Having a Thankful kind of day...

As I woke up this morning, I was blessed to have our daughter sleeping next to me. She just spent one week in Florida with her cousin, Aunt and Uncle. Her first trip to Destin and the beach. We went to Walt Disney Workd in February 2014 so She was no stranger to Florida, but got to experience the beach and swim in the ocean for the first time. We missed her so, but glad she got to experience this at such an impresionable age. She will turn 9 in late September. 

Here are a few highlights:

Thankful!

Today, I am thankful! 

Appointments to do...

Getting a work up for surgery in a few weeks for exchange. The staff is so nice here. I did get another fill in the left expander. 570cc's now. That was the last fill. Surgery is the 18th of August for exchange. Was hoping for a date sooner, but I'll take it. MRI is scheduled the 25th for the liver spot and lung. 

Also went for a walk in the Central West End between appointments and found a great deli to eat at called Pickles Deli. Yum. I ordered a nice sandwich with yummy avocado spread. I took one bite and got called back to the hospital. LoL can't wait to have another bite. 

Cheers to all! Have a great day. Get out and enjoy the Sun!

Working and hot flash city

Since I had my oophorectomy (ovaries removed), my hot flashes are picking up now that I am in full blown menopause. Sweating is no fun, but seems to be helping me realize that that surgery reduced my risk of getting ovarian cancer with the BRCA2+ mutation. I'll take the hot flashes. 

I am dealing with swelling in my legs and arms again, but thankfully no blood clots. The doc is going to start me on another diuretic as I was allergic to ferosamide. 

I have been helping out my sister with her cleaning business. It is great to get a good work out. I can feel my breast muscles complaining, but it actually helps tone up these pecks in prep to left side exchange and reconstruction hopefully in the fall. 

I am gaining energy and hope to keep going. 

One year ago today, no more ta-ta's

As I woke up this morning. I put my feet on the ground and said my prayers. I am CANCER free exactly one year from my Bilateral Mastectomy to get rid of the stage 2b grade III (found early, but very aggressive). I had 8 tumors of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. I found the smallest of the eight myself by doing my monthly exams in the shower. 

Little did I known that the stretch ahead of me last year would be very challenging, I would not have made it through without the help of you all, my family and friends! 

Thank you all for the calls, cards, meals, drives to and from and prayers and strength. 

Woot Woot! I am a warrior and will continue to celebrate and be thankful! Life can throw you curve balls and sometimes you strike out, but sometimes you can hit a Home Run!

I still have some tests to go, but I know I can fight through this 

Hugs and many many Thanks!  What a journey!

Can't participate in the breast cancer research study ...

Feeling sad that the spot on my liver and the spot on my lung has now excluded me from one of the pallis studies my oncologist and I were excited to get involved in. Just sad my body has let Me down and now I can't help in the name of research for those that might need a dual cocktail of maintenance drugs to keep recurrence of cancer from happening. The study board would only consider putting me in the study if I were to have biopsies on both spots not worth it. 

Damn body. 

Waiting to get only expander I have exchanged out hopefully in the next few weeks so I can get MRI's on those liver and lung spots. 

I am blessed, I know, to be alive, but having my body fail time and time again is sure getting old. Praying to God that these spots are not cancer.

Get the spiders off my skin

Neuropathy has a hold of all 4 limps tonight.... Time to get the doctor to prescribe something. Damn chemo and diabetes. I upped my walking and dropped a few lbs, but the swelling, tingling and pain makes me feel like I have 10,000 spiders crawling over all limbs. The struggle is real. I know this is a side effect of the cancer maintenance drugs I am on for the next 9.9 years. 

Ok, vent over. Thanks for listening. 

Adjusting to medications and post surgery

I am on week seven of my exemestane maintenance drug that I will take for 10 years. I am having some side effects and trying to deal with them is a pain. I am experiencing A large amount of leg hip knee joint pain and this can be a side effect of that medicine but also is a side effect of being menopausal now since my ovary removal surgery. I do get headaches and nosebleeds along with ringing in my ear. The doctor explained those are common side effects for both being on the maintenance pill and the after affects of being more menopausal my legs are swelling and I need to take some kind of Lasix but the Lasix that they gave me made me break out in hives ha ha have to call the primary doctor to get new medication.

Weathering the storms

Yesterday we had some pretty swift damaging storms move through the area. Thankfully nobody was hurt, but lots of tree damage and fences blown over, traffic lights down. 

As with weather storms I battle through days of storms and hopefully today's results will bring great news. I have 3 doctors appointments today. One with the plastic surgeons office for a fill. The next one is with the occupational therapist and then the oncologist. I get to have my port flushed today. Since I am not in treatment, I have to go back in monthly and have saline and helper ine run through my port to keep it open. Hopefully in a few months the doctor will give the OK to take the port out. I hear some say as soon as 6 months after chemo, but some longer. My last Chemo was in March so a few more months for mine maybe. 

Meanwhile, kiddo is going to summer camp, which she loves. I am trying to find some employment that will work around doctors appointments and we are trying to plan a mini family vacation soon before school starts too.