Libby Meadows

On January 17th I went for an annual mammogram that will change my life forever.  Long story short, I was called back for an ultrasound and biopsy and waited 5 long days to find out that I have breast cancer.  In the past week I have been in shock, disbelief, angry, sad, scared, overwhelmed, impatient, depressed, anxious, worried, etc...  I have no control over my body or the next year of my life.  However, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to get well no matter what I have to go through.  God has a plan for me and I will be healed.  And with the love and support of my amazing family and friends I will be okay.  But for now I apologize if I have not returned your calls and texts.  Know that I appreciate your concern but cannot talk about the "C" word yet.  I have to focus on the testing and treatment decisions right now.  But I will try to keep everyone up to date here so you can read it whenever you want.   So in addition to the tests I mentioned already I have has genetics testing which takes 3 weeks for results.  I have met with an oncology surgeon, a medical oncology doctor and will meet with a radiology oncology doctor this Friday and a plastic surgeon next Tuesday.  In the morning I am having a PET scan and a bone scan.  Next Wednesday I am having an echocardiogram and next Thursday I am having outpatient surgery for a port placement.  Then Monday the 20th I am starting chemotherapy.  My tumor is 3.4 cm and the docs want to shrink it down before surgery.  Chemo will last for 3 1/2 months😭  Fortunately it doesn't appear to be in the lymph nodes and is considered to be stage 2.  But 2 lymph nodes will be removed and tested during surgery to be sure.  Until all tests are back I have not decided which surgery I will have, lumpectomy vs mastectomies and reconstruction.  And the outcome of all that will determine if I will need radiation.  So basically this journey will take 9 months to a year or more.  Please continue to pray and hang in there with me.  My emotions are all over the place and I am going to have to learn how to have patience and take one day at a time without control over my life.   But God has the ultimate control and I am sure He has a message for me that I wouldn't have known without walking through this phase of my life.  Thanks for loving me enough to share my journey.  Love and hugs to all.