2018 Paint paper pink

Page 66 2018 Paint the Paper Pink Lincoln Daily News October 2018 and “no wealthy relatives” to help her out. She was on her own and felt that she couldn’t afford to go through testing and ultimately treatment. Kathleen resigned herself to the idea that the cancer would go unchecked and probably within a few months take her life. And while she appeared to accept that self- diagnosis, she still looked for ways to get help. She learned that she could get the testing she needed through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program offered through the Illinois Department of Public Health. However, knowing she had cancer didn’t mean that she could do anything about it. Finally, Kathleen said it dawned on her that if the IBCCP could offer free testing, then there were surely ways to also get treatment. For Kathleen that means of treatment came through Medicaid. Once those questions were answered, then she was ready to fight the disease that was raging through both breasts and invading her lymph nodes. When all was said and done, her prognosis was quite serious. She learned, as she had already suspected that she had cancer in both breasts and the lymph nodes. Her plan of action would include a radical mastectomy with both breasts to be removed as well as lymph nodes. She would undergo chemotherapy and radiation. Then she would have reconstructive surgery. For Kathleen this was a solitary journey in many ways. Her family all lived in Michigan. She had aunts that helped get her mother to Illinois at some of the critical moments, she had members of the support group who gave her someone to lean on, her church, and in the later parts of her recovery, a roommate, who helped take care of the home. Kathleen stressed that she had not included the roommate in her daily health care, but that person had been invaluable in taking care of the home, preparing meals, and doing many of the things that Kathleen was unable to do. After her treatment, reconstruction therapy was the last part of her recovery. This took place in 2008 and required multiple surgeries. Kathleen noted that many patients have two surgeries, but she had to have three. After her wounds had healed from the mastectomy and radiation, she underwent a procedure where skin was taken from her back and grafted onto her chest over temporary implants. The process for reconstructive surgery takes a lot of time. She explained that within the temporary implants there are valves that can be opened for fluid injection. The implant is placed under the skin deflated. Over time fluid is added to the implants through the valves and the skin then stretches gradually. When the implants have been filled to the desired size and the skin has been stretched to accommodate them, then the temporary implants are removed and permanent implants put in place. Kathleen said that the reconstructive surgeries were complicated because she was a large size lady, but for the most part the surgeries went well. She noted that something some may not know, is that once you have the implants put in, you are given a card that you have to carry in your wallet to present in places like airport security. She said that the fluid in the implants can set off security alarms, so the card is to be shown to security personnel before stepping into the scanners. Kathleen said that having both breasts removed carried its own emotional turmoil. CONTINUE ...