Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

I've never done a blog. I need to tell so many friends what is going on but really want to focus on being with my family. So I'm choosing to tell some of you this way. I hope you understand.

Right before Spring Break this month, I found a painful spot in one breast and by the time I had it checked out the pain had gone (of course). I then had a mammogram and an ultrasound, and after wondering over spring break, then seeing a surgeon and having a biopsy I found out it is stage 2 lobular breast cancer- stage 2 is good news. It's slow-growing- more good news. It will respond to hormone therapy for prevention later, and doesn't have the protein growth- more good news. So there's lots of good news - we caught this early and that's what doctors like. If it hadn't had pain associated with it I might not have called my dr.. I can expect chemotherapy afterward, how much I just won't know until I've had surgery. But probably enough to lose my identity for a while- my hair. Any hairdresser will tell you that a bad hair day is a bad day! Lobular cancer is more rare than ductal. Clay was on a 5 day trip and thankfully came home Wednesday to hear the details and make decisions at the surgeon's office with me. My mother is a breast cancer survivor too.

So here we go.......... I am having a bone scan to prepare for surgery on Wednesday and then await a surgery date. That should be in the next 2 weeks. I don't know what to tell my students. I'm sooooo going to miss teaching them, after 4 years. They have blessed my life tremendously and I just am not ready to say goodbye to them this early.

I am doing well. Whatever trials we go through make us better, more compassionate, and stronger. This is just one of them. I have had enough trials to really learn who I am. God didn't make me the fastest, the loudest, or the biggest, but one thing I know is that He made me strong.

I'm surrounded by wonderful people at work, my church family, my mom and dad right around the corner, more family close by and far away, and most important a loving husband and the best kids in the world next to me. So I don't feel alone, just surprised.

I would appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and a good joke once in a while. In return I'll try to keep you up to date on what's happening.
Sincere thanks,
Karen