A Journey

I've never been one to journal, or write about my thoughts and feelings, but decided that I'd establish a blog for my friends so they can follow the course of my latest battle with cancer.
It began on the night of February 5th with pain so intense in my ribcage and upper lungs that I couldn't lie down to sleep.  I'd had pain in my ribs but thought it was muscular.  Well it was so bad that it persuaded me to make an appointment with my doctor on Monday the 7th.  She suspected something to do with my heart, so performed an EKG in the office which showed a healthy heart.  Next, was a trip to the hospital for a CT scan to look for an aortic aneurysm.  That was a negative too.  I thought that everything was ok until I received a phone call from my doctor the next morning.  The CT scan showed nodules in my lungs.  The next two weeks are almost a blur!  I reconnected with my surgeon and oncologist from my first Breast Cancer battle 7 years ago, had a full body PT scan and an MRI on my brain and juggled my school schedule and all of these appointments.  The PT scan indicated cancer cells in lymph nodes, lungs and a rib.  Yesterday, I was scheduled for a needle biopsy to be performed by a radiologist on a lymph node under my left arm.  An ultrasound showed that the tumor was too close to a major blood vessel to do the biopsy or surgical removal safely.  Plans were changed and along with the scheduled insertion of a port for chemotherapy, a lung biopsy was performed.  I may find out today the results of the biopsy and then the plan for treatment.  I'm anxious to get started and attack this rotten, sneaky, insidious disease! The cancer in my lungs is the most critical. It has already started affecting my breathing.  Prayer warriors are already battling on my behalf, but there is always room for others who want to enlist in this battle.