Uncertainties

  It was just a faint line. I could barely see it. But my breast surgeon was telling me it looked like more cancer than we originally thought. The good news was that everything looked like stage one. It was all small, but it was more than one spot.

Yesterday was my appointment with my breast surgeon. I was ready. I had done my research. I knew the possibilities. What I did not know was that there would be a curve ball so early in the game. 

I looked with her at the mammogram image on the computer screen. I could barely see the line she was pointing out. She showed me a small spot on the ultrasound at the end of that line that moved up and left from the original biopsy spot. There was definitely something there that did not look like the rest of the image. "Okay," I said, "What do we do now?"

We discussed my family history and my own history for a bit. We decided that I needed an additional biopsy of the spot at the end of that line. I would also need an MRI of both breasts, plus an oncotype test and genetic test. All of these will determine what kind of surgery and additional treatment I would need going forward. But if the second biopsy comes out positive, a lumpectomy will definitely be off the table.

This morning I got the call to schedule the tests. The oncotype and genetic tests are in progress already and the other testing will be completed December 30. The nurse that scheduled the MRI and biopsy said they only invite the people they like to come back for more tests. I guess I should be mean next time I go in.

I go back to the breast surgeon for results and to schedule surgery on January 11. I am still at peace and ready for whatever God has in store in the next step of this journey, no matter how uncertain things look. His hands are good ones to be in.