Christmas Aftermath

We had a lovely Christmas week.

Jack and I put the tree up Thursday, and he lit it Friday. Then we decorated Friday. It's gorgeous.

I had put together a sauerbraten for Sunday, and Jesse and Liz came for lunch with Eliana. She was in wonderful form! We had a great day. After they left, we cleaned for Christmas. It was a wonderful day.

On Tuesday, we prepped the day, and then we had a visit from Greg Candy, AHS class of 72 with us. We headed to Buddy's for the open house, and then to the Williamses'.

Christmas was lovely. I made a simple lunch of sliders and a veggie lasagne. Beautiful time opening gifts. Eliana squealed and babbled despite having a horrible cold. Bud and Lindsay went to the Millers' and the rest of us headed to my brother Scott and Mare's. A wonderful time.

Now we clear the way for the party.

Step Two

I'm officially scared.

I hear conflicting reports from different women. One says to prepare for 6 months of recovery. Another says I'll be up and about in 6 weeks.

So officially, I have no idea what to expect, and I shouldn't expect anything. That scares me.

More Poop

As I predicted, the biopsy showed cancer in the right breast as well. This report doesn't indicate whether the sample is reactive to hormones, so there's a chance I will need chemo.  I'll know more when I talk to Brooks after the holidays.

The upside is, maybe I can get bigger boobs!

Getting ready

Got a chest Xray in prep for surgery on Thursday, and then a biopsy on the right breast Friday. That one hurt. The lidocaine didn't take effect while she was snipping off samples. Then the bra stuck to the adhesive and caused a bad rash.

And the bruising is a lot worse as well. Hurts and is swollen.
Boo hiss.

We've decided to go ahead with the Christmas party. Not that I feel up to it. I don't feel up to anything. In fact, I slept a full 15 hours last night, from 9 til noon. Ridiculous.

Today we spent shopping for Eliana and the kids, and finishing up the mailing.

The 411

So here's how it all played out:

I have Stage II invasive ductal cancer. I may not need radiation, and the hormone therapy has a number of ranges of medications so we'll have to figure out which is optimal once we know where we're headed.

As for surgery, that got challenging because of the MRI results.

The MRI showed that both breasts have questionable areas along with the initial lump in the left one. They are non-mass, but they light up the MRI so they're going to need to be biopsied as well. I've scheduled the ultra-sound biopsy for Friday morning, and then we'll need an MRI biopsy. Those results will determine whether I need a lumpectomy or mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy. Whichever it is, it will be scheduled for mid-January, after we get back from Jamaica.

That's where I am now!

And So It Begins

Today I begin the cancer journey with an MRI. I chose this as my ensign:

The weekend was wonderful. We babysat a very happy and chatty Eliana on Saturday along with Maureen and Fred. On Sunday, ABB was at Laurita and so were 14 Golden Knights brothers and sisters! So much fun to be with them!

I had a blue moment last night, but it was basically self-pity, and nothing really to be anxious about.

That remains to be seen.