Everyone has been so kind, and caring, and concerned about my recent diagnosis of breast cancer. I can't begin to express how I  truly appreciate all the love I have felt and all of the support that has been offered. 

To help keep everyone informed and to reduce repeating my story and details over and over I have decided to keep a blog.   Hopefully you will read this when you need an update so that when we talk we can have conversations like we normally do.  I am kind of tired of cancer butting in to our conversations.   Also please know that you can post any questions or comments you have here.  Feel free to share all the wisdom, good advice, and stories you have, I welcome them all, cause you never know what is gonna help. When I am in the mood I will come to this blog and spend some time and when I am not in the mood I may be pretending that I don't have cancer!

I am writing this mainly to share with family and friends.  Since most of you know everything up to this date I am not going to restate everything that has happened up to this point.

The basic information is that it is invasive ductile, the tumor was 1 cm, the grade is 3 (rapid growing cells) and at this point they are calling it Stage 1 because we do not know yet if it is in the lymph nodes.


Today I saw the oncologist radiologist...he was very good in explaining things.  He told me about many studies and how treatment plans have evolved to where they are today.  He reaffirmed my idea that breast cancer it treated basically the same all over this country.  In other words there is kind of a standard recipe based on type, stage, and other factors.  Jay was out of town today, he had to go to Memphis, so he wasn't able to go to this appointment so  Robbie went with me.  I am glad she went.  She felt better about my decision to only remove more breast tissue and lymph nodes at this point.  He said I am at a very good place because of the early detection.  He feels like I have a 95% of no more problems.  Of course this is based on just the information they have so far.  That could change if it is my lymph nodes and if I have the type that they recommend chemo for.  I started to write "if I have to get chemo" but I don't HAVE to do anything, I ultimately get to choose my treatment plan.

Still waiting for the hormone test...I know the DR has the results, they came in this afternoon but the receptionist isn't allowed to discuss the results and the DR is in surgery so I probably won't know till tomorrow.  I so hope it is the kind that doesn't need chemo.  I am ok (not really, but enough) with doing radiation but detest the thoughts of the barbaric chemo!

It seems so easy for everyone to say do what you have to do to save your life and I understand where you are coming from.  I felt the same way when my mom was sick.  But after I watched how it depleted her quality of life while getting the treatments, only to bounce back for a few months until they found it somewhere else, then more treatments, to die anyways, I am more than a bit skeptical.  Plus I am the one who would feel like shit, loose my hair, and possibly gain weight.  I know this sounds like vanity taking over but hey, my body is the house of my soul and you guys know how I like to make my house (and everyone else's) look the best it can.  Going further with that analogy I also understand sometimes you have to go through the ugly, aggravating demo/reno stage in order to get something better.  That said...I am holding out hope that they don't recommend chemo and holding out making an ultimate decision on whether I am going to take the poison.


The next surgery is scheduled for Thursday November 5th at Florida Hospital Orlando. With a follow up scheduled on ...get this...Friday November 13th!


Today my breast is sore.  When I look at it I expect to see a big red spot, but from the outside it looks fine. The cut/scar is only a bit longer than an inch and is not very pink so it should heal pretty good.  I do worry about how sore I feel inside.  The doctor was very honest in saying she doesn't know why I am so sore. I think maybe she will find out when she goes back in.  Now this may sound funny but I have been petting my left breast and telling it that I will do everything I can to save it and heal it.

My dad is coming to visit.  He will be here today or tomorrow.  I hope he understands that I will not be as hospitable I have been in the past.  My mood swings from sad to angry to just wanting to be alone.  I really want to work in the yard or sew, just do the things I enjoy but I haven't been able to due to the pain and my moods!

I feel like I am in a holding pattern here waiting for the storm to pass to get clearance to land.  Landing will be when I have all the results and can get a plan together...you all know how I love plans and time-lines.  I like to know what is happening next and when it will be done!  God knows I wish the world worked that way...but he seems to keep reminding me that it doesn't.

OK that is it for today!  Post your questions or comments!!!! I look forward to sharing with you here!

Love you all!
Rhonda