It was October 2010. Almost 7 years since I was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I had resumed a normal life. Cancer was behind me.

No. It wasn’t.

Cancer was here for the long haul. It was here to stay.

The next few days were a blur.  The timeline is a little hazy, but generally I remember thinking I don’t like October.

Which came first, the phone call, the doctor’s visit or the biopsy? I don’t know. During those first few days I did have a bone biopsy performed and I had visits with my oncologist and the radiation oncologist.

I do remember getting a phone call from the oncologist. The date I remember.

Friday, October 8, 2010.

It was exactly 7 years from the date of my first biopsy.

I was at work (still using the crutches, which is important in trying to remember the timing). I stepped outside to take the call. They told me I had cancer AGAIN. Through my tears, I called my husband and asked him to come get me. He came and picked me up and we just drove around for a while. Was it that same day or another, I can’t remember, when we went to pick up our girls from school to tell them the cancer was back.

The most important thing  I learned during this time is it is not fun to find out you have an allergy to a pain medication right after you had a bone biopsy on your hip. Not being able to walk and needing to get to the bathroom quickly did not go so well. Thankfully, it was a pain patch and I was able to rip it off to limit the side effects.

We were headed to the oncologist, for another appointment, and the crutches slipped out from under me going out the door. Screaming and crying I wasn’t sure how I was going to make it to the car 10 yards away from me. In fact, my husband almost called and cancelled the appointment. Somehow, he managed to get me to the car and we got to the doctor’s office. Once in the waiting room, one of the nurses got me a wheelchair.

In the time period of about one week, I went from walking, to using crutches, to sitting in a wheelchair. What in the world was happening? We were about to find out just what cancer had done to my body.

Did I mention that I REALLY don’t like October?