Catch Up!

My friend Alyssa had begged me to start a blog and, I must admit, that in hind sight, I regret it! Its been months since my journey began -- July 2009 to be exact, so I have a lot of catching up to do! Alyssa was my rock through those months, but as much as I thought this was a good idea -- I soon found that I didn't have the strength to maintain it -- as I knew I wouldn't.

So, here I am now after gaining my strength back -- blogging for the first time about my struggle with breast cancer. I just hope that I can reach out to some people that may have experienced the same side effects. I would really like to offer them some sort of advice and insight in order to help them through any similar experience.

This is where it began... I was diagnosed (believe it or not) through my chiropractor! He was not pleased with the poor progress of my lower back not healing and ordered an MRI to determine the extent of my muscle/bone issues. He never expected to find that my spine, pelvis and ribs were almost completely covered with cancerous tumors. He reviewed the results with the technicians and even went so far as to consult with an oncologist before contacting me with the bad news. That, my friends, is a man who cares! Dr. Max Vige was the man who saved my life!

This brave man had to tell me that I had about six months to live based on the extent of the tumors spread throughout my body. Not an easy report to give! Not an easy report to hear!

Dr. Max set up all my initial testing appointments -- PET, CT, Mammogram, Biopsy, etc. including the first oncologist I saw -- Dr. Rodgers in Clear Lake, TX . Upon seeing Dr. Rodgers, he assured me that he had seen a lot worse cases and they were still alive today after several years of treatment! Death in six months was now a fear that I could now put in the past! Unbelievable!

Considering I was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer, I was amazed with such a positive feedback! Was it for real? I knew I had to do my own research and make my own decisions throughout the upcoming treatment plan. I was just so grateful for being given this opportunity!

After seeing the MRI and PET scan results showing the amount of cancer throughout my body -- I was very surprised to hear that I would survive my 45th birthday!

More to come...