Week 1 and 2: Diagnostic Tests

WED. 9-23-09 

My first visit started with checking in and filling out paperwork. Then I did some blood work and met with one of the surgeons, who was very young-looking and as sweet as could be. Then I met my Doctor, his name is Massimo Cristofanilli, he is so nice,happy and positive, the kind of Doctor any person would love to have, I am so happy I have someone like him.

THUR. 9-24-09 

Went to MD Anderson at 9:00am and had a Chest, PA & LAT X-ray. At 11:00AM I prepared for Cardiac injection, I had to drink 2 bottles of Contrast (Berry flavor) it was suppose to be the best. I had to drink one in the first 45 minutes, and then the other one the next 45 minutes. I was then taken to a small waiting room in the back with about 9 other women,they were all sitting there quietly. I went and sat down but after a while, I noticed that it was just too quiet for me. So I started a conversation with the girl next to me, then the lady on the other side of me started talking as well and before you knew it, I had everyone talking! The lady next to me has been in remission for 4 years, she goes once a year now. This young beautiful girl who has 2 children was waiting to have surgery (she was having a mastectomy). Another young girl I met who had 1 child, was on her second time around with Breast cancer but with a totally different type of cancer. She was so brave I was really impressed with her. Then there was the school teacher and the lady who sat in the corner reading her book. Me and the lady with the book got called out together, she never talked. I started to talk to her as we walked and she told me "I wasn't saying anything in there while you were talking, because mine is not a happy story." Her cancer has spread all over, I was so sad for her, I told her I have read so many stories of these women on these cancer sites that have been in 4th stage cancer who have lived. Then we had to go to our separate rooms for tests.

Do not ever give up, you have to fight all the way, even if you are not given much hope you still fight, because miracles can and do happen. We have to have faith, Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and we have to do our part and be strong and most of all be positive.

If any one told me I would be like this, open and happy right now, I would have told them they were crazy. I have told people at the stores I shop at that I have Breast cancer it so easy for me to talk about this, it is actually great THERAPY. I am happy I can not explain it but I have had no fear, and I am scared to death of Hospitals. I know all the prayers and fasting from my family and friends have given me such strength that keeps pushing me on. Never keep something like this bottled up inside of you, because it will bring you down, and you need to be up beat and you need to talk to people, believe me it works. You feel so good, it is a trial you will get through with the support of family and friends! Why not have as many people praying for you as you can?

I had one more test that day, it was a CT Scan of Chest and Abdomen, this was a breeze.

FRI. 9-25-09 

I did an MRI, oh this was a crazy machine. They put ear plugs in my ears and I had to lay on my stomach, hands above my head and I laid my head on a triangular pad covered with a sheet,you could see the floor and window where technician was. Then I went into the BEAST and when they take pictures you cannot move at all. I would lay there 1 1/2 min. then 2 1/2 min. Then they would go to 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 minutes that felt like 25 minutes. It would get hot my head was killing me on the pad, face sweating, my left finger would go numb where the IV was. I had to sing songs in my head, go off to a Tropical Island in my mind, then the loud train horn sound would start and the clonking noise would bring me back into the machine. I prayed hard to make it through, I had to squeeze the ball in my hand once for them to stop once a picture was over, I had to pick up my head. It was a very hard test but not totally unbearable you have to stay in control in your mind.

Later the old mammograms, no pictures for this one. ha.

Headed for home on Friday, not expected back till Wednesday, but got a phone call and they wanted me back on Monday for Ultra Sound and biopsy so that is what I did today. It has been quite a week. There are the most wonderful people at MD Anderson all of them, they have been so nice and helpful so funny totally AWESOME! I love it here and I am getting the best treatment for me possible.

Life is great!