Wow, what a day......

What a whirl-wind of a day.  Met with the genetic counselor and drew blood to test for the BRAC gene, which is a gene mutation that causes breast and ovarian cancers.  If I test positive I will have to have my ovaries removed later. 

Then I had a MRI of my breast.  The MRI showed extensive lymph node involvement under my left arm and one lymph node adjacent to the breast mass.  What that means is I have to do chemo AND radiation therapies.  That sucks.  The GREAT news is the mass has not attached to my chest wall, praise God.

Next, off to meet with the surgeon.  I really, really liked him.  He had already contacted the oncologist and plastic surgeon to discuss my case.  My team of doctors are already all in place.  Due to the aggressive nature of this cancer and my family history, I am having a double mastectomy ..... and I'm having it Monday!  Wow, they don't mess around.  Because I will have to have radiation, I won't get any reconstruction until later down the road.  I will also have several other scans to assess my bones, lungs and liver for metastasis, but that won't happen until sometime after surgery.

There is one thing I've learned very quickly.  Cancer is not something that only affects the patient but affects their whole family, especially their husband or signifigant other.  They are really the unsung heros.  They have to be the rock while they are torn to shreads on the inside.  They are there holding our hand every step of the way, our cheerleaders and soft place to fall.  People like my brother-in-laws; Butch and Larry.  People like my wonderful husband Bryan, who I am so blessed to have.  The women that fight for their lives every day could not do it without their wonderful men standing strong next to them.  On behalf of all those women, we love you.