AND THEN THE LETTER CAME…

I was really excited with the idea of attempting to ride across the country for breast cancer awareness with Divas For A Cure. I started checking out my trike, (Harley Davidson-Ultra Classic) on what new things I could get for her, purchasing pink shirts and even a pink sun visor with pink shoes then the word came.

I have been diagnosed with breast cancer twice and lung cancer once. For those of you that have been through any form of cancer or any life changing diagnosis, you know the feeling of what a serious diagnosis means.

A few weeks before I met with my oncologist, I knew something was wrong, because I felt a lump under my arm. “Your recent mammography examination showed a finding that requires additional imaging studies for a complete evaluation. Most such findings are benign (not cancer).”

This quote from a recent letter I received regarding my mammogram changed my attempt to ride. Although the quote does not state that I have a recurrence just the idea of “requires additional imaging studies” out weights any future planning for the trip right now.

It saddens me, that I have to drop out of the ride, but I am not dropping out of celebrating with the Divas. When I spoke with Sunny on Sunday (June 4) she knew how hurt I was that I will not be riding with her. It was a spiritual meeting for the both of us when we met. Obstacles that kept us from meeting early on have now strengthened our new found friendship.

I will be with my “sisters” and “brothers” in spirit and will be holding down the home front. I am also going to try to ride at least to Phoenix, AZ, if all of the “imaging studies” are done by the time everyone leaves. Life is good and if the “imaging studies” proves to be a recurrence it will be round four of a major fight. I’ll do what I gotta do.

I was first Diagnosed with border line diebetes in Nov 04, so I went on a diet and lost 50 lbs to control the diabetes instead of taking insulin.

I was feeling great about myself, then I went for a my yearly mammogram in April. I was then diagnosed with breast cancer on April 27, 2005.

My husband and I could only look at each other and cry. I decided after taking a few deep breaths that I did not want to die young (52 at the time). So we decided to have the mastectomy, reduction and the tram-flap. That was done on Sept 2, 2005. After the surgery, of course you have to tolerate those horrible drains but mine left me with continuing seromas in my abdomen for several months.My first thought was “why me and why would God do this to me after I just got healthy?” Well breast cancer does not care what you are or who you are. I first went in for the lumpectomy in June 05. They also removed 3 nodes (1 was cancerous). After 6 weeks I went back to the surgeon thinking everything was fine and I could go back to work. Wrong!  We were told they found more cancer.

On Dec 2nd during my nipple reconstruction, they had to remove a huge seroma thru my stomach again. That led to more drains, which put me back to the hospital on Dec 14th with a very serious stomach infection under the drains. And so the story goes that I was finally able to return to work Jan 23rd, 2006. God Bless my husband! If it was not for his strength and his support, I really don’t think I would have come throug this. He was there for every drain that needed emptied, every tear that needed to be wiped away and every bandage that needed changed. He is truly a blessing in my life. The Avon Walk was an experience that I will never forget. Even though I did not walk the full 39 miles, I prayed that every step I took was that much closer to a cure!

My husband (GOD BLESS THIS MAN) while I was recovering, rebuilt my bike into A custom Breast Cancer bike. The Avon Fondation has agreed to let me ride in the Sunday opening ceremonies leading the pack of volunteer vans and trucks. It is pearl white,pink pin stripes and I have betty Boop on the back fender made up in jeans,pink t-shirt and a pink wrist band. She is saying you go girl! the tank is done up with a ribbon and the words ‘I survived breast cancer”.