Posted by Lisa Hendey in Health on Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:00 AM
Hi friends and family! Since I’ve been very open with you over the past few weeks in sharing about my little medical situation and last week’s surgery, I wanted to give you an update on my post surgery appointment yesterday and subsequent diagnosis.
During last week’s surgery, additional tissue was excised and sent to pathology for analysis. After several long days of waiting, we learned yesterday that I have been diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS), the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer.
I remember hearing about DCIS last year for the first time when the amazing Cheryl Crow received her diagnosis with this type of cancer. The good news is that DCIS is highly treatable and has a nearly 100% survival rate. Mine was caught very early, so that is indeed a blessing.
I will be going next week to meet with an oncologist and will likely be going through radiation, which is the most common form of treatment for this type of non-invasive breast cancer. That will likely mean six weeks of five day per week radiation treatments, which shouldn’t leave me feeling sick in any way. Adam was happy that my hair won’t be impacted - he doesn’t want Mom stealing his hats!
I’ll know more after my oncology appointment on Wednesday, but wanted to share this with you now since so many of you have been praying for me. I want you to know that I’m confident that this will be fully treatable and am not feeling any pain (other than the normal post-surgical kind) or, more importantly, anxiety. I’m surrounded by people who love and care for me so much and who’ve offered to help in every way imaginable. I’m hoping that I’ll feel so great during the treatment phase that I won’t have to take anyone up on those offers, but it’s good to know I have so much support and love!
I would ask you for two favors today:
1. Please keep all of our friends facing health and well-being difficulties during these unsettling times in your prayers. Please especially pray for the families of our church friends Russell and Craig, who both died this past week.
2. Regardless of if you’re a man or a woman, please take time today to schedule your annual (or for most of us “once per decade”) physical. Having lost our friend Craig to a sudden heart attack this week is a good reminder that we Catholic moms need our husbands to be taking care of themselves too.
I’m sharing all of this (and will likely continue to write about this phase of my journey) in the hopes that it will inspire all of us that we are temples of God’s creation - as such precious treasures we need to do all we can to care for ourselves as much as we care for those around us.
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Lisa,
All of us at Faith and Family are so sorry to hear you are facing this diagnosis right now and we will be praying hard for you in the coming weeks. May God give you peace and strength.
Lisa, I just want to join Danielle’s comments. You’re in our prayers!
Lisa,
Our prayers are with you during this difficult time. Do you know what kind of flower that is in the picture with your post. My husband and I would like to donate one like that to a local garden dedicated to cancer sufferers and survivors.
Lisa, Prayers for you and your family as they support you through this time of treatment and uncertainty.
Thanks everyone for your well wishes - I am so lucky that this is such a treatable situation, but I do welcome your prayers and support! Kristen, sadly I don’t know the name of the flower - I saw it online and thought it was so bright and lovely, that maybe it would help portray the hope and confidence I feel in facing this situation. Maybe one of our most experienced gardeners out there can help identify it! Lisa
Prayers for you & your family!
The flower is a dahlia.
As I noted on your Catholic Mom blog post, you can count on me as one of your many prayer warriors right now.
God bless you.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.”
--Romans 15:13
Lots of prayers for strenght and wisdom for you, your doctors and your family.
We’re praying for your complete recovery and good health. God bless you and your family this holy season.
Dear Lisa,
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
My beloved Nana had DCIS in her 70’s and recovered 100%! She didn’t let her diagnosis trample her spirit and at the time I really didn’t realize the seriousness of it. She made it look so easy. She even refused to have my mom and Pop-o drive her to her radiation appointments. The only thing I recall her complaining about was how tired she would get. (so slow down and take care of yourself - I think we will all understand if you have to take a break from the wonderful things you do such as your blog posts, website and podcast).
I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Get well and God Bless!!
Melissa
Prayers for you Lisa! DCIS is the same breast cancer my mom dealt with five years ago. If you have any questions, I know she would be more than happy to talk with you. Much love to you!
Praying for you. Remember St. Peregrine!
I would also ask for prayers for all those people who don’t have insurance, but have medical issues. There are many people who have a death warrant signed because they don’t have insurance and don’t have the money to pay for treatments for heart disease/cancer/ other illness. Some states have Medicare for them, but many do not.
I am praying for you and your intentions Lisa. You will do great and will love on your grandchildren (and hopefully your great-grandchildren) someday! 
God bless and keep you.
Dear Lisa,
Even though I don’t actually “know” you, your writing has been such an inspiration to me (along with all the other Faith and Family Live! writers). I have e-mailed you in the past about pen pal writing with your nephew’s 4th grade class...so maybe you will remember me. I just wanted to tell you that you are in our prayers. I was diagnosed with cancer about 7 years ago. I have have had good times and bad, remissions and relapses. I do not think the word “cancer” is ever an easy one to hear. Even in the most treatable cases, it is terrifying at best. One thing that I have learned that I would like to share is this: Sometimes we pray for a “cure” when what we really need is a “healing”. We need to remember that it is not always the outcome of the situation that proves God is with us, but everything that happens along the way. Over the past years, God has been present in ways I never would have experienced without this diagnosis...because He clearly makes all things work for good. No trial comes without a blessing...you just wait and see what He has planned for you and your family!
Lisa,
You have my prayers in abundance.
I will offer a Christmas novena for you.
Stay strong and fight the good fight.
God really, really, really loves you and so do we.
Lisa,
You will be daily in my prayers throughout your treatment and recovery. And I think you should feel free to snitch Adam’s hats anyway.
Thanks to each and every one of you for your love, prayers and support. I am truly blessed!
Lisa,
Thank you for sharing with us as you travel on this journey. S.O.A.P. (sending out a prayer)
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