A year has passed since my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and I shared my personal thoughts with you. Click here to read my thoughts from last year. Today I am very happy to report that her treatments were successful. She is cancer free!

It was a bumpy road, but we are thankful for the results. After the diagnosis we had many meetings in the planning stage of the treatment. Her plan included lumpectomy surgery to remove the cancer cells. The tissue sample from the first lumpectomy indicated that there were cancer cells in the outer margins and would require additional surgery. Not the news we had hoped for and certainly a set back physically and emotionally. If waiting for the results from the first surgery was difficult then waiting for the results from the second could only be described as excruciating. Thankfully the follow up surgery was successful in getting the required margins so we were able to move to the next steps in treatment which is radiation therapy.

She was given a form of radiation known as Brachytherapy. Unlike whole breast surgery in which a beam of radiation is beamed over the entire breast for a short period of time daily over the period of 6-8 weeks, Brachytherapy uses radioactive pills inserted for minutes at a time directly into the lumpectomy area via catheters. This process is a bit more invasive due to the catheters through the breast, but only takes 5 days of treatments.

In many meetings and discussions with her doctors we learned that as little as 10 years ago the detection, treatment and prognosis for my wife would have been much different. The efforts to find a cure are working. There are many fine organizations and events that you can participate in to help find a cure or help others dealing with this disease. Every little bit helps.

Here are a couple of products to consider that are useful, stylish and provide support in the form of donations to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. They support breast cancer education and mammogram financial assistance for women that cannot otherwise afford this test.

  • $5 is donated for each pink and white shower chair sold
  • $10 is donated for each pink rollator sold

    • My message last year ended the same way I am ending it this year. I would like to finish this with a personal wish for the very best if you or a loved one is dealing with breast cancer. Remember that you are not alone! My thoughts and prayers are with you all. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month but unfortunately breast cancer doesn’t read the calendar. Remember to support the fight against breast cancer year round.

    Sincerely,
    David Williams, Director of Product Management