Elk Hunt

Well, it wasn't the prettiest elk, but I'm sure he will taste good.

I call him the unicorn.

Your Father

Just in case you were wondering - your Dad is not average!

The day before he took the test to become a Licensed Insurance Agent, he opened the book & glanced through it.

He took the test this morning. Got an 82% on it.

They said the average person has to take the test at least TWICE.

I really hate that about him but I am glad that he PASSED the first time!!!

Dad says it's because he's good at math.

He says there's 3 kinds of people in this world: those who can count, & those who can't!

Nielson Ranch

We spent part of the week at the Nielson's Ranch in Bluewater New Mexico. Lot's of fun & visiting. Yes, that is a rattle snake that Dad is holding!!! We were out riding the quads & stopped to look for Indian ruins. Dad got off, we heard the rattle. The grass was so tall it took a second to spot the snake. It was about 20 ft. from Dad. Russell came to the rescue - you know Dad can't kill anything! The snake put up a good fight but Russ won out in the end!!!!!

It was beautiful, fun & the weather was perfect! Thanks Russ & Mary!

Cancer Test Results

I got some results from two different tests yesterday. The first one, ONCO DX, came back with a score of 15. My surgeon told me that the oncologist will usually recommend chemo if the score is at 17 or above. I am meeting with her next week to see what she recommends. That score translates to a 10% chance of reoccurrence. The other test results came from City of Hope. They did some genetic testing to see if I had certain markers in my DNA that would show I am genetically disposed to get cancer. There are two known markers and I came back negative on both. I was told that at this point they only know of two markers but there are literally millions of markers so there could be others that they just don't know about. The geneticist recommends that my sisters get their first screening (mammogram) at age 35 and to get regular checkups.

I personally think that this is not genetic but environmental. The cancer is estrogen positive meaning that it feeds off of estrogen to grow (its not funny Jeff). I am not a milk drinker but I do put it on cold cereal. Cows are pumped full of estrogen to get milk production up. I also like meat. Cattle are pumped full of hormones to make them fat as well as chickens. I am converting to a Grandpa Jack diet of fish and cabbage. Just kidding. I will pass on meat unless I know it is "organic" and we are now only drinking organic, non hormone milk. We are eating more fruits and veggies as well. We are looking into buying 1/2 a cow that has not been given hormone injections and is not raised on corn. I know you might think this is extreme (not you Heather) but so is getting breast cancer. Look closely at what you are eating. High Fructose Corn Syrup is in everything. Try to avoid it.

I'm done preaching. Live long and prosper. Nanoo Nanoo, Shazbatt.

Allie

For those of you that live far, far away & are missing out, I thought you might like to see cute little Allie Harper-

So here she is in all her cuteness!!

The Best Poem In The World

Thought you would all enjoy this-

Best Poem In the World

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door.

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or it's decor.

But it was the folks in in Heaven

Who made me sputter & gasp-

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics & the trash

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Bob who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine.

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, What's the deal?

I would love to hear your take.

How'd these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake.

And why is everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.

"Hush, Child." He said.

"They're all in shock,

No one thought they'd be seeing you."

JUDGE NOT !!

Remember . . Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Every saint has a PAST

Every sinner has a FUTURE!

Photos

I'm posting these pictures not only to show you what a manly chest looks like, but so that you will see what to look for if it happens to you. I have posted a lot more photos on our family blog if you want to see them. I personally can't get enough of my chest.

This is my left chest. The one without cancer.

This is the right chest. The one with cancer. Notice that the nipple is pulled in slightly. The lump is between 9 and 11 o'clock under the nipple. The most common signs for male breast cancer are; discharge from the nipple and the nipple being pulled inward. This was taken the day before the surgery. I'm still pretty bruised from the biopsy.

I'm posting this one because if it were one of you instead of me, I'd want to see the pictures. I took this one yesterday. This is what a one nippled man looks like.

We met with a genetic counselor yesterday. They are going to do some blood tests to try to identify some genetic markers. This will help study breast cancer in men as well as enable us to see if my siblings and children have these markers which would increase the risk of cancer. The typical male only has a 6% chance of developing breast cancer. Now that I have had it, my chances for the other breast are 3%.

Cancer Free

I just got the call this morning. I am 100% cancer free!!! There was no cancer in the lymph node and they had margins of over 1cm from the cancer in the tissue they removed. The tumor was a total of 1 1/2 cm diameter.

I would just like to point out that I am now more of a man than any of my brothers or in-laws. I only have one mammary gland.

I know I'm stealing Brent's thunder BUT the cancer surgery was very successful!!!

The cancer hadn't spread. He is cancer free - no chemo, no radiation!

Thanks for all the prayers.

MRI Resutls

I just got a call from my doctor. The MRI shows no cancer in the left breast (that is for you Jeff). It also does not show anything abnormal under my right arm. They look under the arm for abnormalities in the lymph nodes. It did show something abnormal, or a "hot spot" in one rib under my chest close to the cancer. I told her about my breaking some ribs in the same area and she thinks that the MRI is probably picking that up. They have ordered a bone scan to be thorough.

Group Fast

We moved the surgery up to the end of this month. June 25th at 8:30 AM. There is no time to wait for a fast sunday to come around so we are going to fast this Sunday.

I have my final test on Thursday. A breast (or peck - just for you Jeff) MRI. This should give the doctors a better idea about my lymph nodes before surgery and see if there is cancer on the other side that can't be felt yet. If there is cancer, they will do both sides on Friday. We don't think that will happen.

I look forward to having a cancer free chest the will forever be winking. ; )

I'll let you know if anything else changes.

Surgery Scheduled

More tests have come back. I am negative for HER2 and positive for estrogen and progesterone which means I will respond well to hormone treatment. The PET-CT scan came back showing no other cancers in my body and nothing under my arms in the lymph nodes. I will have a breast MRI next Thursday for more definitive look at the lymph nodes before surgery and a closer look at my other breast. 30% of people who have breast cancer have it in the other breast and it is not able to be felt. If that comes back showing cancer in the other breast, I will have a double mastectomy. That surgery will be on Friday the 25th of June at 8:30 AM at Banner Gateway Hospital.

We are consulting with a breast cancer specialist at St. Josephs hospital in Phoenix. He is providing a 2nd opinion.

Better pictures

I got digital copies of the mammogram and ultrasounds today. These are better pictures and you can see the cancer better in relation to the nipple.

This one is the Mammogram

This one is the ultrasound.

These were both done on 5/24/10. The size of the tumor at that time was just under 1 centimeter. The stage they think I am in is Stage 1. The definition for that stage is: The tumor is small (less than 2 cm) and well-localized (has not spread to the lymph nodes).

At this point they do not think that it has spread to the lymph nodes. If it has then I would fall under Stage 2. There are a total of 5 stages.

This week I will have a few more tests:
Tomorrow (Wednesday): PET-CT scan
Thursday: Meet with Oncologist, have an EKG done and a Chest Scan.
Friday??: Meet with an Genetic Counselor. My doctor wants testing done because it is extremely rare that a male my age will get breast cancer. This can help for my kids in the future as well as studying genetic markers that will help identify cancer in others. From what I understand, they just want my blood.

I will also have a Chest MRI done. This will take a closer look at the lymph nodes and try to determine if there is cancer in them before surgery. I don't have that scheduled yet.

After all this is completed, we will then look for a second opinion. Assuming everything is as the doctors think it is and the 2nd team of doctors agree, we will have the surgery sometime in July.

I will post more information as the test come in. Here is a link for the type of cancer I have, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

Man-O-Gram

Here is what my cancer looks like. It didn't scan very well. The cancer is directly under my nipple.

I updated the picture to explain it a little better.

I went to the doctor today. I have an appointment with an Oncologist later this week. We will get his opinion and the opinion of another doctor before surgery. The surgery will probably happen the middle or end of July. Everything still looks good. I will post the results from future test if they change things. Before surgery I have to do an EKG, Chest Scan and some blood work to test for genetic markers.

Gila Valley Temple

It was a beautiful day as we drove with Brent & family to the Gila Valley Open House. Because of all the rain, everything was so green - greener than it's been in a long time.
The weather was beautiful - actually April & I were cold! Just when the wind was blowing which was all the time.

I know it's hard to see them in the picture but I wanted the whole thing.

As we were walking up to the Temple, I heard someone calling my name. It was Carol & Anna!!! They were on their way into the Temple, we were on our into the church to begin the tour.

It is beautiful! I think the most memorable thing for everyone was the magnificent (and that is the only way to describe it) chandelier in the Celestial Room.

After the tour we headed over to Casa Mañana in Safford for some yummy Mexican food!! Carol stopped by & we visited & then headed over to Rhett & Alisha's home & visited some more. They live in Thatcher. Then we followed Carol on to Pima, passed the Temple to Stephanie's home & visited some more. The kids had fun playing with cousins.
Too soon it was time to head for home but not before we stopped at Tastee Freeze for some ice cream!!!
Thanks Brent & April for a wonderful day!!!

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, NO, Logan is NOT as tall as I am without my shoes on!!!
I still have at leased an inch on him!!!

Family Reunion - William John Thoma & Orinda Ann Karren

They came from near & far for the Reunion & a good time was had by all.
Chuck was late & didn't make it in the picture & Helen wasn't able to come.
Pictures are better than words but since there aren't pictures this is who was there: Mary Thomas, Valarie & Sarah & families, Josh Winston & sons, Debbie, Diane, Peter, Alice, Liz & Marcus & families. Brent & family. Herrings - Mike, Stephanie, Rindy & Bridget & families. The Mannings: Aaron, Jonathan, Maria, Kristina, James & Families. The Moyers Plus Jeff & Daniel & their wives. Michelle favored us with a couple of songs - she is really talented!!
These are the Steels - dad's cousins. Cheryl, the one in the blue hosted the reunion at her home. Many of their families were there too - I just don't know all of them but Melanie - Megan Reed Adair was there with her cute baby.



Mason & Logan & Sabrina (no picture) got to ride the horses & I think they went a hay ride too.
It was decided to have the Second Reunion in 2 years. The weather was perfect.

Allie Anne Harper

Allie is here - she's beautiful & so is her mother!!

THANK YOU HEATHER!!!!!!!

You did such a great job. We'll have these memories for the rest of our lives!

Well, I didn't add this to the poll,
but we've been contemplating Zoey.
What do you think?
Isn't this suppose to be fun?!?
:)

Poll

I added a poll to my blog. Tell me what you think!

New Years

Well, we figure if you have it.... use it. So that is what we did. We spent New Years up in Show Low playing in the snow. It was a good time and we realized how much we miss it.