Tina Lorenz
Ailment: breast cancer that has metastasized to the liver
In April of 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. What a shock, because I have no close family that has had breast cancer or any kind of cancer for that matter. I’ve been told that cancer doesn’t pick and choose. How true! The best course of action for me was to have a mastectomy. In May I had the surgery and thought—“all the cancer is gone now.” However, during surgery, the surgeon discovered that the cancer had spread to lymph nodes under my arm. Nine lymph nodes were removed also and they were all cancerous. After further analysis of the tumor, the test showed that the cancer was a very aggressive type and because of the spread to the lymph nodes I was at Stage III. I started chemotherapy in late May and had 8 courses of treatment every other week. Because there were lymph nodes involved I also had to have radiation as well. I had radiation treatment 5 days a week for 6 ½ weeks. Finally, by the end of October I was finished. Yes! My hair can start growing back!
I went back for checkups every 3 months and all my blood work was looking great. Then in May of 2009, my tumor marker counts and liver function tests from my blood work went up significantly and so my oncologists sent me in for CT and bone scans. The CT scan showed a spot on my liver and a biopsy indicated the tumor was cancerous and that it was breast cancer that had metastasized (spread) to my liver through my lymphatic system. The good news was that there were no other spots showing up in my bones or anywhere else in my body. My husband, Marty and I decided to go to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and meet with a liver surgeon specialist. He said that he could definitely “help me” and would remove the tumor and a small part of my liver since the cancer was not showing up in any other areas of my body. I had surgery in June recovered from that and started chemotherapy in July. I will take 6 to 8 courses of treatment every 3 weeks which should last until December. At my last doctor’s appointment my tumor markers were down significantly well below the normal range--- which is good!! And yes my hair is falling out again.
I joke about the hair loss because it is really an insignificant part of my entire “journey” over the past year and a half. I have learned many things about myself, my family and people in general. I have discovered that I am a lot stronger than I think and that my faith in God cannot be moved. My family was awesome through this entire process by taking on chores that I didn’t have the energy for. I have also learned that I am surrounded by wonderful caring and giving people that “just want to help” in any way they can. I feel especially blessed to be a part of the 8th Warrior Invitational Benefit Tournament. A huge “Thank You” to everyone involved for their hard work and to everyone who participated to make this benefit possible.