THK being treated for breast cancer

[Luftmensch067]

I was nervous when I heard JK speaking on the floor about his wife having had surgery recently, but didn't expect this. One story, with short news video here: http://www.wpxi.com/news/22043056/detail.html

So far, prognosis sounds promising and it's like THK to be speaking out to help others as part of this experience.

Sending good wishes and prayers to THK, JK and their family.

(More detailed info here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gSlEyIlyRzEbDZkRWbVe4kxaVMjAD9COR5300)

[CBHagman]

1. Just saw the headline on AOL.

For once I'm grateful to AOL (They are legendary in my book for the sheer tawdriness of their approach to the news).

I'm so sorry to hear she's going through this but glad to hear the prognosis is good.

And good for her for speaking out as she does.

[karynnj]

2. Sad to hear

I hope that she is restored to health as soon as possible. She is an amazing person. I wonder if this is why Kerry has gone to Boston this week and on the Sunday after McConnell insisted on the Saturday vote.

[MBS]

3. what you said.

Thanks for telling us.

[YvonneCa]

4. I also heard what the Senator said on the floor...

...and was hopeful he was referring to something minor. I'm very sorry to hear this news...but glad to hear of THK's good prognosis. ANY kind of cancer is difficult...it brings a person face-to-face with mortality. It changes you.

To THK...you are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for being such a positive role model for strong women (we strong women need all the role-models we can find.;) ) Stay strong.:grouphug:

[Mass]

5. Sorry to hear that. Even early on and with good doctors, it is not easy to face.

All my wishes to her.

(I heard that this morning at 6:30 and this is not what I wanted to hear. Kind of weird she was diagnosed about at the same time I was. I definitively wish her the best and know she is in the best hands she can).

[whometense]

6. All the best to you

and to THK too. I'm so sorry both of you are going through this.

Edited to add that although we have never met, from your posts I get the sense that you and Teresa are equally tough, and will do very well.

[beachmom]

7. I am sorry to hear that, Mass.

Best wishes and good thoughts going out to you and THK.

[JI7]

14. i hope the best for both of you

[Luftmensch067]

15. Wishing you all the best, Mass

May the next year be a healthy one for all.

[Island Blue]

19. All the best for you & THK.

:grouphug: You'll certainly be in my thoughts as we enter the new year.

[wisteria]

20. OMG, all my best wishes to you. n/t

[sandnsea]

23. Oh my gosh, I missed that Mass

Big Hug. You know if there's anything we can do, we will.

[Mass]

25. Thanks to all. I typed that just before my appointment with the doctor. So, I have a few good news

now. As it was a small tumor found early and not very aggressive, they were able to extract it totally. I will need a few weeks of radiations and medications for the next five years to prevent reoccurrence, but doctors were very positive that, as of now, I am fine (just need more preventive care to be sure nothing happens).

Thanks for all.

[Luftmensch067]

26. What Christmas news!!!!

I'm so happy to hear this! Enjoy your holiday to the fullest!

[MBS]

27. oh, this is wonderful news.

What a relief! The best possible Christmas present. Best to you and your family -- please please enjoy your holiday! I can't stop smiling!

[sandnsea]

28. Awesome!!

Best Christmas gift ever!

[ProSense]

29. Excellent.

Best wishes and progressive good health, Mass.

[Inuca]

30. So glas to read this

after reading your comment upthread. Best, best of wishes Mass!

[whometense]

34. Wonderful news!

Congratulations.

[wisteria]

35. That is some good news. n/t

[MH1]

37. I'm glad the news was positive

Sorry you had to go through that.

[MonteLukast]

42. Good Christmas news!

[TayTay]

47. Mass, all the best to you

and continued good news. If there is anything I can do let me know. Wehave some incredible people in MA who work in this field and who have "been there." They are angels of support when needed.

All the best to you and your family right now, through the ups and downs on the roller coaster.

[beachmom]

8. There was a diary about it early this morning which I missed.

It apparently did make the Rec List.

Some nice thoughts on it:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/23/818285/-Teresa-Heinz-Kerry-Has-Breast-Cancer.

[MonteLukast]

11. And some very nice pictures on it, too.

Did you see the one under Eileen B's response? That one was taken at the convention. It is sooooo lovely. :loveya:

[MonteLukast]

12. delete-- wrong place

[beachmom]

9. Actually, the news came directly from THK who penned this op-ed:

Teresa Heinz: Get that mammogram

Early detection has allowed me, and so many others, a chance to fend off cancer

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Under ordinary circumstances, the revised mammogram guidelines recommended last month by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force would have struck me as misguided. But these were not ordinary circumstances, at least not for me. Just before the guidelines were released, I had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

It was one of those strange accidents of timing that sometimes happen in life. I know some people dismiss these instances as meaningless coincidence. But as someone who believes God has a special if mysterious purpose for each us in this world, I have always paid special attention to them.

They can instruct, inspire and guide us, or sometimes just invite us to reflect for a moment longer than we otherwise might do. It is healthy to be reminded occasionally that we are not so much in charge as we would like to believe, and then to consider what that means in how we are living our lives.

In this case, it has motivated me to be public about something I had kept private for two months, to share something deeply personal in the hope of helping others.

Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09357/1023054-109.stm#ixzz0aXpU3cMy

[Luftmensch067]

16. Thanks for posting this!

She's a special person.

[ProSense]

18. Thanks.

Teresa is the best. I love her op-eds on health issues. I pray for her full and speedy recovery. She's got a great husband and family beside her.

[sandnsea]

24. News was leaking out on that op-ed Tues night

I thought everybody new, wish I'd posted it now.

[Inuca]

32. Missing link?!?!??? n/t

[beachmom]

43. Here is a link that works:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09358/1023263-109.stm

Even Google brought up the wrong link at first. Strange.

[karynnj]

45. Thanks for the link. Wow, That is a very personal, excellent op-ed

I had read just the quotes elsewhere and didn't realize there was more. She is a very good spokesperson on this - just as in a different way, Elizabeth Edwards was.

[ObamaKerryDem]

10. Just heard this on the news this morning

Needless to say, I was quite surprised (she certainly hasn't looked sick)! Very scary stuff, cancer is. :( Though I'm glad to hear her prognosis looks really good. I know from personal experience with several of my own family members how badly cancer--ANY kind of cancer--sucks though and so send Teresa, Senator Kerry, and their family nothing but the best during this difficult time and wishes for her speedy recovery!

And the same to you and yours, Mass! :hug:

[MonteLukast]

13. I actually first caught it on DU:GD this morning.

Though the responses on DKos were a lot nicer. (Some on the DU thread couldn't resist getting a few digs in at JK.) Like most of you, I never guessed what was going on-- she never looked sick at all.

Damn right they'd better leave the mammogram guidelines as they are. Changing the age to 50 was definitely motivated by money-- but it may also have been motivated by a belief that a healthy lifestyle will magically prevent ANY disease that crosses your path, and if you've got tumors before age 50, you've been screwin' up livin'.

Can you think of anybody who lives a healthier lifestyle-- for body, mind, AND soul-- than Teresa? The best diet I've ever heard of, full of organic and whole foods. Her wonderful, loving marriage-- and, she has to be pretty fit to keep up with JK being in so many places at once. ;) She's doing everything right, and she still got cancer.
Her example tells me that I should NOT beat myself up if I get cancer-- I shouldn't self-flagellate over an irresponsible lifestyle or a "cancer-causing attitude", if I'm living and doing the best I can. There's been a tendency in the medical media to encourage women to do that; to see themselves as at-risk if they don't have "the ideal lifestyle".

Well-- who better to give us a message to Chill Out, enjoy our lives... oh, and get the mammograms and cut those nasty tumors out, than THK?

I love her so much. :loveya:

[beachmom]

21. Actually those recommendations were based on science

Statistically speaking early mammogram testing does not help the population as a whole. What has gotten people angry is that it has helped individuals, and if you happen to be that individual you damned well want those tests. I don't have a problem with hearing about these statistics or even recommendations; I just don't think it should change how things are now, getting that annual screening once you reach 40.

[whometense]

33. I couldn't agree with you more, on both counts.

I think the panel that came out with the recommendations for reduced screenings was practicing statistics and science in the purest sense, and that they've been unfairly maligned. After the science-free Bush years, I was happy to see them being apolitical. There are a lot of false positives with these tests. That's just plain true.

On the other hand, I won't change what I do because of the new advice. It's up to each woman and her doctor to figure out what is appropriate for her.

[MBS]

36. the fear is that the insurance companies will follow

the panel's statistical recommendations, reducing the options for individual women if insurance companies, citing the panel's recommendations, cease coverage of annual screenings.
But with a glimmer of light on the health care bill, maybe those fears won't be realized.

[MH1]

38. I agree with both of you, but the timing was awful

what with all the discussion about HCR and "rationing". It was impossible to have a rational discussion about the findings.

Myself, I'm way ahead of them. I don't like the idea of all that radiation so I decided years ago to do it only every 2 years or so, and try to do the self-exam regularly. I realize I might regret that, but it seemed like a good compromise.

Speaking of radiation I heard a story about CT scans (or was it CAT scans? I honestly don't know the difference), where they found a huge disparity in the radiation dose depending on the equipment and the way it was used. So some people are getting exposed to too much radiation from these scans that are almost routinely ordered. My thought was, I wonder if mammography is similar? Is there an average dose but a wide variation? Anyway I'm sticking to my schedule. :)

[BlueIris]

17. I just found out. I feel so bad for her and the family. It's been a rough year

for all, and to think of her dealing with this on top of everything else--awful. All best to THK and the Heinz-Kerry family.

[wisteria]

22. I am sending good wishes and prayers to Teresa and the entire family.

I was shocked and saddened to hear about this today.

[Inuca]

31. Just saw it

on the news ticker and came right here. Quite shocking... I also heard Kerry mention his wife's medical problem (did he say surgery?) in his speech the other day, and hope it was something minor.

[MH1]

39. I saw that and am hoping that prognosis continues to be good.

[karynnj]

40. A positive article from today on a breast cancer blog

The good news, that I hadn't seen before, was that it was stage 1. (One frustrating thing is that the woman hopes that Teresa becomes an advocate on this and environmental causes. I guess hosting major annual conferences since 1996 and writing a detailed chapter in a book doesn't count. I tried to respond twice, but it didn't take it. )
Here is the link - http://breastcancer.about.com/b/2009/12/28/teresa-heinz-kerry-treated-for-breast-cancer.htm#comment-14340

Here is my second attempt - I linked to Sandnsea's excellent contribution on the blog tour and from it got the link to the entire blog tour.

"It is sad news that Teresa Heinz Kerry has to deal with breast cancer, but good news that she apparently caught it early and has a great chance of overcoming it.

One comment though, you mention that this might lead her speak on this. I don't know if that is tongue in cheek - because she has been very involved on the issues of environment toxins, women's health and cancer for more than a decade. The second chapter of the Kerrys' book, This moment on earth, was on environmental toxins - and it was written by Teresa.

At the time the book was released, Teresa Heinz Kerry did a "blog tour" answering questions - here is day two where she spoke of the conferences on Women, Health and the Environment that she has hosted annually in Pittsburgh since 1996. http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?p=78

I don't know how much of that blog tour remains - as it was over 2 years ago, but here is a description of it: http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?p=76

Many things that Teresa spoke of there and in the book have since become major concerns. As you can see, she has been an advocate on this issue and green building (since the early 1990s). In 2004, the media preferred to ignore her efforts."

[MonteLukast]

41. Ignoring by omission...

Good old "ignore Kerrys and they'll go away" MA media. :eyes:

I don't think the Pittsburgh media would dare fail to highlight her accomplishments.

[karynnj]

44. More details here in this CNN article - with same positive outlook

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/30/heinz.breast.cancer/

[ray of light]

46. I send my prayers and best wishes to Teresa and her family. Stay strong! n/t