In The Beginning......

10/14/12--Sunday--Day 1--Discovery
So this story is going to sound crazy, but it really is true.

I am not someone who does breast self-exams.  Yes, I've heard all the warnings, all the reasons why I should, but I just never have.....until that day.  It was the weirdest thing ever.  I stepped out of the shower, sat down at my vanity, and the strangest feeling came over me.  Something inside told me to feel my right breast.  I took my left hand and wiped across the top part of my right breast, almost as if to brush away a piece of hair.  I don't know why I did it, but something inside just told me to, and when I did, something just seemed a bit strange.  I pressed my three fingers in a bit harder, and though I still didn't feel anything specific, the need to keep poking around was just very strong.  As I moved down a bit, there it was--every so faint, but there.  Or was it?  Ah, it probably wasn't anything...well, kind of...maybe...no.  I reached up to feel my left breast to compare.  Nothing irregular about that one.  Back to my right...yea, there it is.  It was just a small, soft, strange place.  It definitely wasn't a lump.  It wasn't hard.  It wasn't really anything, yet it was something.

I ask Greg to come in.  He walked up behind me and I asked him to see if he felt anything strange there.  "No, not really," he said as he started to move his hand away.  But then he put it back and said, "Well, maybe.  I don't know.  Sort of.  You should have it checked out, just in case."  It probably wasn't anything since I couldn't even really explain where it was or necessarily feel it again.  But, something inside told me, "What the heck.  Call and see if you can get in to see the doctor.

10/15/12--Monday--Day 2
I called the doctor's office.  I was sort of embarrassed because I wasn't positive, yet I was sure something just didn't feel right.  Thank goodness I have a former student in the office who has been an amazing resource at times like these.  Even though there were no appointments with the doctor I wanted to see, I think she felt the urgency too.  She fit me in for the next day.

10/16/12--Tuesday--Day 3--Doctor's Visit #1
I really wasn't too concerned when I went in.  In fact, I figured I was going to look like a worry wart.  But the doctor did feel something.  She said it was soft and small, so probably just a small cyst, but we should do a mammogram.  If that shows anything of concern, they may do an ultra sound too.

Hello Breast Cancer.......

Well, I certainly would never have guessed I'd be blogging about having cancer, but here I am.  I figured this is the best way for me to share information with those of you who want to be a part of my support system, without having to spend hours and hours on the phone updating everyone everyday.  So thank you for joining me here and showing your support by following along on this challenging journey.  Please post your thoughts, reactions, and even prayers.  I think I may need them all.

I decided to start this blog because I want to keep my cancer journey off of Facebook.  I love FB and it has served as a great venue for sharing my life with family and friends.  I want to keep it that way. And while breast cancer will now be part of my life forever, I want to keep some normalcy in my life and not let breast cancer consume me.  So FB will continue to represent my "normal" life, while Susan's Update Spot will serve as a great place to share my cancer journey.