tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89449786215306203682011-10-23T18:08:23.655-08:00.........Being told I have Breast Cancer. This blog is not about my family life it is about BREAST CANCER - MY thoughts, feelings and what I am going through , step-by-step, to the best of my ability, to help you, and ME, understand. Click on the OLDER POSTS Button at the bottom of the page to start at the beginning!!!! ****Caution - REAL Photos Included****Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.comBlogger591100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-28802673201825186982011-10-23T17:54:00.005-08:002011-10-23T18:08:23.666-08:00

Cancer wasn't killing me, it was pushing me to live.  If it wasn't for the downside, having cancer would be the best thing and everyone would want it. ~ Gilda Radner Cancer changes your life, often for the better. You learn what's important, you learn to prioritize, and you learn not to waste your time. You tell people you love them more often. I take nothing for granted. I now have only

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-17864804280264826942011-04-29T06:48:00.001-08:002011-04-29T06:52:00.466-08:00

OK, so I have been on either a clinical trial, or Tamoxifen for over 4 years now.Menopause with no period for 4 years.One more year to go and I am home free!BUT THEN.......there's the day before yesterday ......what a curveball. I got my period.....WTF?!?!?! Is my va-jayjay friggin' kidding me right now?! Does it NOT realize that I did not miss having my period. Really....does it have to be

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-25137642627631078512011-03-18T18:53:00.006-08:002011-03-18T19:06:25.835-08:00

It has been 4 years since I battled cancer and I still have sleepless nights.Nights of subconscious worry. Lonely nights curled up in bed wondering if cancer will come back, or if I will - hopefully - remain cancer free. Is my life just passing by, one day at a time until the cancer comes back and destroys another chunk of my body?Maybe it will show up somewhere different this time. Am I eating

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-42496999476187106872011-02-28T13:04:00.007-08:002011-02-28T19:28:07.190-08:00

OK....I need to send a special "Thank You" to my beautiful niece, and personal nurse, Jessica, for telling me that there was a possibility that the Keflex that they put me on for the infection in my arm just might cause a "raging yeast infection". Thank You Jessica for your professional advice.(I never doubted you for a second!!)Unfortunately, for me, you were right. Uggggghhhhhhh!!It has finally

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-42794298059093099202011-01-26T08:31:00.005-08:002011-01-26T12:12:54.734-08:00

OK.....here are the photos of my left arm, swollen with infection. I cannot even begin to tell you how painful and scary this was...... When I woke up on December 21st, 2010 it felt like I had just slept on my arm wrong. You know, like it was abit sore but would work itself out. Well...through out the day it did not get better and I was taking tylenol every 4 hours. I went to work and spent the

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-26696504873977643752011-01-02T11:54:00.002-08:002011-01-02T12:00:06.296-08:00

Well......here we are at the YEAR 2011.....whoooohoooooo!Here's to GREAT Friends - old and new, NEW Challenges, NEW Adventures and continued GREAT HEALTH!!!HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!I am quite excited for this year, because it is year 4 of being "cancer free" for me...I continue to work out (to the best of my ability), to eat as healthy as possible (probably not well enough tho) and to keep my

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-61934575196036103852010-10-05T12:45:00.008-08:002010-10-05T13:19:57.305-08:00

OK, so today I had a routine MRI of my breasts.FUN?!? WOW!!But it is better to be safe than sorry.(Here's a website of what it is: http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastmr )Really tho, does the machine have to be so loud and hot in there?!?!Oh my gosh.....its not like to hot flashes I get aren't bad enough, but I get to be stuffed into this machine, boobs down in the machine, on my

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-78261097052661438222009-09-11T15:33:00.003-08:002009-09-11T18:28:22.757-08:00

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-22756538865094410892009-09-11T12:09:00.004-08:002009-09-11T13:02:20.004-08:00

OK......so remember the Exemestane Clinical Trial that I was on, where I go and get a shot at Roswell Park every month and take a pill everyday? Well, I am no longer on this trial.WHY you ask??For the last year, or longer, it has progressively made my ankles weaker and weaker. When I would sit and relax, and then get up and walk, it would feel like I needed a walker to get to the other room. I

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-68453375551270145092009-03-17T12:07:00.002-08:002009-03-17T12:20:25.697-08:00

Soooooo sorry everyone!No news is GOOD news though, right??All is well......I am staying healthy.Making sure I go to all my appointments and STILL taking my pill everyday.Trying to exercise as much as I can - which isn't often enough I am sorry to say.I definitely get scared when I hear of people having re-occurrences (which is OFTEN now that I am working at Cancer Care of WNY). It makes you feel

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-59798233863065561012008-12-28T10:18:00.002-08:002008-12-28T10:22:39.628-08:00

Hey......so all is going well. All tests and exams are coming back negative for cancer!!I continue to KICK ITS ASS and keep it out of my body!!That's the way we want it, right?!Well, at least I do anyway!!Dad is doing excellent with his treatments too!!Hope everyone has the BEST Holidays ever!!I know that I am going to try to!!I'll be back on soon..........

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-50247105480929878832008-10-23T09:45:00.002-08:002008-10-23T10:02:25.387-08:00

NEGATIVE!!!!!!Yeah....good for another 6 months!!Let's hope that I continue to stay that way.It seems like you just never stop wondering whether or not you are TRULY cancer free. I read an article about a woman that was diagnosed and will not consider herself "cancer free" until she is done with her clinical trial which is 5 years after her treatment is over.I wonder if she will really consider

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-51709747763755666742008-09-28T09:16:00.002-08:002008-09-28T09:20:11.907-08:00

All of my results came back.......NEGATIVE!!!!!Y-E-A-H!!!!!!I go back in October for a mammogram, I will let you know what happens.I guess the routine of Roswell has just become NORMAL for me and I have become lax in keeping up with my blog......sorry.I am not really sure if that is a good or bad thing.I will try to keep a better eye on it.

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-85445633388149811932008-09-01T08:51:00.003-08:002008-09-01T08:55:35.312-08:00

HOPEFULLY AT THIS APPOINTMENT I WILL FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF MY LAST BREAST MRI FROM JULY AND MY HIP AND SPINE BONE SCANS FROM AUGUST 8TH.NOT SURE WHY THEY NEVER CALLED ME WITH THE RESULTS, BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW NEXT FRIDAY AFTER MY APPOINTMENT. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-82758971206423859032008-06-29T20:27:00.008-08:002008-07-03T19:13:12.302-08:00

UP HILL AT ELLICOTT CREEK PARK "NO BRAKING, NO BRAKING!!!"Let me tell you that staying ahead of them so that I could take photographs of them riding was NO EASY TASK to say the least!But I managed to get to the finish line first......2ND ONE BACK - JANEEN 3RD & 4TH - JUSTINE & JACKIE 5TH BACK - RENEE 6TH ONE BACK - VALERIE 7TH ONE BACK - SUE"TEAM MAXIM" AT THE FINISH LINE20 MILES COMPLETENEXT

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-41619114396443472822008-06-29T19:22:00.004-08:002008-06-29T20:49:49.283-08:00

1st rest stop - almost half way done:

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-24195993831773746712008-06-29T19:03:00.005-08:002008-07-03T19:14:20.426-08:00

was Saturday June 28th, 2008.We rode 20 miles and it was a blast. I rode with Janeen, Renee, Valerie, Justine, Jackie and Susan from Maxim Management Services. Here are a few photos:Janeen and her HELMET."TEAM MAXIM "Sue, Justine & I waiting for it to start.Me , Janeen & Jackie at the starting line up.Renee & her helmetStill waiting..............

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-71921645563631286722008-06-01T05:51:00.003-08:002008-06-01T06:00:38.932-08:00

NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE !!!!!!!!WHEW..............What a relief!!!!That was a scary two weeks!!To spend two weeks worrying that you have a brain tumor is not an easy thing, let me tell you.He diagnosed that it IS migraine headaches and put me on the Imitrex. The steroid helped relieve the headaches, but that was a one time thing. He says that if the migraines tend to be an everyday

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-10274955524983243112008-06-01T05:40:00.004-08:002008-06-01T05:59:04.367-08:00

OK, so I think I have stated previously that I have been having headaches since this whole thing started, right??If not, I am letting you know now.Well, the headaches seem to be on a daily basis, and more severe with the amount of stress I get put under.Well, once again, my girl VALERIE at Roswell hooked me up with a good Dr. (Kang, Minsoo, MD ) and is getting it taken care of for me. I went to

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-66432299433423394142008-04-07T10:05:00.006-08:002008-04-07T10:15:52.879-08:00

I would like to invite you all to join me in this fight to find the CURE for Cancer!! I will be riding, with my friends from Maxim Management Services LLC, 20 miles for this fight and your donation would be greatly appreciated in helping me reach my goal!Every cent will go to help fund the research that has helped me fight this battle.If it wasn't for the research and progress made by fundraising

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-49313444076181346992008-04-02T10:03:00.002-08:002008-04-02T10:22:04.227-08:00

OK.....so I went in for my 6 month follow up (Radiation) Mammogram.The results were NEGATIVE for cancer.Every time I hear that it is negative, I take a huge sigh of relief!I have come to the conclusion that if, by some chance, the cancer does return, I will have a mastectomy.I think about just having it now, while I am well, so that I can be done with the worry.The hot flashes are starting to get

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-57415629348373653202008-02-25T13:15:00.003-08:002008-02-25T13:20:32.625-08:00

I wear this for ALL of usSurvivors and sisters/brothers that passed that we cannot forget!

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-16052434543780221752007-12-31T13:16:00.000-08:002007-12-31T13:20:47.690-08:00

OK, my MRI came back NEGATIVE!! Yeahhhhhhh!! Time to celebrate!!6 Months and CANCER FREE!!!Happy New Year to ME!!Now to follow through with my New Year's Resolution and try to get healthy in other ways.I have already quit smoking, and I exercise now and eat quite a bit healthier, but now it is time to jump up the workouts to more weekly and cut the caffeine out of my diet!!Wish me luck...........

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-27543595040776804142007-12-16T20:40:00.000-08:002007-12-16T20:44:59.613-08:00

OK, so I went in for my 3 month Mammogram and MRI on the 13th of December.2007.I was very nervous, but I'm not sure why.I am glad that I have follow up visits like this, but I guess I am still nervous that it will come back.I am not sure why they scheduled BOTH of them for the same day because I was told that they would be alternating them, but I am glad to have them out of the way.The results of

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-64335941458539374402007-10-12T03:47:00.000-08:002007-10-12T04:04:51.899-08:00

....on my body scan that I had on Sept. 27th. I thought that it was a bone scan, but it was a whole body scan.So they checked my whole body for cancer and found NONE!!!!I cannot tell you what a relief that is to hear!!It is a DAILY fear that this has come back.The exact words on the results paper are:" NO DEFINITE EVIDENCE OF OSSEOUS METASTASIS."Whoooooo Hoooooooo!!CANCER FREE - THAT'S ME!!!I

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-20772048326064431412007-10-03T15:51:00.000-08:002007-10-03T16:14:22.593-08:00

I forgot to tell you, on the 27th of September I went back to Roswell Park for a bone scan. When you exit a bisphosphonate clinical trial, they have you get a bone scan and go to the dentist to make sure that everything is still the way that it was before the trial. (These are the tests that I had done before I started the trial - as well as the usual blood tests!!) The bone scan was simple -

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-25126658935091223132007-09-26T04:52:00.000-08:002007-09-26T15:28:42.677-08:00

Well, I went to my monthly follow up appointment at Roswell Park after my Radiation ended. Everything is healing as expected and I will be back to work on November 1st, 2007. I will be going back every 6 months for either a MRI of my breasts or a mammogram (alternating the two every 6 months.) I will also be going back every month for my shot. They ended up taking me off of the bisphosphonate

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-75283928467638654822007-09-13T07:40:00.000-08:002007-09-13T07:47:32.428-08:00

Pink Ribbons: The Ties That Bindby Beth ThompsonI never realized the strength a tiny bit of ribbon can impart until I pinned a twist of pink above my heart to symbolize survival;until I saw acquaintances and friends and loved ones wear the same, in my name, to show their strong support.It's so hard to reclaim your life once the crisis ends. You're never sure it's really over. So courage begins

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-45433693287339720882007-09-12T15:42:00.001-08:002007-09-12T16:09:52.633-08:00

..................and the winner is.................................NEGATIVE for cancer of my liver and NEGATIVE for hepatitis !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Can I tell you what a relief that was to hear!!I have to have a repeat blood test on Friday and then they will figure out whether or not I will stay on the bisphosphonate pill or not. (They think that is what is causing the elevation in my liver enzymes.)

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-60476827342670466652007-09-08T18:48:00.000-08:002007-09-08T19:25:36.578-08:00

.........on Friday the 7th of September, at about 10:15am, I went in for my monthly shot.They said I would be in and out today.I had to have a blood test before I went upstairs to the Breast Center to get my injection. When I got up there, after waiting over an hour, they finally called me in to give me the injection. It was now 11:45amThey weigh me, take my temperature and blood pressure.I lost

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-70148937492581491622007-09-05T00:20:00.000-08:002007-09-05T00:44:25.958-08:00

from radiation today!!! Yeah - I am a survivor!!!No more driving back and forth everyday to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.Things are going well - my skin is starting to peel, but now that I am done with radiation it should start to heal! The pains are still there, but farther apart now.I never really got fatigued during the whole 6 weeks, but I did get emotional and sometimes crabby!! I still

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-42823026287800488322007-08-30T18:37:00.000-08:002007-08-30T19:21:42.100-08:00

.............but welcome to radiation burn !!!! Below are photos of the burn that I am experiencing. If you look closely, not that you really want to, you can see where the skin in peeling off. It is not like when you peel from a sunburn, it is more like when you rip a band-aid off your skin and the first two layers of skin go with it! It is painful - especially where the elastic to my bra rests.

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-91007519343460971762007-08-25T19:27:00.000-08:002007-08-30T18:37:50.015-08:00

OK...................So I need to give a special shout out toValerie Stilb, RPA-C, Assistant to Dr. Fernando,in the Department Of Radiation at Roswell Park Cancer Institute."H-O-L-L-A Valerie !!!"She has taken very good care of me since I have become a patient in the Radiation Department and has made sure that my paper work is always complete, taken care of ANY PROBLEMS that were holding me down,

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-71557424633964066342007-08-22T07:42:00.000-08:002007-08-22T07:49:52.317-08:00

(This information is from the Breastcancer.org website and EVERY woman should know how to do it but in case you don't......)Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.Here's what you should look for:breasts that are their usual size, shape, and colorbreasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swellingIf you see

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-47897046568573337162007-08-11T03:48:00.000-08:002007-08-11T04:06:56.117-08:00

.............a bit tender, swollen and sensitive, but not to awfully bad!! If you bumped into my breast, or pushed my breast, I just might smack youin the head, but other than that it is not too bad. Every once and a while I will get this sharpstick of pain throughout my breast, but it goes away quickly. By the time I finish saying, "Ooooouch," it is gone.For some reason the cats insist on trying

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-17398213342536057932007-08-07T03:51:00.000-08:002007-08-07T04:02:28.434-08:00

I found this on a website called Holisticonline.com and thought it was good to put on my blog:Dr. Lee Berk and fellow researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in California have been studying the effects of laughter on the immune system. To date their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, and boosts immune

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-22863768256674316732007-07-26T18:28:00.000-08:002007-07-30T04:46:16.180-08:00

I forgot to tell you that I finally found out what is wrong with my arm..........I have Axillary Web Syndrome.I got this information from the BC Cancer Agency web site for you so that you would have a brief idea of what AWS is (this is kind of technical, so I hope you can understand it):"Axillary web syndrome is a post axillary lymph node dissection pain syndrome that occurs in approximately 6%

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-50859081792108618052007-07-26T15:40:00.000-08:002007-07-26T19:07:03.365-08:00

........and it seems to be going well. No pain involved here...........so far. I lay down on this sort of table. They position me where they need me to be (where the markers on my chest tell them to be) and they leave the room. They turn on the machine - they tell me I cannot move - it doesn't hurt and I really don't even feel anything. My radiation therapists names are Tracy and Chris. They are

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-19926827588519639882007-07-17T18:14:00.000-08:002007-07-17T19:24:16.028-08:00

.....since I have updated this blog. Since the post on June 25th, I have been back to Roswell for follow up visits with my oncologist, Janarthanan, Bagirathan, MD. I have joined 2 Clinical Trials . One is a Hormonal Therapy trial and if you click on this link you can read all about it - what happens, what they do, and what I will be going through. Because I am premenopausal, and my tumor fed on

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-15930848448506509252007-07-17T03:09:00.001-08:002007-07-17T03:09:30.496-08:00

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-18910974915149048542007-06-25T03:45:00.000-08:002007-07-11T16:59:52.070-08:00

Well, the surgical sites are healing well. This is the one under my arm. My arm is still abit stiff. When I straighten it out it feels like there is something pulling in the inside. I exercise it daily, and it seems to get abit better everyday! Now I can put my shirt on without anyone having to help me and without feeling too much pain. My upper arm is still numb on the side that is closest to my

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-21074006290736832292007-06-15T18:15:00.001-08:002007-06-15T18:23:21.725-08:00

This incision below is where they took the biopsies of thesentinel node and the other 7 lymph nodes. Sorry about the purple ink, but they told me that I wasn't allowed to scrub when I washed. The next two photos are of both incisions:One under my arm and the other under my left breast. The last two photos are ofincision below is where theyremoved the cancerous tumor from.

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-10325244447071326712007-06-15T02:46:00.000-08:002007-07-26T18:09:07.799-08:00

.........are from after the surgery. Later today I will be able to remove the bandages and take photos of the surgery sites and then I will post them. I hope that the photos don't make it hard to read to blog, because I want you to see what it REALLY looks like. You can see drawings of it on other web sites, but this is the TRUE look of what actually happened to me. I will NOT, however, show you

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-51493285045291802952007-06-15T02:37:00.001-08:002007-06-15T02:46:20.129-08:00

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-77594396390459435222007-06-13T07:55:00.000-08:002007-06-15T17:25:50.436-08:00

My surgery went well the wait was long but all went well.They did a lympectomy and sentinal node biopsy as wellas the biopsy of 7 other lymph nodes. The preliminary reports on the nodes all came back benign (negative) and I will have the final reports at my next appt on the 20th. WhoooooooHoooooo - let the parties begin!!!Things went just as I expected - smooth without a hitch.I am so greatful

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-50663029773547644292007-06-11T15:35:00.000-08:002007-06-11T17:16:32.397-08:00

Wish me luck...............Prayers help!!I never thought I would say this, but I am actually abit afraid.Wait.............Did I just say that outloud?!?! I worry that something could happen and I won't wake up. I guess that is a normal thought, right??The ONLY surgery I have ever had that I wasn't awake for was my tonsils when I was a little girl. I don't remember it, so I don't think that counts

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-72146743278662925722007-06-09T12:06:00.000-08:002007-06-09T12:09:16.513-08:00

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-41196652722605796212007-06-09T11:59:00.000-08:002007-06-09T12:10:05.054-08:00

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-49151381814612770752007-06-07T15:15:00.000-08:002007-06-07T15:50:14.207-08:00

Well................today, June 6th, I went in for my biopsy and again, not so painful. It was just like the last one except they put me on the MRI table and did it that way. It was like the biopsy and MRI from the previous posts put together!! Now....to wait until tomorrow or Friday for the results.It makes me so nervous waiting for the results because I immediately think the worst even though I

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-59331499937463119912007-06-03T16:57:00.000-08:002007-06-03T17:38:38.531-08:00

I never, ever wanted to experience the thoughts of.......... dying...... going to bed at night not knowing whether or not I am going to wake up the next morning......waking up in the morning and saying to myself, "Whew, THANK GOD I am still alive!".....looking at myself in the mirror and wondering what it would look like if my breasts were gone and they were replaced by a bunch of ugly scars.....

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-82377094905766291292007-06-02T18:23:00.000-08:002007-06-02T19:07:19.561-08:00

As I patiently wait for the day of my biopsy and surgery,these are just some things that run through my mind.....The fear that the longer I stand in one place, doing nothing,the quicker the cancer is spreading through my body.(Hopefully it is not true!)The thought that statistics say that 1 inevery 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.The fear that every little pain, bruise or mark will

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-89738450015901549392007-06-02T14:45:00.000-08:002007-06-02T15:01:53.416-08:00

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors often cannot explain why one woman develops breast cancer and another does not. They do know that bumping, bruising, or touching the breast does not cause cancer. And breast cancer is not contagious. You cannot "catch" it from another person. Research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-89284197368429873552007-06-01T07:10:00.000-08:002007-06-01T07:21:20.982-08:00

This was sent to me by a dearly departed friend's mother and I read it every chance can get.Thanx KathyWhat Cancer Cannot DoIt cannot cripple love, It cannot shatter hope, It cannot corrode faith, It cannot eat away at peace, It cannot destroy confidence, It cannot kill friendship, It cannot shut out memories, It cannot invade the soul, it cannot reduce eternal life, It cannot quench the spirit,

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-18872923652129693792007-05-28T06:56:00.000-08:002007-05-28T17:37:48.929-08:00

Friday, May 25th, 2007. Since Janeen had to go to Ohio, and everyone had appts and things of their own to do, my "father-in-law" was wonderful enough to escort me to my appt. (Poor thing had to sit in a room full of women, with soap operas blasting at him from the tv! Probably the last place on earth a man would ever think he was going to have to be. He sure was a trooper though!! ) Thanx Boss!!

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-46138804510041210202007-05-28T05:36:00.000-08:002007-05-28T05:58:07.842-08:00

My doctor calls and tells me that the MRI found 2 suspicious spots in my RIGHT breast and that I need to come back in for another ultrasound for the "other" breast. "WHAT!!!!! You have GOT to be kidding me!! I am having surgery in 5 days and you didn't tell me that this was going to happen!!" That is what I wanted to scream at her at the top of my lungs. My heart dropped to the bottom of my feet

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-24611575767280517372007-05-27T16:15:00.000-08:002007-05-28T17:33:43.808-08:00

....Back to Roswell - the most depressing place on earth - I go for an MRI and Pre-surgical testing. Eventhough this place is depressing - we laughed ALOT! We both memorized the number on my "green card" and I think when I go there next time and they ask , "Do you have your green card?", and they WILL ask, I am going to reply, "NO, I am a US Citizen!" I have already decided that I am going to

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-9290619278036699872007-05-27T05:55:00.000-08:002007-05-28T17:30:26.888-08:00

So, on May 9th, 2007, they tell me that I have to go to the one place that I have been afraid of as long as I have lived in Western NY - Roswell Park Cancer Institute. I actually have to walk into the building and see a doctor there. I have become a patient at a cancer hospital. (WHAT?! Are you kidding??) I use to want to WORK there, but I never,ever wanted to be a PATIENT there!! Just walking

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-6570893738660808392007-05-27T05:22:00.000-08:002007-05-28T17:35:32.831-08:00

While having my yearly mammogram on April 19th, 2007 they found a dark spot on my left breast. They called me back in on the 26th of April for another mammogram and an ultrasound on the same day. An ultrasound is when they make you lay down and they take this thing, that looks like a microphone, and put gel on it. Then they run the "microphone" over the area that they are trying to see into it

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8944978621530620368.post-90964532944295335932007-05-27T04:51:00.000-08:002007-05-31T07:51:01.758-08:00

I have always been strong, both mentally and physically, and healthy. Since I was 17, I have always had physically challenging jobs and been a "hands on" kind of person. I had a "natural" childbirth, and I am very independent. There isn't anything that someone can do for me, that I cannot do myself.Now, at age 44, I have to learn to live all over again. I have to learn to slow down, ask for help,

Frann Ciprichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02577183236558192332noreply@blogger.com0