Diane Lane Chambers - Hearing the Stream: A Survivors Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer

Hearing the Stream

A S URVIVOR S J OURNEY INTO THE

S ISTERHOOD OF B REAST C ANCER

Testimonials from Readers

Harriette and the other women in Ms. Chambers book provide great inspiration to fight for what we need to eradicate: this terrible disease.

Karin Decker Noss, late President of the

Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation and

FY08 Dept. of Defense Breast Cancer Research

Program Integration Panel Chair

I found this book demystifying and a real celebration.

Lisa Rigsby Petersen, daughter of

Justice Linda T. Palmieri, Denver, Colorado

Written from the heart and well documented. Mostly, excellent.

Kelly McAleese, MD, Diagnostic Radiology,

Denver, Colorado

Hearing the Stream: A Survivors Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer touches beneath the surface of this disease, sparking smiles and much emotion.

L. Michelle Bennett, PhD, research scientist, survivor,

and teacher, Potomac, Maryland

I could not put this book down. Hearing the Stream made me appreciate so much more all that you (my sister) went through with cancer and how powerful the bonds become between women who share this awful experience. It is ironic how this terrible disease also has brought so much that is positive into your life.

Jeanie Silk, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

2 ND EDITION

Diane Lane Chambers

Foreword by Jodi A. Chambers, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Ellexa Press LLC

Conifer, Colorado

Hearing the Stream, A Survivors Journey into the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer, 2nd edition

2009, 2012 Diane Lane Chambers. Printed and bound in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval systemexcept by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Webwithout permission in writing from the publisher. For information, please contact Ellexa Press LLC, 32262 Steven Way, Conifer, CO 80433; ph 303-591-1040; email ellexapress@q.com.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information contained in this book, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. Any slighting of people, places, or organizations is unintentional.

Cover art: Watercolor painting by Mary Riney

Author photo by Rudney Bartolome.

1st Edition (ISBN 978-0-9760967-1-9) printed 2009

2nd Edition, 1st printing 2012

Ebook edition, ISBN 978-0-9760967-7-1

LCCN 2006910198

With heartfelt appreciation, I wish to recognize my editor, Beth Bruno, my family, and the many other contributors and reviewers who lent their time, effort, and support in the writing and production of this book:

Sally Barton, Nancy Beegle, L. Michelle Bennett, Ph.D.,

Charlie Blosten, Tim Byers, M.D., Heather Chambers,

Jim Chambers, Dr. Jodi Chambers, Matthew Chambers,

Diane Patricia Chambers, Pat Crawford, Margie Dugan,

Jeanna Finch, Foothills Writers critique group,

Dr. David Garfield, Ray and Pat Grahn, Cyndi Grober,

Harriette Grober, Jeff and Jill Grober, Stanley Grober,

Dr. William Haun, Dr. Linda Huang, Dr. Ioana M. Hinshaw,

Michael Henry and classmates of Lighthouse Writers,

Dr. Lee Jennings, Dr. Robert Jotte, Marie Kriss, Kelly Mack, R.N.,

Dr. Kelly McAleese, Sara Miller, Mark and Sue Niksic,

Karin Noss, Cynthia ODell, Sally Palmer, Lisa Rigsby Peterson,

Kay Porterfield, John Riedel, David Rigsby, Mary Riney,

Chris Schilt, Scott Schilt, Kim Scott, Beverly Shaver, Jean Silk,

Vicki Tosher, Anne Weiher, and Meghan Zucker.

I would also like to thank the staff at About Books, Inc. for their fine work, help and guidance in the production of this book.

With all due respect to family members, physicians, and various other opinions regarding the information included and the events described in this book, I have written from my own perspective and that of others whom I interviewed. The views represented are not meant to be used as guidelines for others who are diagnosed with breast or any other type of cancer. To protect privacy, some names and identifying information of persons in this book have been changed.

In the late 1980s, when I was completing my residency in general surgery, breast cancer treatment was an expected part of a general surgery practice. At that time the breast cancer occurrence rate in U.S. women was 1 in 14. Twenty years later, the occurrence rate is now 1 in every 89 women. Although that statistic alone might point to a story of failure and despair regarding our progress with this disease, the true picture is actually one of increasing hope and success.

In the nineteen years since I completed my residency, there have been many changes and advances in our understanding of breast cancer and its management, both surgically and medically. I hope the reader noted the use of the term management. In my opinion, one of the greatest paradigm shifts has been the emerging acceptance that breast surgery and cancer care are not a single episode of treatment to be won or lost but rather a combined strategy of management, always with the goal to cure when possible but also to optimize quantity and quality of life when a cure does not seem obtainable with todays knowledge and tools. Changes and advances in the last two decades include improvements in technology to aid in earlier detection, image guided biopsies, a greater number of surgical treatment options, immediate reconstruction possibilities, less morbidity associated with lymph node analysis, improvements in radiation therapy delivery, genetic testing, newer drugs, an increasing ability to define each patients cancer characteristics, and an interest in the merits of complementary therapies. Over the last twenty years we have developed specialties and even sub-specialties in breast cancer care because of the complexity of the disease. The promise of today is an increasing awareness of the importance of integrating specialists into a cohesive team dedicated to optimizing care for the patient.

I am very pleased to be writing this foreword for several reasons. First is to help celebrate the life and lessons of the author, my sister-in-law, Diane Chambers. From the day she was told of her diagnosis to the completion of this book, she has been on a journey. After the initial shock of hearing the words breast cancer and her understandable anger (I will not be a victimone of those survivors. My disease is not cancer!), she has exhibited a desire to understand all the facets of this disease and to embrace the lessons learned along the way, the lives of others she has encountered, and the preciousness of each and every moment. Second, it is an opportunity for me to acknowledge my patients, both women and men, who have been impacted by the diagnosis of breast cancer and whom I have been given the great honor of accompanying for portions of their respective journeys. Finally, it is an opportunity to share briefly some observations and pearls learned from my nineteen years of being associated with this sisterhood.