Cancer Raises Its Ugly Head Again

originally posted on Real Estate Brokerages

Those who know me or at least have followed me, know that  I am a breast cancer survivor -- 4.75 years ---

I have written many posts for my blogs on early detection and the importance that I put on having the double mastectomy.

Every visit that I have made to the oncologist, I hole my breath until Dr. Christian tells me I'm cancer free.

      Liza Loadholt Valero

This time it is not me, but my daughter --- Liza -- 43 years old.

This past Wednesday (Oct. 13, 2010), Liza was diagnosed with breast cancer -- stage 2.

The crazy thing is that one of Liza's best girlfriends, Anson Beckman, was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer on Friday Oct 8, 2010.

We have met with the surgeon and she will have her surgery this coming week -- we will find out the day and time, tomorrow, Oct. 18th.

I gotta tell you that sitting there with Liza and her husband, Art, and Boyd (hubby) and hearing the news was devastating.  I truly thought that I would throw-up. We listened as our family doctor, Dr. Strait Fairey, confirmed that the lump was indeed cancerous. We listened as he prepared Liza for the possibility of radiation and chemo.  Boyd  and I have had a really hard time focusing this week.

Our entire family has been  beside ourselves with worry -- As Liza said, the not knowing the extent of this until after surgery is the worse.

I'm sure there are lots of you out there saying - "Many people go through this -- they are not the only ones."

Well, my having cancer is one thing, but my child having it is a huge -- one feels so helpless. We just have to have confidence that we have the very best doctors.

We are confident that we do have the best - beginning with our family doctor (Dr. Strait Fairey) , to the surgeon (Dr. Telfair Parker) to the oncologist (Dr. Elizabeth Christian).

 Dr.  Strait Fairey                        Dr. Telfair Parker                                 Dr. Elizabeth Christian

Liza had wanted to keep this private.  But she told me this morning that I could write about it -- you see we wants as many prayers as we can get -- we pray that the cancer is contained in the one breast and that it has not spread to the lymph nodes and/or elsewhere.

Liza also is interested in making people more aware of having mammograms regularly. Don't think just because you are young, that this cannot happen to you.

I can tell you that this morning as I lay in bed thinking about this and praying, I had this calmness come over me --- I feel like it was God telling me that it is going to be OK.

Using Liza's words -- "It is what it is" and "we shall deal with it" -- Yes, we are going to fight with all our mite.

Some of you are probably wondering about the mastectomy -- yes, she is going to have the double. She & Art do not want to have to worry about it coming back in the other breast. Great decision.

I will keep everyone updated through this blog.

Dear Lord, I pray for a cure for cancer. Amen.