DISCLAIMER :)

Can't sleep so I decided to give this a try.
Why a blog? Well...everyone that knows me KNOWS that I am an "oversharer" by nature. I tell people everything....even things they probably don't care about. I am the TMI queen and sometimes even share information with my friends just to get a laugh out of them or to see the shock on their face. So it's a given that I would want to share my thoughts and feelings about being diagnosed with Liposarcoma ( a rare cancer of the fatty tissue) and all about my treatments and all of the serious, crazy crap that comes with it, with anyone who will listen ( or read). But if you are going to follow me....you must read the DISCLAIMER and repeat after me.... :)

Disclaimer: I _____________ will not judge Gina for what she shares, feels or misspells. I will not mention or give a second thought to 5th grade grammar rules or punctuation. :)

I also feel like before I start....I have to warn you. I am kind of a sappy person. I am "touchy feely"....warm and fuzzy. I love my family and my friends more than anything in the world and sometimes it might get a little nauseating reading this. But I started this blog with hopes that it would help me by verbalizing whatever it is that is on my mind as well as keeping those who care about me, updated! So.....here we go!

Background: On May 10th 2011 I went in to have what was thought to be a "lipoma" or benign fatty tumor removed from my hip. These are common and very rarely anything to worry about. In fact, The only reason I decided to have it removed in the first place was purely based on my vanity because I hated the way it looked in my bikini :) So I guess you could say vanity could very well have saved my life.

Long story short ( ha ha) when I went for my follow up appointment after surgery two weeks later, I was informed that I had Myxoid Liposarcoma. It's not a day I will soon forget. Getting news that you have/had cancer is a shock to say the least. I don't think anything my surgeon told me in that office sunk in at first. In fact, I remember him saying cancer several times before I "came to" and realized what he was telling me. I still think I was in denial until he mentioned the possible treatments were ANOTHER surgery and possibly chemotherapy and radiation. Yea, that's when I lost it....

So...two surgeries and what seems like a hundred  Dr.'s appointments later....here we are :) Two months have passed and today I felt like we were back to the first day I was diagnosed. I was supposed to have my planning session to begin radiation today. But instead it looks like I am going to be having chemo before the radiation. Early into this "battle" JD and I  ( my husband, biggest fan, supporter, hot- male nurse...whatever you wanna call him) have been pretty confident about the fact that chemo most likely would not be recommended as part of my treatment mainly due to information we received from my Dr.'s and what we have researched about this cancer.

Why the change? Well, I'm not sure i understand ALL of the details, but basically my cancer cells ( tissue) was sent to Children's Mercy to be studied by a genetics expert. She was looking at the "make up" of my cancer cells to determine whether or not they have the same characteristics as "round cell" ( the fast, moving...aggressive component.) Unfortunately....today I found out that my cells DO have the same proteins (???) and characteristics of round cells. With that, and the size of my original tumor, my Dr.s are recommending Chemo and then, radiation treatments. I was surprised about this.( had a short pitty party)...but truly feel like we just need to get this show on the road and DO IT!

I'm not gonna lie...I'm scared! I have seen the movies....chemo is not going to win me any beauty pageants for sure. I love my hair, Im not particularly excited about knowing what i look like without it. Thats not my only fear though....thats just me being shallow. I know it sounds silly to worry about that when you are being treated for something that could potentially kill you....but I'm nervous that I might not be strong enough to go through this without being a big baby! It's the unknown that is scary...and Im learning slowly but surely. Even though Im not looking forward to this...I do feel extremely blessed that we found this when we did and that chemo and radiation are even an option! My prognosis is good....and for that....I am thankful!

Well, Its almost 5am...Im gonna try to put my mind to rest..
Love. Love,
Gina