National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week

Did you know that this week is National Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week? You can read about it here. With Ovarian cancer that runs in my family and with me being diagnosed with breast this time last year I feel like I have come full circle. In August I was dreading Pinktober and the whole it has been one year since I was diagnosed and now I am feeling empowered and encouraged with the future and my future. More to come on that.
 

Did you know today is national Mesothelioma Cancer day?

You can read all about it  Here

Happy Pills and NED

The next 30 days will be hard for me. I know they will be it has been almost one year since I had my mammogram and my husband found my lump. Followed by the endless rounds of tests and doctors appointments and then settling into the every two week chemotherapy. I started feeling lost during my radiation; I now realize that I was slowly sinking into a depression. That was a hard thing for me to finally come to terms with. I now call my Lexapro my happy pills. I am starting to feel better about myself and where I am now. I know that I will never go back to who I was before cancer that there are two sides to me now. It how I have been looking at my life before cancer and after cancer. Now I just need to learn how to love this new self of mine. It is different I am different right now I am still not even healed and will have about six months of reconstruction surgery that I will go though.

I have lots of thoughts on Pinktober and what this October means to me. I plan on going back and rereading some of my posts and see where I am now. But for now I am NED.

Rainbows in the Sky....

 

There was a lot that happened in August. I spoke to my oncologist and she suggested that I take Lexapro for the mood swings that I have been experiencing. Things have been much better at home. I have notice a difference in my feelings towards Richie are for the better now. I am no longer thinking about the end of my marriage but at the fact of making it stronger.

I have had very few side effects on the medicine. I noticed that if I take it at night it seems to help most.

My joint pain has been slowing getting better now gone yet but better.

I have scheduled my surgery date for November 13^th. I cannot wait for that to happen maybe then I will finally feel like this nightmare is almost over. It will be a longer hospital stay but in the end it is the right decision for me.

There is more to come but I need to get my thoughts in order just wanted to check in. Have a great weekend!

 

 

Letrozole Side Effects

I knew after being put into chemopause and then having a hysterectomy I would have some side effects. I don’t think I was prepared for all the side effects I would have with Letrozole.

I can be okay with the hot flashes although some nights it is really bad I am okay with them I know that this is temporary.

The one that is really is hurting me literally is the joint pain. My hands hurt so much I went to the oncologist and told her what was going on. I am taking real pain the hands cramp at night and during the day they ache. I am taking ibuprofen and some vitamins. So far it has somewhat helped but not much. On my appointment with her on the 22^nd it will be discussed.

The other not so nice side effect of Chemo/cancer/early menopause is the lack of libido there is none. Forget lack nonexistent. This is something that will be discussed in the survivor clinic later in the month. The only problem there is it my actual libido or is it because my marriage is falling apart? That is for a whole other post though.

 

 

 

August Appointments

Last night while chatting on Twitter with a friend I realized how long it has been since I have last updated my blog. There is a lot going on with me in terms of the breast cancer. I still don’t feel like a survivor nor am I comfortable with the term cancer free yet.

It has been nine months since I was diagnosed. It is crazy. Some days I feel like it has been years since I was diagnosed and sometimes it feels like yesterday.  

I have healed really well from the radiation I still show some markings but all in all the burns have gone away.

My August schedule is as follows with doctors there are a couple of them:

·         8/12 lymphedema physical therapy

·         8/19 I hit the BIG 40! Yeah me!

·         8/22 I have a Survivor Session scheduled with my oncologist I am looking forward to that. It is with four different departments so it should be interesting.

·         8/26 appt with Breast surgeon and the plastic surgeon to set my surgery date for November

All is okay!

I still love my breast surgeon! She is the best! I got in for a biopsy on that Monday. Was told results would be to be by Thursday. Dr. G called on Tuesday night at 8pm. Biopsy complete and no cancer was found. Dodged a bullet there. This totally affirms my choice to switch doctors and then also having the right breast mastectomy. I am very happy with my choices. Now I can sit back and relax until August when I will get my date for November. Feeling blessed!