Panic is setting in...

My sister went to see the surgeon today. She came home and came to personally tell me the news. It's not good. She has Stage 4 breast cancer. If you don't know what that means, let me explain. Cancer is categorized in stages from 1-4. One being the easiest to cure meaning they caught it early and know what to do with it. The curability lessens with each stage and the survival rate diminishes. There is no Stage 5.

Stage 4 means that her cancer has metastasized which means it's spread to other parts of her body. Right now they think it's in her lymph nodes but Stage 4 can also spread to the bones, liver, lungs and brain. Her recent blood work and liver enzymes all came back negative so there's a good chance it hasn't spread into her bones or liver. She will be having a PET Scan on Thursday and seeing the oncologist for the first time. He will likely start her on a very aggressive course of chemotherapy. They hope to shrink the tumors and stop their growth. Then she will have a double mastectomy. And more chemo and radiation - most likely for the rest of her life. Prognosis for Stage 4 could be a little as 6 months or it could be 12 years or more. There's no way to tell and won't be for a very long time.

She's being remarkably stoic through all of this while those around her are trying their hardest to remain calm and strong and supportive. I kept it together until she left and then I completely lost it.

My sister Terry is very important to me. Though I love all my sibs, I am closest to her. She is the kindest, most caring, most generous person ever and the idea that she will be going through this is unthinkable. She is only 58 years old and has a whole lot more life to live. I tell her I love her at the end of every phone conversation I have with her or whenever we are parting company. And I do. With all of my heart.