Welcome to my CaringBridge website. It is important to me to have you involved in my health journey moving forward. I am using it to keep family and friends updated in one place, especially since many live outside NJ.
On January 23, I thought I was visiting my mammography provider for my annual, preventative 'squeeze' (it had actually been 14 months since my last visit). Up to this point, I scheduled these preventative appointments because 1) it is something I 'should do' because my health insurance pays for it; 2) why not? we pay our insurance premiums every month; and 3) besides the fact I need to lose a few pounds, I am in perfect health and it would be a long time before I would have to face a major health issue. Four days later, I was called by my provider requesting I return on 1/29 so they could take a couple of additional views for what they said was something 'suspicious looking'. Two days later, on 1/31, I returned for an ultrasound and biopsy of 'two very concerning' looking lumps in my left breast. On February 6, I received a call from the provider confirming I had breast c_____. On March 7 (on the day a powerful nor'easter would hit the tri-state area), I was operated on at Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ to remove the tumors and to receive a biopsy to my lymph nodes. On 3/14, my surgeon let me know that while the lumpectomy was successful, unfortunately, bad cells had moved to my lymph system and I would need to see a medical oncologist to determine a longer term treatment plan. On 3/26, the medical oncologist provided an interpretation of the lab results which detailed my unique, one of a kind case. She let me know that along with radiation, at a later point in time, I would need five months of chemotherapy to begin April 11 and continue almost weekly.
Over this time, I have come to understand that one in eight women will receive the same news sometime in their lifetime; it doesn't matter that there is no one in my family tree who has had breast cancer; and I didn't do anything to cause this to happen to me. And so, my journey will continue and God will be with me through it all.....
To this point, I am grateful for all who have reached out to me so far. I am thankful for medical insurance through Keith's employer, 3M. Moving forward, please keep myself, Keith and David in your prayers-especially me that the side affects (which includes hair loss) will not make me too impossible to live with. David is aware of all that is going on with me. I am not sure how often I will provide a journal entry and what the circumstances will be. Know, I am going to appreciate your support and words of encouragement. Thank you for periodically visiting the CaringBridge website .
CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during a health journey. Learn more about CaringBridge.
