I am so many things. I am a 40-year-old mother of two kids; ages 8 and 5. I am a wife. I am a friend.  I am a historian. I am an author. I am a stay-at-home mom who is rarely home.

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I can often be found wandering the various group fitness classes at the YMCA; planning classroom functions for my daughter’s elementary school or my son’s preschool; or helping with a large or small project for the PTSA (who am I kidding, they are usually large).

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I thought I had it pretty figured out. I had a routine. A schedule for me and my kids. We finally determined how to live around my husband’s long business trips to China. Then I turned 40. But that’s not it. Its not about age. Its about a journey.

 

This is about my journey after being diagnosed with DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) a not well known, but fairly common cancer that affects over 50,000 a year and has almost 100% survival rate. While that is the good news, it is like those of us who are diagnosed with DCIS live in limbo between being survivors of a cancer and not having a "real" (invasive) cancer that requires chemotherapy and all the side affects of that. But the tests are similar and the waiting is identical and the emotional ups and downs are still heart wrenching. As you read this, please keep in mind that this is MY personal journey, and not every person handles diagnoses the same.