Giving Thanks

With Thanksgiving having just passed, we have all been a little more aware of the things we are thankful for. I try to be thankful for something very day. It helps keep me sane and helps me keep my priorities straight. Along with all the things such as my family, friends, my home, my puppies, I have one very important thing to be thankful for today.

I hadn't mentioned this to anyone in the family, just because I didn't want anyone to worry. I felt like it would be better if I could just tell you all good news instead of telling you about the possobility of bad news, if that were the case. So before I get into this further, I'll say now that there is nothing to worry about, and everything is fine.

About a week or so ago, I found a lump in my left breast. It was tender to touch, and obviously abnormal. Not very big, but definately abnormal. It was hard to get the ball rolling with our vacation scheduled, and the holiday coming up, but the mammography girls managed to squeeze me in right before we left last week. I tried my best not to worry myself to death while we were on our trip, but I couldn't get the thought out of my head that this may be the last trip we'd be going on for awhile. When these things happen, your mind runs wild. I had it all planned out how I would manage my life and my relationship if and when I had to start being treated for cancer. Yeah, that's how I was thinking for a good majority of the trip. In fact, I even thought about what I would like to have in my obituary if necessary......I'm sorry, I know that sounds so pessamistic, but that's honestly what was going on in my mind.

When we got back on Tuesday, the radiologist who had looked at my mammo was concerned because it was abnormal and recommended that I have a breast ultrasound. Once again, I couldn't get in right away due to time restrictions on the techs, and my work schedule, so we finally did the ultrasound today. The lump is definately just a cyst, but it has a little calcification around it. That's what showed up abnormal on the mammo. It is not considered a simple cyst since it is calcified, but it's a cyst nonetheless. I don't care what kind of cyst it is, as long as it's not malignant. Basically, all this means for me now is that I have to have a follow up mammo in 6 months, and every six months until I'm 35. If nothing changes between now and then, I will get one once a year just like everyone else. If the cyst changes, or becomes larger or more tender, they may go in and drain it, which is a pretty common procedure. If it doesn't change or bother me, we do nothing.

So today, I am thankful that my prayers were answered, and I know the family all prays for eachother all the time, and even if you didn't know that's what you were praying for, God knew. He has answered this family's prayers more than once, and I feel very fortunate to be part of that equation.