Thursday, May 24, 2007

~I HAVE BREAST CANCER~


I don't even know how to go about saying this as I can't find any way to try to sugar coat it.
I have been diagnosed with Lobular Invasive Carcinoma Breast Cancer. I have to have a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery and chemotherapy.

I will have to do chemo 3 weeks after the surgery and they will call me tomorrow to let me know which day I am going in for my mastectomy. My lump is the size of a golf ball in the shape of an egg. During surgery they will biopsy my lymph nodes to see if it has spread. My surgery will be at least 3 hours. This came on very fast as I do monthly breast exams and just had my yearly check done in late August.
I haven't had time to be scared as everyone else is worrying for me. (maybe that's a good thing)
And....I am still planning on listing on the website as I can, although it may be sporadic. I love my work with the site and eBay and I think it will help me through a lot of what is about to happen. Good therapy I hope!!!
I want you to know how much you mean to me and please hang in there with me. I won't always be able to answer emails and I plan on journaling all of this right here on the blog.
I am going to beat this, and Jill (my best friend who just lost her sister)said to me . "It's better to have rough days, than no days at all."
If anyone can get thru this.....It will be me!!!!
PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS HAD THIS TYPE OF CANCER.....LET ME KNOW, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and GOD IS GOOD!!!! Love and Hugs, Amy

41 comments:

Betty said...

I've already emailed you so I won't say more here. I'm stealing your ribbon and posting it permanently on my site til you tell us that you are Cancer Free! Hugs and Prayers xxoo

a Pocket Angel said...

My precious Amy, You know you are in my thoughts and prayers. If anyone can beat this I know you can. What a wonderful Gal you are! How I love you positive attitude about all this. Wish I had your guts darling..you are my hero!!! If you need me sweetie I am here. {{{{{AMY}}}}} Hugs & Love ~Mary~

a Pocket Angel said...

My precious Amy, You know you are in my thoughts and prayers. If anyone can beat this I know you can. What a wonderful Gal you are! How I love you positive attitude about all this. Wish I had your guts darling..you are my hero!!! If you need me sweetie I am here. {{{{{AMY}}}}} Hugs & Love ~Mary~

Cherub*Kisses said...

Amy,
I will definitely be lifting you and your family up in prayer. Stay tenacious and bold ... you will be victorious!! Hugs & Blessings, Dionne

savvycityfarmer said...

Your attitude already has this thing licked!!!!
I'm putting you right onto my prayer list......Will be supporting you in prayers ansd thoughts and comments on blogger...love to you

a pink-bee said...

Dearest Amy, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.{{{{ hugs }}}}

Genevieve said...

I wish you the best!!!I know you can beat it,your attitude says it all!!!!I am doing a type of Fundraiser for my Birthday June 17th to benefit Breast cancer research!
Check out the details in my May 8th Post!!!Best wishes!

Anonymous said...

Amy, I'm so sorry to meet you through this kind of news. I heard of your blog & cancer through Mary's blog. My thoughts and prayers go out for you. You sound like you have a great positive attitude, I'm sure it will help you beat this. All my best to you and yours.
MaryB.

Sentimental Roses said...

Amy, you & your family will be in my thoughts and prayers!!! (((Hugs)))& Blessings
Susan

LJ said...

I don't know how I found you but while blog surfing today I came across a link for your shop, then your blog. I want to wish you all the best during this trying time.
Big hugs~

Anonymous said...

I'm sitting here in disbelief:( shaking my head and wondering how? why? Your exam in August only a few short months back revealed nothing? So that A-ok at a doc visit just really means aok for now? for the moment? This is very very scary- scary for all of us----- Amy you can and will beat this! My mom as you may have known was stage 4 when they caught her breast cancer, her tumor was just at 5cm...she had a mastectomy & They harvested over 60 nodes and glands from the site and over half of them had some sort of cell change going on...her prognosis was not very good, she did double dose chemo for 6 months followed by 6 weeks of daily radiation...she went through hell and back, today she is cancer free:)and looks and feels great! She just reached her 3 years mark...remain POSITIVE the attitude that you bring to the table here is HUGE... Really it is over half the battle of this disease NEVER EVER give up! I already hear that in your voice:) FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! Sending all of my love your way...and prayers for you and your family. xoxo
the other amy

The Urban Chic said...

Amy, I got the news from Mary at Isabella's closet and my heart goes out to you and my prayers. I wish I had a place to tell you my testimony of what I went through, so if you get a chance, I may just tell the story on my web and hope it gives you the strenght to fight with all your might. Hugs, Pat

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Well I ditto everything these girls have said and promise you my prayers to the mighty Healer :)
Sad and scary but you are not alone. Not at all.

Sweet Remembrance said...

Oh Amy...Please know that you are in my thoughts & prayers. Stay strong and know that I am an email away!
Your Cottage Friend...
Priscilla

Anonymous said...

Good Morning, Amy!

I said everything in my email the other day, but wanted you to know that I woke up this morning, first thing I thought of was you. Hope you are doing alright today, and thank you Mary for making that beautiful ribbon for Amy, which I now have proudly displayed on my bloggie.

andsewtosleep said...

Amy we have never "talked " through blogging - but I have often read your posts. I am very sorry to hear your news. My MIL had a double mastectoemy 7 yrs ago and is now just fine. Take care and hold tight. I will send my positive thoughts your way. Mary

FrenchGardenHouse said...

Amy,

God IS good, and he will hold your hand through this. Know that I will be keeping you in my prayers daily, asking for healing, but also strength and determination for you.

Two years ago my best friend had breast cancer...she amazed us with her unrelenting faith, she is doing so well, and has two new "20-something" breasts.

Try hard not to over do things for yourself, and please accept help, meals etc when offered. You need your strength...thinking of you..

(((hugs))) Lidy

Anonymous said...

Dear Amy,
Lots of positive thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
Love,
Solange

nil said...

Healing ,Love & Blessings to you & your Family

MJ said...

I am so sorry to hear of your news. My thoughts will be with you as you undergo this chapter of your life...

Anonymous said...

These are wonderful sites. The women here are knowledgeable about every type of cancer.

They, also, have reconstruction threads to help you decide which type you may want. Go there, before surgery. Many women are getting skin sparing mastectomies in preparation for reconstruction.

http://youngsurvival.org/community/bulletin-board/

Breastcancer.org

It really doesn't matter if your older the YoungSurvival Coalition is still useful.

I had breast cancer and a mastectomy 17 years, ago, although it wasn't your type.

Good Luck and God Bless You.

Elaine

Kim @ Twice Remembered said...

Oh, Amy, what shocking news. I'm terribly sorry that you are going through this. I don't have any experience, but wanted you to know that you are in my thoughts and I will keep checking in with you to see how you are doing. (((hugs)))

Anonymous said...

Ohmigosh Amy - I just found out. My prayers are with you amd I KNOW you will beat this. My prayers will also be with your precious girls. Sending BIG hugs, angels and positive thinking your way. God Bless,

Joy

a Bohemian Market said...

My Darlin Amy:
You know how I feel about you and I think the world of you.
Love the ribbon our friend Mary made for you and as soon as I can figure out how to put it on my blogs I will.
You and Mary are so darn good at all of this stuff and you keep on being my friends (although I am the slow one : )
Talk to you later
carole

Betty said...

Amy, Just today found your blog and am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. You will certainly be in my prayers....I Peter 5:7 is a verse that has helped me through the years, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."
I'm sure that He does....Be back to check on you....Betty @ Country Charm.....

Niki Fretwell said...

So sorry to hear of this news, Amy.
I will be thinking of you during this tough time for you and your family.
You have an amazing attitude, stay brave and take care.
Niki

~Becca~Bluebird Rose said...

Hi Amy,
I already e-mailed you, but still wanted to stop in and say I'm thinking of you......
:)

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Hi Amy ~*~ I agree with all of the other ladies...you will beat this thing! Keep your pretty chin up and stay positive like you are. You are my hero! xo and pixie giggles, Becky

Liz Harrell said...

Amy, I'll be praying for you. You seem to have such a positive attitude, and that is everything. I have a friend that just beat cancer and is doing great!

Jen Kershner said...

Amy- This is my first visit to your blog and I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry to hear of your news. You seem to have a wonderful positive outlook and I believe that will do more for you than almost anything else. The best of luck to you.

Sharon said...

Amy, My prayers are with you and you have nothing to do but take care of your self. Some day you will be there for others of us who will go through the same thing......You can do this and you will .......Sharon K

Kristi said...

Amy,
Today is my first day at your blog. I feel like I was meant to read it because just last week I was at the dermatologist and she was removing a birthmark near my breast and said she felt a thickening. I just had a mammo about 6 months ago. I get them yearly since turning 30 because it runs on my maternal side. I don't feel what she is feeling, but going to get it checked out anyway. I'll be praying for you and checking back often! Keep your awesome positive outlook and your head up! :)
Kristi

ellen said...

I am not sure how I got to your blog, but believe me when I say that my thoughts and prayers go out to you and all those who love you. I don't have to know you to be concerned nor do I have to know you to hold you in my heart. I will be doing that and wish that it could make a wee bit of a difference. Please know that there are so many people "out there" who may have never seen you, but who go to bed with a prayer and rise up with a prayer and send those prayers throughout the day in whatever fashion they pray. Take care.

Anonymous said...

In the words of Jimmy Valvano, "Don't give up, don't ever give up". I just discovered your blog. You and your family are in my prayers. Keep the faith. Linda

Susan Tuttle said...

Amy,
I wanted to let you know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. You have such a positive, strong attitude--I just know you will beat it! Have you ever read the book or seen the documentary "The Secret"? If not--get it--but, I can tell that you already know "the secret."

Warmly,
Susan

HomemakerAng said...

I don't read here much but I am sorry. I can tell you have a strong faith and a positive attitude. YOU WILL BEAT THIS!

My dear mother had breast cancer 6 years ago and is doing wonderfully... Her attitude was like yours. Her mother had b. cancer 50+ years ago and just celebrated her 92nd birthday.

It ok to be a scared and it doesn't mean you are weak if you are...God is good and He will never leave your side...

My mom worked full-time through chemo and radiation and only missed 2 days of work. There are a lot of things that can make chemo easier these days, so my mother says... She is a living testimony of it.

I am praying for you... xoxoxo
Homemakerang

Wendy said...

Amy I just wanted to let you know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sending you positive healing thoughts, and big hugs.
Wendy aka Mkyred from ME Board

Anonymous said...

Amy,
Just read your blog and am shocked, of course! I will pray for the best for you and your family. You make them take care of YOU now!!!

Sarah from FedEx

savvycityfarmer said...

Hoping to continually stay in touch thru your site and mine...love to you on this most beautiful spring morning.

carol pink cottage said...

Amy, I wish you all the very best
I have to say you are one brave woman stay that way
sending you love and hugs
carol

Anonymous said...

Dear Amy - I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers - ((hugs))
Kim