So, I may have gotten a little excited
this past week but good news is good news, right? I have beaten breast cancer
but does that mean my journey is over? No . . . my “pathway to recovery”
continues.
Forgive me if I thought my medical
oncologist would look at me last Friday and say, “You beat it! You’re good to
go!” Instead, she/they are going to closely monitor me as the highest risk for
reoccurrence is within the first two years following treatment. In addition,
since I carry the BRCA2 gene AND have a 1 in 10,000 mutation AND since I had
breast cancer, in both breasts, I am at a slightly higher risk for melanoma. If
you will remember, I had a melanoma removed in 2011, which was benign. I had
two moles removed last spring, and they were benign. To that end, I have a
history of melanoma, which creates even more concern.
I guess it is impossible for an
oncologist to use the word “cure” since it implies, in this case, cancer would
be gone forever. So, I suppose the best a doctor can do is say they can find no
signs of cancer in your body at "that" time. Even though my surgeon
told me he felt good he got it all, and there is no evidence, the fact remains
there is always a chance some cancer cells are left in my body and survived.
Even though I had chemo, there is still a chance.
I will be returning to the Cancer
Treatment Center of America in Chicago sometime in May for an outpatient
surgery, as well as meet with my gyno-oncologist and medical oncologist. They
are trying to get a few things in check that are not in check at this time
before scheduling me for my three month follow-ups.
So, when do we officially get to
celebrate, popping the bubbly? Why not today! Today is a day of
celebration! Yes, it is our seven month wedding anniversary, it is also a day of
life, a day of hope. And when I say hope, I’m not talking about our wishy-washy
maybes. In scripture, the word hope is an indication of certainty, meaning a
“strong and confident expectation”. We have much to celebrate.
I praise God every day for the gift of
breast cancer and how He’s by my side along our “pathway to recovery”. And for
the many people, especially women, who He puts in my path every day, who bless
me, I in turn desire to be a blessing to others. Even when the “waves are
kicking me under”, (you guessed it! Stronger by Mandisa), I will continue to
fight with all I have. I know God will continue to give me the fight within and
the strength to face each day with gratitude, not fear or worry . . . making me
stronger! Speaking of stronger, remember “our God is stronger, God You are
higher than any other, Our God is Healer . . .” I love this song, “Our God” by
Chris Tomlin. My God is healer. I have put my life in His hands and my faith
and trust in Him. I desire to bring glory to God through all of my life, just
not the good times, but in it all.
Before I left Friday, I asked my
oncologist when do women celebrate their one year, five year, ten year, etc.
survivorship? She said from the day they are diagnosed. Today is not July 30,
nor was last Friday, but I don’t want to wait til then! Our "pathway to
recovery" continues so let the celebration begin!
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