Catching Up

Okay, let's go back to the beginning. On April 27, my sweet girl was in an automobile accident. By God's grace, she had minimal injury when an F-250 pickup truck hit her pretty much head on. That day, I felt a fear that's hard to describe, and it led me to all kinds of thoughts of the future. I had been feeling a lump in my right breast for about 3 months. Rick and I had talked about how I needed to get it checked, but both of us just assumed it would mean another trip to the surgeon to take yet another (I had already had two) benign fibroid adenoma. The day after the accident, something inside me just said "call for the mammogram". So I did. And by the next week, I had had the mammogram and was headed to my surgeon's office. That same day he sent me for an ultrasound and core needle biopsy. By the following week, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and Rick and I were weighing all the treatment options. I had a lumpectomy on May 30 after undergoing complete body CT scans, bone scan, and follow up MRI. Thankfully, they were all clear.

Inital results of my lymph node biopsies were that they were also clear, so we thought we'd just be looking at 6 weeks of radiation after surgery. However, when the full biopsy results came in a week later, we were told that there was a very small amount of cancer in one node, which increased the possibility of cancer spread. So we then met with an oncologist and after allowing time for a family camping trip, we are moving forward with treatments.

This Wednesday (July 12), my wonderful, incredible mother in law (I just call her mom) will take me to have my portacath surgically installed. This will allow for easy access for blood work and chemo treatments.

Then on July 20 my wonderful mother in law (mom) takes me for my first chemo treatment. It will last about 4 hours and is called FEC. It's supposed to be pretty powerful, and it'll make my hair fall out within about 10 days. I've decided my new nickname is going to be B&B - Bald and Beautiful, so y'all practice up on using that one okay?

My doctor (who is supposed to be THE best in Atlanta) has given me alot of prescriptions to help me with the other side effects, so I guess I'll see just how good she really is (just kidding....I know she's amazing).

Chemo will last a minimum of 18 weeks (6 treatmens, one every 3 weeks if my bloodwork looks good. Then I'll have 6 weeks of radiation and 5 years of hormone therapy. Whoo! Sounds like a journey to me!

I am really ready to get on with these treatments and move toward my ultimate healing. I'm asking all of you to pray specifically for the following: That I God in his mercy will completely heal me, 2) that through this journey I will grow closer and more dependent upon Him and His word, and 3) that through my testimony, others will be reached with the Good News of the Gospel.

And on a somewhat selfish note, pray that I really will be beautiful bald. :)

Please leave your comments. I'd love to hear from you! Thanks again for being there.