My Very First Post

Well, this getting a blog this is really easy. They'll let anyone do it!

So, I named it Sandy's Shit because that's what it'll be about. Not literally, but you know, metaphorically. My shit. Although, occassionally shit may be the topic of conversation. With me? ya just never know!!

As all of you know by now, I have been diagnosed with cancer. Here's the story, the gorry, freaking details.

I had lost about 40 lbs and Andrew was lying on the bed and I was looking at myself, topless, in the mirror. I was noticing how my boobs had shrunk and were suddenly droopy. My previously, glorious boobs (oh, c'mon, like y'all hadn't noticed?!). So, I told him "I want a boob lift. Look, here's how I would look." I start pulling them up by putting my hand above them and lifting. Nice visual, eh? But I wanted him to see how pretty they'd be. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I felt something under my hand and in my so very classy way said "what the hell is that?"

So I went to the doctor two days later and he ordered a mammogram and ultrasound. I hadn't been keeping up with my mammo's so I was freaked. I got the mammo a week later and it didn't show anything so they followed up with an ultrasound which did show something. So, my doctor ordered a biopsy. Now that was painful. Then, I saw a surgeon (a man who's son had played hockey with Kevin for a couple of years and, actually did Kevin's tumor surgery a year ago - Kevin's was not cancer). Now, this guy is so nice. When Kevin broke his leg, we saw him in pre-op and he actually checked n on Kevin in the middle of his surgery to make sure it was going ok. Then, he came up to see Kevin post-op a couple of times. Just to say hi and make sure everything was ok. So, he's a good man. Someone I can be a "person" with and not just another patient. He put a "stat" on the biopsy results - told them I was family so we could get them faster. At this time I asked him a few pertinent questions. First off, "This lump moves around - a lot, Is that strange?" "Yes" he said. Second off, he asked if it was always that hard. I said "Yes, is that bad". "Yes" he said. I love that he was honest with me. I need that. I need honesty in everything I do - well, you all know that if you know me. So with that I was prepared.

I got a call Friday afternoon from the radiologist (did you know radiologists do the biopsy not a doctor? Interesting - I'm going to be so smart from all this y'all won't be able to stand it!!). She told me I have cancer and explained what it was. At that point it looked like I had what's called DCIS (ductal carcinoma - there's that word! - insitu - which means in place). She also said it doesn't present normally but that it hadn't calcified (calcification is bad). DCIS is usually found on a mammogram and you can't feel it. It's in too deep. Hmmm. weird. So we relayed this information to our closest family and friends. I bought a book on breast cancer and looked on the internet for info. I found that with DCIS it's non-invasive, doesn't spread, isn't deadly and you just have to have radiation after the lumpectomy. Excellent. No chemo. No baldness. Excellent. If you have to have cancer this is a good one. Nothing but the best of the worst for me!!

Then, my doctor called on Sunday morning (7:50 am!!) to tell me he wants me to to an MRI. He doesn't like the way this is presenting itself and feels that, yes, I do have DCIS but thinks, maybe, I could have something else as well. He actually used the word invasive, here. That's not good. He doesn't like that we can feel it and that it didn't show on the mammogram. He is also concerned about boob #2. If I have cancer in boob #1 and it didn't show on the mammogram could something be in boob #2 and not be showing, too? So I'm going for an MRI tonight. I get the results Friday.

If the results are that I have it in both boobs (I still love that word, say it with me now boob, boob, boob - fun!!) I will have a mastectomy for both with recontruction and come out with nice high boobs in a size I choose with tattooed nipples. So if I ask you if you want to see my tattoo? You better watch how you answer!! ROFL!! But, if that's not the case, I am going to take the time to do breast cancer gene testing. This is a blood test that shows if I have a gene for breast cancer. If that comes out negative I'll just deal with whatever I have. If it shows up positive, then I have to decide whether to keep boobs #1 and #2 or opt out.

So there you have it folks. My first blog. This blog will not just be about cancer. After all, I do still love Donny (Osmond, of course!! duh!!) and it's his 50th birthday this year so I have to celebrate all that is Donny. And, well, you know, I like to chat. So I'll type, you comment and life goes on. Really it does. We can still know I have cancer and talk about Britney and what a loser she is (oh! that was mean. I meant so say and what a difficult time she's having) and Desperate Housewives and more importantly, Survivor. I'm still the same old me. Did I say old? I am not old!! Shoot, I'm not even 45 yet. Soon...but not yet? You feeling old yet, Kim, Karen, Steve, Monika, Sue? Huh? Huh? LMAO!!

So no comments on how you'll pray for me. I know you'll pray for me. You better pray for me!! Let's just deal with this as it comes. Call me if you want. We're changing our home #, again. I never even knew what this one was, let alone learn a new one. Geesh! Feel free to comment. You can comment as an anonymous person - just make sure you put your name at the end of your comment so I know who it came from. And wish me luck.

Talk to y'all again soon!