When I started this blog, I did not know that my first topic was going to be about my own breast cancer experience. Although I strongly admire the courageous women who are "survivors" and "fighters," breast cancer awareness was not one of my "passions." It's funny what a difference 1 month can make in your life. Now I am seeing the little pink ribbon everywhere I go and I'm wanting to buy pink everything. :)What an overwhelming turn our lives have taken in just a few short weeks. Here is a brief timeline of my cancer story to date...
- 1 year ago I found a lump during a self exam. My doctor sent me to an imaging place for a mammogram and ultrasound. They told me that it was nothing. I was just getting older and my tissue was getting harder.
- 1 year later (November 09) I go in for my yearly and tell my doctor that the lump is still there, feels like it has changed a bit and has started bleeding a little bit. She sends me back to the same imaging place for another mammogram and they do 2 ultrasounds this time. Still, they tell me it is "nothing but a cyst." They say not to worry about it and to come back in 6 months to see if it has grown. My doctor says that is ridiculous and sets me an appointment with a surgical breast specialist.
- December 10, 3 days after turning 38, I see the breast specialist. She does her own ultrasound and is immediately concerned. She does a biopsy on the spot that day.
- December 14, I get a call that my biopsy is positive for cancer and I need an MRI to determine more clearly.
- December 15, my husband and I meet with the surgeon to go over my options and have any questions answered.
- December 17, I have an MRI which shows that I have invasive breast cancer.
- We decide to wait till after the Christmas holidays to have my surgery for the sake of the kids and our family.
- January 11, I have a pre-op x-ray and blood work.
- January 13, I have a single mastectomy.
9 comments:
I'm so glad you've decided to blog about your journey with cancer. I will be tuned in faithfully! I am praying for your speedy and complete recovery. Hoping that the mastectomy went well...especially since you are up and blogging.
:)Kristi W.
I love the blog idea. You are an amazing writer. It's like catching up on the conversation we never have time to have. I feel like I'm sitting down in a coffee shop with you. Hugs...
Christine
Well, I hope since you are up and blogging that you are feeling a little better today. Please, please, please let me know if I can do anything to help you out. Love you!
I'm glad you are going to write....I'm will be followning along faithfully. Praying for you friend. I pray the surgery was out of the ballpark success!
Writing has always been very therapeutic for me. Each time I had some new difficult thing to learn how to live with, God gave me the grace to write about it in such a way that it helped me trace His hand more clearly. God bless you on your journey, and I look forward to reading from the sidelines.
Your cousin,
Denise
I am so glad you are blogging about your experience. I will be an avid stalker of this blog. I have earnestly prayed for you and will continue to do so! Praise God for your amazing Doctor that followed her instinct!
Liberty
Thanks for sharing your journey. I continue to pray for you - Traci G.
Candice, I don't know if you'll remember me from TTU or not, but I've been following along on updates from David & Jason on facebook. First I saw several people joining the support group for you, but I didn't know what it was all about. Then I remembered I had seen a link (I think on David's fb page) to your adoption blog a while back and decided to go there and that's when I read what was happening. I've been praying for you. Hope your recovery is going well.
~Wendy (Kline) Bergland
Hi Candice --
I am glad that you're through the first days following surgery. Good for you for trusting your instincts and following up with your doctor after the 2nd ultrasound. I will join the other blog friends in praying for you with all my heart.
Nancy
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