My first email to friends April 24

I just want to update all of my friends on how I am doing.

I sincerely thank each and everyone one of you for your continued prayers and thoughts You have enveloped me with such love and positive thoughts that I am at peace with my ‘crap’ and have complete confidence that I am on the path to beat it.

My surgery will be next week on Tuesday the 29th, I don’t have a time yet and will not know until the day before. It will be an outpatient procedure, so I should be home that night. We will not now the results of the lymph node biopsies for several days after that.

Just some thoughts that have been rambling through my head that I thought I would share with you. They are my thoughts and not necessarily, those of everyone going through what I am.

First, most of you all ready know that I refuse to call this crap what the doctor’s call it, cancer. One definition of cancer is an out of control evil that takes over all that is good. I refuse to allow that to happen to me, crap I can handle and can fight. Therefore, I have come to examine the use of the word cancer in our language. What brought this to the forefront for me is that I was listening to one talk radio station and this host was referring to one of the terrorist leaders as being a cancer on society, going on about how he was out of control and would destroy every thing. Think about it.

Second, I have had several people say that they did not know what to say to me when they learned of my diagnosis. You know, I never really knew what to say before either. One thing I know I personally do not care for is “I’m sorry”. The person, who says that, had absolutely nothing to do with my getting cancer so what do they have to be sorry for? So maybe it would be better to say “I am sorry to hear that.” Or maybe you could say “ Do you like your doctor?”, Plus there is always “ You will be in my thoughts and prayers”. Then go on to celebrate what is good going on. Again, these are just my suggestions.

Third, I have so appreciated hearing from survivors and hearing their stories. These ladies give me hope, courage and faith. If you know of a survivor, you can relay their story to the newly diagnosed person. I was told by a couple of people to call this particular lady, who I had met in the past, but how do you start that call? I felt too awkward to call, so ask the newly diagnosed person if you can give their phone number to the survivor you want them to talk to . I was talking to my Breast Cancer Nurse/Coordinator about how helpful talking to survivors has been for me. She mentioned that this cancer is unlike others in that the women really bond together and support each other. It gives more meaning to the theme I see in the Breast Cancer Site regarding, Sisters, Mothers, Daughters. I always felt at a small loss not having a sister to grow up with or a daughter to raise, only to find out I had sisters just waiting to meet me at the time I needed them most.


Fourth, Ladies, Please get your mammograms. I had a small change in my breast but after researching extensively on the net, it didn’t look anything like any of the pictures I saw, or the changes that are associated with cancer. Frankly it looked like scar tissue had formed and I get those all over my body as I have aged. The surgical oncologist even said that it would have been easy to miss. I am fortunate that it was caught, I have heard of other’s who were not as fortunate.

Fifth, Cancer in and of itself is not physically painful. Weird isn’t it? I feel just as well as I did a month ago. Maybe that is why it can be so easily over looked.

In summary, it has always been my belief that everything happens for a specific reason. Early in my life, it took me a long time to figure that out and then to learn what the reason is. Several years ago, I figured it out. I need to share what happens to me in my life with others to help give them perspective if they themselves find they are facing some of the same challenges I have, or maybe they have a friend they can help. Much time is wasted re-inventing the wheel and that time costs us personally much in the terms of energy, hope and faith.

Thanks once again for your support.

Please feel free to share this information as you see fit. Anyone is free to email me or call me if you just want to chat or share your thoughts on my missive!

Love you all!

Lynn