Diagnosis

Have you ever heard those words, “it looks like cancer”?  I couldn’t believe it when I heard them, but I somehow knew they were coming.
Breast Cancer.  Words so many people say, walk for, donate for, and are diagnosed with. And now, I was too.

During 9/11, I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.  I quickly discovered that this was breast tissue -- not brain tissue and I was going to lose my breast.  It wasn’t that much longer that I would lose my hair too.

Change

My husband sat with me and cried.  I cried for days, and I was angry.  How dare something like this invade my body?  Change my life?  Take my life?  I hadn’t thought of that until my first visit to my oncologist.  I learned about mastectomy, chemo, and all the “joy” that goes with it.

My red hair fell.  I found hats that had nothing to do with breast cancer and had fun wearing them.  To this day, I have become a hat person.

Friends, Family, Love

What comes with the diagnosis of breast cancer and chemo?  Lots!  The love of friends.  Where did I ever get so blessed to have so many friends?  People were always saying they were praying for me and sending me cards, oh I cherished all of that!  Family and friends were remarkable gifts - given to me freely, and I love them for that.

My dogs

 Rowdy, one of my male Australian Shepherds was still with us at the time and I knew he would be such a comfort.  He fought with the other dogs over taking my slippers and running around the house as if they were Olympic torches.  I cursed them, the whole while, suppressing laughter, as I watched them race around the living room with them as I was rendered helpless on the couch.

Jiggy curled up next to my side and never left me.  She became my little healer -always by my side. Her job, it seems, wasn’t to make me laugh, but to keep me warm and never alone. She was only there to comfort.

Three years later I lost my Rowdy to his own type of cancer.  He was my heart, my dog, a great joy to all who knew him.

Life!

There is life after breast cancer!  There are agility trials to run, there are herding trials to go to and compete in, and there are titles to earn.  There are people to love, there are emotions to feel, and there is a world to explore.

There is my life and I cherish it!

Noël J. Ritter