My mom has been officially re-diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It’s Stage II this time; startling, because this time last year she was lump-free.

I wrote about my mom’s first diagnosis back in 2004, it was a different journey then.

After a lumpectomy and all else, we live to fight another day. Sad, but not really surprising, I always wondered if she was really ever cancer-free.Â

The best thing about a cancer diagnosis is the “good news” portion of the process. The good news is, the cancer hasn’t spread to other parts of her body. Plus an improved vocabulary in cancer terminology (I get to use Her2 Protein in conversations now).

The bad news is, it’s a journey redux, which is a wild notion considering how much we’ve been through already. Then there were the tests; countless blood tests, a bone scan, liver scan, heart scan, x-rays and pokes and prods.

Last week was Chemo school to learn of its gory wonders; we try out the real thing tomorrow.

Back at the Evil Oil Co., we constantly did these emergency drills, the idea; I guess was to be prepared when an actual emergency occurred. No one took the drills seriously and I doubt I’ll remember them in case of a real emergency.

This came to mind when we started doing our own little drills, because there’s nothing worse than just sitting there being helpless. We’ve shopped, cleaned, sanitized and mapped out healing strategies. I’m afraid I’m going to have to take these drills seriously – there is so much information and so little time to act on them and get it right.

My mom has a huge amount of unwavering faith – enough for all of us. I’ve never been much of an optimist; I hear it’s needed most in these circumstances.

Although I’d rather be reading something else, I’ve found these books very helpful.

  Â