Please check back soon. I have so much to tell you!
xoxo
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Sweet memories of my mom
I hope I can do as good of a job being a mom as my mom did. I pray I can always have that balance between encouraging my children to stand on their own feet but cuddling them up with tenderness when they need it.
Here are some of my favorite memories of my mom:
Here are some of my favorite memories of my mom:
- She was always nice to people. She smiled and was kind - even when there was no reciprocity.
- She could enjoy the greatest laugh-until-it-hurts-and-you-might-wet-your-pants laughs...serious belly laughs. So contagious!
- Water fights...my mom loved a good water fight!
- She would regularly perform the miracle of the fishes and loaves, with food and clothes, as she raised us on a meager secretary's salary.
- She always had a green corsage for us to wear to school on our national holiday, St. Patrick's Day!
- When Megan and I were young, like 3 or 4 or 5, she used to pin a note to our jackets before we went out to play that said "Please don't feed us. We won't eat our dinner" (we lived in a safe place...the neighborhood behind Brother Rice high school in Birmingham....it was called the Catholic Ghetto)
- She occasionally let us have breakfast for dinner...what a treat!
- She made me take typing for 3 years in high school so I would have a skill to fall back on in case no other career panned out.
- She had incredibly versatile tears. She would cry from sadness, happiness, laughter, joy...or a hallmark commercial. (We all have that in common with my mom. My dad used to laugh that our tear ducts were too close to our bladders. With 7 women in the house, someone always had to pee or was crying)
- She loved her garden
- She talked to me about her impending death as she was dying from breast cancer. She let it be out there...out in the open. It was a gift. And a privilege to be a part of. She was the bravest person I have ever known.
- She hated cats but every cat within a mile ran to her. So funny!
- She would fall asleep while we watched t.v. in her bed with her. She would wake herself up snoring and say "Oh, was I snoring?" Then giggle and go back to sleep.
I could go on for days...
xoxo
Friday, May 7, 2010
News story on my family...I am so HUMBLED!!!
Wow...I cannot believe it. Unbeknownst to me, my sister Megan wrote a beautiful Mother's Day letter to WDIV, Detroit's NBC affiliate. She is such an incredible person...I feel so humbled. Well, WDIV called and asked to interview me.
The NICEST folks at WDIV, Karen Drew and her camera man Ted, spent about an hour with me this morning. They are such lovely people...so kind. The story will air at 11:00 est on WDIV, channel 4 here in Detroit tonight (Friday).
Here is the teaser: http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/23491496/index.html
The NICEST folks at WDIV, Karen Drew and her camera man Ted, spent about an hour with me this morning. They are such lovely people...so kind. The story will air at 11:00 est on WDIV, channel 4 here in Detroit tonight (Friday).
Here is the teaser: http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/23491496/index.html
Pay no attention to the date stamp on the above photo. If this was actually taken in 2003, I would only be 19 years old. lol
Here is the letter that Megan wrote :
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and I want to share a great “mom story” with you. It involves a native Metro Detroiter and her Breast Cancer journey that brought her back home.
My sister, Maureen Moons, is a 44 year-old single woman who wanted to be a mom, so she adopted her children from Guatemala. She has a son who is 7 and a daughter who is 4. Her daughter had only been “home” for 10 months in October, 2008 when my sister learned she had Breast Cancer. The news was grim…Stage 3C Invasive Ductal Carcinoma that also invaded her lymph nodes. She was approved to be part of a clinical trial, using new drugs to fight her particular kind of cancer. She went on medical disability from work and began treatments almost immediately.
Maureen (a.k.a. Mimi) is the 5th child in our family of 6 girls. Our parents only planned on having 4 kids, so Mimi and I were “blessings” to them. She moved from Birmingham to Dallas in 1989 after graduating from Walsh College in Troy. In Dallas she made many friends who became her family-away-from-home. They were there for birthdays, sick days, holidays, etc. And when she was diagnosed with cancer, they became her day-to-day caregivers. My other sisters and I would fly to Dallas to be with Mimi for major medical tests, procedures, treatments and to help care for her children, but we are scattered all over the U.S. and couldn’t be there every day.
Being the incredible mom she is, Mimi has always put her children first and tried to insulate them from the torture of cancer. Throughout this journey she has not skipped a beat when it comes to caring for her kids. She still took them to the State Fair, went on vacation, took them fishing, worked in the classroom, attended church, etc. She kept a blog to journal her experience and titled it “Raising Children…Razing Cancer” (http://www.moonsfamily.blogspot.com/). The title says it all.
After 8 months of chemotherapy, Mimi had a double mastectomy and lymph node resection on May 5, 2009. Her recovery was amazing…she was sitting up in bed and chatting with friends only hours after surgery. Within 2 days she was home from the hospital, after a stop at a local Mexican joint for lunch and a margarita! In no time at all she was back on her feet, exceeding doctors’ expectations and amazing everyone who knows her. Her next leg of treatment included 7 weeks of daily radiation, which finished in July, 2009. A combined family reunion & birthday party for Mimi took place at the end of July in Michigan and it was quite a celebration!
Within 2 days of returning to Dallas Mimi called me and shared some great news… she decided to move “home” to Detroit, after being gone for 20 years. She understands the importance of family and raising her children with their cousins, who live close-by. Her employer transferred her sales job to the Detroit market and she moved in September, 2009.
She continued chemotherapy treatments, transferring to the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. Her last session is May 10th. On May 12th she leaves for Washington, D.C. to be part of the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Panel. She was invited to meet with scientists and review proposals for Breast Cancer Research funding.
What I most admire about my sister is her tenacity. She looked cancer in the eye and said, “You picked the WRONG person to mess with!” (see blog post December 27, 2008). Her doctors initially gave her a 60% chance of recurrence upon diagnosis. This percentage has decreased to a possible 10% chance of recurrence because of her positive attitude, sense of humor, dedication to healing and overall refusal to let cancer define her.
Mimi and I will be walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure (Team Moonwalkers) in August, and I look forward to every step of our 60-mile journey!
I would LOVE to share Mimi’s story with your viewers. Do you have any type of Mother’s Day celebration planned? If there is a “Best Mom” competition…I have your winner! I’m contacting you specifically because I think this is a great home-town story of someone returning to our city and state.
Best regards,
Megan Moons-Grattan
My sister, Maureen Moons, is a 44 year-old single woman who wanted to be a mom, so she adopted her children from Guatemala. She has a son who is 7 and a daughter who is 4. Her daughter had only been “home” for 10 months in October, 2008 when my sister learned she had Breast Cancer. The news was grim…Stage 3C Invasive Ductal Carcinoma that also invaded her lymph nodes. She was approved to be part of a clinical trial, using new drugs to fight her particular kind of cancer. She went on medical disability from work and began treatments almost immediately.
Maureen (a.k.a. Mimi) is the 5th child in our family of 6 girls. Our parents only planned on having 4 kids, so Mimi and I were “blessings” to them. She moved from Birmingham to Dallas in 1989 after graduating from Walsh College in Troy. In Dallas she made many friends who became her family-away-from-home. They were there for birthdays, sick days, holidays, etc. And when she was diagnosed with cancer, they became her day-to-day caregivers. My other sisters and I would fly to Dallas to be with Mimi for major medical tests, procedures, treatments and to help care for her children, but we are scattered all over the U.S. and couldn’t be there every day.
Being the incredible mom she is, Mimi has always put her children first and tried to insulate them from the torture of cancer. Throughout this journey she has not skipped a beat when it comes to caring for her kids. She still took them to the State Fair, went on vacation, took them fishing, worked in the classroom, attended church, etc. She kept a blog to journal her experience and titled it “Raising Children…Razing Cancer” (http://www.moonsfamily.blogspot.com/). The title says it all.
After 8 months of chemotherapy, Mimi had a double mastectomy and lymph node resection on May 5, 2009. Her recovery was amazing…she was sitting up in bed and chatting with friends only hours after surgery. Within 2 days she was home from the hospital, after a stop at a local Mexican joint for lunch and a margarita! In no time at all she was back on her feet, exceeding doctors’ expectations and amazing everyone who knows her. Her next leg of treatment included 7 weeks of daily radiation, which finished in July, 2009. A combined family reunion & birthday party for Mimi took place at the end of July in Michigan and it was quite a celebration!
Within 2 days of returning to Dallas Mimi called me and shared some great news… she decided to move “home” to Detroit, after being gone for 20 years. She understands the importance of family and raising her children with their cousins, who live close-by. Her employer transferred her sales job to the Detroit market and she moved in September, 2009.
She continued chemotherapy treatments, transferring to the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. Her last session is May 10th. On May 12th she leaves for Washington, D.C. to be part of the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Panel. She was invited to meet with scientists and review proposals for Breast Cancer Research funding.
What I most admire about my sister is her tenacity. She looked cancer in the eye and said, “You picked the WRONG person to mess with!” (see blog post December 27, 2008). Her doctors initially gave her a 60% chance of recurrence upon diagnosis. This percentage has decreased to a possible 10% chance of recurrence because of her positive attitude, sense of humor, dedication to healing and overall refusal to let cancer define her.
Mimi and I will be walking in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure (Team Moonwalkers) in August, and I look forward to every step of our 60-mile journey!
I would LOVE to share Mimi’s story with your viewers. Do you have any type of Mother’s Day celebration planned? If there is a “Best Mom” competition…I have your winner! I’m contacting you specifically because I think this is a great home-town story of someone returning to our city and state.
Best regards,
Megan Moons-Grattan
Thank you for checking in on me...and for your loving support...and for caring about me and my family.
xoxo
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
another funny memory...
Oh my gosh, sitting here reminiscing about this time last year (see next post) made me think of one of the funniest things that happened on May 5, 2009.
Obviously it was a long day of waiting while I was in surgery. My sister Suzanne and our dear friend Julie were in the waiting area. It was getting later in the day. Well, apparently, at 3:00 all the nurses that cover the big desk in the family waiting area go home. Their day ends at 3:00. Literally, they turn out all the lights behind the desk area and they go home. Well, several patients are still in surgery, like me. And the surgical nurses and doctors call that front area to give updates to the families. So someone has to answer the phones. The nurse came around the desk and, out of the room of people, pointed to Suzanne and Julie and said "YOU...I need you to answer the phone". Suz and Julie look at each other, like what the #*&!? If you knew these girls, and heard them tell this, you would be ROFL like I am to even be typing this. So they jump right in and do as the nurse tells them. They answer the phone, get the patient's families name, and yell it out into the waiting room - just like they were born to do that job. They even divvy up the roles. Suz answers and Julie yells. Hilarious!!
The only thing funnier than all of that was that there was a sweet, delightful mentally handicapped girl that would run towards them flailing her arms at every name that was called saying it was for her.
Not sure if this translates in a blog post. I have tears of laugter just from writing this. If you see Suzanne or Julie, you have to ask them to tell you the story because, damn, it is funny.
xoxo
Obviously it was a long day of waiting while I was in surgery. My sister Suzanne and our dear friend Julie were in the waiting area. It was getting later in the day. Well, apparently, at 3:00 all the nurses that cover the big desk in the family waiting area go home. Their day ends at 3:00. Literally, they turn out all the lights behind the desk area and they go home. Well, several patients are still in surgery, like me. And the surgical nurses and doctors call that front area to give updates to the families. So someone has to answer the phones. The nurse came around the desk and, out of the room of people, pointed to Suzanne and Julie and said "YOU...I need you to answer the phone". Suz and Julie look at each other, like what the #*&!? If you knew these girls, and heard them tell this, you would be ROFL like I am to even be typing this. So they jump right in and do as the nurse tells them. They answer the phone, get the patient's families name, and yell it out into the waiting room - just like they were born to do that job. They even divvy up the roles. Suz answers and Julie yells. Hilarious!!
The only thing funnier than all of that was that there was a sweet, delightful mentally handicapped girl that would run towards them flailing her arms at every name that was called saying it was for her.
Not sure if this translates in a blog post. I have tears of laugter just from writing this. If you see Suzanne or Julie, you have to ask them to tell you the story because, damn, it is funny.
xoxo
One year ago today...
It was exactly 1 year ago...at just about this time...that I was at the hospital for my surgery. I never could have fathomed the turns my life would take, at 43, to have been diagnosis with cancer. Then to have 8 months of chemo. Then to have such a prominent, important part of my body amputated. Then to bounce (no pun intended) back so quickly, emotionally and physically (thank you, God, so much!). Then to endure 12 more months of ongoing treatments, during which uprooting our life and moving to Michigan. Then to be wrapping up my very LAST chemo treatment on Monday, May 10th...yahoooo!
Whew..........what a whirlwind!!!
I am the luckiest, most blessed person alive to have had such an army of loving supporters with me every step of the way. And to have His hand on my shoulder every second, before and after this cancer stuff.
When I think about this time last year, what memory stands out the most was playing Scrabble in the hospital waiting room with Megan and Suzanne and lots of laughing. Not nervous laughter, just "you have to let me win" and I have to go to the bathroom AGAIN laughter. Then waking up with my sisters there with me.
All my memories are of the love I received. Not the pain or the fear. Does it get any better than that?!?!?!?!? Seriously!
xoxo
Whew..........what a whirlwind!!!
I am the luckiest, most blessed person alive to have had such an army of loving supporters with me every step of the way. And to have His hand on my shoulder every second, before and after this cancer stuff.
When I think about this time last year, what memory stands out the most was playing Scrabble in the hospital waiting room with Megan and Suzanne and lots of laughing. Not nervous laughter, just "you have to let me win" and I have to go to the bathroom AGAIN laughter. Then waking up with my sisters there with me.
All my memories are of the love I received. Not the pain or the fear. Does it get any better than that?!?!?!?!? Seriously!
xoxo
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Shame on me the second time...
Okay, this time I knew I was putting too many bubbles in. Add a raucous boy. And stir.
What a mess!! But so much fun!
What a mess!! But so much fun!
xoxo
Bubbles...
After 7 months I finally figured out how to operate the jacuzzi tub in my bathroom. What I have not figured out yet is the correct amount of bubbles to put it.
:-)
xoxo
:-)
xoxo
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Couldn't wait to get my hands in the dirt...
We woke up this morning to the sound of many geese flying over our house.....coming home after the long winter. It was like a band of trumpets welcoming the morning. I loved it.
I am going crazy in my garden. I hoped outta bed, fed the kids and then got my hands in the dirt for about 6 hours. I may be too sore to brush my teeth tonight but it is wonderful therapy.
I feel so alive, so deeply grateful and so inexpressibly content. Thank you, God!
xoxo
I am going crazy in my garden. I hoped outta bed, fed the kids and then got my hands in the dirt for about 6 hours. I may be too sore to brush my teeth tonight but it is wonderful therapy.
I feel so alive, so deeply grateful and so inexpressibly content. Thank you, God!
xoxo
Sunday, April 18, 2010
And again...
Oscar told me this morning that a zillion things in our house are made out of china. All his toys and his Star Wars guys and the kitty's food bowl.....all "made outta China". I thought he meant glass china...not the large nation in East Asia.
He suggested we should send some things their way from Michigan. Amazing that a 7-year old can recognize the U.S. trade deficit with China.
xoxo
He suggested we should send some things their way from Michigan. Amazing that a 7-year old can recognize the U.S. trade deficit with China.
xoxo
Friday, April 16, 2010
funny...
Here is our conversation from the other morning...
Angelica: Mommy, I have good news!
Me: Oh yeah, what is it?
Angelica: I am not allergic to butterflies any more!
Me thinking....????????????????????????????????
Me (trying not to laugh): That is awesome, Angelica. I am so glad!
Angelica: Yeah, but Oscar is still allergic to pickles.
She seriously makes me laugh out loud several times a day!
Our weather has been beautiful. So on Monday night after dinner, Oscar was out riding his bike. Angelica decided she wanted to ride a 2 wheeler. So I got the tools out and took her training wheels off. I told her to hang on a second and I would help her. I turned around and she was gone. Unbelievable! She got on that bike and rode away. She crashed into a mailbox and I ran to help her...but then she was off again.
Oscar is equally spectacular! We all had a blast on our little holiday. The kids swam and we all relaxed.
Hope you are all well and enjoying Spring!
xoxo
Thursday, April 8, 2010
oh, the horror...
Nouns and proper names now allowed in Scrabble....tsk!
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/08/a-proper-fuss/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/08/a-proper-fuss/
Friday, April 2, 2010
Happy birthday, Reid
We had a very nice time last week celebrating my nephew Reid's birthday. These kids are so precious!!! I love them so much it hurts! :-)
Megan, the artiste, made his castle birthday cake. The photo doesn't do it justice...it was darling!
Megan, the artiste, made his castle birthday cake. The photo doesn't do it justice...it was darling!
Other news. I am so happy to tell you guys that they found a 100% match donor for my neighbor!!!!! They are thinking about starting a blog: Craig's Lift. Isn't this a great name!?!?!?
xoxo
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Identity crisis
I was born Maureen. But, from what I understand, my nickname "Mimi" came along almost immediately. Story has it that my mom didn't love the nickname "Mo". And, as I am the 5th daughter, my mom declared "No Mo"....as in, no mo' kids and no Mo as a nickname. Funny. Anyway, Mimi stuck for 24 years. Then I moved to Texas and became, for this first time in my life, Maureen...or Mo (which I like, especially if I am fond of the person calling me by that moniker).
So for nearly 20 years, in Texas, I was Maureen - or Mo. Sometimes also Moonpie or Maureenie or Coo Coo. Seriously. But mostly Maureen.
Now I am back in Michigan. Without skipping a beat, I am back to Mimi. People I meet at the kid's school say "Hi Mimi" to me in the halls (thanks to my sister). People I do not remember meeting call me Mimi. Of course, being back in town I see aquaintances from long, long ago and they all call me Mimi.
I like it. It feels welcoming and familiar and comfortable.
Problem is...I can't remember my own name. I automatically say Maureen.
Then the confusion starts all over again...
This doesn't really pass the "so what" test. But I love having such inconsequential things on my mind. :-)
xoxo
So for nearly 20 years, in Texas, I was Maureen - or Mo. Sometimes also Moonpie or Maureenie or Coo Coo. Seriously. But mostly Maureen.
Now I am back in Michigan. Without skipping a beat, I am back to Mimi. People I meet at the kid's school say "Hi Mimi" to me in the halls (thanks to my sister). People I do not remember meeting call me Mimi. Of course, being back in town I see aquaintances from long, long ago and they all call me Mimi.
I like it. It feels welcoming and familiar and comfortable.
Problem is...I can't remember my own name. I automatically say Maureen.
Then the confusion starts all over again...
This doesn't really pass the "so what" test. But I love having such inconsequential things on my mind. :-)
xoxo
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Shameless....
...using my blog to reach the tens of you reading. tee hee Sorry....I can't help it.....it is a great cause.
Will you sponsor me?
http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?px=4693263&fr_id=1467&pg=personal
xoxo
Will you sponsor me?
http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?px=4693263&fr_id=1467&pg=personal
xoxo
count down......for sure this time!
I am so excited to say that I only have 3 more infusions to go...for real this time. I do not see my oncologist extending them again or changing them or adding new ones. I am doing fantastic! The only slightly distressing thing was when I told her how excited I was to get my port out...and that I wanted to get the procedure scheduled. Her response was "No". She told me that she wants me to wait until all my scans are done in August before I get the port out. Okey-dokey. lol I do understand. And I can certainly wait three more months for the port removal. No biggie. I am still on cloud 9 that the end of the treatments is near and I can get back to normal as much as possible!
As I have said many times before, I wish I could reach out and touch each of you the way you have me. You, my dear friends and family, have carried me for so long now. I look forward to a nice rest for all of us. Thank you for your unwavering love and support. You are all my heroes!
xoxo
As I have said many times before, I wish I could reach out and touch each of you the way you have me. You, my dear friends and family, have carried me for so long now. I look forward to a nice rest for all of us. Thank you for your unwavering love and support. You are all my heroes!
xoxo
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
evening prayers
Angelica's evening prayers last night...
Thank you Jesus for our dogs...
...and for my mom
....and for our mailbox
Amen
So glad I made the cut.
xoxo
Thank you Jesus for our dogs...
...and for my mom
....and for our mailbox
Amen
So glad I made the cut.
xoxo
Sunday, March 7, 2010
craft time
Oscar had a friend over last night for a sleep over. So Angelica and I had some special girl time. As we were trying to think of something fun to do, she asked if we could paint. Sure, I said. In fact, I told her we could paint some rocks (something I loved to do as a kid). I went out to dig through what is left of the snow to find some rocks for us to paint. When I came back inside I found Angelica painting like crazy with brown paint on a piece of paper....she was goin' to town! I looked at at her "masterpiece" to find a bunch of brown circles. I asked her what she was doing...and she said "Painting rocks!!". Hilarious!!!
Love this girl!!
xoxo
Love this girl!!
xoxo
Lent
Oddie gave up chewing up our house for Lent. One more reason I will cherish these 40 days.
xoxo
xoxo
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
It's all a blur
Driving the kids to school this morning all I could think about was...."Oh my gosh, I live in Michigan now. I am cancer free. I had cancer???...seriously??? When did that happen? How did I get to this point in my life?" It was surreal. Really. I just kept thinking about the last couple years in utter amazement.
The point is: I am really happy. Most days I am so so so very happy. Other days I am just content...such a lovely place to be. And EVERY day I am grateful. Not forced grateful but truly grateful...right down to my very core. It is just a pure state of mind for me. Is this one of the enigmatic "gifts" that are so often talked about by survivors? I guess it is part of that secret handshake. :) I read about the "gifts" and listened to people talk about the "gifts". And, truth be told, sometimes I would get annoyed by the "gifts" talk. But now I get it. Like a light bulb going off. Trying to describe it is like trying to explain the color blue to a person blind since birth. It is so esoteric but oh so very good.
Of course I still get crabby with the kids or irritated by the painfully slow waitress or irked by the rude store clerk. Even that makes me happy because it is just so damn normal. lol
One of the best parts of life these days is work. I realize now what a significant part of my life my work is. I love my job. I adore the people I work for and with. I would love it all more if I could get my foot in the door at ArvinMeritor or Lear or BorgWarner or Visteon. :-) I may not have a nobel profession like being a teacher or doctor or firefighter...but I do help companies and I do good consulting work....and I love my job. It is another......ut oh.......oh no............don't say it.........aughhhhhhhh.....I can't help it.............It is another GIFT!!
xoxo
The point is: I am really happy. Most days I am so so so very happy. Other days I am just content...such a lovely place to be. And EVERY day I am grateful. Not forced grateful but truly grateful...right down to my very core. It is just a pure state of mind for me. Is this one of the enigmatic "gifts" that are so often talked about by survivors? I guess it is part of that secret handshake. :) I read about the "gifts" and listened to people talk about the "gifts". And, truth be told, sometimes I would get annoyed by the "gifts" talk. But now I get it. Like a light bulb going off. Trying to describe it is like trying to explain the color blue to a person blind since birth. It is so esoteric but oh so very good.
Of course I still get crabby with the kids or irritated by the painfully slow waitress or irked by the rude store clerk. Even that makes me happy because it is just so damn normal. lol
One of the best parts of life these days is work. I realize now what a significant part of my life my work is. I love my job. I adore the people I work for and with. I would love it all more if I could get my foot in the door at ArvinMeritor or Lear or BorgWarner or Visteon. :-) I may not have a nobel profession like being a teacher or doctor or firefighter...but I do help companies and I do good consulting work....and I love my job. It is another......ut oh.......oh no............don't say it.........aughhhhhhhh.....I can't help it.............It is another GIFT!!
xoxo
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Aspirin
This study is from reputable institutions. No need to read the whole article unless you are an insomniac. Suffice to say ... I have to go now. Running to the drugstore. :-)
Aspirin Benefit Seen in Established Breast Cancer
Chalk up another use for aspirin: The drug appears to substantially reduce breast cancer survivors' risk of metastasis and death, researchers found. An aspirin at least two days a week significantly reduced breast cancer death risk by 64% to 71%, Michelle D. Holmes, MD, DrPH, of the Channing Laboratory at Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues reported online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The risk reduction for distant metastasis in breast cancer survivors taking aspirin at least two days a week was a significant 43% to 60% in the analysis of the Nurses' Health Study data through 2006.This cut the risk of death from any cause nearly in half, Holmes' group noted.These results could have "considerable clinical importance," they wrote, given the drug's relatively benign adverse effects compared with cancer chemotherapy agents as well as its other benefits in preventing colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. These findings were "all the more notable because the Nurses' Health Study did not find an association between aspirin use and breast cancer incidence," Holmes' group wrote.Prevention of metastasis may be different, they said. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) nonselectively block Cox-2 overexpression, which has been linked to metastasis of breast cancer, and also lower serum estradiol. The anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin might itself hold benefits against cancer, added Lori Pierce, MD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who commented on behalf of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. However, she cautioned that aspirin isn't risk-free, noting it can cause GI bleeding. Nevertheless, "these are promising findings, and if they are confirmed in additional clinical trials, physicians may be able to regularly recommend aspirin to their breast cancer patients to reduce risk of cancer spread and mortality," she wrote in a prepared statement.Further study is needed to determine the mechanism and also to prospectively confirm the benefit, the investigators agreed.
The analysis included responses from 4,164 female registered nurses diagnosed with early stage breast cancer between 1976 and 2002 with follow-up through death or June 2006.Aspirin use assessments in the first year after diagnosis were excluded since the drug is discouraged during chemotherapy.Among these women who survived for more than a year after diagnosis, those who used aspirin more were less likely to subsequently die from breast cancer (P<0.001 for trend).Compared with women who never used aspirin, the multivariate adjusted relative risk of breast cancer death was:Similar for past users (RR 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.64 to 1.22)Similar for those with current use one day a week (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.63)Significantly lower for current two to five days-a week use (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.52)Significantly lower for current use six or seven days a week (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.54)For distant recurrence risk, the results were much the same (P=0.03 for trend).The multivariate adjusted metastasis risks compared with women who never used aspirin was not reduced significantly with past (RR 1.03) or current one day a week use (RR 0.91) but was with two to five (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.65) and six to seven days a week use (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.82).For overall mortality, the results were just as good (P=0.004 for trend), with multivariate-adjusted risk reductions of 47% for two to five day a week use (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.76) and 46% for daily or nearly daily use (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.70).However, this appeared to be accounted for by the reductions in breast cancer-related deaths, the researchers noted.Despite low statistical power, they found a suggestion of a breast cancer survival advantage with other NSAIDs but not with acetaminophen (Tylenol)."The lack of association with acetaminophen suggests that the associations seen with aspirin and NSAIDs may represent biologically plausible effects and not just confounding by indication," Holmes and colleagues wrote in the JCO paper.They cautioned, though, that the study was limited by use of self-reporting for aspirin intake, treatment, and distant recurrence.Nor did the study have any information on aspirin dose, although most regular use was likely for heart disease prevention at the 81 mg/day level, they suggested.And, although most breast cancer patients live at least five years, the results may be generalizable only to longer-term breast cancer survivors, they added.
Aspirin Benefit Seen in Established Breast Cancer
Chalk up another use for aspirin: The drug appears to substantially reduce breast cancer survivors' risk of metastasis and death, researchers found. An aspirin at least two days a week significantly reduced breast cancer death risk by 64% to 71%, Michelle D. Holmes, MD, DrPH, of the Channing Laboratory at Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues reported online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The risk reduction for distant metastasis in breast cancer survivors taking aspirin at least two days a week was a significant 43% to 60% in the analysis of the Nurses' Health Study data through 2006.This cut the risk of death from any cause nearly in half, Holmes' group noted.These results could have "considerable clinical importance," they wrote, given the drug's relatively benign adverse effects compared with cancer chemotherapy agents as well as its other benefits in preventing colon cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. These findings were "all the more notable because the Nurses' Health Study did not find an association between aspirin use and breast cancer incidence," Holmes' group wrote.Prevention of metastasis may be different, they said. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) nonselectively block Cox-2 overexpression, which has been linked to metastasis of breast cancer, and also lower serum estradiol. The anti-inflammatory effect of aspirin might itself hold benefits against cancer, added Lori Pierce, MD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who commented on behalf of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. However, she cautioned that aspirin isn't risk-free, noting it can cause GI bleeding. Nevertheless, "these are promising findings, and if they are confirmed in additional clinical trials, physicians may be able to regularly recommend aspirin to their breast cancer patients to reduce risk of cancer spread and mortality," she wrote in a prepared statement.Further study is needed to determine the mechanism and also to prospectively confirm the benefit, the investigators agreed.
The analysis included responses from 4,164 female registered nurses diagnosed with early stage breast cancer between 1976 and 2002 with follow-up through death or June 2006.Aspirin use assessments in the first year after diagnosis were excluded since the drug is discouraged during chemotherapy.Among these women who survived for more than a year after diagnosis, those who used aspirin more were less likely to subsequently die from breast cancer (P<0.001 for trend).Compared with women who never used aspirin, the multivariate adjusted relative risk of breast cancer death was:Similar for past users (RR 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.64 to 1.22)Similar for those with current use one day a week (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.63)Significantly lower for current two to five days-a week use (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.52)Significantly lower for current use six or seven days a week (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.54)For distant recurrence risk, the results were much the same (P=0.03 for trend).The multivariate adjusted metastasis risks compared with women who never used aspirin was not reduced significantly with past (RR 1.03) or current one day a week use (RR 0.91) but was with two to five (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.65) and six to seven days a week use (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.82).For overall mortality, the results were just as good (P=0.004 for trend), with multivariate-adjusted risk reductions of 47% for two to five day a week use (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.76) and 46% for daily or nearly daily use (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.70).However, this appeared to be accounted for by the reductions in breast cancer-related deaths, the researchers noted.Despite low statistical power, they found a suggestion of a breast cancer survival advantage with other NSAIDs but not with acetaminophen (Tylenol)."The lack of association with acetaminophen suggests that the associations seen with aspirin and NSAIDs may represent biologically plausible effects and not just confounding by indication," Holmes and colleagues wrote in the JCO paper.They cautioned, though, that the study was limited by use of self-reporting for aspirin intake, treatment, and distant recurrence.Nor did the study have any information on aspirin dose, although most regular use was likely for heart disease prevention at the 81 mg/day level, they suggested.And, although most breast cancer patients live at least five years, the results may be generalizable only to longer-term breast cancer survivors, they added.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Please consider helping
When we moved into this neighborhood, we were instantly and warmly welcomed by the people across the street. They are great people...really great. Their whole family is so kind. I soon found out that this lovely new neighbor, Dr. Craig Bowman, had just undergone 9 months of chemotherapy only to be told that the cancer cells have multiplied and a bone marrow transplant is urgently needed.
But he needs a bone marrow donor.
What I have since learned about this process is that finding a match is a bit of a numbers game, hence the more that register, the better the chances that a match will be found for Craig.
Please consider becoming a donor...please.
If you are interested in becoming a bone marrow donor, please go to marrow.org. Click on the "Join" button to the far left inside the navy blue box. It's a simple 3 step process to register.
Should you be a match, it's a quick painless procedure much like donating blood.
Please prayerfully consider becoming a donor.
You could be the one!
xoxo
p.s. Post if you would like to get a message to Craig and I will make that happen.
But he needs a bone marrow donor.
What I have since learned about this process is that finding a match is a bit of a numbers game, hence the more that register, the better the chances that a match will be found for Craig.
Please consider becoming a donor...please.
If you are interested in becoming a bone marrow donor, please go to marrow.org. Click on the "Join" button to the far left inside the navy blue box. It's a simple 3 step process to register.
Should you be a match, it's a quick painless procedure much like donating blood.
Please prayerfully consider becoming a donor.
You could be the one!
xoxo
p.s. Post if you would like to get a message to Craig and I will make that happen.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Bunch of damn turkeys!
No, seriously, a bunch of turkeys! lol
(bet you thought I was talking about the IRS)
Here they are running from me. Who looked like the turkey?
xoxo
(bet you thought I was talking about the IRS)
Here they are running from me. Who looked like the turkey?
xoxo
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Calling all you creative minds!
Megan and I are starting to plan the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer. We have to think of a team name.
Any suggestions? Keep it clean. Or not. :-)
xoxo
Any suggestions? Keep it clean. Or not. :-)
xoxo
Saturday, January 30, 2010
My new men
I am meeting lots of great guys here in Michigan. Not sure yet which one I will pick for my beau.
Synchronized wheels chairs from the local hospital ...
Gorgeous HUGE draft horse teams...
Actually, as I strive to catch up on my posting, I wanted to share some pictures of the Rochester Christmas Parade, the largest parade in Michigan... thank you very much!! lol
It was a blast!!! We saw....
Synchronized wheels chairs from the local hospital ...
Gorgeous HUGE draft horse teams...Thousands of people...as far as the eye could see...
And Santa...the REAL one...
Thanks for letting me share.
xoxo
p.s. Place your vote....beau # 1 or beau # 2. lol
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