My next year looks like this:

(In this order) - Mastectomy, chemo, radiation, reconstruction/mastecomy of other breast, then more reconstruction. I wasn't even going to do that but my surgeon said "you're young" and I'm like "I am?? I thought I was old!" It's nice to be called young when you are over 40!
So I went to Spectrum in GR the other day, and LOVED it! My friend Jill came with me (thanks Jill!), and it was a long day (8-3), but well worth it! I must've met with 8 different ppl, and they were all so nice (except for one, who looked at us strangely when we laughed at something)  and accomodating. Jill and I had some catching up to do, so were were laughing nearly the whole time. So, all of my surgeries will be in GR, and the chemo/radiation here in TC.
I sent my husband up to his Grandma's cabin for some much needed time with his family, and he took the kids (yeah!), so I've been w/o a husband or kids for 3 days! I took a 2 hour nap yesterday (so nice.........). My house is quiet, but luckily I've been helping a friend get ready for her dad's birthday party so that's been keeping me busy.
On another note, Quinten has been accepted into the "Ready for 4's" program they have here, which is like a more educational pre-school. He will be going 4 days a week ALL DAY, so that'll help get him ready fro kindergarten (which just went to all day here last year). I'm glad he got into that so he won't be in the same preschool class as Elena. She will be going just a 1/2 day, Tues-Thurs. School starts on the 7th.
I also want to thank my friends who have already so helpful and kind; I've gotten a pedicure (thanks Tami!), a starbucks gift card (thanks Laura!), a journal (thanks Jill!) and an ionizer water bottle (thanks Liese!) And we can't forget the wonderful 4 days at the cabin (thanks Tammy!) I'm also going to pre-thank Liz, who is coming over on Monday to help me organize my basement before the ---- hits the fan! (thanks Liz!)
That's all for now, I will be making my surgery appt. on Monday, so then we can figure out (all of you local ppl) who can help out when/why, etc. and so on. Love to you all,  Darci

All of these books..........

(represent)  and encompass all of the books I have read SO FAR (it's only been 10 days) about this blasted thing called cancer. And boy do they make it difficult for you. There are 25 different kinds of breast cancer alone, and when you get staged it's not only 1, 2 or 3 (or 4, uugghh), but it's 2 - a, b or c, and so on. And you don't just get to see 1 doctor, you have to have 5! Then trying to get them all on the same page is not fun (why would anyone in their right mind have a general surgeon with no specialty in breast care lop of their breast, w/o even meeting with an oncologist first!) What has this world come to?
Anyways, as you can see, I'm becoming very educated in the world of cancer.
Today I am going to Grand Rapids and staying with my friend Wendy, while my husband is going to take the kids up to his Grandma's cottage near the SOO. Tomorrow I will be meeting with a multi-specialty team in GR at Spectrum Hospital (with an old friend Jill - thank you Jill!!). They are all going to sit down with us (yes, all 5 doctors) to discuss my "case". They will then meet together to figure out what to do with me, then we will all meet again and they will tell me what their decision is. Then on Friday (in TC) I have a chest x-ray and an MRI, and that will tell them  how close the tumor is to my chest wall, and will help them make the decision to do chemo 1rst, or lop boob off 1rst. Granted, I don't even have an appt. with an oncologist here until Sept. 22, so who is going to be making this decision I have no idea?! I still don't understand the  medical world!
That's all for now - I'll let you know the results of all when I find out! Love, Darci