Metastasis

"Metastasis" is not a good word. I didn't even know what it meant before this week, but I knew it wasn't a good word the moment it was spoken. I've since learned: "Metastasis is a complex series of steps in which cancer cells leave the original tumor site and migrate to other parts of the body via the bloodstream or the lymphatic system."

We ate lunch with my maternal grandmother yesterday. I didn't speak to her much. I was scared I was going to cry. I am afraid to cry in front of her. I was okay with listening to her, looking at her, hugging her, and enjoying the family lunch. Cancer sucks.

My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor. When she was 60-ish she had a breast removed. She went through chemotherapy while she was still teaching 4th grade. She survived. Thrived. Life goes on. All was well for 15-ish years. And then the cancer reappeared 3.5 years ago. It couldn't be removed with surgery this time because it was embedded in her breast or below her breast. No worries. She beat it once. She can beat it again. She's 15 years older, but she's still a fighter. She was put on a hormone therapy. It worked. The cancer stopped growing, and she battled other ailments while her cancer remained silent. And then last week we found out her cancer was silent no more.

The cancer has migrated from her breast into her bones...No worries...she beat it once before...she stopped it for 3.5 years...she's older now...but she's still a fighter...we can beat this...she can beat this...I hope.