May 23rd 2007.........

....Back to Roswell - the most depressing place on earth - I go for an MRI and Pre-surgical testing. Eventhough this place is depressing - we laughed ALOT! We both memorized the number on my "green card" and I think when I go there next time and they ask , "Do you have your green card?", and they WILL ask, I am going to reply, "NO, I am a US Citizen!" I have already decided that I am going to punch a hole in it and wear it around my neck that way they can SEE that I have it!

During an MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, in case you never had one, what they do is insert a needle into your arm and put on an IV, I really don't remember what for. Then they have you lay on your stomach and place your breasts in these holes in the table. Then you put your hands over your head, and your head on the pillow. They give you earplugs to block out the noise of the machine because it is very loud. They also give you a call button in case you need something from the nurse. A nurse positions your breasts where they need them to be and then they slide you backwards into the machine. It is definately NOT for the claustrophobic! It is very close in there and kind of scary because you feel all alone, but there is no pain involved. All you can really do in there is think, and what are you thinking about - breast cancer, afterall, what else is there to think about? You cannot cough or move and it takes about a half an hour.
Right when you are ready to fall asleep.................ALL DONE!!!

Now,we are going to move, like cattle, to the next step - Chest X-ray. No pain here either - chest up against the xray machine - click - done. Please turn sideways - click - done!
Buh bye.

Again, next step, downstairs to give some blood - some to research, some for testing. Yes that is right - I have donated some of my blood to Cancer Research!! It is, afterall, a Cancer Research Institute. See, I can still do things for others - no matter how small.

Then back upstairs to the Breast Center to wait to find out when my next appt is, another breast exam, and talking with Doyle, Lynn, MS, FNP-C . How was I suppose to stop laughing with Janeen saying, "Peek-a-boo" on the other side of the curtain while I was getting this breast exam??? Your guess was as good as mine!!! Lynn even told me that she was ready to give me oxygen because I was laughing so hard I could barely catch my breath. My breasts jiggling all over the place! "We will call you with the results of your MRI and we have you, tentatively, scheduled for surgery on the 29th of May."
The, tentative, plan is.......Lumpectomy with 6 weeks of Radiation therapy and 5 years of hormonal therapy. But..........Because this is CANCER - the plans can definately change at a moments notice.
OK - we can go home now..................4 hours later.