Crappy News

I still have a hard time saying it out loud, but writing is a tad easier... I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Crap.

Here is what John and I know so far:

• The biopsy shows it's ductil carcinoma, but the docs have some concerns that it may also be lobular
• I'm scheduled for surgery on Thursday, August 29th. It will be a bilateral (double) mastectomy.
• They want to do some additional tests in the next week or so to see if it has metastasized (escaped to other parts of the body). If so, we may delay surgery and go right into chemo. 
• The next week's tests and the post-surgery pathology will determine the stage. So right now let's pray that the pesky critter has been (and continues until surgery to be) happy just hanging out in the left breast. 

I'm managing to keep a fairly good attitude; I figure there's no use being hysterical over the unknown. That said, the enormity of the  path I may be treading does occasionally wash up and overwhelm me.

We are slowly sharing the news. I know so many of you have been on this journey, and others like it, that I know I'm in good company. Plus, we joke that my family is good at growing things -- just between my two parents we have three cancers and a brain tumor. But the best part is they have kicked butt every time and everyone is happy, healthy, and thriving. I plan to continue that streak.

So please stay tuned. I'm certain there will be many ups and downs in the coming months, but hope that ultimately we'll have only the best news.

John, Andy, and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers so very much.

xoxoxox
Kerstin