Truer words have never been spoken...

Truer words have never been spoken...Cancer Sucks!!! Alyson has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer for the third time. We found out July 12 after discovering another lump back in May. This time it is on the right side. Previous occurrences were on the left.
As you can imagine, we have seen several doctors with different opinions on how to treat this cancer. What we do know for sure is that Alyson will undergo chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy and then reconstruction of the breast area and possibly radiation; she will then be treated with a drug called Herceptin for a year. To determine the strength and duration of the chemotherapy, Alyson underwent a lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy Thursday. The results of the biopsy will be in next week (Wed/Thur) and we will then know the type of chemo and the duration of the treatment. Friday she had her chemo port placed in her chest (left side). It was a long two days at the hospital.
This new cancer is more aggressive than her last two battles and will need to be treated as such. Previous occurrences were whats called Her2 negative. This time she is Her2 positive, which is more aggressive and unpredictable. I will give more details in another post soon. The good news is that we believe we have caught it early and the lump is relatively small. Our hope is that it has not gotten to her lymph nodes. If is has not spread she will be able to avoid radiation therapy, which she really would like to avoid. If it has spread, then she won't be able to avoid it. We have decided that she will be treated at Loyola Medical Center (Cardinal Bernadin Cancer Center) in Chicago. It is a little over an hour drive from our house, but we feel it is her best case scenario for treatment. Her oncologist there is the considered the world authority on Alyson's type of cancer. The team of doctors there have been phenomenal. Alyson's team consists of her oncologist, a breast surgeon,  a plastic surgeon and a lot of nurses and nurse practitioners.  Each time we have met with these doctors I have a feeling as if we are their only patient case. The individual attention is much appreciated. We are in good hands.
As for Alyson, she is in great spirits and ready for battle. No surprise there! I am blown away at how she just poises herself and keeps moving forward. This time, though, we have two awesome boys that will be affected in some way...we just don't know how yet. Brooks (12 yrs old) knew that when he was 1 or 2 his mom had cancer, but didn't really understand it then. He's seen pictures of him and his mom when she lost her hair, but doesn't really remember it. Now that he is older and is obviously much more aware, we know he will be affected because he has such a gentle spirit. When we told him, he teared up a bit, but then was ok. We just don't know how he will handle it once Alyson loses her hair and undergoes all these surgeries. Brock (7yrs old), on the other hand, just doesn't grasp the concept quite yet. For now, we have been carrying on as normal and by looking at Alyson they don't see any change in her to warrant concern on their part. Our prayer is that they will be minimally affected by this and that we as parents will be able to keep things as normal as possible for them.
We aren't putting her cancer journey on Facebook or social media...she struggles with Facebook, but would admit she is a bit of a Facebook stalker, lol! I will be putting updates on this blog for those that love her and want to pray for us.
Our next task as a family is not to ask God how He can help us, but rather ask how we can glorify His name through all of this. This won't be an easy task, because my desire is for Alyson to be healed yesterday! I do know this; God works in ALL things.  I will finish with this verse that I read just before she went into the operating room to have her lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy...
"So do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10
Your prayers are coveted. This road will be a long one and frustrating at times. This blog will likely show the ups and downs that we may go through. But please pray for wisdom for Alyson and I as we care for her and our boys, and for the doctors that are treating her.