cheese and anti-razors

I keep searching for the right words to describe everything my family and I have been through to get to this point, but I am really at a loss.  What I can tell you is that without all the words of encouragement, emails, wonderful cards, flowers, care packages, visitors, and most of all prayers, good thoughts, happy dances, and good juju, Breast Cancer would be much harder to tackle.

I hear it all the time and I identify with it, "I never thought I would be diagnosed with cancer." No one ever thinks that they will hear the words from their doctor, "cancer".  What I hoped to be a clump of cheese in my left breast, formed from the mass quantities of milk I produced, was not of the gourmet variety at all.  Please encourage all the women and men in your life to do self breast exams.  If I hadn't done one we wouldn't have caught it at such an early stage, at this point my lymph nodes look clear on ultrasound and MRI, as well as my PET Scan came back clear other than the mass in my left breast.  I am 100% estrogen positive, 92% progesterone positive, and her2 negative.  This means my tumor is extremely hormone driven and that pregnancy accelerated the growth tremendously (it has been speculated I have had cancer for up to 5 years prior to knowing about it). The good news is it I have a very treatable tumor.  For me I relish in the fact that shock is a beautiful thing and allowed me to cope with the news, take care of a toddler, and prepare to move to a new state.  God works in mysterious ways and has placed many people in my path from both the past and present that have helped guide me through uncharted territory. 

I am currently receiving my second treatment of Adriamycin and Cytoxin.  Total I will have four treatments of this.  These particular drugs are the tough ones on your body especially your heart, kidneys, liver, and veins.  And yes it is the stuff that makes your hair fall out.  In my case I only let a little hair fall out.  Brandon had the pleasure of shaving my head.  He did a fantastic job!  I really think he could have a side job shaving heads.  My mom and Anna watched on.  Anna studied every move, hoping she wasn't taking notes to try it on herself in the future.  (I am sure if she does it will be the day before pictures.) After I finish the AC (Adriamycin and Cyotoxin) chemo I will have 12 weekly doses of Paclitaxel (Taxol).  Then I pray that I will be in pathological remission!   One great perk of Chemo is that I no longer has to spend time washing my hair or shaving!!  I really can be ready in 5.  Scared I am going to grow really accustomed to this new way of life!

For those of you who don't know, my mom has been living with us to help out through treatments and surgery when it comes time.  Her husband, has been so amazing and supportive about letting his wonderful wife come and be with us.  It is so nice to have my mom with me through this.  Brandon and her have had some great bonding time and even have a few inside jokes between them now.  Dana, my fantastic mother-in-law, has come to help with Anna and I. Even before treatments her and my father-in-law, Mike, came and helped accomplish somethings that needed to be done at our new house.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing family!   

I know this has been vague, but so much to catch up on and I am just unsure as to where to begin.  I will be more detailed with future posts.  I am open to answer any questions at any level of detail, and if there is anyone in your life that might need guidance through a similar situation I am would be more than happy to help them (I do pray that this offer isn't needed as it is a beast no one should have to tackle).  Wishing everyone a happy start to October and hope you all are enjoying the fall weather as much as we are in Alabama.  Thank you again for all your prayers and encouragement, they really are greatly appreciated and are so uplifting!