Chapter 2

So after being diagnosed everything started to move so quickly. My last day to work was Sunday October 9th, and telling the girls(and guy!) at work was a hard thing to do. Just saying it out loud to people was a tough one to swallow. There is no beating around the bush and no way to prepare anyone for such news.

Brandon came home one day from work and told me he read an article that in most cases the people around are more greatly affected and more upset than the cancer patient themselves. I guess all along  I knew what was going on but when people hear it for the first time they may feel shocked or even devastated. The word "cancer" puts fear in some peoples mind. Hearing of a diagnosis at such a young age is pretty scary. It probably reminds people it can happen to anyone.

 As for my clients at work, I feel bad that I left on such a short notice. I kept the kind of client/caretaker professionalism in place and didn't tell any of them my reason for leaving. I hope to get back to them soon, I miss them. For now I make a few visits here and there.

By the way only one lump was cancer, the other one benign. But I made sure they took them both. My lumpectomy was scheduled for October 20th. With Brandon and my Mom by my side I went under at 11am and came out with a pretty little scar to hopefully remind me in 5 years that I am cancer free, a cancer survivor.

(Ignore the armpit hair, it is extremely sensitive now, hard to shave sometimes)

The dots underneath the incision scar is where I had a drain in for 4 days. It collected the excess blood after the surgery. It was the main reason for pain and discomfort throughout the healing process.