Tuesday

Today was busy. Lots of errands to run before we leave town. Target, UPS store, nail salon, hair cuts, and cleaning house. Whew! We need a vacation after all that! 

This is the color I chose. "My Chihuahua Bites" 

Who comes up with these names?!? The kids got a laugh out of it. 

Memorial Day

This was the first time in several years that we have been done with school before Memorial Day. It has been awesome! My brain turns off on Memorial Day so I am happy to not have to go back to school tomorrow.

Today we did some swimming, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch, and snuggled some sweet guinea pigs!

Sunday

Today was nice and slow and relaxing. We did church, brunch, Kroger, and then napped (well, I did) and hung around the house.

Pool Time

We had some pool time today. Starting the summer off with lots of rest and relaxation!

Summer 2017

School is over and summer has started! We are "Too Cool for School."

Upcoming surgery

On Monday, 2/27, I will have another mastectomy. This time it will be the right side. It is my choice to have it removed. I want to lower the risks of developing another cancer in that breast, and not be lopsided any more. I am choosing to not do any reconstruction at this time. That would mean 2-3 more surgeries, and that is just not what I want to spend my time doing. I can always have it in the future if I decide that I really want it.
I will also have my Fallopian tubes out at the same time. This will lower the risks of developing ovarian cancer.
Both surgeries will happen at the same time and they will both be outpatient surgeries.
Once again, I would really appreciate prayers for successful surgeries, minimal pain, and quick recovery. :-)

Here's a fun picture of us living life and indoor-skydiving. Sooo fun!!

One Year

It has been 1 year today since I was diagnosed. What a crazy year. The hardest and longest year of my life. I only got through it by the grace of God.

I still have a lot of fear of what the future may hold. There is no guarantee on life, I totally get that, it's just more in your face when you have a cancer diagnosis. I'm trying to not be consumed by fear as much and live every day to the fullest. Will there be a day in the future that I don't think about cancer? Probably not. But I don't think about it all day, like I did a year ago.
I am considered NED for now. (No evidence of disease.) I will be monitored for the rest of my life. The 5 year mark is really a big milestone with this type of cancer, but even after hitting it, I will be monitored. I am taking tamoxifen to block what little hormone the cancer did respond to, and I will be on it for the next 10 years. That seems so far off, but I will be excited to get to those milestones.

With all that being said, I owe a lot of Thank Yous for this past year. Thank you to God for healing me and for getting me and my family through this year. Thank you to Brian for being a total rock for our family and being my cheerleader all day, every day. Thank you to my mom for stepping in and doing so much for us. Taking care of the boys, cleaning our house, cooking, the list goes on. Thank you to all of my family who checked on me and sent cards (Mildred), and who were just so sweet. Thank you to my sweet friends who texted, called, took my kids home from school, came and sat at the hospital during my mastectomy, and reassured me that I could get through this. And thanks to everyone who prayed for us, made meals for us, checked on us, and just showered us with kindness through the year.

I went on Thursday for a mammogram and ultrasound on the right (noncancer) side. The doctor reviewed the mammogram and decided that there was nothing of concern, and it was not too dense for her liking, so I didn't have to have the ultrasound. That was a first. I also had a follow up with my radiation oncologist that day. He told me, "I give you a clean bill of health. You do not need to follow up with me anymore." And he complimented my scar and lack of scarring from radiation. It may sound like a weird compliment, but I'll take it. :-) I got to see all my favorite radiation people and  I even ran into my favorite nurse from upstairs while I was in the building.
I am on an every 3 month rotation with my oncologist. I'll see her again at the end of January. I will also see my surgeon the same day to plan/schedule the mastectomy of the right side for sometime soon, hopefully.

Dear 2016, I hate you. Bye.
Here's to a healthy, happy 2017 and beyond!

Last Radiation

Today was my last radiation treatment. My last one. Finally! I am so glad to not have to drive back to the medical center every single day now. I'm feeling very crispy (from the radiation burns). And happy. 

I got to ring the bell and I brought Brian and the kids along with me. 

It was emotional. It's been a long time since treatments started with chemo back in January, staring at that damn bell, hoping to ring it and that it will truly signal the end of cancer in my body and my life. 

I'm happy that treatments are over but the worry has really kicked in too. Worry that it will come back or that it's lurking in there somewhere growing now that I'm not having treatment to fight it off anymore. I just keep praying that I will stay cancer free. And try to not worry. 

I got an end of radiation certificate too. :-)

Now on to heal from the radiation. The doctor told me tonight that my burns will get worse before they start to heal. So hopefully within the next 10-14 days the healing process will begin. The worst burn is in the middle of my chest, but I am also burned under my arm, on my back, neck, chest, and pretty bad on my mastectomy scar. 

Like I said, I'm feeling very crispy these days. 

Thank you for praying with me and for me and my family. We truly appreciate it!

Radiation-halfway done!

So today was treatment #15 out of 30. I've reached the halfway mark! 

This week has me complaining about waiting. Drive 45-50 minutes there, sit and wait for 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, get zapped, drive 45-50 minutes home. I've been out LATE all week. I am tired. I hate waiting. But I'm trying to not complain. Happy to be alive. Happy to be alive. Happy to be alive. I just keep saying that to stop myself from complaining. It could be worse. (But really, waiting for 45 minutes on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1.5 hours on Thursday, and 40 minutes on Friday?!? Excessive. Happy to be alive.)

So to celebrate my halfway point, here is a picture journey of radiation. 

Drive there. Pass these fountains. They've been working on them for weeks. Tonight they were on. 

Park and ride the elevator to floor 2. (If you get to Memorial Hermann at 7:45pm, you can park on floor 3. Lots of spots. This is not the case in daylight hours. 

Pass by the gift shop. Radiation is right around the corner. They close at 6. Which is good, because if they were open, I would be in there shopping during my long waits. (I spy knock off Kendra Scott jewelry from the window daily.)

Get your radiation ticket. That's not its official name, but that's basically what it is. 

Ride the secret elevator that is only in the radiation area to floor 1. My mom calls it the bat elevator. From Batman the character. Not the flying mammals. 

No picture, but change into a very flattering hospital gown, that does not tie no matter how hard you try, from the waist up. 

Again, no picture, but wait. Except for last week. They were on their game last week. There was no waiting last week. 

Go into this radiation room (yes, I totally snapped this picture without them knowing) and lie down on the table with your arms over your head and get zapped. It takes about 15 minutes. I hold my breath during the actual zapping. 

(I hold it for 25 seconds at a time. Just a fun fact for you.)

No pictures, but get dressed and run out of that place like its on fire cause you are ready to be home. 

Drive for 45-50 minutes. (Another fun fact, one night this week I saw 4 rats run across the road in front of me while I was sitting at the light at Westheimer and Montrose. That intersection is always a great place to spot something weird.)

Get home, shower, put on burn cream, sleep. 

The end. 

Now I have a 3 day break, and start back on Tuesday for the next 15 treatments. Praying for no burning, no skin break downs, and patience. And that there is not a cancerous cell in my body. Anywhere. Ever. Amen. 

Radiation

I went on August 2 for my radiation simulation. They take images and then come up with a radiation plan. 

I went back on August 12 for a mini simulation where they try out the positions and such on the radiation table. 

I actually started radiation on Monday, August 15. I'm going at 8:30pm. Yes, pm. That's the time they gave me. And it sort of works out since I'm back at work. 

Of course, on Monday, the first day of radiation, I fell off of a chair that I was standing on. I fell on my left side and my wrist started hurting after I fell. I texted my surgeon who said I needed to go get an x-Ray. Since she took all the lymph nodes out of my left underarm area, any trauma to the left side has to be checked out. No broken bones, thank God. Just a bad sprain. I'm in a splint for a while. 

Thankfully for radiation I just lie on a table with my arms above my head and my head turned to the right. I have to hold my breath for 23 seconds each time they zap me. It takes around 15 minutes for the whole thing. I only have to hold my breath 6-10 times in that period though. The rest of the time is table/equipment moving and images being taken. 

I will go every day, Monday - Friday, for radiation. I should finish on September 26. 

As of yesterday I am 1/6 of the way done. 25 more sessions to go.