We have had an eventful summer to say the least. We started our summer with an Alaskan cruise that was great! Everything appeared to be headed in the right direction for a wonderful summer. But, as you know things can change on a dime.
Sunday, August 3, Winston and I were headed to Muskogee to meet the kids and grandkids to celebrate birthdays for the month. I was driving. I coughed and touched my chest. There I felt it -- a strange little round ball near the center of my chest. I mentioned it in passing to Winston and we continued to drive on down the road to Muskogee. We had a fun time with the kids and returned to Shawnee.
Even though I did not say much about it, the “ball” that I had felt bugged me. Monday I called the doctor’s office to set up an appointment. I just wanted to put my mind at rest. March 2009, I had had a mammogram that came back clear.
The doctor’s appointment started Winston and me on a journey that was fast, unsettling, and quite frankly very scary. Since I had had a mammogram in March, the doctor suggested I have an ultra sound done. So we began our roller coaster ride with ultra sounds, another mammogram, MRI, blood tests, and biopsies.
The testing revealed that I not only had one but two tumors. The BIG REVELATION was that they were cancerous. We began to try to figure out how we were going to deal with this new thing that had begun to consume our lives. Before we were able to do too much figuring, further testing and a lumpectomy revealed that there was another tumor, very small and a lymphoid that was also cancerous. This meant the lumpectomy was not going to do the job and we would have to return to surgery for a mastectomy. This we did August 27.
We have laughed, cried and prayed. You would have to laugh when you think about me not being able to blow dry my hair and use a curling brush. It takes two hands and use of both arms – one to hold the hair dryer and one to use it curling brush. My one arm was temporarily out of commission. It was a sight to behold to see Winston holding the blow dryer while I used the curling brush. We had to work on our coordination. But we managed He talked me into getting my hair cut really short. His beauty salon days were short lived.
So where are we now? We have talked to the Oncologist. She has set us up on a path to follow. It began with a PET scan. This is the test used to determine whether or not there is cancer in any other part of your body. This for me was the test that was most emotionally draining. Even though I took the test one day and found out the results the next morning, it seemed like a million years of waiting. I imagined that every ache I had ever had in any part of my body (and there has been plenty) was attributed to cancer. But the test came back clear.
I will start chemo around Oct. 15 assuming the blood count is where it should be. I will be taking a treatment every three weeks for approximately 18 weeks. The Oncologist has told me my hair will definitely fall out. I am buying myself an OSU orange wig! There may be other side effects such as sores in my mouth, and flu like symptoms for the first five days. After this I should be fine until it is time to take it again.
This has been my experience I wanted to share with you. I am not complaining. It is part of life. I realize I am so very, very blessed. Because of the location, it is only by the grace of God that I found it and I am so thankful to Him. I am thankful for our family doctor that initially sent me for further testing. I am thankful for our surgeon whom I have seen nearly every day since this has started. He has been truly a blessing to us. I am thankful for a hospital with caring nurses and staff that cared for me.
I am thankful for and I pray for those many women with breast cancer that has gone before me and pioneered the way for the tests and treatments I have the privilege of using today.
I am thankful for my precious husband that has been with me every step of the way holding my hand through every test and every surgery. Helping me dress, bandaging me up, taking me to appointments and crying and praying with me.
I am thankful for my children including our adopted daughter whose parents have allowed us to share her, my friend who called everyday and went to the doctor with us, our friends who called, sent cards, brought food, sent flowers, our pastor who was at the hospital during both surgeries and my Project H.E.A.R.T., Inc. Board of Directors who are so caring.
I can’t be bitter, mad, upset or have any other negative feelings. I have too much to be thankful for. I will take one day at a time. I will continue to fight with zeal and will accept and be grateful for all prayers sent on my behalf.
Editor’s Note: This Guest Editorial is offerd by Chris Harden. She is a member of The Shawnee News-Star Guest Editorial Advisory Board. She is also manager of Project Heart in Shawnee. The views expressed by our guest editorialists and guest columnists are theirs, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the News-Star’s management.
