Wow! Life can turn on a dime!!

When I started this blog in July...I quickly got bored with it and never followed through. I was also busy with lots of other activities and really didn't take the time to work on it. Well....life changed for me on October 23. I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. IBC is a type of breast cancer that is much less common than ductal or lobular breast cancer. This is a very aggresive form of cancer, not usually detected thru mammograms or ultrasound. The first manifestation is usually physical. In my case I went to see a doctor because I was very tired, in spite of getting plenty of rest. My doctor gave me a physical exam and ordered blood tests. At that time I had NO physical sympoms of breast cancer other than a tenderness in the right breast. She examined that and found no lumps or discolorations, no changes at all. She ordered a mammogram to be safe. My mammo appointment was scheduled for Nov. 5 and I had the blood work done immediately. Within a few days, before I had the mammogram, my breast was sore, itching, red and very hot to the touch. I called the Doctor at once. While I was making an appointment to come in as soon as possible, coincidentally she was asking another nurse to get me on the phone and have me come in at once...my white blood cell count was thru the roof. The next two weeks are quite a blur...a surgical biopsy, diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, MUGA test, Pet Scan, etc. Tests and doctors every day and then CHEMO. I have just completed my second round and feel pretty good, only a few manageable side effects so far. I am blessed. I want every woman to know....IBS is deadly. If you have any sudden changes in your breast, any itching, unusual pain, a change in skin texture or size...please see a doctor at once. I always thought breast cancer was detected by a lump and with a mammogram. NOT TRUE! I will post more about this later and provide links to some wonderful websites I have discovered. For now, a little rest for my big day tomorrow. I'll suprise you then!!