity, her spunk and her hope.

*Pleas pick my mother as the winner of this contest she deserve it and it would be an amazing surprise for her.
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	<title><![CDATA[Paying It Forward]]></title>
			<link><![CDATA[http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28375964.html]]></link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:52:03 CDT</pubDate>
								<guid>http://www.cinewsnow.com/younews/28375964.html</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[     My name is Carol Hoffman.  I’ve learned that there is nothing certain in life and instead of dwelling on the negative, it’s important to pay the good in life forward.  
     Diagnosed in June 2000, my retirement from 30 years of teaching took an unexpected turn.  My doctor tried to be encouraging, telling me that mine was the best kind of breast cancer to have, but my first tearful thought was “what’s good about cancer?”  
     Cancer-free eight years later, I now understand what my doctors were telling me, and I have been working on paying back all of the good things that have happened in my life.  
     I have spoken to many groups in my area to encourage every woman to get her yearly mammogram.  It makes my day when someone calls and says “Carol, you can quit pestering me now, my mammogram is scheduled.”  
     As a Reach to Recovery Volunteer, I support other women who have also been diagnosed with breast cancer by listening to them, providing them with American Cancer Society information and sending each a card handmade by me.
     I’m even paying it forward with youth cancer patients, having volunteered at St. Jude’s affiliate at OSF St. Francis to teach these special children crafts. 
     My message to all is to be positive.  Live each day to the fullest.  Use your talents to help others.  And pay back the good in your life to make others lives better.   
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