I spent today visiting my mother & going to an appointment with her to consult with a surgeon about her recent diagnosis of breast cancer. It seems so unreal to write that.

We learned that although the tumor appears to be small, the type of cancer she has is invasive and her case may be complicated. We will know more after she has surgery and her lymph nodes are tested to see if the cancer cells have spread. She will have to choose between a lumpectomy with 6-8 weeks of radiation therapy or a total mastectomy.  At this point she is leaning towards the lumpectomy & radiation.

I liked her surgeon very much, and she encouraged my sisters & I to join the Army of Women, led by Dr. Susan Love. I joined tonight, and hope that if you are a woman, you will look at the site: www.armyofwomen.org Their goal is to get one million women to volunteer.  Doing research using real women, regardless of their cancer status, to try to find a way to prevent breast cancer, move beyond the cure.

wishing you good health…

Ruth