I discussed earlier that I was "re-diagnosed" with cancer pretty much by accident. When you have had Stage IV cancer & suspicious nodules show up in your lungs, it is not a huge surprise to hear "your cancer is back". However, in my situation, I had been doing well. Hadn't I? I had remained cancer free longer than expected. I am still good. Right?
Wrong.
From July 11 - November 23, 2014, we knew there were foreign bodies growing inside me and we assumed they were cancer cells, but what type? Is the receptor status the same as before? Was this a brand new primary cancer, maybe lung cancer (versus breast cancer that has spread to the lungs)? So many questions.... Know what answers the doctors gave me? Let's wait. For 4, FOUR flippin' months, the doctors suggested we wait. Don't do anything. Should I start exercising more to build up tolerance? Should I rest more to save my strength? Nope. Do nothing different. Just wait.
I have never had anything more frustrating and nerve racking than being told to "just wait". This should not have been breaking news to me (hey, I know me and I like me) but I am a horrible "just wait" kind of person.
But wait I did. From July 11 til the day before Thanksgiving 2014. During that time, I took vacations. I worked. I had fun with friends. I prayed. I kept hoping with each scan that somehow this would be a bad dream and the identified nodules would be gone. One of the larger nodules was near the outside of the lung (relatively easily accessible) and could be reached for a needle biopsy.
They were not gone. And 2 minutes before Thanksgiving dinner (for my family, the night before-Thanksgiving-dinner), we got the call: pathology is back. Breast cancer that has metastasized into my lungs.
I have cancer. Again.
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