I have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. 

Yes. You read that right. 

Me. Anmarie Sica. 26 years old. A young healthy woman. I was training for the Chicago Marathon. I was working out 6 times a week, sometimes 2 times a day. 

Here's my story. 

In late February/early March I accidentally found a lump in my breast. I tried getting a mammogram but because I didn't have health insurance (that is a story for another day) and was so young, most hospitals wouldn't take me as quickly. It took me two weeks trying to find someone who would see me and not charge me $300 plus. I saw a midwife and she got me a referral to get a mammogram at a hospital nearby. But the only availability that they had was for 6 weeks out. I called multiple times to check for a last-minute cancelation that would enable to get in sooner. 

During this time, everyone that I spoke with about this (the midwife/OB that checked me, the mammogram dept. financial counselors, etc.) were all telling me that it was nothing. "You're so young! Cancer is rare in someone your age." 

Fast forward 6 weeks to the mammogram. They also decided to do an ultrasound. They saw something concerning. Ordered another mammogram. Ordered an MRI. Whatever it was had spread to the lymph nodes "already". 

I use quotes because they waited 6 weeks. 

Then they ordered the biopsies. All of this was so rushed. All of the testing and diagnostic imaging after the original mammogram happened within a week. It was all so fast. Then stalled for 10 days after the biopsies. I was supposed to get my results within 3-5 days. I called everyday after the third day. But they kept saying that I didn't have anything to worry about. When I asked what was taking so long, they said that the doctor who ordered the biopsies took a 3 week vacation. 

On the 7th day since the biospies, I got a call from the midwife's office. They asked me to come in right away. I left work early and got the diagnosis. 

It was cancer. 

I decided to get a second opinion from a family friend's doctor in Miami. You bet my family was relieved. 

I traveled down to South Florida from Chicago. I was originally only there to see a Breast Surgeon. I ended up seeing an oncologist as well and being completely set up as a patient there. Here they gave me my diagnosis. 

Invasive ductal carcinoma. HER2 triple positive tumor. Between stage 2 and 3.

They needed more imaging pictures of my entire body to see how exactly how far it has spread and where. For now we only know that it has spread to the lymph nodes. "The highway to the rest of the body" as my doctor called them. They wanted to get started right away. This was the urgency I needed. 

I decided to move back to South Florida to pursue treatment here. This was where my family was and better healthcare. I decided on Wednesday May 19 to move back that coming Sunday. I had four days to pack up and leave my life in Chicago. Another update on this decision will come on another day. 

I start treatment this Thursday June 3rd. I have my port put in already. Got a few more diagnostic imaging to go through. But the first chemo treatment is this Thursday. 

Right now I have thrown so much at you. You are shocked. I am too. And I have had some time to process this. 

But I want to leave you with this. My God is still great! He can use anything for his glory. He WILL use this. One thing that I have learned and been reminded of during the Coronavirus Pandemic is the Omnipresence of God. Omnipresence means that He is everywhere at all times. This doesn't just mean physically. But His presence stretches across all time and space. I heard someone pray "Lord, you are already at the end of this virus but also in the struggle we face today. Let that be our hope." My prayer is the same for this. 

Lord,
You are at the end of this cancer. Yet you are in the struggles of today. You embraced me when I cry. You danced with me in my joy. You provided when we asked "Where will this come from?" May I never not end a day saying that You are good and Your mercies endure forever. May this journey not be about but about you. Yes, I have the cancer. I am getting the chemo. But let it about you and what you will do through this journey. The healing that you bring to my body, my soul, my friends and family. 
Amen 

Ezekiel 37: 1-14 says 
The Valley of Dry Bones
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

 

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

 

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

 

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

 

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

 

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”