Second Opinions are Good.

Divine Timing + New Pathology Report = HOPE

The pathology report from Fort Smith said the new breast cancer tumors had mutated from my original breast cancer.  It was now triple negative – no receptors.  Tumors where found in my lungs and bones.  On June 29th, my oncologist told me it was treatable but not curable.  I wanted a second opinion.

July 16th, I reported to MD Anderson.  Fully covered in camouflage with a splash of hot pink, I was ready to fight cancer….so I thought. When they agreed with the report from Fort Smith, reality hit me in the face. 

It sure is hard to watch your life charted out on paper being told repeatedly that each drug would fail then they would give me another one that would eventually fail too.  FAIL.  I don’t FAIL.  I am a survivor who thrives.  More importantly, GOD will not fail ME!  FAIL….NO!!!  My brain could not process the words so what does a southern girl do….I swooned – aka fainted!

When I came to, my first words were, “Vonda are you taking pictures of this?” Then I told Dr. Alvarez I was a secret shopper….omg….people started running in and out of the room to revive me.  It was kind of funny to watch from the floor.  To say, the folks at MDA now know who I am, is an understatement.  Vonda and I like making an impression; however, we may have over achieved in the being memorable category just a little too much!

The two days that followed from the Monday afternoon fainting spell to the Thursday morning appointment to start chemotherapy gave me time to talk to God and get to a place where I could face my future.  A future of weekly IV treatment for cancer.  A future with no hair.  A future where I would feel the evaporation of time.  A future where I would have to fight fear. 

Stop the sad thoughts I finally said to myself.  Start battling the cancer of negative thinking and exchange it with words and works that generate positive energy.   After a brief pity party on Monday afternoon, Vonda and I turned things around and started reaching out to people who crossed our path.  We talked to everyone.  We made people laugh and people told me stories that gave me hope.

Thursday morning, as I dressed in hot pink to make my first appearance in the chemo clinic at MDA, I told God I was ready for whatever assignment he had for me but by His stripes I claimed to be healed.  Less than an hour later, Dr. Alvarez shared with us the good news, no weekly IV chemo was necessary just a chemo shot once a month.  A new pathology report performed at MDA revealed that the cancer was estrogen positive.  My tumors have receptors after all!  Thus giving me an easier treatment option.  Praise the Lord!  

I believe that God gave me time to process the purpose of my life and to see if no matter what the circumstances would I love Him enough to trust that His will would work out to be for good.  He looked into my heart and saw the truth.  Thankfully, I past the test and received a blessing.

PS – It never hurts to get a second opinion.  If you feel you need another opinion, go get one.  It is YOUR life.....tick tock!!!