More Doctors! More NEWS!!

Tuesday dawned and two more doctors were on dock for the day!
First was Dr. Schiempf, a plastic surgeon.  He was a quiet man, who talked to us about the options we had with him as the surgeon. He would do the reconstructive surgery about two weeks following the mastectomy surgery. He gave us one piece of valuable information about radiation-- once you have it on an area, you can not have it on that area again.  I tried to ask all the doctors involved about the reocurrence of cancer when patients have a lumpectomy. All I have ever heard is that women complain that after a lumpectomy the cancer returns and they have to go through all the trauma again. Now, let's face it. The Lord is in control of all! I know that. However, it seems that there is a risk of it returning with a lumpectomy. And, with a lumpectomy you had to have radiation and  hormone therapy for anywhere from five to ten years.
Dr. Hahm had mentioned Monday that he personally would not have radiation because it effects your whole body. There is no way to radiate just one area.  Hmmmmm.. more information.

Later that day I went to see Dr. Miller, at Dr. Martin's OB/GYN office.  If the BRCA test comes back positive, there is a good chance I will have my ovaries taken out soon also. WOW! Can you imagine?  There is a huge risk because my sister had ovarian cancer before the age of 50.  I never knew so much about cancer, how it's passed genetically and how the treatments effect you. Now, it's up close and personal. I want to know as much as possible so I can make a good decision based on what the Lord wants me to do.
Dr. Miller did her exam and we talked at length about the cancer in the family and what is going on with me right now. We will wait to make any more decisions until after the BRCS test comes back. She mentioned that since the gene had been cracked, information abounds.  Lots to keep up with!!!

(I did spend some time at a breast cancer blog site, checking out information on radiation and hormone therapy.  You have to be so careful in this situation. You don't want to read so much you are scared to death. I would ask the Lord to take out what I didn't need to know so I wouldn't be confused.-- He is so faithful. He led me to the site through a magazine article in Woman's Day magazine since October is breast cancer awareness month. He is  never late--- always on time!!)

On Wednesday, we got the good news that the BRCA test came back negative! Praise the Lord.  That is great news for me and the girls. Again, we all know God is in control of all things. So, there may be a plan in mind we don't know anything about. But, we do know genetically the risks are low. Praise Him again.

Thursday, time for the MRI at Roper.  Down we go. There is no one in the check in waiting room. Norm and I begin a conversation with the ladies checking me in. We talk about our trip out west and what a great time we had. The one lady wants to ride out there one day, when she retires. Right away they came to get me for the test.  WOW! What a trip that was! It took one hour to do the test. Now you know what that meant?  Face down, arms above your head, stretched out with an iv in for the dye. You get so stiff in that position for so long. And, I had no idea how much was going by, but at one point I could feel deep in the pit of my stomach that I was beginning to feel panicky....I began to pray.. Lord, please help me to remain calm. I don't want to start screaming in this tube. AND, HE DID!  Soon, it was over. AND, MORE WAITING TO COME!!

I told Meagan that the waiting was the hardest part and seemed to be what we were doing the most of !!!
Because of what she had been through with getting pregnant, she asked me if I wanted her waiting scriptures. I laughed and told her NO!! Emphatically!!  God does have a sense of humor!!! We are to be learning while we are waiting. What, Lord, do you want me to learn?  I am open!!

Friday-- Teresa, Shelley, and Connie came out to see me and spend some time here. I am so thankful for the lady friends God has placed in my life. They don't know how much each "thing" they have done means to me during this what could be a trying time. They have helped in their own way to support my "peace" as we go through the process.

While they were here with me, Dr. Beatty called with the results from the MRI. She said they found a second lump and she needed to know what I was thinking my decision would be. I told her the double mastectomy was the way I was leaning (I was thinking I had hoped to have a few more weeks to decide.).  She said she would not need to do another biopsy then on the second lump, but would need to do a lymph node biopsy to determine if any cancer is in the lymph nodes. Another piece of neat informatin I have learned. Your have several lymph nodes under your arm. The "top" lymph node is like a barrier. If there is no cancer there, there is no cancer in the other lymph nodes. If there is cancer there, then it is in the other lymph nodes. If the test comes back positive, I will need radiation or chemotherapy.  Her office would be calling to set up the lymph node biopsy soon.  She wants all the information she can get before we go to the main surgery.
 WOW! I didn't know exactly what to think!!  Another step in the process.  More waiting!!!

You can't know until you are in a boat like this what EVERY ITEM OF ENCOURAGEMENT DOES- the phone calls, the texts, the emails, the cards..... each one is sent from the Lord at the exact time it is needed! Oh so like the Lord... He uses His ministering angels.

THE ROCKS:
Leslie Leech brought me a beautiful plant and card before we went to the rally. It was so appropriate and hit the nail on the head as to how I was feeling. Thanks Leslie.
Mary Pittman sent me the sweetest card today.  She included a great scripture:
Psalm 118:1,6, 17, 28
Oh Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
I shall not die, but live, adn declare the works of the Lord.
You are my god, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.
Email from Kevin/Sandy
Sermon:  Experiencing power and presence of healing-- something to grab-- thanks Lana
Mary Ellen Reid-- great prayer and encouragement
Ruth-- love the card
Tammy G.-- thinking of you email
Helen M.and Marjorie P send emails every couple of days...
Debbie Mathews calls every couple of days with encouraging words and asking how I am and where am I in the process..
Ed/Sylvia  Miller--thinking of you email
Sandy Dandridge/Joni Kempka-- emails and calls every couple of days with encouraging words and thoughts
Jeanne Burgaugher--phone calls, emails, texts
Rachel Butler--phone calls, emails, texts