Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Patient's Site

Margie Rohwer - IBC Warrior

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I was diagnosed on February 3, 2006 at the age of 42.

Margie

The first week in January 2006 I noticed some hardness in both my breasts. Due to a recent partial hysterectomy, I thought it was just hormones or fibrous breasts.

By the third week my left breast was a full cup size bigger, the nipple was being pulled in on one side plus under my arm was swollen. Also I woke up one morning, and there was a hard lump the size of a lemon.

I called my GYN who told me to call a breast surgeon - not to waste time with him. I called on a Thursday and had an appointment on Monday. By Monday the breast was red and warm (I thought 'oh good, it's an infection'), plus I had a negative mammogram in May 2005. I had never heard of IBC.

On Monday the Breast Surgeon took one look at the breast, did an ultrasound and told me he thought it was cancer. I was stunned.

He immediately did a core needle biopsy in his office. Upon looking at the tissue he immediately left the room and called my oncologist/hematologist (from a current blood disorder diagnosis) and told him I had breast cancer.

The Breast Surgeon returned to the room and told me to call my oncologist to set up an appointment for the following week. The 5 days my husband and I waited for the pathology report for confirmation were the hardest - not knowing, not telling anyone, not telling our children (ages 16 and 12).

I got the confirmation at 9:30PM Friday night, had an appointment with the oncologist Monday morning and started Chemo the next Friday. They did the first chemo without my port or any further testing. They said it is a 'radical, aggressive, unpredictable' cancer, and we cannot waste any time.

I have had 3 of 4 doses of Cyclophosphamide (Cytan)/Adriamycin and will have 4 doses of Taxol every 3 weeks. I am Her2 Neg, and I am not hormone receptive. After my first chemo I had a CT Scan, MRI, Bone Scan and a MUGA Scan.

The tumor in the breast was 5.7cm. There was a tumor in the axilla lymph nodes 2cm and several enlarged, a 6mm tumor in the left internal mammary lymph node, and a small spot 5mm on the left lung. The bone scan was clear. It is present in the right breast also.

After chemo, I will have surgery then radiation. Some advice my breast surgeon told me was to get a copy of all pathology reports, blood reports, scans, and keep them all together for future use. It has proven helpful for me just to be aware of all that is going on.

We thank God daily for the doctors He put into our lives and their quick response. Now there are so many more people aware of IBC. No one I know - even nurses - had ever heard of it. My husband and kids have been wonderful. We are in this fight together and will come out of this stronger.

I have also realized that I cannot question or compare my treatment to anyone else because each case, patient and doctor is different. I have put my faith in God for my healing, and there it stays. I send my best wishes to all warriors.

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Update on progress 7/25/2006

Done with all chemo. I will have surgery 8/4/2006. All in all the time has really gone by fast. The AC was worse for me than the Taxol, hardly any side effects from Taxol.

Last week I was told I also have kidney cancer, at least IBC had not spread to the kidney. My Oncologist told me it is very odd and rare to have two different cancers at the same time. I will have surgery to remove the Kidney cancer and whatever part of the kidney that needs to go 2 to 3 weeks following my breast surgery.

Then on to radiation.

I told my Dr. that I am special and that I am here to challenge the medical profession. The truth is we are ALL special. Remember that when you are having one of those not so good days!

I will go forward into battle with the armour that God gives us to use in battle. Stay positive and laugh whenever you can!

God bless all of you!

Please click on the titles of the song and the hymn in order to hear the music.

Angels Among Us

I was walking home from school
on a cold winter day
Took a shortcut through the woods,
and I lost my way

It was getting late,
and I was scared and alone
then a kind old man took my hand
and led me home.

Mama couldn't see him,
but he was standing there,
and I knew in my heart,
he was the answer to my prayers.

Oh, I believe there are angels among us
sent down to us from somewhere up above.

They come to you and me
in our darkest hour
to show us how to live,
to teach us how to give
to guide us with a light of love.

When life held troubled times,
and had me down on my knees
There's always been someone there
to come along and comfort me

A kind word from a stranger,
to lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend,
just to say I understand

And ain't it kind of funny
that at the dark end of the road
Someone lights the way
with just a single ray of hope.

Oh, I believe there are angels among us
sent down to us from somewhere up above.

They come to you and me
in our darkest hour
to show us how to live,
to teach us how to give
to guide us with a light of love.

They wear so many faces,
show up in the strangest places
to guide us with their mercy,
in our time of need.

Oh, I believe there are angels among us
sent down to us from somewhere up above.

They come to you and me
in our darkest hour
to show us how to live,
to teach us how to give
to guide us with a light of love.

* * * * * * * * *

Recorded by Alabama
Words and Music by
Becky Hobbs and Don Goodman
Beckaroo Music and
Goodman/Walker Publishing Co.

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Onward Christian Soldiers

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

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Angel image

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