Good News/Bad News/Pray for Friday

I’m sure you remember from previous posts that we’ve already removed three lymph nodes which were all found positive for cancer cells, and if four or more are found to be positive, then it means radiation is required.

So last night we received the final pathology report from the surgery. They had removed 10 more lymph nodes during the mastectomy, and it turns out there was ONE additional lymph node found positive for cancer cells. ONE!!! ARG!!!
I mean, it’s not like I would have wanted there to be more than that, but COME ON number four!! You coulda held out!! You were all we needed!!
Four is now officially my least favorite number. (Apologies to squares, quadriceps, and leap years.)
So, if you’re paying attention, that does mean radiation is in the future.

But I did title this entry good news/bad news. So while that’s the bad news, we also got the results back from the genetic test that we took two months ago. (not that anyone’s been counting). The good news is that I do NOT carry the BRCA gene, ie the gene that makes you more likely to develop breast cancer. If I DID carry the gene, then it would mean my risk for future recurrence would be greater and we would probably be talking about even more aggressive treatments right now.
Fun Fact: My mom also does not carry the BRCA gene, so it’s just a bizarre coincidence that we both had breast cancer in the same 12 month period. (Ok, maybe this shouldn’t be labelled a “fun” fact, but you really have wanted to read a “depressing” fact?)

Here’s the prayer requests: Tomorrow (Friday the 8th) at 3:00pm we will meet with the medical oncologist. It’s our understanding this appointment is to discuss radiation and chemotherapy now that we have all the pathology facts. Please pray for:

1) Radiation…from what we understand, we’re doing this. So please pray that any side effects, both long and short term, are minimal to none.
2) Chemo…we’re still believing this is not necessary. Doubt likes to creep in and tell me that it’s unrealistic to hope for this, but faith is about clinging to hope instead of doubt. And hope does not disappoint! Pray with us for no chemo.
3) Strength and wisdom, for both us and the doctors. These are overwhelming and emotional conversations with lots of information, some of it life-altering. We trust in a Lord that goes before us and provides what we need.
4) Continued recovery from surgery and complete healing. So far healing has been going well and we’re working to start weaning off the fun drugs. 🙂

Tomorrow’s a big day. But we keep our eyes not on the circumstances, but on the One who gets us through the circumstances and takes us to victory. While victory seems eons away, the truth is these are light and temporary troubles and will be in the rear-view mirror before we know it!