Welcome to our CaringBridge site. We've created it to keep friends and family updated on the journey fighting breast cancer.
Feb. 11, 2015 It happened like this.....On February 11, I ran in to babies 'r us to get an umbrella stroller. I started having some shooting pains on my left side and on left breast. I was holding Shepherd and kept having to set him down because of this pain. I felt around, and all I could find was a little lump-like feel on my left side.
Feb. 12 The next day, I called to schedule an appointment with my OBGYN to check out what I was sure was normal tissue and not a lump or tumor. Dr. Nokleberg was out, so I met with her partner and my friend Dr. Lauren Murray :)
Feb. 16 After being checked, Dr. Murray sent me to Southwest Diagnostics for a mammogram on Monday. I had a mammogram in November, 4 months prior to this detection and the results were good. Turns out this lump was behind so much tissue and could not have been seen with the typical mammogram angles. After the mammogram, they sent me to have a sonogram. Right when the sonnographer stepped out of the room after checking me out, I knew. The radiologist came back in and told me it was not fluid-filled, but more solid and therefore would require a biopsy.
Feb. 18 Had biopsy at Southwest Diagnostics. Waited two long days, but I just knew.
Feb. 20 Shepherd was having a snack after his afternoon nap. We were in the kitchen. The phone rang and it was the doctor. I remember her telling me, unfortunately the test results were not what we hoped. She started talking about the lump as a tumor and having cancerous cells in it. I thanked her for calling, but before I hung up - I asked for clarification. "Do cancerous cells mean I have breast cancer?" "Yes," she said, "You do have breast cancer."
I hung up the phone and picked up baby Shepherd and said, "Shepherd, mama has breast cancer. Let's go on a walk." And we did. And it was nice. It was safe.
I called my family members and in-laws and shared the bummer news. Ok, but now what? A question I have asked more than once. 'Now what' was to be more doctors and appointments and blood draws and needles that I ever imagined, an entire new vocabulary of medical terminology, several tests and days waiting for results, and a great team of doctors and loved ones forging the way.
Feb. 24 First appointment with breast cancer surgeon. Lots of questions. When we asked about cancer being terminal, she told us in an encouraging tone, "Don't start giving your stuff away." That was good to know :)
March Day of MRIs, bonescans, CT scans. Genetic tests, met with oncologist, and met with Krueger to prepare for a double mastectomy.
April Lymph node biopsy surgery and double mastectomy. Longer than planned recovery.
May Port surgery, first round of chemo started, hair buzzed
June 2 chemo infusions, finally decided to shave the rest of the buzz after clumps of hair kept falling out in the shower.
June - August 16 Rounds of chemo (I think...lost count)
Fall Another breast surgery
November - December 33 rounds of radiation
2016 Depression kicked in, one more surgery, several false alarms
2017 Surgery
2018 Last surgery
It has been a type of disease I knew would never bump up against. How funny to be so sure about the future! My prayer is that I can one day say, "my cancer was a gift." My pain already has been a gift God is using. It is hard and there are rough days, but I can say with certainty the better days outnumber the physically and emotionally challenging ones. And laughing. Still laughing :)
Off to keep fighting. Need lots more prayers! J
One foot in front of the other!! Thanks for the support. Will provide updates as we receive them.
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