Important Health Update
Well, there is no easy way to break the news.
In this post I am telling closest family and friend, alike. Until now I’ve only told a handful of people. I decided I wanted some time to process it all before putting it out there for folks to read.
In the past few weeks, I’ve been in and out of doctors’ office’s and the Women’s Health Center for exams, mammograms, ultrasound and a biopsy. On the fourth of June, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The good news is that it is one spot, very small, isn’t fast-growing and the doctors and nurses I have talked to all have said that there is no question that I will recover from this. One doctor said that he can’t say that to all women who are diagnosed, but that, with treatment, I will be just fine.
I am scheduled to have an mri next week, so they can detect anything else that might look suspicious. After that I’ll meet with my doctor to schedule surgery, which will remove the nodule and a bit of the tissue surrounding it. After the surgery, I will have radiation and chemo treatments and will lose my hair, temporarily. That’s actually one of the things that will be hard for me, I have to admit. There are times when it all feels overwhelming and scary, but they’ve given me lots of great information about what to expect and numbers to call if I need help with anything. For the most part, I am happy and working on sewing projects, photography and gardening. Lots of good get-togethers with friends and family are in the works, too.
So, I’m sure I’ll be filling everyone in, as I learn more myself. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have, I won’t be offended. And also feel free to pass this along to any mutual family and friends, especially if they don’t spend any/much time online.
I guess God/the Universe/Whatever-you-like-to call-it decided I was ready for another big challenge! Personally, I wouldn’t have minded a little bit of a break, since I’ve just been getting back on my feet after a doozy of a year in 2008. But it is not up to me, and I won’t stress over what can not be changed. Actually, I have to admit that this year I have been feeling more inner-strength. Might as well put it to good use! :-D
Taking it one day at a time!
Lots of love to all my amazing supporters!
xoxoxo Amy
June 12th, 2010 at 7:47 am
So sorry to hear – but you sound like you’re as ready as you can be to take this on. Stupid ol’ Universe! Well, lots of hugs and support from us out here on the West Coast… stay strong, & we’ll be in touch – Love, Seth & family
June 15th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Thanks so much, Seth! We want to give your Mom a call sometime soon as well. Do you know if she’s got anything planned for her Birthday?
Your little guy is growing so fast! What a cutie! Can’t wait to see the latest pics of your little niece, too.
I’ll keep you updated, but for now I’m feeling pretty well, all around!
Love to you all,
Amy
June 16th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Amy, I had no idea you are a strong and incredible woman and if anyone can fight this it is you.
July 4th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
(((((((Amy)))))) My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know you’ll get through this! Please keep us posted.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Thank you so much, Audra and Kirsten! I’ll be posting a new update sometime very soon. In spite of my diagnosis, I am in good health and good spirits these days. In a couple of days I’ll be participating in Relay for Life with my Sister and some friends, to help raise money for a cure and support everyone else who has dealt with, or is dealing with, this disease. I was committed to joining this year, even before I knew my own circumstances. Funny how life throws you that odd curve, just when you least expect it!
August 15th, 2010 at 1:29 am
My wife had a spot on her retna which turned out to be cancer. The operation required the musles to be scalple cut and her eye removed, a radio active disk placed on it then put back in. After a few days they do the procedure to take the disk off then reatach the mussles. She really went off the deep end for a while. On her first visit back with the doctor no improvement. I met an elderly lady that told me about some natural ways to support recovery. The story is way more involved than that but most people think I’m koo koo when I mention God’s will so I’ll keep it simple. She told me several natural ways to promote the fight which were all available at Whole Foods. Most importantly she told me to get my wife to drink Essiac tea, an Ojibwa Indian (Canadian tribe) herbal cure developed to some modern success by Rene Caisse. The brand she seemed to be specifing was also at Whole Foods but I don’t realy remember now, Busch maybe. She told me to hold her down and pour it down her throte if I had to. But assured me it woud cure her. It almost came to that. My wife doesn’t subscribe to hollistic or natural anything but did drink the tea. Next Dr visit was showing decrease in tummor and now blood supply cut off and I think we are safely thru.
I’m not telling you to do this. God can’t talk to me becuse i’m an idiot but I do believe he talked to that nice lady in Albuquerque, NM. She is a real Angel in my book. God bless you and send angels to carry you through this fight.