Here is a post I wrote for another blog to share the news about my breast cancer:

Meaning of “SARAH”

“Lady” or “princess” in Hebrew. This was the name of the wife of Abraham in the Old Testament. She became the mother of Isaac at the age of 90. Her name was originally Sarai but God changed it (see Genesis 17:15). In England, Sarah came into use after the Protestant Reformation.

From www.behindthename.com

pea –noun.

  1. the round, edible seed of a widely cultivated plant, Pisum sativum, of the legume family
  2. the plant itself
  3. the green, somewhat inflated pod of this plant.
  4. any of various related or similar plants or their seed, as the chickpea.
  5. something resembling a pea, esp. in being small and round.

From www.dictionary.com

This princess has a pea.

It’s a play on words: I have a tumor.

I found out Friday, February 12, 2010 that I have breast cancer.  It is small, pea-sized, and although it’s considered “invasive”, it most likely HAS NOT spread to any other areas.  I am having an MRI tomorrow to confirm that. I do know that the cancer is the type that is slow growing and also very responsive to drug therapy.  There is much good news within this story!

The reality is that for certain I will have to have surgery.  The extent of it will be dependent on the MRI results as well as some other testing, and my preference.  Less involved surgery would also require radiation.  Chemotherapy is a maybe no matter which surgery I decide upon, and the chemo decision will have to be made after the lymph nodes are studied (after surgery).

This stinks, no doubt.  I’ve worked hard to get in the shape I am in.  (I’d call it near-readiness for RKC, using the 12kg bell for snatches.) I will be out of the kettlebell game for a little bit.  But I am ready for this fight and I will be a cancer survivor! God did not bring me through this craziness, allow me to find my passion and build a business around it and begin to make a difference in others’ lives, for me to then prepare to die.  This cancer is just another chapter in my far-from-over story.  Watch and see. ;-)

Training will continue until surgery (which is at least a month away) and then will resume as soon as possible afterwards.  (You KNOW that’s true!)  So www.strongsarah.com will still continue to be updated with training news.  However, for updates on my health, tests, decisions, thoughts and probably WAY more than you ever wanted to know, I’m starting another blog: www.strongersarah.com. You’ll be able to get as little or as much detailed information as you want.  (But don’t try clicking that link yet –  it’s not ready!)  I chose the name because that’s what I’m going to be:  STRONGER, for having overcome another physical trial.  Please join me at www.strongersarah.com when you can.  And don’t worry about me!  I am STRONGSARAH!   ;-)