C Is Not Just For Cancer...

C is also for CLARITY and cancer certainly has the ability to give your life clarity. Personally, my mind has never been more clear about what is most important in life: Faith, Family, and Friends! I am greatly blessed with all three, and indeed, the true value and significance of each one will never escape me.

My latest pathology indicates that, while the Invasive Cancer was successfully excised with good margins (yippee!), the Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (contained cancer which can evolve into the invasive type) was still too close (literally within one cell) to the margins. In addition, even without getting all the DCIS out, that tumor is totaling over 4.5 centimeters. Disappointingly that means double mastectomy is imminent within the month.

Additionally, there is Lymphatic Vascular Invasion (invasive cancer in the blood vessels - not yippee!) As my Oncologist explained it, some cancers are not 'sticky' and may bypass the lymph nodes and head straight to the bloodstream looking for prime real estate elsewhere in the body to begin a new life of their own.

When LVI is present, doctors assume this means that the cancer has acquired the genetic mutation it needs to create its own blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis. Because a tumor that has the ability to create its own blood vessels may have already begun to spread cancer cells to other parts of the body, additional adjuvant therapies are required.

So...unfortunately for me, C is also for CHEMOTHERAPY - which will begin in January and last for 5 months. No radiation with a mastectomy.

What this all means is that a long, not so fun, and inevitably hairless battle is just beginning for me and my family. But chemo or not, it is only hair, right? Just last year I cut 8 inches and donated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths because I figured someone out there with cancer needed the hair more than I did....ironic, right? And so I'm off to the salon once more to cut and donate my now regrown hair before it all falls out and goes to waste. (Did you know it takes 8 donated pony tails to make only one wig?)

Check it out: www.beautifullengths.wordpress.com

While this certainly does seem like the perfect time for me to try being a red headed siren, a blonde who has more fun, or a black haired beauty, bald will simply just have to do. So, just in case you think Santa might need suggestions for Christmas gifts for me, hats and scarves are at the top of my list!

Finally, please keep the faith my dear family and friends, because I have surely not lost mine.

God bless,

Lisa