It is hard to believe that
I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma just 15 days ago. The last two weeks have been booked with
back to back doctor appointments. Once
you are diagnosed, there are more tests that you go through to determine the
extent of the cancer, your overall health and just meeting with your team of
doctor’s to discuss the plan moving ahead.
The storm has calmed, the
appointments are diminishing as are the fire drills at home. Everything feels surreal. It almost feels like I’ve gone through the
whole process already and the cancer is now gone. Unfortunately, the road does not stop
here. It has only just begun. I’m getting more and more anxious as the
days go by, while I wait to hear when my surgery is scheduled. I have been able to go on with my life, but
the lurking feeling of what’s to come never leaves you. The wonder of it all hits me at the oddest
times and I start to think, this isn’t real.
Then I will get an email from one of the doctor’s with information to
read up on, so I am prepared for the journey and I am brought back to
reality. This is really happening!
I have had a week to let
it all sink in, to read up on what to expect with a bi-lateral mastectomy, what
I will endure with reconstructive surgery and the healing process to
follow. As you all know, I’m a gym rat
and a weight-lifting junkie. Working out
has always been an outlet for me. I have
missed it over the past few weeks. My
schedule changed drastically when I was diagnosed and I found myself unable to
workout…not to mention I came down with the flu. Thankfully, the antibiotics are bringing me
back to normal living.
I’m back in the gym and it
feels good! My time in the gym means
something different now. I lift with
more strength and energy because I know I will be away from my passion (the
gym), after surgery. I will be out of
commission for 6-8 weeks at a minimum. I
have never gone more than 2 weeks without working out. My traditional workout will be replaced with
a new workout…overcoming breast cancer.
The other day, I met a
woman who had survived colon cancer. I
was shocked when she told me she had just returned to work, a few weeks prior
to our meeting. She looked amazing. She had beautiful long golden blonde hair
(which was her own…she never lost it in chemo), her skin was radiant and she
had a smile that lit up the room. Had I
met her prior to being diagnosed with cancer, my perspective might have been
different, but I have to tell you she completely touched my heart. We embraced each other, we understood what
the other was going through and we lifted each other up. Her journey brought tears to my eyes as I
listened to what she endured over an 8 month period…and to see her come out on
the other side with such a fantastic outlook, gave me hope! No matter how gloomy it might get, an angel
touched my heart and let me see the light at the end of this journey.
God bless each and every
person I know and don’t know that has survived the road to becoming cancer
free. You all are amazing!
I’m ready to step into the
operating room….only I don’t know when that will be. Hoping I hear today!
No comments:
Post a Comment