I guess I’ll start with why I’m writing here, and then go on to tell you a little about me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in the left breast, on April 15, 2008. I elected to have a double mastectomy, since breast cancer is so prevelant in my family. My maternal grandmother, my mother, and one of my sisters. My Mother passed away from the breast cancer as it was not found until stage four, and masticized into her lungs. My sister is about 7 months ahead of me in her treatments, so now, it’s her turn to be the big sister and coach me thru what is coming next!

I’m 53, married 37 yrs, with two boys (37 & 33) and a daughter (26). In addition to breast cancer, I have Fibromyalgia, Sarcoidosis, Osteoarthritis, Insulin Dependent Type II Diabetes, IBS, and a few minor aches and pains in between, that is if you can find any “inbetweens”!

I will try to date the letters I wrote from the beginning of my journey to friends and family, so that you start where they rest of them did. Again, I hope you enjoy the journey with me.