Be Kind...

 

I have always loved this quote and thought it was important to remember everyday.  However, I can relate to this quote more now...as I have been fighting one of the biggest battles of my life lately, and its a battle not many people in my life know about.

I have an amazing family and fantastic friends, but when I say many people didn't know - I am not kidding - outside of my parents, inlaws, and a select friends, NO ONE knew.  I do feel bad that most of my family and many of my closest friends have been in the dark, but its the way I chose to deal.

With that being said, this battle started in late May with a mammogram and an ultrasound of a lump that I found in my right breast.  From start to finish I had 4 surgeries and endless doctors appointments. It "ended" with a mastectomy of my right breast about a month ago.  

NO I do not have cancer.  This is one of the many blessings I have been given throughout this process. I was diagnosed (finally - but more on that later) with a phyllodes tumor.  Haven't heard of it? Yeah, me either.  It's a rare breast tumor - accounting for less than 1% of all breast tumors rare. They are fast growing tumors that are classified in three categories: benign, borderline, and malignant. Mine was diagnosed as borderline.  This tumor, even when removed, has high chances of reoccurring.  The borderline ones, like mine,  have the potential to become cancerous, and even after surgery, if some cells remain they can metastasize. Malignant phyllodes do not respond to chemo or radiation.

This has been a LONG process (even though its only spanned three months in my calendar), and one that I am not finished with yet.  I have surprised myself throughout this journey in many ways.  I am a FIRM believer in everything happens for reason, even if we do not understand it.  I also have so many things to be thankful for in this journey, even as I sit here a little over 4 weeks out from my mastectomy with one of my drains still in (but more on those lovely apparatuses later)

I have decided to blog about it, and put my journey out there for several reasons: 1) For me - I know one day I will want to share my journey or even just reflect on it and it would be nice to have "written" down.  2) I'm a researcher and mad googler.  Throughout my entire journey, at every step, I was looking for answers.  The most helpful information came from blogs of women in similar circumstances.  3) My mom said several times "you should write a blog and share that"  and we all know I always listen to my momma ;)