May 2025

There is a trend going around where we call May “May-cember” and “Mayhem.” May is the new December when it comes to hustle and bustle and all of the end of the year things that must be done to wrap up another school year. This year was no exception. We just added one more factor: breast cancer.

April 11th I found a lump on my left breast. In true Carley mindset, I thought I was doing too many attempted pull ups and pulled something. However, I called my doctor on Monday morning. I went in to be seen on Wednesday afternoon. I assumed it was nothing, probably a lump from too much caffeine consumption. I honestly was very calm about it. My doctor is amazing and sent me for a mammogram. On May 5th, I went in for a mammogram. After the procedure, they sent me to a room for a doctor to come share the results and concerns with me. She walked in and said, “You will need a biopsy. What we see is alarming and needs more tests. Our office will call you to schedule that. Bye.” I said, “Well, I do drink a lot of caffeine. It could be that, right?” She replies, “It could be cancer. So we need a better look.”

Ok. Well.

I go home around 5pm, and around 6pm, my doctor called me on his way out of the hospital. He saw my scans uploaded and wanted to check on me. He said, “I have a doctor I highly recommend. I want you to see him for your biopsy. We are not stressing yet.”

I still felt very calm. Again, probably caffeine.

May 6th, my phone rings. It was the surgeon’s office to schedule the biopsy. “Hi. Can you come in on May 22nd?”

Absolutely. Again, not stressed.

An hour later, my phone rings again. It was my doctor. “Hey. I don’t like how far away that is. Can you come up here tomorrow? We are going to get you here soon.”

Sure. Again, just caffeine.

Surgeon’s office calls again, “Mrs. Cain. We have an opening tomorrow at 1. Can you come for a biopsy?”

Yes. Just caffeine.

Coach Cain actually had jury duty. I was actually a little stressed that he couldn’t go with me. He calls at 11am, and said he was dismissed. I worked half a day and met him at the house at noon. We left for the doctor. I remember thinking, “I really hate for him to come with me to an appointment where they tell me it is from drinking too much caffeine.”

The surgeon walks in. Instantly, I have a great vibe. In three minutes we talk about how he was a quarterback in college. (At the college Coach Cain was headed to play college football before breaking his leg. Which side note: He had to break his leg to stay in Athens to start dating the most stubborn human ever. Me.) He told me his PA is the boss, really, because she is is wife. Love that. I feel like Coach Cain and I could totally be a surgical dream team from all of our ER/ Grey’s knowledge.

Again, super calm. I even say, “I drink a lot of caffeine. I’m sure it is that.”

“Well, let’s look.”

He is doing all of the things. We are chatting. I have my eyes closed tight. My hands are over my eyes. Coach and the doctor are chatting about the importance of the OL. I casually say, “Ok, so what do you think this lump is.”

“Mrs. Cain. I like to be real life. (love that.) I like to give it straight. This is breast cancer.”

Then we started the 45 daily phone calls. The 34398 appointments. The 934203 scans. The 903473907 phone calls from doctors being added to the team and giving their input.

Somehow it feels like it was a year ago. It has been one whole month.

The plan has changed slightly. We have three steps. We may get to skip one step. However, after sending scans and labs to two of the top cancer doctors in the country, we are going to remove the mass Monday. Then within the week, doctors will stage the cancer, determine the next steps needed from that. I will have a full double mastectomy and full reconstruction AFTER the middle step is confirmed.

I feel so so so confident in this plan. My biggest concern is I need to disrupt my children’s lives as little as possible. I need my house to run as it normally does. I need my children to NOT have this as a core memory. I have voiced that. You can have your opinions about that. My house being as normal as possible, Coach coaching and not missing things, family vacations and memories being NORMAL, that is what keeps me sane and not spiraling into depression. If I am being real life: I was struggling having to walk away from my classroom for 5 appointments and scans during the last two weeks of school. (Augs had to literally pick up each and every piece for BOTH of our classrooms. God gave me a true gem in that team teacher of mine.) Every team member has said, “Mentally, you have to keep living life like you do. That will keep you from depression.”

So that is what I am doing.

My family has been amazing. Friends have called, text, and sent cards. My eyes water when I see it. I try really hard to respond to everyone in the exact moment. That has been the struggle. If you text, thank you. I promise I read them all. The best thing ever, is the prayers.