First Email sent to Friends, Cancer is an ugly word

In setting up my blog, I forgot to include the very first email I sent out to my friends.
I think it is important as it explains a little bit about how I feel about how the word cancer is used as a synonym for ugly things that are out of control and about to destroy everything that is good in life.

So, here it is...
Friends,

First, I want to thank you so very much for your love and support over the last week since I first received my diagnosis of breast cancer.
Cancer in and of itself is such a nasty word and is often used when describing something evil, I have therefore decided to call this breast crap. After all, crap you can handle and take care of and get rid of.

I had my appointment with the surgical oncologist today and found out the following.
The specific type of crap is :
Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, Moderately Differentiated, approximately 2 to 2.5 cm.
The Carcinoma did have hormone receptors.

We have tentatively scheduled a lumpectomy for April 29, at the same time they will biopsy what they call the sentinel lymph nodes.

Following the lumpectomy, there will most likely be a 5 week course of radiation.

Then either Hormone or Chemo Therapy, depending on the results of the biopsy of the lymph nodes and the size of the tumor.

This is all tentative, as the doctor gave me lots of reading homework to do.

I thank you so much for your prayers and support, they mean more to me than you will ever know.

Love,
Lynn