Good morning,
This morning's conversation is more of a "public service announcement" for you gals - young & old. To many of us, this whole cancer thing just seems so unreal - and scary. How did this all get so far so fast - and the scarier question that I hear some of you asking is, "can it happen to me?" Well, Dr. Rose said something last Friday that I did not know - and I've been pondering it all weekend and decided to write about it this morning. I want you to be aware of what he said...it is, though, quite sobering for me.

I asked Dr. Rose how long he thought this cancer had been present. Of course, he didn't know, but he reminded me that I had mentioned "spotting" that started about 2 years ago in our earliest visit and he said that that is an early-warning sign of cervical cancer. I had never heard that before, not ever read it anywhere - didn't have a clue. While it can be a sign of other things, too, like menopause, then hysterectomy as both our doctor here & I thought - it is and should have been a "red flag". And, while a "pap" test would not have revealed this specific cancer (the one I had done in March did not), the "spotting" should have given a well-trained and alert medical professional a nudge to check further...perhaps a biopsy to "rule things out" as that is much of our medicine today. But in defense of all, cervical cancer happens to other women...not me. Cervical cancer is mostly the result of a promiscuous life or living in a third-world country. Only 1% of cervical cancer falls into the non-HPV category, according to what I've read & been told. Only 1%. But "spotting" is an early-warning sign, even in the 1%.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I am not blaming anyone; not our doctors, not myself (I don't think...?)...absolutely not. It was just simply missed and not checked into further. Our conclusion seemed to fit the symptoms. I AM SAYING - gals, pay attention to what's going on and be aware that "spotting" isn't always the beginnings to a hysterectomy. Some of you may be saying, "well, of course not...what's she thinking?" I can't tell you the number of women who have/had the same thing and no one I know has had anything but a hysterectomy. Why should this be any different? But I missed the signs. I played "doctor" and missed it. The sign was there; it just seemed to fit something else more easily. This just doesn't "come out of the blue" with us being unaware. I don't want any of you to be afraid that somewhere, somehow, this will descend upon you without some notice. But you've got to pay attention...and act. The medical profession is different than it used to be. You must, at times, be your own advocate & doctor.

For me, it is what it is. I cannot go back for a "mulligan". No re-do's. No one knows, either, that even if I had known of other symptoms, that this could have been prevented or gotten "earlier" and treated...no one knows that for sure. Playing the "what if" game at this point is of no value to me and will not be of any help. But perhaps this little bit of information will help someone reading this - or a friend of a friend of a friend to be aware of a symptom or a little something that doesn't seem "quite right" and maybe prevent this devastation in someone else's life.

We all overlook things in life...some don't really have serious consequences - some do. I cling to Romans 8:28..."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." And then, following that...Romans 8:37-39..."No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We had a wonderful Mother's Day celebration yesterday...thanks, Jenn & Kurt, for your love & care. We enjoyed dinner out at my Dad & Mom's...Dad "smoked" killer ribs...thanks, Dad & Mom for your love & support. Don's folks came over Saturday night for a visit and we had a lovely time with them...thank you Dad & Mom Anderson for your love and support!

Enjoy your day...may God's mercies cover us all!

Love you all,
Deb