Monique Witz

Hi Everyone!  Thank you so much for caring and loving me! I was recently diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Breast Carcinoma.  We are using our CaringBridge website to keep family and friends updated in one place so you can follow along my fun/not so fun journey.  I definitely covet your encouragement and kind words.  Please share your favorite Bible verse!

Right before Thanksgiving, I felt a large lump in my left breast.  I called my doctor to have her check it out which lead to a mammogram, a magnified mammogram and finally a sonogram to check the mass.  The sonogram confirmed that it was solid and that it didn't look good.  It measured  3cmx3cm...which is pretty large.  They also identified that one of my lymph nodes looked abnormal as well.  A biopsy was recommended on both the tumor and node.  The biopsy confirmed that I have Invasive Ductal Breast Carcinoma, Stage 2 Cancer.  😩 I then had a Breast MRI, CT Scan and Bone Scan (bone scan was clean).  The MRI found another mass in my right breast which the first mammogram did not pick up.  I have dense breasts, so I always get a disclosure each year on my mammograms that having dense breast can hide things.  Amazing!!)  Anyway, another biopsy was recommended on the mass on the right breast so they would know if it was cancerous and how they would handle my lymph nodes on the right.  The biopsy came up benign, however, the radiologist did not believe that it was an accurate sample or test.  It looks and acts like the mass on the left.  After my surgeon, the radiologist and my chemo doctor met, they all agreed that I had to get the mass out on the right before I start chemo.  I was originally scheduled to start chemo on Thursday, December 28th but if they started it before they knew for sure if the mass was cancerous, they would never know.  The chemo would wipe out that mass.  So, this morning I had a lumpectomy and had the mass on the right removed.  They are now delaying chemo another week to allow my body time to heal.  Chemo will now start Thursday, January 4, 2018.  I will have 4 cycles of AC every 2 weeks, which is the hardest part of the chemo, from what I understand. I will then have T for once a week for 12 weeks.  Then I will have a bilateral mastectomy followed by radiation and finally reconstruction.  Sounds like fun! 

But the peace of the Lord has been with me!!  I am not afraid for I know my Lord is with me and strengthening me with much peace and comfort.  I, of course, have had my moments of weakness with each bad report, but was quickly picked back up ready to bring on whatever the Lord has in store for me.  I know he created me perfectly when he knit me in my mother's womb--and was built to handle this.  With that being said, I am extremely grateful to Tommy, my parents, my brothers and sisters, my friends, my Bible Study ladies and prayer partners, my  co-workers and my R+F family!  Thank you for helping me keep up with my house, drinking my crazy shakes with me, wig shopping and just all the support you continue to extend to me!  Thank you!  Love you all!!  Monique