This has been THE LONGEST holiday weekend I’ve ever had.  It was a huge relief to see Dr. Vander Woude tonight.  She seems like a really nice doctor and I’m glad that I have her for my Oncologist. 

I’ve learned that I have a large 4 X 2 cm “aggressive” tumor (probably had it over 5 years).  It’s the worst kind of tumor (on a three negative scale), but the doctor thinks we can beat it with a long treatment plan.  The first step is to do a biopsy of a lymph node which looked suspicious on the MRI.  Then a battery tests will be done – head and body scans to check for cancer elsewhere, bloodwork, etc.  I will also have a port put in for Chemo.  It sounds like Chemo will start next week which will take about half a day every two weeks and will last four to six months.  Once chemo is complete, I’ll have  surgery and then radiation. 

I’m quite sore after last week’s biopsy and I have a lot of bruising.  Thankfully my mom was here all day today to lift the babies which helps a lot with soreness and swelling.   

After tonight’s appointment I’m optimistic because now we have a plan.   I was relieved to hear they will be able to control the nausea from chemo.  I was so nervous about that because Zofran (an anti-nausea drug they use for chemo patients) was given to me during pregnancy last year and it didn’t help me at all.  I’m freaking out about losing my hair.  Dusty and I will look like a very interesting couple now. 🙂  I’ve decided to cut my hair very short because I’ve always wondered what I would look like with short hair.   It is what it is. 

We’re ready to fight this with everything we have. 

Please pray that the cancer hasn’t spread to my lymph nodes.  That the scans, tests and putting in the port goes well.  Dusty had a shift in job responsibilities (all good) so please pray that the transition goes well for him and isn’t too stressful on top of all this cancer stuff. 

Brooklyn asked tonight what the cancer would do if I didn’t get chemo.  I told her that I would get to go to heaven.  After a long, thoughtful pause she said “then you’ll get to know what God and Jesus look like!”  Too cute. 

Max and Samantha are doing well and blissfully oblivious to all of this. 

I love reading your emails, comments, etc.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for them. 

Wow I can’t believe this has happened. This is how it began……I went to the doctor two months ago because I found a lump. The lump was confirmed and I was sent for a CT scan. It was diagnosed as Mastitis and I was put on a round of antibiotics, Amoxicillin. I went back to the doctor two weeks later and nothing had changed so we decided to try one more round of antibiotics, Keflex. After no change I was referred to Dr. Housekamp, a general surgeon. Dr. Housekamp ordered an MRI and put me on another round of antibiotics, Doxycycline. The MRI results came back last Wednesday and Dr. Housekamp suggested having a biopsy right away. So quickly in fact that he came in on his day off to perform the biopsy. They put a rush on it and Friday at 4:20 I was informed by Dr. Housekamp that it’s cancer. He didn’t have the full written report yet – just the verbal. He said it’s a ductal cancer. It’s an aggressive cancer. It’s an inflammatory type of cancer, but we don’t know what stage it is or whether it has spread to my lymph nodes. He said we would start with chemo and then do surgery. He referred me to Dr. Amy Vander Woude who I am seeing Tuesday evening.

So right now we’re wrapping our minds around this diagnosis of cancer. We’re trying to accept it. Life is so busy for us. We were looking forward to a summer without morning sickness and being pregnant (anyone remember last summer?). Without the store. We were looking forward to enjoying a care free summer with our 7-month-old twins and 5-year-old daughter. However, it is what it is (I say that a lot).

We know God has been faithful to us in the past. He performs miracles. He proved it last October with Samantha (our daughter) and he can do it again.We told Brooklyn about the cancer Saturday morning and she reacted exactly the way we thought she would. She handled it very well and then asked if she could watch a movie. 🙂

Please pray that the cancer hasn’t spread. Pray for Dusty as he is going through this with me. Pray for our children that their lives may not be too disrupted by this. I know God can heal me. We have put our faith and trust in Him. THANK YOU for your prayers, emails, phone calls, visits, cards and flowers. They are all so encouraging. I will let you know what happens on Tuesday.