Today was the big first meeting with the oncologist.  We walked out with a December to January calendar including 13(!) appointments.  And that's only because they don't schedule more than two months out.  Here is the update (hopefully answering the various questions that some of you have sent me):[...]

I don’t recall who pointed out this initially but now that I have a host of additional doctors - I find it interesting that my breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, breast oncologist, radiation oncologist, genetic counselor, the nurse practitioner for the oncologist, the nurse practitioner in my primary care office, every doc I have seen in my primary care office and every nurse I have encountered throughout my cancer treatment so far are ALL WOMEN. (Pretty sure the only male I have encountered was the anesthesiologist before my surgery.)[...]

This is not a good trend. Too many posts written in the wee hours. No wonder I’m getting double naps many days. 

Tonight may have something to do with tomorrow’s visit with the oncologist. I want a plan. I don’t want bad news. Yes, that’s pretty obvious. And it’s keeping the brain spinning and awake. [...]

I think I have been spared so many of the cliched responses to a cancer diagnosis. People have been amazing. Tonight my friend, who is mom to my 6-year-old’s classmate, picked the boys up from their after school program, fed them pizza and kept them for an evening play date with her kids. No stressing over what to make for them for dinner, no leaving work early for my husband so he could manage drop off and pick up in one day. It was such a huge help. (I can only hope the boys remembered some of my pre-visit lecture about how to behave.)[...]

(Beware - less informative and more self-pitying post ahead)

For 28 years, I have been a runner.  That has been a significant part of my identity.  True, there have been years I now refer to as "rest" years.  And inertia has been a powerful force the entire time.  I learned a long time ago that I need someone waiting for me to ensure that I don't roll over and go back to sleep.  For that reason, I run with running clubs or find regular running partners to hold me accountable.  I intentionally seek out doctors who will understand the relative damage to my health, particularly mental health, if they ever tell me not to run for a period of time.  My mental health requires it - running is, for me, the most powerful and effective antidepressant and ADD medication.[...]

Because I want to use this site to answer questions once (rather than individually for everyone), I thought I’d provide a place to submit those questions and I’ll try to answer them in future posts. Please comment below or email or Facebook message me if you have a question!  [...]

Prior to discharge from the hospital, my instructions were: no lifting my arms more than 90 degrees, no lifting more than 5lbs (half gallon of milk is okay but a full gallon is not) and no putting my weight on my hands getting in and out of bed (try that one out - it's harder than it sounds!). And, most exciting of all, they showed me how to how to empty my J/P drains. I went home with three drains and unfortunately, at the time of typing this, I still have all three.  More on this later.[...]

I have no shame. I love Halloween. I love planning and making coordinating costumes for the boys. I dream of doing family costumes. But what is the Halloween version of Scrooge?  That’s who I married. This year however, I accomplished the family costume. How??  “But honey, you know how special Halloween is to me. What if this is my last Halloween?  I have cancer. I may not be here next year. Do this for me, your wife, with CANCER.”  (Insert evil laugh). Enjoy this photo of a family of pirates with our trusty sidekick parrot. [...]

Courtesy of modern anesthesiology, I fortunately can’t tell you much about the surgery itself.  Also, I’m a lawyer by training and any medical knowledge I have comes secondhand from my doctors, my pediatrician brother, TV shows, MayoClinic.com, and that one time I was on the jury for a medical malpractice case. But the relevant (or sometimes just amusing) facts that I do know (or think i understand) are as follows. Be forewarned, this may get a bit graphic.  Nipple talk is coming up very soon.[...]

I don’t know how anyone can manage a serious illness without a pet. When everyone else is off doing the important and essential chores, Ernie is kneading my duvet and purring like a race car by my side. [...]