Double Whammy

Today is the third anniversary of my mom's passing. It's also the first time I met my breast surgeon. 

The appointment did not go as well as I had hoped. Based on what T went through last year, and, what I thought was a similar diagnosis, I had prepared myself for the idea that I'd have a lumpectomy followed by radiation, and possible further medication. 

Unfortunately, mine is a very different type of cancer.

Most women have estrogen-related breast cancer; I have triple-negative which is not estrogen-related. Treatment is probably going to require chemo. Which I wasn’t expecting and is a whole different ball game.

They redid my imaging today, and though the radiologist at the first place thought a second spot was only a cyst, my surgeon suggested making sure in case we want to remove it and can do it all at once.

They also wanted to have genetic testing done since triple-negative is usually hereditary, not environmental. Since there are no people in my family who have died from cancer, the surgeon was really intrigued.

So the next step is an MRI to verify there aren't any other things hiding that we'd want to look more closely at. Then another biopsy. I'll meet with an oncologist somewhere in there, and based on the lab results from the genetic testing and the biopsies, she'll decide if chemo is the best route. If so, the surgeon thought it would likely be for 3-6 months, then she'd do the lumpectomy, then I'd have radiation. 

I've got a great team, and my friends and family are all here for me. The surgeon was very encouraging that this is treatable and things are going to be OK. I know God will get me through it, but right now I'm feeling pretty low. Trying to keep a brave face while the kids are here. So much is happening with the end of the school year. This week:

• V had field day

• He got his boot off (post-cast from jumping across the playground equipment and landing on another kid's foot causing his foot to roll and break his ankle on both sides)

• R's new glasses came in and I ordered V new ones

• R had training for her summer job at the pool

• The dance teacher had a surprise party for S and her friend who are both seniors after class so I skipped book club this month

•  R's choir concert is this week

• S has graduation rehearsal on her last day of school Friday as well as the senior picnic and Senior Sizzle that night

• V won the raffle at the school carnival so gets to have a pizza lunch with a friend and the 5th grade teachers on Friday

• V has a Boy Scout camp out Friday-Sunday

• R has more job training Saturday, and there are 2 grad parties

Next week is the coup de graces of Maycember for us this year.  

• Sunday service will be graduation focused (our youth leader will not be able to get through it - he cries every year but this is a special group for him)

• Another grad party that afternoon

• Monday morning, the glass for my shower is getting installed

• R has summer school orientation

• Wednesday is graduation

• Thursday is recital dress rehearsal (I'm doing the mother/daughter dance with S - Believe by Cher and Name Game)

• Friday, R misses her last day of school to head to Chicago with the Forensics team for the nationals competition; V has his last day of school

• That night is the full recital

• Saturday, my niece gets married in Manhattan, KS, and we are helping decorate

Both of these weeks also include regular activity schedules 😳

We wrap up with a few more things the last week of the month:

• Sunday, S and I are teaching since we had to trade for the weekend before since it was grad Sunday

• Monday is Memorial Day, and R comes home from Chicago

• Wednesday is the Forensics banquet

• Saturday is the 31st, and we're sending May out with a bang with S's graduation party

I'm hoping I can wait til all of this is over and everyone can enjoy life for a little bit longer before I have to drop this bomb on them.  I'm going to soak it all in.