A few days ago, mom went in for an MRI to ensure the cancer hadn't spread. The initial findings were that the cancer was small, and well isolated. Lymph nodes seemed unaffected, which is good news.

The bad news is that there was something that showed up on the other breast. The initial prognosis was that it was a minor blip, possibly a swollen lymph node from a cold my mother had at the time, but further testing couldn't pinpoint its composition.

So now she has to have another biopsy done to see if it's just a cyst or more cancer. It would appear to be nothing related as the original cancer site appears to be contained, but when you're genetically predisposed to breast cancer, it pays to over diagnose.

She's down about it, and I can't blame her. I'd want to be told the cancer's in one location and easy to remove. To have to sit around and wonder if it's taken hold elsewhere can't help cheer one up.