LAWDY DAISY, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING!!!!!!!

And ain't it the truth on that "it's always something!!!" I imagine it's a statement that's been spoken millions of times through the years and it's also the title to "Gilda Radner's" book. Have y'all read it??? I highly recommend it but then again I'm a real sucker for "true" stories and true movies. Knowing that "it's real life" makes it very appealing to me.

It's been a couple of weeks since I've Blogged ... been experiencing some of those "it's always something" days, which has been occupying my mind entirely too much; and it unfortunately, will probably continue to do so unless I can manage to bring the thought process under control. I don't normally spend too much time discussing personal matters here in Blogville. I'm kind of an "introvert" where those issues are concerned ... the way things have been going over the past few years though, I think it's quite possible I could write a book now!!!!!!!

The most recent "Oh Lawdy Daisy, it's always something" is a diagnosis ... a diagnosis of Breast Cancer for yours truly ... "Invasive Lobular Carcinoma" to be exact on the left side. I never dreamed I would be inducted into the "Pink Ribbon Hall of Fame;" but it appears that I've joined the thousands and thousands of wonderful, brave, courageous women across the world who have or who are currently enduring the stress, anxiety, worry and discomfort from this disease. A mind boggling issue for sure!!!!

It all started with an "OMG, what in the heck is that!!!!" It's not a lump persay ... more like a solid, thick, heavy mass that was causing some discomfort ... sharp pains and burning, not to mention the fact that it felt like all of my weight had landed in that exact spot. The silly thing felt like it weighed a ton!!! Fortunately, I had the presciption for my mammogram in my purse, so I went ahead and scheduled the appointment. When I received the call from my Doctor saying that there was a "new asymetrical nodular density," I wasn't one bit surprised. What did surpise me was the fact that he wanted me to get an MRI. My first thought was "what about an ultrasound???" "Why are we jumping to the MRI so quickly???;" but being the good girl that I sometimes am, I went forward with the MRI without asking too many questions. When those results came back, my heart began to sink a bit. Without going into all the specifics, it indicated the possibility of cancer and that a biopsy should be done.

Well, my GYN referred me to a Breast Specialists ... Dr. Mitchell Levy, who is an absolute total sweetheart!!!!!!! I don't think I've met a nicer Doctor; and believe you me, between our Daughter's illness and now my Husband's, I've met a lot of them through the years!!!!! Micki had one in Miami and one in TN that come awful close, but currently this kind man is at the top of the list :) He did an Ultrasound on my first visit and scheduled a stereoactic biopsy. OMG, just the thoughts of that came close to putting me 6 feet under!!!! I am the world's biggest whimp where medical issues are concerned ... Micki and Gene are the one's in our family with all the courage in that area, and a lot more areas as far as that goes.

The Biopsy was Wednesday; and once I found out that they had yet to have any "Biopsy Fatalities," I put my big girl panties on and said "OK, let's do it!!!!" Even though they wern't what we wanted to hear, the results came back in just a little over 24 hours, which was a blessing cuz the "waiting" was starting to lean towards the "brutal" side!

I have done an awful lot of research on the subject over the last few weeks cuz my gut feeling was "something is wrong," so when I heard Dr. Levy say "I'm sorry, the news is not good," I was ready to fire away with a million questions; but then he went and threw me for a loop by saying it was a totally different cancer than what I had been researching!!! The MRI had mentioned the possibility of "DCIS," which is "Ductal Carcinoma In Suta," so that's what I had been reading about. I was somewhat dismayed to find out that it wasn't that afterall, so back to square one on the research.

He said that I was more than welcome to come to his office yesterday afternoon so we could sit and talk for awhile, which is exactly what I decided to do. The game plan is for a "Metastatic Scan" on Tuesday. He also wants a full body PetScan and hopes to get it scheduled for the same day. God willing our Insurance will approve that. Then I go to my Cardiologists next week to get my release for surgery, which reminds me I still need to call him!!!!!! Lastly, we'll do a lumpectomy the following Wednesday. He will try to get it all at that time, but his main goal will be to get more samples for the Pathlogists, along with the sentinel node for biopsy. They cannot determine what Stage the Disease is until all of this has been done. After all of that, they will determine whether more surgery, chemo and or radiation is needed. God willing, nothing else will be required after the initial surgery :) Now wouldn't that be nice!!!!!!!

Well, there you have it ... a glimpse into our current "It's always something!!!" Gene and I are extremely grateful for all the prayers that we know will be going up :) May God Bless us all!!!!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua l:9)