Reminders

Yesterday, 12 December, would have been my cousin's 53rd birthday. I say "would have" because Lisa died in July 2001. Her eldest daughter was several weeks away from her 15th birthday. Her younger daughter had turned 13 that March. Lisa was a successful business woman and her husband was and is a nice guy, also successful in his work as a hospital administrator. She had the "picture perfect" life - slender, non-smoker, great family, beautiful home... She was first diagnosed with breast cancer. It looked like she was going to be a survivor, but then she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Even with such an aggressive disease, they were ready to write up her success when things took a turn for the worse. Ultimately, she lost her battle with cancer.

Today, 13 December, I found out that a colleague found out yesterday that she has cancer. From her Caring Bridge site -

"Several months ago (August of 2008), she started experiencing back pain. After an initial MRI, she was told she had a fracture in her vertebrae. For several months Deanna diligently wore a brace to heal the fracture. The past two weeks, the fracture, however, got worse.

On December 8th, Deanna had another MRI and at the doctor's request, a subsequent biopsy of the lower back. She was admitted to the hospital on December 10th because the biopsy had come back malignant. She was admitted by the Spinal doctor, but the Oncologist quickly became involved. It turns out, the bone in the vertebrae had weakened, and had fractured because of the cancer within the back.

After a CT Scan, the news became worse, and that it was not only in the back, but had also gotten to the pelvis, with a couple spots on the lung. Because the form of cancer appeared to be estrogen based, the breast was still the likely culprit. This had not been verified. The doctors still needed to verify the source as the breast, so an ultrasound and biopsy of chest was proposed, and conducted on Thursday, December 11th."

On the 12th they confirmed that the cancer originated in the breast. She has started Tamoxifen and begins five days a week radiation on Monday.

Deanna is a successful academic, adored and respected by students and colleagues, alike. She is involved in her field - religion - locally and nationally. Like my cousin, Deanna's husband is a good guy. Like my cousin, she has two girls, 9 and 12. I am just stunned by the news. This is someone who is not overweight, doesn't smoke, is a vegetarian, gave birth twice (a factor related to breast cancer), etc.

Please keep her in your thoughts. Thanks.