Post written by Kathy Lamb on March 3, 2019.
Going in at the end of October, 2018 for a routine mammogram was no big deal, even knowing I had felt a lump in my right breast. It had become routine to me to have large, fluid-filled cysts that needed a second look, just in case. Thus, I wasn’t surprised to get a call to come back for a second mammogram and possible ultrasound. I knew we were going to be gone for the next two weeks, so made my appointment for after we returned.
Sunday, October 28, 2018 – Joe’s birthday started off in Nashville with our daughter and son-in-love, Jordan. We had a long drive back, so had our breakfast, said our goodbyes and headed out. Going in for that second mammogram wasn’t even on my mind. We talked about our dreams for the future and prayed God would reveal His plans for us in His time. We’ve been talking about dreams for the future and what is God calling us to. We talked about so many things on that long drive, but never about cancer.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 – I went in to New London hospital to have that second mammogram. When the technician let me know I’d need to stick around for an ultrasound, I really wasn’t surprised, based on past history. I lay on that table like I had many times before – of course, this is just another fluid-filled cyst. The ultrasound tech was friendly and chatty as she started, but seemed to get more serious shortly into the procedure. I think my brain started to take in the fact that she had turned the monitor away from me, was taking measurements and was no longer chatty. I didn’t process those facts until afterwards. She excused herself to go talk to the radiologist and although I was slightly concerned – maybe concerned – it wasn’t until she flew back in nervously and left again quickly that it was sinking in that something was wrong. It was taking forever for her to come back. I reached for my phone and texted Joe to please come to radiology, just in case, that I thought something might be wrong. I heard him in the hallway shortly after my text, speaking with the doctor and the tech. They came in and the doctor took over the ultrasound machine and did some more examining and measurements. Joe had his best poker face on, which helped me stay relatively calm. Being told to meet him in his office once I was dressed ramped up my nervousness, but I was trying to take my cues from Joe, who seemed calm. He’s a doctor – he’d know if something was wrong – right? The radiologist showed us the pictures from the mammogram and ultrasound and pointed out the areas of concern. He tried to reassure me that it might be nothing, but that an MRI was the best option just to be sure. I think we knew then that this could be something, but tried to not project our fears into the future. We prayed a lot that night — I remember that.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 – I went down to Neenah for the MRI. I don’t even remember if Joe came with or if I went alone. I think I just went through the motions. I believe we got the results for that on Friday, November 2, but I’m not sure. I’ve had so, so many appointments that they all run into each other. I actually am looking online at my medical records to try to piece together dates. When the MRI results came back it was clear that this wasn’t a cyst and, in fact, not only was there a suspicious area in the right breast, but also a smaller suspicious area in the left. I was scheduled for a biopsy on Monday, November 5, 2018.
**At this point, I’m going to take a break from the calendar of events and share some things that we did even before an official diagnosis that were helpful. I’ll share the continuation of those events in future posts.**
2. Held each other!!! A lot!!!
4. Joe let our kids know that there was a possibility that I might have breast cancer, but that we wouldn’t know for sure until we got the biopsy results.
5. We let our praying friends and family know in order for them to begin to lift this up in prayer, even before we knew for sure.
“Remember the word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.”