Health and Fitness : Laugh With Kathy - The Pathology Report

Monday, October 8, 2012: Waiting is awful. It is like being suspended in a place where your feet don't touch the ground and you can't quite reach the ceiling. You can still move your arms and legs, but you don't get anywhere. I had my biopsies on a Friday, so you can just double the normal twenty-four- to forty-eight-hour waiting period to three to four days. People always wonder which is worse, not knowing or hearing bad news. I can assure you that not knowing is worse. The pathology report is back, and it isn't good. I have invasive ductal carcinoma in multiple areas that is estrogen and progesterone positive and tested positive for the HER2/neu protein. That is doctorspeak for "uh-oh!"� Without surgery results, the oncologist would say that I have clinical stage two breast cancer. Ihate this! However, I think we are focusing on the wrong part of the diagnosis. I'm only stage two. I actually laugh as I say this. It could have been far worse. I suspected I was stage one. So stage two is going to be a bit more of a challenge, but I'm focusing on the goal line, which is being cancer-free five years from now. "I Have Breast Cancer." Wednesday, October 10, 2012: There. I have said it. I have breast cancer. With just a few days to practice, the words stick in my throat, and my hands shake as I type. It should be easier, but I suspect it is only the first of many hurdles to leap in the next two years. Am I scared? Yes. But I'm also tired and angry, and oddly enough, my sense of humor keeps raising its head and causing my lips to twitch at odd moments. I know this is serious. I get it. But using humor to deal with serious issues has always been easier for me. **In recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, Dean and Val have asked me to share some stories from my book Laugh With Kathy, Finding humor in the journey through breast cancer. Each week day during October, I will post an excerpt from my book on Vinton Today. Our hope it that these articles will give you a glimpse into what it takes to beat breast cancer. Proceeds from books sold in October on Amazon and from my website will benefit the Survivors of Benton County. Please note that I was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, had two years of treatment and I am now living cancer free.