"The news isn't good. Unfortunately, it's breast cancer." My gynecologist said she gives that news to 1 in 7 women who have a biopsy.
I'll never forget the feeling I had that day. I didn't cry. I walked quickly to my car, and I called my best friend, who is also my husband of 16 years. I felt like I was outside of my body as I told him the diagnosis. I immediately had the attitude of .... what's on the list? What do I have to tackle to put this behind me and move on with my life? I remember the questions that went through my head. At what stage am I? Will I lose my breast? Will I have to go through chemotherapy? Radiation? How will Parker react after losing both of his grandmothers within 18 months, one to cancer and the other to CHF? What doctor do I see first? WHAT CAUSED THIS????
The answers to those questions would come very slowly. One answer, the cause, will probably never be known.
First there was the surgeon, then the lumpectomy. Then the pathology report.... stage 1, highly aggressive, hormone receptor-triple negative (not receptive to being treated with hormones). Then we told Parker (10), whose first question was "Is mom gonna die?" An emphatic "No." was the answer. Then there was the oncologist for eight chemotherapy sessions over 16 weeks. Can't forget the shingles onset. Ugh. Then there was the radiation oncologist for 33 radiation sessions, one every weekday. Photography (my passion) classes started in the middle of radiation. Clayton learned to cook some really wonderful meals, and I'm practically kicked out of the kitchen. Thank you Lord! Treatments ended Oct. 13, 2008.
The start of shoulder pain at the end of radiation is still a mystery. I know it's a torn rotator cuff, but I don't know how it happened.
I went from long hair to short hair to no hair to short hair again. I lost my eyelashes twice and my eyebrows once (all AFTER my treatments were complete). Fortunately they grew in quickly (within two to three weeks). I lost 15 pounds and have managed to keep it off. The weight loss took me from a size 10 to a 6. Yay! I also got my part time business underway. I've learned to live with numb feet and semi-numb fingertips. My Raynaud's disease disappeared from chemotherapy treatments. Strange, I know.
I had my first follow-up mammo two days ago, and the results were NORMAL.
Wow. What a difference a year makes.
Have your loved ones do their breast self-exams (BSE).
Hugs and blessings,
Sandy
P.S. I was hoping that my blog would eventually help someone I didn't personally know. I met that objective today (on my 1 year anniversary), as someone I don't personally know left a comment on one of my older posts. (I got notified via email.) So very cool!
