Some not so good personal news...

OK, at first I wasn't going to say anything at least not for a while, but then I thought I'd share and just maybe someone out there can benefit from hearing this.
I've had a really rough week.
I NEVER want another week like this past week.
I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
This past Tuesday I found out I have breast cancer.

I feel extremely lucky that I found this really soon. It's only about an inch in size and does not appear to be the fast growing type of cancer. We are going to do a lumpectomy and radiation. That's the plan. Course, things can rapidly change, but this is what I am going with.

Now, for all of you ladies reading this - Have you done your yearly Mammogram yet? If not, why not? DO NOT WAIT.

My surgeon was quite skeptical and even commented about me NOT being the person who found this cancer and how they show up occasionally on mammograms, and most women cannot detect this,
but I did find it.
And I showed him exactly the spot, bypassing the cyst which was nearby as that is something I've often felt, and this other was something foreign to me and didn't belong. That's what I had told my primary doctor. I knew it didn't belong there.

It wasn't through a routine mammogram. I have been the one to find everything like this (I've found cysts several times before and I really did think this must be similar or nearly the same, but I still quickly followed up with my primary doctor and got additional mammograms and ultrasounds and ultimately biopsies done!) Hopefully that will make all the difference. I told my surgeon that for over 30 years I've had one of those little plastic signs hanging in my shower that show how to do a self-check! They don't even hand those out to women anymore. But it helps remind me to do it routinely! and Thank God.

So.... on Wednesday - the very next day, my husband and I spent the entire day with me having a double MRI, an hour and half consultation with the surgeon and his surgery tech, and then getting all the necessary things done such as X-rays, blood work, EKG's, and all in anticipation of my surgery next week and the setting the plan in place for the follow-up.
I feel blessed that things are happening really quickly. We were able to get the surgery scheduled for next week.

I've had wonderful support from all my family and my husband's family, and many, many wonderful friends.

I have been amazed at the response from my new (just 7 weeks now) co-workers, and also my wonderful boss, Fr. Patrick, who sent me a dozen long stemmed bright pink roses, as well as putting me at the top of his prayer list!
Every single day this week I've been talking to someone who has offered wonderful encouragement to me.


So everyone, I will most likely not be doing my regular cards for my two teams: Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturday and Squifflefly -- at least not for a couple weeks.
I really hope that is all that I may miss.
Please show all those wonderful ladies on those teams some support in place of me!

And please, pray for me and my family.