Mary the Superhero

Has anyone else stopped to think about how bad ass Mary is? I mean, not only is she waging her own personal battle against cancer (and she appears to be totally giving it the big eff you!), but she's also helping doctors gather information that will help others with their fight against the same super villain. Who needs a fictional hero from a comic book or a movie? We have a real life hero!

And finally, some good news

So, the title hopefully enticed you to head on over here for some good news...

Before we get to that, I'd love to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to "Mary's Mammories" fund in some way. Neil and I both feel so blessed to have you all in our lives! It's so great to know we have such a strong and awesome community that is just as dedicated as we are to kicking cancer's ass! We can never thank you all enough, but please know that we appreciate everything!

On to some news...

Being in a study affords me a lot of benefits that most cancer fighters don't get (weekly doctor's visits, a nationally recognized care team right down the road from my house, etc). I'm involved in a trial called: I-SPY2 (http://www.ispy2.org/). It's a national, longitudinal study investigating treatment before surgery. If you go to the link and watch the video in the corner--that's my Oncologist, Dr. Yee.

This study takes a multitude of different measurements throughout the trial.

Before I started treatment, I received a number of baseline tests: Echocardiogram, PET scan, MRI and a biopsy (to name a few). The PET was to rule out any other tumors in my body (commonly referred to as "mets", short for metastasized tumors). The Echo was to make sure that my heart was healthy enough for chemo and the biopsy was for bio-marking purposes. The MRI was to gauge the size of the mass. 

I had a repeat MRI and biopsy done today. The radiologist struggled to find enough "mass" to get a decent biopsy. She pulled up the last records to see where the original biopsies had been performed because there was such a change in the mass. Another radiologist came in, looked at my previous MRI and the one from today and informed us that my tumor is smaller and starting to break apart. 

My tumor is smaller and is starting to break apart. 

After 3 treatments. 

Let's all let this sink in for a minute, shall we? 

Are you done jumping up and down? This is kind of a big deal. I don't know if you recognize that yet. Maybe you do now. I'll wait while you fist-pump the air...

Yeah, we're definitely on our way to kicking this thing's ass! 

Once again, we couldn't do it without all of you! Knowing that we have our family and friend's support eases so much of the day-to-day stress that we have in dealing with this. The phone calls, texts, cards, cookies, dinners, flowers--all of it helps to brighten our day and lessen our load! I'm positive that these positive results are just as much our badass, cancer-fighting community as it is being in this really awesome investigative trial! 

<3, 

Mary, Neil & the boys

The Deets

I honestly don't know where to start with this. Most of you reading this are aware that I've been diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. If not...uh, welcome to the blog? I've got cancer. 

If you scroll to the previous post, you'll see this is a blog created by my two lovely friends, Kara and Ondy as a way to encourage me to share my thoughts and experiences and as a way for you to share your love and messages back. 

Awhile ago, I wrote a post on FB to let you know the deets. It's a fairly comprehensive post, so I'll c/p it here as a refresher:

In mid-September, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. I am scheduled to start chemo at the end of the month--I'm projected to have two rounds of chemo and a surgery within the next 6 months (in that order). It's too big to operate on in it's current state and the doctors have seen a better response to starting chemo prior to surgery. I'm enrolled in a investigative study at the U of MN (I-SPY 2) and (literally) have some of the best docs in the country working with me to make sure that I'm okay.

But, here's what I need from you, friends:
1) Don't be pissed this is how you found out. It's not ideal by any stretch of the imagination, nor does it mean I don't love you and think you're a great part of my life. It just means that it's really freaking hard to talk about this on the phone to all 100+ of you. I don't have that much time or cell minutes.

2) We will probably need help with something as my treatment goes on. It's really hard for us to ask for anything. But I'm putting it out there now--we enjoy baked goods and dinners. And we have freezer space! At some point, I will probably want to drown my sorrows (because drinking to excess will not be what kills me at this point).

3) Don't be afraid to reach out to us/me. I'm an extrovert and I'm terrified of being home every weekend without visitors. We may not have people over initially, but I will miss you all if I don't see your faces in 6+ months.

4) Call Neil and ask him to hang out. Check in with him too--We all know I'm a huge pain in the ass to deal with. Can you imagine what it's going to be like for him for the next 6 months?!? Poor guy. Buy him a sympathy round or something.

5) Don't buy any pink shit for me. I'm not doing it and I hate Susan G. Komen. Very little of their money goes to research for cancer cures and it makes me a sad panda that I'm going to be associated with them moving forward.

If you have any questions, I'm pretty much an open book. Feel free to ask away. If it's too personal, I may msg you instead of leaving it out in the "open".

I love you all!

Here's the update from this initial post in mid-October. I'm about 1/4 of the way through the initial chemotherapy round. I have 8 more sessions to go before I get placed into the big show, or "AC" round. AC is a generic term for the specific type of chemo I'll receive sometime in January.

No, I have not lost my hair yet. Fun Fact: Neil loses more hair on a daily basis than I have from treatment. 

Fun Fact #2: V told me tonight that I'll still be the most beautiful Mommy in the world, even after my hair does fall out. Take that Heidi Klum! 

The way that cancer treatment is done these days is vastly different than it has been done in the past. Even within the last 5 years, doctors would typically do surgery first and then chemo. This seems rather like a caveman-esque approach to medicine--"Me no like cancer! Me cut it out!" Recently, doctors (and specifically *my* doctors) have noticed that there are advantages to neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer (a fancy way of saying pre-surgery chemo). Mostly, they have seen a large decrease in tumor size--in some cases completely disappearing before surgery! 

A lot of you have been so generous and kind during this! You've reached out, sent food, sent flowers, started a blog(!), visited...it's been truly amazing to have so much love and care surrounding Neil and I. We are so humbled and appreciative of your kind words and your generosity. You inspire us to be better people and you all continue to encourage me on my darkest days. 

Thank you. 

~M

Mary's Mammories Money

Our fearless cancer fighting duo!

 Pssst….Hey Mary’s friends and family, look over here! 

K: Did we get their attention? 

O: Looks like it.  

K: Great! So um…Hi! We are Kara and Ondrea. We are old friends of Mary’s.   

O: Not old as in aged, we're both still very youthful and good looking. We've just been friends a long time is all, but I digress.

I have known Mary since high school. She was my college roommate at USD. Could I tell you some stories! More if I could remember them...  

K: I have known Mary since college at U of MN. She was in my Astronomy lab group my first semester there. She and Neil kind of adopted me. I could also tell some stories! 

Right now you are saying, "Great. You know Mary. So, what's the point?" Well, here’s the thing, neither of us live in Minneapolis anymore, which sucks normally because, let’s face it, Minneapolis is a great place to live.  

O: Word! But, it sucks even more now, because we aren’t THERE to support our friend and her family.   

K: Yeah, so Ondrea and I were talking about what we could do, and she had a brilliant idea! 

O: Well, I just realized that we aren’t the only ones who want to help but have the distance barrier. But yeah, I am brilliant.  

K: So, here’s the deal, Ondrea and I are going to send Mary and Neil a little cash via paypal, and are inviting you to do the same, if you are so inclined. We are calling it Mary's Mammories Money. Again, Ondrea's idea.
 

O: Mary and Neil will be able to use this money however they want. If they are hungry for something super specific, they’ll order it. If they need some adult time or a night out, they’ll get a sitter. Or whatever. This money will be there, in lieu of us physically, to help them just be a little more at ease. 

And anyone can donate. So, even if you are local and can’t drop off a home cooked meal… or want to babysit the rugrats without, you know... actually having to babysit (although those kids are super fun), here's your answer!  

K: No shame folks, there’s a reason I married a man who can cook, and why Mary and Neil adopted me, instead of visa versa!  

O: Ha!  Anyway, even if you are local, this is another option for you to pitch in.

Obviously, we recognize that nothing really replaces face to face contact with loved ones.  

K: But money is a close second. :P 

O: So, this is the PayPal account that Mary and Neil use: nrgranlund@gmail.com. If you feel so inclined, make it grow a little, or a lot! Just remember to click "I'm sending money to family or friends," so that they doesn't get hit with any bogus fees.
 

K: At the very least, we hope that all of Mary’s loved ones will let her know that she in their thoughts. And give her the kind of strength one can only get when they know they have a huge support system behind them. 

O: So give away folks, and let’s help Mary kick cancer’s ass!

Helping Mary beat cancer, so she can get back to what she loves.