The Yuckiest, Stinkiest, Worst, Most Terrible Post I've Had To Write (Yet)

Last week our world as we know it was rocked.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

What I know right now:

It appears to have been caught early. April 29th I felt the lump and called my doctor who verified it and sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound. These were done on May 2nd and indicated the need for a biopsy (and was also done that day). The biopsy tested positive for in situ and invasive ductal breast cancer.

It appears to have been caught early because of the size of the tumor (11mm x 8mm x 6mm).

I am meeting with a surgeon on Monday morning, possibly as you read this, to find out the extent of surgery necessary. There will be lymph nodes removed to see if it has spread that far. Everyone has talked like I will have surgery this week.

I will be having a CAT scan on Tuesday.

I will be taking Tamoxifen for 5 years because the cancer tested estrogen and progesterone positive.

I am 45 years old.

Other things you might want to know and don't:

My mom had breast cancer at 54 and is a survivor. She is currently 66 years old.

She was also on Tamoxifen for 5 years.

My mom did not find her lump herself but it was found by mammogram. Hers was 2.5 cm at it's largest diameter.

I never imagined last year at Christmas when I got this necklace, one charm to honor my husband for his selfless act and one charm to honor my mother, that that charm would soon come to recognize me as well.