The Next Step...

Well...16 days has come and gone since my surgery.  I have to say the recovery from the double mastectomy wasn't too bad.  If I had to complain about anything it would be not being able to get out of a recliner on my own for a few days, sleeping in a recliner, eating in a recliner basically being best friends with a recliner.  After about 6 days of our friendship I was done.  I decided that was about enough and I slowly started getting back to a somewhat normal way of life.  At this point, I am pretty close to being fully recovered.  There are a few things that I still am having a hard time doing with my right side where the lymph nodes were removed .  I can't complain though. The Lord truly gave me every bit of strength to get through the crazy week our family endured.  My Nana passing within two weeks of being diagnosed of cancer a few days before my surgery was tough.  I was constantly reminding myself that God knows the timing of my surgery and He knows the timing of taking my Nana to be with Him.  Dealing with that and not being able to attend her funeral was a hard thing.  I know in my heart she wouldn't have wanted my surgery to be postponed for any reason, and that was such a comfort.  We were able to spend a couple of hours together a few days before she passed and I am so grateful for that time.  I am so thankful for her positive attitude and contagious sweet spirit.  No matter what was put before her, she was going to have a smile on her face. I was blessed to have her as my angel at my surgery.  


I wasn't really sure emotionally or mentally how prepared I was to see myself the first time the bandages were removed.  I know the Lord prepared me every step of the way though.  I can honestly say I haven't shed a tear.  I remind myself that this isn't the end and that reconstruction can happen in January if thats what I decide and we can take that route financially.  Once again... just like my hair doesn't make me Natalie Jones my boobs don't either.  God has truly taught me that beauty is from within and my heart chasing after Him is the most beautiful thing in the end.  I am also so thankful for a husband who constantly lifts me up and encourages me everyday through this journey.

We met with our doctor today to discuss the next steps.  He suggests doing 2 or 3 rounds of chemo along with 6 weeks of radiation.  There are pros and cons to doing the chemo and not doing the chemo which is more of a preventative treatment for the future due to the size of my tumor when it was found, my age and the fact that no cancer was detected in our family.  If I choose to do the chemo, the side effects could be, blood transfusions due to potential kidney damage, nerve tingling/numbness (neuropathy), partial hearing loss and a chance of developing leukemia down the road.  If I choose to not do the chemo, I take a higher risk of developing cancer later in life and at that point it could possibly only be treatable and not curable.  Needless to say, I was on information overload when I left the doctors office.  I am still not sure at this point what option I am going to chose.  Stephen and I are going to pray about it and decide what option seems best.  Please pray that God will make the choice evident and clear to us.  I know that whatever way we end up going with, He will guide and direct us just like He has been doing.

A HUGE praise (save the best for last) the pathology report came back after my surgery and the tumor was NOT detected and the 9 lymph nodes that were removed came back with NO cancer! So thankful! Talk about the power of prayer!  Thank you so much for praying.