I think it’s good to start this blog on my birthday. I turned 33 on 7/16/16. Little did I know what a turn my life was going to take in about a month. Before 8/16/16 (but after 7/16/16) - I felt a lump in my breast after doing a self-exam. I was so concerned that I remember making my mother feel this too. She told me, “You should go and get that checked out…for peace of mind, so you can sleep good at night.” So I tried to schedule a mammogram on my own but when I mentioned that I felt something they said that I would need to go to the doctor so they could schedule a “diagnostic mammogram”. So…on 8/16/16, I went to my OB-GYN and she confirmed the need for the diagnostic mammogram. I scheduled the mammogram appointment for the following Friday morning on 8/19/16.
On 8/19/16 that day is almost a blur. That’s why I thought it was important to blog what has been happening so I can remember the order of events. I went to the Breast Center at Presbyterian Dallas for the Diagnostic Mammogram and Sonogram. Before leaving they already completed the biopsy. 3 parts of the appointment done in 2 hours. I’ve always been extra curious and observant at the doctor…when I was walking out of the room of the mammogram I saw the tumor on the screen. At that time I didn’t not know it was cancer but I thought two things…1. That does not look very good. It’s literally glowing. 2. If it’s not cancer, it still has to go! So I left that appointment and went back to work.
On 8/23/16 (one week from the initial appointment with my OB-GYN), I got the call that would change everything. I answered the phone as I was entering the parking garage at work. The radiologist that performed the biopsy was on the line and this is what I heard…Well it isn’t the results we were hoping for…blah, blah, blah…cancer…blah, blah, blah…do you want me to give you the name/number of a breast cancer surgeon…I’m thankful I didn’t not run into a car or the wall in the parking garage when I learned of this news. I think what kept me was that I prayed on a Tuesday morning. I knew the results were coming on Tuesday or Wednesday and I needed God to know that I was ready for whatever was coming. Now that news felt like I was punched in my stomach. And a few tears came and I saw my sweet friend’s face that passed away from cancer at the end of last year. I gathered myself and entered my office. I had a call to complete and then I spoke to my co-worker who is a recent breast cancer survivor. She had many words of assurance for me and resources to provide. I felt completely deflated and confused - put I was very thankful for the support of my co-worker. I actually had to calm down and settle with the news and call the radiologist back to get him to repeat what he said on the initial call and answer some questions. My co-worker had a list of questions that she told me I needed to ask and I’m so thankful for that. I also called the breast surgeon because I needed an appointment to find out when they were getting this tumor out of me. That appointment was set for 8/26/16. I knew the hardest part of Tuesday was going to be sharing this news with my family. My parents and sister already lost a son and brother. This was going to be hard but I did not think it was something I should share over the phone. Later in the afternoon on 8/23/16, I shared the news with my supervisor and senior leadership at Bristol (since they were in town from Phoenix). They have been very supportive and assuring that I need to take care of myself first with all of this going on. I left work early to pick up my medical records/pathology report, follow-up on my appointment for Friday with the surgeon and go and visit with my OB-GYN and inform them of what was going on. After I visited with my doctor, she told me she would be praying for me every morning and that meant a lot. I was still getting my mind around being 33 with a breast cancer diagnosis when this is NOT something that runs in my family at all. I went and told my family Tuesday evening and that was the hardest part of the day. I had no idea about how my family would react to this news. There were many tears but my family has been through much worse than this. I was able to talk to my Mother privately about what I knew and she provided that motherly support that is needed when you get news like this. My sister arrived and I shared the news with her. Later, Patrice lead us in prayer and we left for the evening…I think that’s a lot to report for the first post so I think I’ll have a Part 2 for “The Beginning”…
