I got the phone call at about 6:30 on Friday night. "Surprisingly, we found some cancer." I went over those words over and over in my head. Some? So, like, not a lot? I never asked any questions. I said okay a few times and I think I thanked him...don't remember... I was at my sister's house with the kids. She was so strong for me. My husband was out working last minute. I couldn't call him. He couldn't leave and I didn't want him to worry for the next 4 hours; to go through what I was going through. So we sat, smoked (what, is it gonna give me cancer?), and actually joked around for a few hours. My husband got there and we were silent. This wasn't anything new to him though, I'd been like that since the biopsy. Finally I just took him in the bedroom and told him. He sank. It was heartbreaking and I felt so bad. I know that I didn't do it to him, but I felt I was to blame for him sadness. Horrible.
So the weekend went by...slowly. We talked about it some. Sometimes I'd catch myself actually being normal and forgetting. Then I had to deal with that feeling like when I'd just gotten the call. My kids really cheered me up. My husband and I read that we needed to talk to our children. We had the whole thing scripted. "Mommy has an owie on her boobie. The Dr. is going to take it out and give Mommy lots of medicine. Then Mommy will be all better!" Ok, got them in the room, we're sittin on the bed, nervous. "Mommy has an owie on her boobie..." "Can I see it?" says my 5 year old son. Complete silence. Um...that wasn't in the script... "Ok..." I muttered. So I show him the part where the lump was. You couldn't see it, just a little bruising fron the biopsy. "Do you want to feel the lump?" Did I really just say that? Too late, of course he did. He pulled back quickly and I finished the rest of my speech while I fixed my shirt. "Can we go to the mall?" said my 3 year old. I looked at my husband...That's it? Sweet!
This morning I took my husband, middle child, sister, her fiance, and my dad to the Dr. with me. The doctor explained that my cancer cells were slow growing (awesome), my lump was 1.2 centameters (awesome), I am only in Stage 1(0 is best, 4 is worst) and that I may not even have to have chemo (super awesome!)! So the next step is a mammogram and MRI. Then they'll compare those to the ultrasound I had and have 3 different views of it. Will have results next Monday. For now I'm trying to prepare myself for the MRI. I am so clostrophobic! The doctor said he'd give me a mild tranquilizer. I said, "Can I have a major tranquilizer?" He just laughed. I was serious.



Welcome to the club no one wants to belong to! LOVED your post - so descriptive. I could feel myself back in those "just diagnosed" days. You're at the very beginning of a journey that could very well change your life - for the better. Cancer can do that. You'll learn that you're very strong; you'll experience the incredible skill of the medical community; and you'll find how very much people care about you and love you. Cancer is a tough price to pay for all this; but cancer disappears, and you're left with everything else - all the good stuff.
Hope you soldier through the MRI all right. My advice? Close your eyes and envision something really nice. The tranquilizer will help you drift.
"Cancer is a rock in the path - step over it. The path will still be there." And you'll have lots of hands reaching out to help you take those steps. We're here for you - stay connected here. Good luck - PJH
Beth, you're in good hands, for sure. Thanks for connecting - PJH