Contained!

In one of the assessment rooms of Clinic D at the Juravinski Centre, there is a portion of a Robert Frost poem.  For the lover of Literature that I am (not one of those smartish ones but one who just loves it...), this is unsettling, interesting, distracting and insulting.  Not insulting to me but to Mr. Frost as I am certain this poem is being misinterpreted.  Either way, the poem portion serves to keep me distracted enough to ponder poetry rather than cancer during each visit.   While Paul is focussed on the purpose of our visit, I often wonder aloud about this poem over and over again;  I am quite certain that Paul appreciates our long waiting time. ;)

Poetry aside, today's visit felt like a good one.  We met with the oncologist today.  First we met up with his nurse to go over some questions and talk about the results of my tests last week.  I guess breast cancer can often spread to one's bones, liver and lungs but all my results from last week were clear.  Praise God for that!  So the cancer is contained!  Wonderful.   Then we found out that the name of my cancer is invasive ductal breast cancer which is the type of breast cancer that 95% of women get.  Great; I don't want to have a unique, never-heard-of-before cancer!  Then the nurse left.

Before the oncologist came in, I guess I was getting emotional and had some tears showing.
"You guys okay?" he questioned as he came in and introduced himself.
"Yeah yeah," I assured, mopping up those rogue tears.
"Come here," he said and folded first me, then Paul into a giant hug.   Nice!

Skipping ahead....he then told us that he would like to check out some lymph nodes before beginning chemo so that he could know better what cocktail of chemo to put together for me.  Therefore, he would feel much more comfortable if we began with surgery.  Surgery will be a single mastectomy due to the large amount of cancer present in that breast.   He said that he would like to discuss my case further with the surgeon concerning the order of treatment......surgery then chemo or chemo then surgery.....both followed by radiation.  So, we wait until next Tuesday to find out what that will be.
"So......what do we do now?" I questioned at the conclusion of our visit.
"Go home and enjoy your Labor Day weekend!" the oncologist stated.  Paul and I went home feeling very positive.  We had planned to camp with our children and friends this weekend and now we can!

We are so thankful for God's mercies on this scary and dark road.  Thankful that the cancer is contained, thankful that the doctors are familiar with this type of cancer, thankful that we live so close to the Juravinski Centre.  Most of all, we thank God for being with us.

Are we scared?  Worried?  Terrified to lose a part of my body?  Absolutely.  I have a needle phobia and break into a cold sweat at the thought of all the injections every doctor keeps referring too.  I don't want to lose a breast and then my hair....but, one day at a time.....  I will rejoice over today and pray for strength for tomorrow.  Thank you for all your prayers and messages.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by you.

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31: 8

And the (entire) poem by Robert Frost:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.