More Negative = Good

My BRCAplus panel came back with good news... no mutations in the five genes that were tested.  When we met with the genetic counselor to go over the results on Friday she was sure to remind me that they only tested five (5) genes out of the 20,000 or so we humans have.  

So who knows if one of the 19,995 others has contributed to my situation, but it's nice to know these five are ok.  They actually can test up to 16 genes, but because I really don't have much family history of cancer on either side we decided that wasn't necessary.  The counselor said I should follow-up with her in five years because they will have new technology by then, and there may be some new test that could benefit me.

So who knows, maybe it was the...

• Sugar
• Diet soda
• Birth control pills
• Antiperspirant
• GMO chicken, corn, etc...
• Not eating organic
• Eating processed food
• Not exercising enough/running
• Acidic body
• Alcohol
• BPA
• BBQ
• Microwave

In the end what I really believe, is that crappy things happen to all of us throughout our lives.  Everyone gets their own personal slices of hell and it doesn't matter what it is, when you are going through it, it really sucks!  We have little to no control over most of these things.  We can only control how we deal with them and how we learn from them.  Hopefully they make us a better, kinder, more grateful person when we look back on it.

What's coming next for me... we have a final consultation with the surgeon on December 23rd and surgery penciled in for January 8th.  Things didn't end up happening as fast as I thought they might when this all started!  Now that we have all the various tests results back, I am comfortable with a breast conserving/lumpectomy surgery followed by radiation.  I will make that final decision after talking with the doctor but unless something new comes to light this is the most likely path I will take.

Now that I know my surgery won't be until after Christmas I guess I have to finish my shopping and get ready to travel up to Tekoa to celebrate the holiday with the family!