No Cancer for Me!

I wasn't able to post about this until this minute - just getting home from my shift at Walmart that ended at midnight. I did take a minute to put my PJs on and make Travis' lunch first. We disconnected the internet services we had on our phones - so I wasn't able to post it via my mobile. Drumroll please.......
NO CANCER - or displaysia (precancerous cells)!
The most we are dealing with are some polyps and some peri-menopausal hormone issues! I can't even believe it. All my symptoms said otherwise. I have spent hours preparing myself to handle hearing the bad news. What facial expression would I have? Would I cry? How would I tell others?
This afternoon I took the kids roller skating with our friends that we usually do science with, and while we were there I got a phone call from my doctor's office to "reschedule" my 2 week follow-up appointment. I nearly fainted. I said they could reschedule, but there was no way I was waiting another possible week for my test results. A short time later the nurse was giving me this good news.
I still have the same symptoms, but there are some other treatments we will try. The best and most amazing news is that it isn't cancer.
I praise God, with this disclaimer - God's goodness is not based on my circumstances. I tend to view Him in light of them, but it is flawed. He would be just as good had this news been bad. But I am so very thankful........ thank you Lord.

Uterine Cancer Awareness

I put up a new banner on my right sidebar about Uterine Cancer Awareness. I was shocked to find that I have so many of these symptoms that I was dismissing as just something I had to live with as a woman. Please pay attention if you have these symptoms. Gentlemen, feel free to look away if you cannot handle the personal nature of what I might share here - or feel free to read if you think it may help you encourage someone that you love to get a check up.
Uterine cancer, also known as Endometrial Cancer (the endometrium being the lining of the uterus) can be indicated by one or all of these symptoms:
1. Abnormal bleeding - this means any bleeding that is not associated with your normal menstrual cycle
2. Vaginal discharge
3. Vaginal discharge with mucus and blood for post-menopausal women
4. Difficult or painful urination
5. Pain during intercourse
6. Pelvic pain
This cancer is a killer. I am holding my breath to find out if indeed the five out of six symptoms that I am exhibiting are indicators. Please pay attention and have any of these symptoms checked out. Mine have gone on for at least four years, and it is terrifying to think of the time that I let lapse thinking that I had a strange reproductive system that has never quite worked right and dismissed these symptoms as one after the other has become a fact of life for me.
Just wanted to share the awareness. Don't ignore the symptoms like I did because I didn't know better.

The "C" Word

So, I've been delightfully busy over the past few weeks. I have been enjoying Lizbeth's company to no end. Late night talks, movies, long lunches together, pedicures - all things one really misses when having a girlfriend as a constant companion. It is a condensed make-up for the time we've lost. She has needed me, and I have really needed her. I didn't realize just how much.
In the past week and a half I have had a sobering realization. In 1993 I had a round with cervical cancer. Thankfully it was caught very quickly and after a couple of minor procedures and a surgery, I had a clean bill of health for many of the years that followed. No biggie. However, as life has gotten away from me on so many levels, I have neglected to continue those routine visits with the doctor to keep a check on that situation. I haven't had an exam in three years. It is so easy to forget when things seem fine. Over the past couple of months the symptoms of the same problem have made themselves known, and in the past week they have been acute. In the ER today there was little they could do other than test for infection and refer me to a specialist. I will have to wait until I can get in with a doctor for a full check-up, and it looks like that will take a whole month. I dread it, and I really dread the waiting. I did manage to get a shot for pain and that seems to be helping this evening.
Lizbeth had me sit down and write out all of my symptoms, and I could've cried. None of them standing alone seem like a huge deal, but when you put them altogether, it is overwhelming. On top of feeling yuck, I feel stupid. I don't know how these things could've gotten past my attention collectively. Travis has been extra loving and the man who does not text sent me two "I love you" texts this morning before I was even awake.
Thank you Lord. I know that come what may, You are there, and You have surrounded me with so much love.

Perspective and Prayer Request

I am thankful that the Lord's mercies are new every morning. There was a time when I couldn't have experienced that - a new day. One miserable day seemed to roll into the next, but not so much anymore. And I got a reality check.....
This morning I read about Heather - she is one of the super talented ladies behind the Homeschool Blog Awards. She just found out she has cancer, likely in her brain. Please pray for her and her family. These are surely scary days for all of them. Pray for her healing, the wisdom of doctors, for the Lord to help her with the sense that this is not fair. It doesn't seem fair.
This morning the revelation was this - life is too short to allow insecurity and discouragement rob us of our days. How can I get it so twisted in my feeble little mind?

Lord be with Heather today.