I have a few days of recovery behind me and every day I feel a little more myself and a little less “druggy”. I am not allowed to lift more than 5 pounds or drive for 2 weeks, so THAT’s a thing. Cancer continually presses patience into me and teaches me to not be so self-reliant… To enjoy and be thankful for being part of a community. I am learning to ask for help and rely on others as well as let small things go. (I guess there is more than one way to fold a towel or load a dish washer!)

Today was my follow up appointment with the genetic counselor and I welcomed the opportunity to get out of the house for the first time all week. Again, I’m no scientist, but what I can tell you is that of the 35 genetic markers they tested, none of them came back as a concern for causing cancer. This is fabulous news for me AND my kids. My daughters will still need to be diligent in their screening and start at an earlier age, but not because of weirdo DNA. Simply because they are girls and they got me for a mom. 🙂

Current statistics are 1 in 8 women. All different stories, different ways of finding out, different styles of cancer, different results. So if I haven’t been clear enough, or created enough of a scene with my own human body, let me say it again: “Check Yo’self!”

Now, I wait for another week and a half to get my pathology report. To find out if we got everything there is to get or if there is still any concern. That will determine if I go straight into radiation or if I have to make a visit to Chemo first. Post -op is Sept 5 and a week later I meet my Oncologist.

God continues to teach me so much about myself, my priorities, my responsibilities through this whole thing. I know cancer means different things to different people and I know “gift” is not the word many would use. I don’t take that lightly. But I do see how this has placed a big enough pause button in my life, as well as people who do life with me, and opened doors to things I never would have seen otherwise. Some redirection, some resurrection and lots and lots of grace. Still don’t like cancer, but I like what it’s helping me become.