Dancing with Mets....

In January of 2008 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 invasive breast cancer at the young age of 30.  My children were 4 and 7 at the time.  I underwent a double mastectomy and 4 months of chemo therapy.  The time flew by, I tolerated the treatments well and my kids did great. 

Fast forward through, a full time career, beach days, ski trips, vacations, busy kids and sporting events to October 2016 age 39.... So close to the 9 year cancer free anniversary. So close that some days I forgot I ever had breast cancer.

I saw my family care doctor mid October for kidney stone symptoms, she ordered a CT scan to see if they existed.  As I took the call from the nurse a few days later, she mentioned the scan picked up 2 stones that I should pass easily on my own, then she followed it up by, it also picked up some suspicious spots on your right lung and we would like you to see your oncologist ASAP for a PET scan.....  As my jaw dropped to the floor, I was speechless.  I wasn't expecting that call, I felt great, it had been 9 years. "NO NOT ME and NOT METS", I thought to myself. For those of you who don't know, metastatic breast cancer is the only breast cancer that kills. There is no cure. 

Within the same week I saw my oncologist, had a PET scan. and received a call that confirmed the CT scan and PET scan both show the same areas of concern, for metastatic breast cancer on my right lung. 

Then the waiting began..... What was really just a few shorts weeks felt like years. Years of tears, anxiety, worry, sleepless nights and many prayers. November 22nd I had a biopsy at the University of Michigan that confirmed my breast cancer has spread to the outside of my right lung. This is considered metastatic stage 4 cancer.  While stage 4 cancer is devastating we have several options for treatment.  We head back to the University on Tuesday,  we will work with my oncology team and develop a plan of attack. 

While our life will never be the same and our family adjusts to the new normal,  we will learn to live and thrive with stage 4 breast cancer.