Löan Shillinger

New at this, so bear with me.      Some of you may know that six weeks ago (December 18, 2019) I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Specifically, it has been determined that I have invasive ductal carcinoma (cancer).  This type of cancer generally stays within a breast duct, however mine traveled outside it.  And upon further testing it was determined that it has infected my lymph nodes.  Due to the size of the tumor and the indication that it has infected several lymph nodes under my chest plate -- the medical oncologist along with the medical team at MD Anderson Cancer Institute located at Torrey Pines - decided to take the most aggressive approach: 6 months chemo, 1 month off, then surgery, then 1 month healing followed by 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments, 1 month off, then reconstruction surgery to follow...  Needless to say that this will NOT be a short journey.

 I can’t help but compare this experience to getting on a roller coaster - I don't know the ups and downs of this ride - but I do know there is an end... HEALING. On 12/18/2019 I stepped into a long line only to climb aboard a big, scary, unpredictable roller coaster (maybe the one on top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas).  Trust me --I am deathly afraid of this ride, but somehow I found myself in this line - with no emergency exit signs around.  The line has been moving super fast - every 5 yards there is a new medical request (MRI, CT, Blood work...),  every turn in the line contains a question on the wall regarding your plan – what’s your plan regarding your kids; what is your plan regarding your practice; what is your plan regarding finances, what is your plan regarding your care while in treatment;  what is your plan regarding clients and their needs, whats your plannnnnnnnnnnnnnn.  Holy Crap. ..