This past week I have been very busy scheduling visits to surgeons, genetic counseling and numerous tests. I have also gone to work and tried to keep my life at home as normal as possible (Is there such a thing as normal?...there is NOTHING normal about cancer!)
After researching (I feel like I've taken a crash course on Breast Cancer 101!) lots of reading and loving support from all my family and friends my plans are as follow...
I decided to have my surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. Tomorrow I will have a Lymphatic Mapping done. A small amount of radioactive liquid will be injected into the cancer site on my breast. This will then flow to the sentinel nodes (these are the nodes where the cancer first travels before entering your body).I then have to wait two hours for the scans (pictures) to be taken. They told me that I can wait in the waiting room or go shopping! (Maybe shopping will distract me! ...know of any yarn shops nearby?!) The pictures will show the flow of the radioactive dye and which nodes have an increased absorption. My surgeon will use this as a guide (or map) to determine the location of the lymph nodes that drain my cancer. The Sentinel-Node biopsy will be performed the next day.
My surgery is scheduled for Friday, Nov 13th. I will be having a mastectomy.
Since I am the fifth woman in my family to have breast cancer, I will have genetic testing after the surgery. I would have had it done before but it was an exclusion on my health insurance and was not approved unless they deemed it medically necessary. Yesterday I got the ok but since the results take 3-4 weeks (and my surgery was already scheduled!) I have opted to wait.
Good news: Today my Mom will be arriving from Puerto Rico to be with me. I can't wait to see her!! Te quiero mucho Mami!
I want to thank all my family and friends (and people I do not know) for keeping us in your prayers. I say "us" because cancer does not only affect one person, it affects the whole family! They say cancer is a life-threatening illness ... I prefer to think of it as a life-altering one instead! From the moment you hear the words,"you have cancer" not only does your life change, your perspective of life changes as well! There are no special moments...EVERY moment is special! Every day is truly a gift from God! You treasure every hug and kiss from your family...to the warm embrace of a friend who cries with you the moment you hear the news (I will never forget that, Jackie!)...the sympathetic ear of your friends who listened to you while you explained the intricacies of breast cancer while hiding the uncertainty of what your heart is really feeling.
I want to thank all of you for making these (difficult) past few weeks more tolerable. You have all given me HOPE and INSPIRED me to continue my crusade. Please continue to keep us in your prayers ... for the surgery is just the beginning of my journey!
As you go about your lives, remember to stop and let someone know you care... a simple hug, a warm smile, a genuine "hello", an "I was thinking of you" phone call, a shared cup of coffee or tea together, a piece of chocolate! That "insignificant" gesture might just help that person have a grand day! Why limit it to the people we know, try it on a stranger! They may be surprised or amazed but you will be rewarded! So as I face my greatest challenge this Friday I challenge you to do one simple kind gesture for someone else and remember to have a BEAUTIFUL DAY!!
God bless you!
"For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances...I can do everything through Him who gives me strength"
Phil 4:11-13
