Ssaaty's Cancer Journey: Cancer Class Begins

Ssaaty's Cancer Journey: Cancer Class Begins: "I don't know if excited was the right word, but I was more excited than nervous to get this cancer out of my bra and my body. For whatever r..."

Cancer Class Begins

I don't know if excited was the right word, but I was more excited than nervous to get this cancer out of my bra and my body. For whatever reason, I knew what the options normally would be for breast cancer, I just assumed I would have a mastectomy.

Carol, my NN, had called a few days ago and told me to bring anyone I wished to the initial consultation. "Anyone?" She assured me the more support I have with me the better. Back then, Carol didn't know me like she does now. I was setting out to show her just who she was dealing with.

Support. I made a mental list of the people I assumed would be there or would be upset if I didn't invite them. Out comes the cell and I dial and/or text the news, date and time to the people on my list. Over the next couple of days, I received my r.s.v.p.'s and no one turned me down. My oldest daughter lives over an hour away, surprisingly, she AND her husband both took the day off to be there.

So the day arrived and we gathered at the local Arby's for lunch, apparently we are all 'get there super early' people. Then, the caravan to the breast surgeon's office. Entering the cozy waiting area, we made it look like a cocktail party. Attending were my three daughters, one's husband, my bff and my ex in-laws (who I call mom and dad- forget the in-law thing), lucky me, I got custody of them in the divorce.

Carol leans out through the little sliding window and says, "Oh my, I don't think I've ever seen this many people here for support during a consult. I don't know if we have enough chairs!" So, she and the two receptionists begin scurrying down the hall, gathering chairs and dragging them in to the very small consult room. The table was made for perhaps 5 people so it became a very snuggly giggle fest. I told Carol I had originally invited the entire Verizon network, but the fire marshal turned down the permit.

My surgeon, Dr.F, enters, gasps, and then laughs at her little room full of people. I apologize by saying, "I was told to bring my supporters and here they are! My son and his girlfriend had to work so we're actually short two."The mood in the room was electric and fun, you'd think we were there to see a comedy show. The only thing missing was the cocktail waitress.

Dr. F asked if she could speak to me in private. I followed her into a tiny room next to the conference area. She pulled out a notebook full of papers and diagrams; the only thing I remember is her explanation of what my cancer was called. She said, "if you're going to get cancer...this is the kind to get". Years from that day, I know that is something everyone says just to make you feel better...

I believed for a while, that I had a 'good' kind of cancer. Lucky me...

DCIS...Ductal Cell Carcinoma in Situ...my one and only Latin lesson...

Translated in 2008, that meant, "the BEST kind of cancer anyone could get".

Lucky me...

Now what?