Story 1 by Cindy
GOD IS FAITHFUL...My journey begins with Breast Cancer as of December 14, 2011 by Cindy Crosby
December 14, 2011, my life changed forever. I was in the mist of Christmas shopping with my daughter Joy when Dr. Lisa Baron confirmed by phone that I indeed had “infiltrating ductile carcinoma” in my left breast, approximately 5 cm. Somehow, I knew life would never be the same. We continued our Christmas shopping even though I had a ton of thoughts running through my mind. Would I even be here next year to celebrate Christmas with my family? What about my sweet granddaughter? Would I get the opportunity to see her grow up? I quickly brushed the questions aside, asked the Lord to take care of the cancer, and continued shopping.
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Ridge Baptist, Pastor Bobby’s message was about God being the Master Puzzle maker and Keeper! He has a master plan for my life and yours! Two of my favorite scriptures were included, Proverbs 3:5 –“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. And Jeremiah 29:11 about God’s plan to give us Hope and a Future!
The Lord has also given me a great cancer support group at church, including my pastor and three other lady “thrivers” who have dealt with breast cancer. He also placed several “thrivers” at my previous work at Covenant Counseling2010-2007) and Alston Middle School(2007-1999)! God does know our every need years before we do. Who else would have know that I would be dealing with this diagnosis in 2011.
My Bible reading for December, 22, 2011 was Isaiah 54:1-5 about God enlarging my territory, and I don’t need to fear! What a comfort! God’s timing is always perfect. My friend of 18 years Karan and I were visiting her parents in Kingstree at the time. A perfect get away before all the upcoming appointments. (Her mom has a wonderful pecan cake recipe that she shared with me, and her dad gave me the grand tour of their farm in his old truck!)
Christmas was wonderful. My little granddaughter Riley and I made Chinese chews and cookies. We were celebrating the birth of Jesus who came that ALL may be saved from their sins by accepting His free gift of salvation! We had a huge wonderful dinner with my sister Suzanne and brother-in-love Will, my mother, and the rest of our family.
I also had a biopsy on the right breast as the MRI showed a questionable nodule there. Thankfully, it turned out okay. Lots of fibrocystic changes in both breasts which I have dealt with since my mid 30’s.
I prepared for a lumpectomy, port insertion, and sentinel node biopsy on January 6, 2012 by Dr. Paul Baron. In the meantime, family, friends, and I prayed this invasive cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes or further. But we knew either way, God was in control. He had a plan. This cancer was no accident. I knew the Bible story about Job and
how he remained faithful to God, even when others told him to curse God. He lost his family, his possessions, but in the end...God gave him a double blessing!
God and this 51 year old are a majority! I knew God, family, friends, and medical people I did not even know well were walking with me on this new journey. I journeyed, researched, and learned a lot about breast cancer on various reputable websites, including www.cancer.gov (National Cancer Institute) and www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society) as well as www.nationalbreastcancer.org (National Breast Cancer Foundation). According to NCI, 8 in 10 women with breast cancer have invasive ductile carcinoma in the milk ducts, just like I had.
My husband has been great helping out with house chores, including washing clothes and dishes during my recovery. My son cut the field up much to my delight, and my daughter Joy as well as my sister brought us delicious food. My little Riley has held my hand and sang Taylor Swift songs to me! Family and friends have carried me to appointments. I am very blessed!
When my pathology report came back, it said all the carcinoma was taken care of with the lumpectomy! I have a trace .08 cm of insitu (non invasive) left at this point. Not sure if we will go back in now or watch closely. Dr. Paul Baron said, “You went from having a nasty cancer to almost nothing!” He shook his head, and said that I may not need chemo now, just the herceptin for a year intravenously! I am praying that Oncologist Dr. George Keogh agrees with this on Thursday, Jan 19, 2012. God is faithful no matter what!
By the way, I picked up my “cranial prosthesis” (wig) the morning of my appointment with Dr. Baron. So I broke it in yesterday to celebrate the good news when my hubby and I went shopping at the thrift store! I have an idea I may be donating later on to someone in need. Got to have a relationship with the Lord, a sense of humor, and perseverance when joining this new “C” Club. Once you join this club, it is for lifetime, and many positives can come out of it.
December 14, 2011, my life changed forever. I was in the mist of Christmas shopping with my daughter Joy when Dr. Lisa Baron confirmed by phone that I indeed had “infiltrating ductile carcinoma” in my left breast, approximately 5 cm. Somehow, I knew life would never be the same. We continued our Christmas shopping even though I had a ton of thoughts running through my mind. Would I even be here next year to celebrate Christmas with my family? What about my sweet granddaughter? Would I get the opportunity to see her grow up? I quickly brushed the questions aside, asked the Lord to take care of the cancer, and continued shopping.
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Ridge Baptist, Pastor Bobby’s message was about God being the Master Puzzle maker and Keeper! He has a master plan for my life and yours! Two of my favorite scriptures were included, Proverbs 3:5 –“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. And Jeremiah 29:11 about God’s plan to give us Hope and a Future!
The Lord has also given me a great cancer support group at church, including my pastor and three other lady “thrivers” who have dealt with breast cancer. He also placed several “thrivers” at my previous work at Covenant Counseling2010-2007) and Alston Middle School(2007-1999)! God does know our every need years before we do. Who else would have know that I would be dealing with this diagnosis in 2011.
My Bible reading for December, 22, 2011 was Isaiah 54:1-5 about God enlarging my territory, and I don’t need to fear! What a comfort! God’s timing is always perfect. My friend of 18 years Karan and I were visiting her parents in Kingstree at the time. A perfect get away before all the upcoming appointments. (Her mom has a wonderful pecan cake recipe that she shared with me, and her dad gave me the grand tour of their farm in his old truck!)
Christmas was wonderful. My little granddaughter Riley and I made Chinese chews and cookies. We were celebrating the birth of Jesus who came that ALL may be saved from their sins by accepting His free gift of salvation! We had a huge wonderful dinner with my sister Suzanne and brother-in-love Will, my mother, and the rest of our family.
I also had a biopsy on the right breast as the MRI showed a questionable nodule there. Thankfully, it turned out okay. Lots of fibrocystic changes in both breasts which I have dealt with since my mid 30’s.
I prepared for a lumpectomy, port insertion, and sentinel node biopsy on January 6, 2012 by Dr. Paul Baron. In the meantime, family, friends, and I prayed this invasive cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes or further. But we knew either way, God was in control. He had a plan. This cancer was no accident. I knew the Bible story about Job and
how he remained faithful to God, even when others told him to curse God. He lost his family, his possessions, but in the end...God gave him a double blessing!
God and this 51 year old are a majority! I knew God, family, friends, and medical people I did not even know well were walking with me on this new journey. I journeyed, researched, and learned a lot about breast cancer on various reputable websites, including www.cancer.gov (National Cancer Institute) and www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society) as well as www.nationalbreastcancer.org (National Breast Cancer Foundation). According to NCI, 8 in 10 women with breast cancer have invasive ductile carcinoma in the milk ducts, just like I had.
My husband has been great helping out with house chores, including washing clothes and dishes during my recovery. My son cut the field up much to my delight, and my daughter Joy as well as my sister brought us delicious food. My little Riley has held my hand and sang Taylor Swift songs to me! Family and friends have carried me to appointments. I am very blessed!
When my pathology report came back, it said all the carcinoma was taken care of with the lumpectomy! I have a trace .08 cm of insitu (non invasive) left at this point. Not sure if we will go back in now or watch closely. Dr. Paul Baron said, “You went from having a nasty cancer to almost nothing!” He shook his head, and said that I may not need chemo now, just the herceptin for a year intravenously! I am praying that Oncologist Dr. George Keogh agrees with this on Thursday, Jan 19, 2012. God is faithful no matter what!
By the way, I picked up my “cranial prosthesis” (wig) the morning of my appointment with Dr. Baron. So I broke it in yesterday to celebrate the good news when my hubby and I went shopping at the thrift store! I have an idea I may be donating later on to someone in need. Got to have a relationship with the Lord, a sense of humor, and perseverance when joining this new “C” Club. Once you join this club, it is for lifetime, and many positives can come out of it.