Cancer

We learned yesterday that my mom has breast cancer. She found a lump, had a mammogram, had a biopsy and the doctor called with the results yesterday morning. They biopsied two lumps in her breast and a lymph node in her armpit that was swollen. All three were positive for cancer. She will meet with her surgical oncologist on the 18th to learn how they are going to treat it and we will know more information about the cancer, how far it has spread, etc. Luckily we have been referred to one of the BEST oncologists in our area and are praying for him and his team. We are very fortunate to have good friends in the medical community :)

Surprisingly, I am very at peace with this. I KNOW that she will beat this and that cancer will be small dot on the timeline of her life. I'm struggling in how to keep her confident that she can beat it. I know she has doubts and that she is scared. I have never been through something like this and I've never seen my mom so visibly nervous. I'm not sure what to say, but know that I need to stay positive. Do I talk about cancer, do I avoid talking about cancer, do I act like things are normal, do I treat her like she is sick, am I burdening her if she watches my babies (she normally does this 2-3 afternoons a week while I'm at cheerleading practice), or am I taking something away from her if I get someone else to watch them? Where is the manual to dealing with your mother's breast cancer?!

I am lucky I have my sisters. We are all positive and ready to do anything we can to support my mom as she fights this. We are also very lucky that my mom is back in Charlotte. She has sooo many friends here and people that care about her. I believe that God knew this was coming and sent my mom back to Charlotte and had them buy a house in a neighborhood where tons of her friends live (and is 3 miles down the road from me!), he did it at a time where I am not working so that I can care for her. He gave my Dad a new job where his boss is very understand and he can work from home and will be in Charlotte whenever he needs to be. My mother in law is now retired and can help watch the babies while we help my mom. I believe that God set this all up so that my mom can beat this disease.

I'll continue to update as we know more but please pray for my mom, that she knows she can beat this, and for her doctors and those that care for her, for my Dad who is by himself right now and so worried about his wife, and for all of the women that are suffering from this terrible thing.

Thank you!