Dear Friends and Family,

Sometimes the yellow-brick-road is scary!

I’m having a brain scan today at 4:00.

Because I’m allergic to contrast dye, I started steroids at 3 a.m.  Wired -tired!

Remember my freaky, hideous, port “buddy?” My last two blood draws through the port have taken 2 hours because of a “clog.” They won’t wait 2 hours today – instead, they’ll attempt to start an I.V. which is extremely difficult with my rebellious, chemo-damaged, veins.

Please Pray:

• No allergic reaction.
• Port functions!
• Peace. I’ll be in the MRI tube. Yep.
• No CANCER or Aneurysm or any other life-threatening, life-altering, brain malfunction.

She does not fear bad news; she confidently trusts the Lord to take care of her. Psalm 112:7

Neurological symptoms that for most people might be a “wait and see,” demand a scan for the breast cancer survivor. Such symptoms are suspicious. Doctors are cautious. Breast cancer most often metastasizes to the brain, bone, lungs, and liver. And Breast Cancer can hide for years and then recur – even 30 years later.

Advanced breast cancer – metastasis – is only treatable, not curable. Apart from a miracle, always terminal. My dear friend, however,  survived 11 years after her recurrence. Remarkable!

In the cancer survivor world, ANYTHING could be cancer. We are always suspicious and our doctors always cautious.

Most likely, however, my left-side weakness, balance issues, and hand tremors are benign!

For example:

Within the first year of BreastCancer#1, I found a lump on my ribs. Because I was a survivor, the lump demanded a biopsy. Benign.

About 15 years after BreastCancer#1,  my knee gave out. Although I was a beginning, over-training, under-strengthening (stupid!) runner, I immediately feared bone metastasis. Nope. Runner’s Knee.

Ready for some cancer humor?!:

Several years after BreastCancer#1, I woke with multiple lumps on my head. I phoned the oncologist, sobbing, barely able to speak. After examining my scalp, Nurse Karen explained tumors don’t generally pop up over night. A few days later, when changing my sheets, I found a huge, black spider in my bed. Spider bites. UGH! But not cancer!

Within months of BreastCancer#1 diagnosis,  I noticed bruising on my chest. I called the oncologist’s office, sobbing, barely able to speak, certain this was a sign of cancer. My tender-hearted oncologist gently assured me, no, this bruising wasn’t cancer. Blushing, I admit it wasn’t until years later I realized what that bruising was and how Dr. B must have used tremendous self-control to keep from laughing! Young love. Not cancer!

Forever grateful for your prayers!

As each of us must sometimes go alone (like into an MRI tube!), may we know Him more and more as Emmanuel, God with us.