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January 2014 Surgery Sisters

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Comments

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited December 2014

    MERRY PINKMAS to my brave, wonderful January sisters! This is our first Christmas as survivors! I'm looking forward to sharing many more memories with you all as we continue on this journey. Wishing you joy, peace and good health....today and every day!

    image

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited December 2014
    Merry Christmas and happy new year. Hopefully this year will be better than last!
  • mmtagirl
    mmtagirl Member Posts: 325
    edited December 2017

    Peace, love and joy to all of you. As today marks the day that I officially received word from the doctor's office on my diagnosis one year ago I am reflective of Christmases past. I can truly say this one was extra special for me and broke the three year string of bad ones. I am looking forward to the year ahead and concentrating on all the possibilities. It has been the toughest of years but also brought me some special silver linings. I am blessed with a wonderfully supportive family, friends, coworkers. Thanks for being part of this journey with me. It has made all the difference.

    Namaste

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited December 2014

    Ann -  Happy anniversary.  I think we should celebrate our anniversaries of our diagnosis and our BMX's, because we've all earned it.  I feel the same way, mixed emotions.  It has been the most challenging year, and yet there were so many emotional highs and triumphs.

    Ganzgirl:  Welcome to our little group.  I remember being pretty freaked out about my exchange surgery, but it was so much easier than the BMX and it is fantastic to get rid of the TE's, which to me always felt like I was sporting bricks.  I was finally able to sleep on my side, and now can pretty much sleep any way I want.

    Beverly - I hope this appointment is with a new PS, and good luck.  The fat grafting made a big difference for me.  I highly recommend it. ;)

    I hope everyone had a nice Christmas.  It was exhausting but lovely for us.

    Well, many of you already know, but I'm having knee surgery on Tuesday to have my torn ACL in my knee replaced.  Today we are taking down the tree and decorations and getting things cleaned up and organized, since I'll be unable to do much next week.  I'll be on crutches for 1 month, with PT starting in a few weeks and 9 months off TKD (although I'm hoping for an early release for good behavior!).  This will be my 4th surgery this year. 

    What a year it has been for us all.  I am personally thankful that my internet searches led me to all of you.  It has made all the difference!

    Love and hugs to all of my January Sisters!

    Diane.

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited December 2014
    Diane,

    Good luck with your upcoming knee surgery! No, it's with the same plastic surgeon. I'm giving it one more try but I already warned my husband if I feel at all uncomfortable or disrespected in telling her to kiss my $&@! I know shes good at what she does and she came recommended from my bs because they work closely together. Maybe she just had a bad day... Trying to think positive but this is the last chance
  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2014

    Hello ladies hope everyone had a great Christmas, I did ! My birthday is tomorrow and Im sooo ready to put this shitty year behind me !! Exchange surgery is 9 days away :):)

    To new beginnings ! Happy new year bring on 2015 :)

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited December 2014

    hi all,

    Diane, my heart is with you tomorrow. I'll be in your pocket, holding your hand. Be well my friend.

    I don't kow if I want to celebrate my diagnosis, which was finally confirmed a few days after my surgery.

     What I do celebrate is one year of no evidence of disease . I also cherish that the cancer diagnosis and the trips to the doctors and scans beforehand and after surgery brought my brother and my best friend back into my life on a regular basis. I think it was the feeling that I am valued and so very loved by my family and friends that most impacted me. It was a year of having to ask for help and receiving help in the most loving and gracious ways imaginable. Truly a blessing for me.  My husband was and is a rock. My base to come back to and receive the most heart felt love. I love that man with all my soul. Then ladies, there was and is you. You individually and collectively. A single force  made up of the strongest, loving and excepting women I have ever had the pleasure to know.  I don't know what is next. I know there will be challenges, I do have an almost 12 year old step son after all...lol. My younger son and DIL will be here in a few weeks, I look forward to having both sons home again. What a blast.

    You all know I can be opinionated, but the time for me to hide who I am has passed. My sincerest opinion is that we are fabulous. I look forward to more of everything this new year. More love, more joy, more hope. ( more money would be nice too) lol. I want to take better note when the skies are of the purest blue and enjoy the silent gray gloomy days.  I will be a better friend, mom and sister and wife.  I will remember not to sweat the small stuff and know that nothing is big.

     OH and my Christmas present present from Nate...tickets to see Fleetwood Mac.....ha ha! On my bucket list.....can't wait!

    Nate ,Daniel and I went to a farm yesterday and picked hydroponically grown organic strawberries....then we made homemade custard based strawberry ice cream (5 cups of heavy cream). Yum yum and yum. Losing weight might be in my future also.

    My SIL LOVED the bear...she just sat there and held her, named her Mary. (my mother's name).sigh. OH and grumpy grandma and grandpa were nowhere to be found....... they were there but happy and wonderful ........great Christmas.

     

    Ganzgirl, yay for getting your implants soon. I am with you with putting a shitty 2014 behind us.  A very Happy Birthday to You!! Ummmmm, seeing as how I am the one who started this.....may we know your name? 

    Beverly, keep us up to date with your appointment.

    Take care all

    A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

    Peace

    Eve

     


     

  • ganzgirl2010
    ganzgirl2010 Member Posts: 56
    edited December 2014

    Good morning Momoton...my name is AnnMarie :)

  • mmtagirl
    mmtagirl Member Posts: 325
    edited December 2017

    Eve, I didn't know Fleetwood Mac was back together again. What a great concert that will be!

    I am with you on the diet being on my short list of things to tackle in 2015. Your strawberry cream sounds delish. I made the most wonderful beef tenderloin with a red wine sauce that my DH and daughter said was my best meal ever. We ate the leftovers last night. I rarely eat beef and even I liked it! However, slipping into my fat jeans this morning proved to take more effort than it did a few weeks ago.

    My word for 2015 is "strength"... Moved from "health" in 2014. Strength of body, mind and spirit. More yoga, more Muay thai,more joy and vacations with my hubby.

    AnnMarie, welcome to our group.

    Diane, we are in your pocket today!

    Cheers, Ann

  • anneb1149
    anneb1149 Member Posts: 821
    edited December 2014

    Happy Birthday AnnMarie

    Anne

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited December 2014

    Ann Marie! beeeutiful name.  My mom was Mary and her sister, by beloved aunt, was Ann. A wonderful combination. Thanks for sharing. A wonderful wish for an equally happy birthday to you.

    Ann, I said Fleetwood Mac was on my bucket list....in reality Mick Fleetwood is 71. So maybe I am on his bucket list. I channel Stevie Nicks. Love her clothes, top hat with an ostrich feather...yea! She, unbeknownst to the general public, visits the wounded warriors from the Iran and Afghanistan wars. She spends her own money and gives everyone an I pod filled with music. As a military mom I just so admire her for doing all she does and does it quietly. The concert sold out in a few days. We are in the very top of the top of the nose bleed seats. I always say it's about the music...not so much about seeing the faces up close...unless you have $4000 to spare. not! ouch!

    "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow"      one of my favorite songs.

     If you wake up and don't want to smile
    If it take just a little while
    Open your eyes and look at the day
    You'll see things in a different way

    Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
    Don't stop, it'll soon be here
    It'll be, better than before,
    Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

    Why not think about times to come
    And not about the things that you've done
    If your life was bad to you
    Just think what tomorrow will do

    Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
    Don't stop, it'll soon be here
    It'll be, better than before,
    Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

    All I want is to see you smile
    If it takes just a little while
    I know you don't believe that it's true
    I never meant any harm to you

    Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
    Don't stop, it'll soon be here
    It'll be, better than before,
    Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

    Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
    Don't stop, it'll soon be here
    It'll be, better than before,
    Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

    Ooh, don't you look back
    Ooh, don't you look back
    Ooh, don't you look back
    Ooh, don't you look back

     Love you ladies,

    Eve

  • lindacam
    lindacam Member Posts: 97
    edited December 2014

    Hi Ladies. I love Fleetwood Mac. Have not made a bucket list yet. Back at work 6 weeks now. Sure missed cuddling the babies.

    Is anyone on Tamoxifen and get bumps on tgeur body. Not a rash but itchy bumps that break open and then scab over?

    Anybody have extra skin under tgeir armput after a double mastectomy?


    Linda

  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited December 2014


    Thank you Eve for sharing your thoughts and especially the lyrics. As usual you have such a wonderful way with words. I, too, treasure our group so much.

    Diane - hope things went well for you today and you are home recuperating.

    AnnMarie - good luck with your implant surgery coming up! We'll be rooting for you!

    Beverly - my fingers are crossed that you get the look you want AND that your PS is nice to you!

    Linda - I don't have extra skin, but I've read some women have 'mud flaps' although I'm not sure what that is. I recommend going to the picture forum on this site where there are lots of wizened warrior women who are very helpful with providing advice on reconstruction and revision.

    Ladies - just wanted to share one of the things that helped me heal this past year....

    I attended a 3 day breast cancer retreat that was held at a resort on the north shore of Lake Superior. It was a wonderful setting, but it was the combination of support group and educational programming that was life changing for me. I just can't say enough good things about it. On the last day, one of our assignments was to make a list of our Life Wishes. The exercise was based on research showing that people who set goals live longer. We all took out our workbooks while the facilitator got out her magic wand, which looked more like a Harry Potter stick, lol! She told us to write down our dreams and life wishes - one for 3 months, 6 months, one year, 5 years and 10 years from now. Then one by one we went around in a circle and read each one aloud, ending with three zooming noises as we waved the wand in a circle above our heads ending with a final ZING towards the sky. We all made the noise together and I suppose the act of writing them down and speaking them aloud helps, but the magic part was the force of all the women gathered together, hoping and wishing for all our life wishes to come true!!! That's what I feel here. Even though we can't be together, we are a witness to each other's trials, tribulations, wishes, hopes and dreams. It's very powerful and it's just plain awesome.

    So...one of my 3 month wishes was for a wonderful visit with my best friend's daughter. And it came true!! I am an honorary grandmother to her 3 beautiful boys!! It was the best Christmas ever - even though we only had one night together, we made the most of it. I miss them so much! Most of you know this story, but I will repeat it here for those who don't: My dearly departed best friend died over 20 years ago from breast cancer. She recently appeared to me in a dream to tell and show me where I had cancer and that was how I found it. I will be forever grateful to my BFF whose friendship has never died.

    For Christmas I bought myself two beautiful lacy bras that look very feminine and sexy on my new foobs. I also ordered some adhesive nipples to get an idea of what it would look like with tattoos. I like them so much I'm considering nipple surgery. My 3 to 6 month wish is to have nipples - one way or another.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! May all your life wishes come true!

    xoxoxo

    Mary

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited December 2014

    Happy belated birthday AnneMarie! Good luck on your upcoming surgery and be sure to let us know how you are.

    Linda - I had extra skin between my foobs that my PS took care of when he did my nipple recon and fat grafting. It's worth mentioning to your PS if it bothers you.

    Mary - As usual I thoroughly enjoyed your post. That retreat sounds like it was wonderful. I haven't made a bucket list but love the idea of putting our wishes for this year out there. I say go for it on the nips! I'm very happy with mine, and can't wait for my tattoos...just waiting for the scars to lose their pink. 😊

    Eve - Thanks for sharing about Stevie Nicks. I shared your post with my mom (also named Mary) and she was just as moved as I was. I'm gonna join the diet brigade with you...having put on sooo much weight in the past 9 weeks of inactivity and holiday indulgence.

    So the surgery went well. I could feel the nerve block wearing off last night and did take a Percocet and love the ice machine and am not too concerned about the knee pain. The real problem is my chest and getting around on my crutches. My chest hurts with each and every attempt to move and I'm really afraid that I may have taken on more than I can handle. It seems like strength should be my word too Ann. I saw the previews for "Unbroken", and have adopted his phrase, "if I can take it, I can make it". That said, I'm going to call my PS today and see what he thinks. I don't want to do any real damage. He shoots straight from the hip, so I know he will let me know if the pain is okay. I'm just going to have to hope that things get better each day...because I have to go back to work on Monday. Prayers everyone. I have a feeling that this will be even harder than my black belt test!

    Happy New Year Sisters! Wishing you all joy, peace, strength, hope and love in 2015!

    Diane

  • anneb1149
    anneb1149 Member Posts: 821
    edited December 2014

    Morning all

    Linda- just want to let you know I have extra skin under my armpits. They are very uncomfortable and I was in almost constant pain for months. They seem to grow heavier and more painful throughout the day. My BS has refused to talk recon with me yet, although when I saw him in June, I told him I was 99% sure I didn't want it. I finally found that wearing a bra, with wide stretchy sides helps tremendously, but I have to wear it 24/7. I use sports bras usually at night. One of the problems I am having is that I lost over 40lbs during chemo, but have now put over half the weight back on. I was measured and fit for bras when I was at the lower weight, and all the bras I bought are too tight around, but since I see the BS this month, I don't want to buy anything new yet, until I know what the next step is going to be. I hope it will be surgery to get rid of these pouches. Then maybe I can be properly fitted for daytime bras and not need to wear them 24/7.

    Hope that helps a little

    Diane- sorry you are in so much pain. Take it easy and move as little as possible for a few days. Give your chest some time to adjust, and the knee time to start healing.

    AnnMarie- good luck with the implant surgery.

    Anne

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited January 2015

    Should auld acquaintance be forgot
    And never brought to mind?
    Should auld acquaintance be forgot
    And auld lang syne

    For auld lang syne, my dear
    For auld lang syne
    We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
    For auld lang syne

    And surely ye'll be your pint stowp
    And surely I'll be mine
    And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
    For auld lang syne

    For auld lang syne, my dear
    For auld lang syne
    We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
    For auld lang syne

    We twa hae run about the braes
    An pou'd the gowans fine
    But we've wander'd mony a weary fitt
    Sin' auld lang syne

    For auld lang syne, my dear
    For auld lang syne
    We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
    For auld lang syne

    We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
    Frae morning sun till dine


  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited January 2015
    Happy new year ladies! So I had my appointment with my primary dr today about the headaches I've been having. I get them everyday! She did an EKG since my blood pressure was high- and of course, with my luck it was abnormal. She is referring me to a cardiac doctor. Because the headaches are so frequent and I've been having dizzy spells associated with them I also have to have an MRI done of my brain. I have that done on Friday. Please say a prayer. Hoping everything comes back normal and it's just stress related and will pass.... Does anyone know if a mastectomy can cause abnormal results on an EKG? She said my t waves were flat- whatever that means..
  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited January 2015


    Oh no Beverly - what a rotten way to start the new year! I have no idea what flat t waves are. Last July I ended up in urgent care and had an EKG after my exchange surgery because I my heart rate was so high. I'll never forget it. There was a screaming infant in the waiting room which of course made my heart rate skyrocket even more. Then they had to stick those electrodes on top of my plastic wrapping, so I was stressing out over whether or not they were wrecking my surgeon's wrap (see I'm not a worry wart!). But I think it was all due to stress and being in pain.

    I'm hoping your tests come out okay. This can be such a stressful time of year. Do deep breathing and mediation - it's bound to help. Sending positive energy your way!

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited January 2015
    Thanks Mary! Yeah I started to look up flat t waves and then got a bit freaked out. I have the MRI tomorrow so hopefully I can rule out anything with the brain and then tomorrow I have to set up appt with cardiologist to rule out heart issues! Omg!
  • formydaughter
    formydaughter Member Posts: 121
    edited January 2015

    Diane, I hope the crunching is getting better. I have pain around my implants regularly and was told its nothing to worry about. They see your back muscle around your side to the shelf they create to put the implant on. It's common to have ongoing pain, I was told. I don't think I could take crutches though!

    Beverly, praying for normal test results all around. Are you taking Tamoxifen? It gives me nasty headaches. Giving you an air hug.

    Health was my 2014 mantra as well. I think I'll move with you to strength for 2015. I like it.

    Decided that after my holiday eating, I'm taking 2 yoga classes on Mon before I have chemo day!

    Happy New Year!!

    Katie

  • Mommyathome
    Mommyathome Member Posts: 876
    edited January 2015
    Formydaughter,
    No tamoxifen since I had a BMx. Unfortunately I could only do the MRI without contrast today. The two people there couldn't find a flipping vein to do the contrast! I'm like really?!?!
    I can't use my left arm/hand due to having a node removed but they couldn't get it in the right. I have to talk to my dr to see if they got enough without contrast otherwise i need to go back
  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited January 2015


    So ladies, what is everyone planning as far as celebrating their one year anniversary? After my BMX, my surgeon told me I was cancer free and I'm assuming that is the case for everyone, even though you had chemo and radiation. It's such a huge deal in my mind - all the crap leading up to that point....And now it's been a year!! Whoohooo! It's an event more important than Christmas or New Year's, don't 'cha think?

    Last night I saw the movie "Gravity." If you haven't seen in yet, you've GOT TO! It is one of those movies that I will not soon forget. I felt it had many parallels to having had breast cancer....You know how you're just doing your thing in life and then BAM, stuff flies out of nowhere and blows everything to s**t. Then you are left reeling - just out of control, spinning in space with nothing to grab on to, then someone (thank god) throws you a lifeline and somehow you calm down and you try to think straight , breath, and figure out a way back to someplace safe, someplace solid, safe from harm. But then you find your ship in ruins, your friends gone. So you have to go further...and you really have to fight with every ounce of strength you have and you can't do it alone. Every survivor meets a George Clooney along the way, thank goodness! They're the ones with the positive spirit who lift you up and keep you tethered, but they can't hold your hand forever and sometimes they don't make it and you're left alone again. You lose your courage and your strength, you think of your loved ones you've lost and you question what you have to fight for. When Sandra Bullock finally made it back to the pod and it didn't start, I could so relate to that feeling!! And when George Clooney peeped in on her and helped bring her back - once again - to her fighting spirit, and when I found out he really wasn't there after all, I cried! Tears were streaming down my face! It really struck a cord in me - how alone you are in the fight. Alone but not alone because you have another part of you you never knew existed. And then you finally know - and you make up your mind you're gonna make it! You try everything, you push all the buttons, use everything at hand, and you fly around and try to grab on for dear life, and when you finally land - yep, there's more struggling...you gotta get out of the pod, out of the suit and swim up to breath the air and then swim to shore. Yes, I know it's just a movie and pretty far fetched, but hey, I KNOW, just know that feeling of after all you've been through and crawl up inch by inch, feel the shore, stand up and walk away teetering...that is such a great feeling!

    Mary

  • Hygeia
    Hygeia Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2015

    Dear BC101,

    What a touching, celebratory anniversary offering. I'm ILC also and looking forward to being on the other side of surgery (1/14/15) and what comes afterward.

    Yes, I saw "Gravity" too and I especially remember Sandra Bullock listening to one of the few audio stations she could receive--China? Japan? Korea, etc?--and listening to a father singing a lullaby to his baby. Knowing that life was out there with some just beginning, carried by others a little further on the path.

    Many thanks and I congratulate you and your sisters.

    ~Hygeia

  • formydaughter
    formydaughter Member Posts: 121
    edited January 2015

    Beverly, I hope that the test was enough. I have the same vein problem, one arm down and bad veins to start with. Luckily, my port is still in.

    New procedure at my hospital - rather than having a blood draw on the day of your chemo infusion and have it read right away to give a thumbs up to treatment, they now want everyone to go in for a draw a couple of days ahead of time. There is only one lab capable of handling port patients, and they will not take reservations for the draws. Ok, I'm annoyed that now 2 days will be taken up by sitting there. But moreso, I think of the elderly lady next to me who was to pay a care provider to drive her to her appointments. When she learned of this new policy, she was in tears worrying over covering the new and unplanned for expense. So many people have to travel so far for their oncology appointments. Today a am grateful that I live near my medical center. And I am grateful for the snow day that we have today, extending school vacation by one more day. The blood draw will just have to wait - more important things like making cocoa for the sledding kids, and reading a chapter of Little House on the Prairie to my daughter, will come first today.

  • mmtagirl
    mmtagirl Member Posts: 325
    edited December 2017

    Happy New Year everyone!  It seems that I lost this thread as a favorite sometime at the end of the year and just now picking up on all the new posts.

    Mary, I think you win the prize for finding yourself and healing in 2014.  If I think back to your original posts early in 2014 to how you ended the year...WOW!  You are one strong and confident woman.  So proud of you!

    I had my appointment today with the MO.  Ready to celebrate!!  Tumor markers were in the normal range and all other blood work was good.  Woot Woot!!  He did give me a script to get fitted for a compression sleeve to use during air travel to prevent lymphedema since I am traveling to Europe this weekend for work. I am at higher risk because of the lymph nodes removed and the radiation.

     He also told me to start taking a regular aspirin every day since new studies are showing that it prevents a recurrence of breast cancer.  He also suggested 5,000 mg of Vitamin D for the tamoxifen aches and pains. I guess studies are showing that Vitamin D is helping with various myalgias.  Otherwise, I will have to grin and bear it if I want to stay on the drug.  Beverly, I also had BMX so maybe the difference on the tamoxifen is DCIS vs IDC?  Who knows, we are all so different.

     Based on the new SOFT and TEXT studies that were just released at the San Antonio conference (he attended) I will probably be moved faster to an AI than 5 years on Tamo.  For those younger than me, the studies proved that ovarian suppression and an AI were more effective than tamoxifen or ovarian suppression and tamoxifen for those under age 35.  Better results for those over 35 than tamo alone or tamo + ovarian suppression but not as much.  I'm 52 and close enough to menopause he didn't think the benefit would be worth the additional surgery.  He also mentioned Zometa when I start the AI to help prevent bone mets.

    Wishing I was with Eve in Florida or Alexandra and Diane in California....high of 7 today in Michigan and lots of snow!

    Cheers,

    Ann


     

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited January 2015

    image

    Diane,

    I know you are not feeling up to par......HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....anyway!    love you my friend.

  • pinktiara
    pinktiara Member Posts: 716
    edited January 2015

    Mary,

    Loved your post about Gravity and how you related it to our journey.  I agree with Ann you have really taken a bad situation and used it to grow and become a wonderful voice for all of us. Brava! I too love Alison Krause and union Station. We were able to go down to Ft. Lauderdale 2 years ago and attend their concert..it was really cool because it was a very small venue. She has a voice of an angel.

    Beverly, praying for good results. Man o man you have had a time of it. Take care and let us know how you are doing.

    Ann...Europe! Hope it is not all work. I read the studies about aspirin...it helps all sorts of cancers and other diseases...interesting because aspirin reduces inflammation...also reduces risk of colon cancer.  It seems every year the researchers have new thoughts on Tamox and AI's...that's a good thing...tells me they are finding out about new ways to treat BC.  YES! the vitamin D thing along with magnesium seems to be a huge deficiency among us BC ladies...you have a great MO in my humble opinion.

    By the way...come on down...you all be safe in the super cold weather you are getting.

    K...Have to go put dinner together....

    not ignoring anyone

    love to all

    Eve

  • Dtkd
    Dtkd Member Posts: 422
    edited January 2015

    Eve - Thank you sooo much!! I'll be celebrating my birthday tomorrow with my 6 month checkup with my BS. She is just going to freak when she sees me on crutches. 😊

    Beverly - I hope they figure out what is going on. This has been crazy 12 mos for you. Hugs

    Ann - So happy to hear you had such a great visit with your MO! All that tenacity is now paying off! So happy for you.

    Mary - l loved your Gravity post. Fantastic movie, and beautifully put. Ann is right, you have really come so far, and are now a beacon of light for others to follow when they feel lost and afraid.

    Well...first day back at work. I swear that black belt testing was easier. I'm exhausted and can't decide what needs the ice machine most, my knee, my burning chest, or my tailbone, which burns down both legs. Good thing I know it will get better. My new mantra is from the movie Unbroken..."if I can take it, I can make it". I still need to see the movie, but saw the previews and it spoke to me. We will all be okay, as long as we don't give up!

    Not yet sure how I'll celebrate the anniversary of my BMX, but will do something to mark the day I became cancer free. 💜

    Love and hugs to all of you!

    Diane

  • formydaughter
    formydaughter Member Posts: 121
    edited January 2015

    Diane, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear friend, Happy Birthday to you!!! Now, on the anniversary of my BMX (which I will call cancer free day), I am smiling because I am thinking about you and your birthday!

    It seems like just yesterday I was in pre-op with my surgical cap, gown and hospital socks on, totally freaking out and ready to roll. It was a huge snow storm with bitter cold, and school was cancelled for the kids most of the week, but I was oblivious about that until months later. Boy did I wake up sad with frankenboob. I was horrified. I held it together until it was time to leave the hospital and I put on my shirt. That was when it really set in that it didn't fit right, my breasts were gone, etc. A dear friend had the poor luck of showing up right as I was trying to dress - I think he's still afraid to visit me again. If he wasn't a sailor, I'd say that I taught him a few new words... But like many of you, I have decided that my BS saved my life and cut out all the cancer. (My MO says he's just been spending months trying to harm a cured woman... :) ) Its hard to celebrate the anniversary considering all the crap that followed the surgery - it sure doesn't seem like an end point since the journey was just beginning. What a year. I think that my celebration will be to stay in my PJs, drink coffee, and watch something adult on Netflix that I can't watch around my daughter. Tomorrow is infusion day for Herceptin and I get my first Lupron shot. But today is today.

    Katie


  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 923
    edited January 2015


    Katie,

    Congratulations on your 1 year cancer-free anniversary! But, yes, I know... It's tough to celebrate losing body parts and the start of a journey filled with emotional twists and turns.

    You're so right about it being just the beginning. And I think your celebration sounds absolutely perfect.

    Stay warm!

    Mary

     

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