A Very Good Day
Having cancer is especially hard for people who like to plan things. You are at the mercy of doctors, appointment schedulers and others beyond your control. Since you are never sure how your body will react to things, it makes especially difficult to plan. BUT, today- yes today was a very good day. Since I am almost finished with my chemo I am able to schedule my surgery for a bilateral mastectomy. I met with the plastic surgeon and I have the official date set for April 15th assuming everything else goes as planned. Apparently, the whole process takes 4- 5 months to complete. I was a little disappointed that the entire process was going to take so long, but, it is what it is- I just feel lucky to move on with things. At the time of the mastectomy they will insert ‘expanders’ and then I will go back every week or so to ‘fill them up’ until they are the appropriate size. Maybe it will be a little less since I’m not replacing Dolly Parton’s – The doctor was very funny, he said “ I do have to warn you, your breasts will be bigger than they are now” “ Not a problem!” I said “I should be able to get something out of his whole deal, don’t ya think?” So, any of you who have had expanders in please write to me and tell me your experience. I am interested to know if and how they will affect my range of motion. The doctor said to plan on being off work and I said " Yes, but you don't know me - I really need to go back to work"
There is even more good news! I talked to the oncologist and she said I might not even need radiation. We won’t find out until after surgery how many lymph nodes were affected and that is the deciding factor, but just the thought that I wouldn’t need radiation is such a tremendous relief.
Thursday is treatment number 7. I’m trying not to think about it today. I am hoping to keep my ‘good thoughts’ as long as possible. My last treatment is on the first day of Spring. How fitting! The start of a new chapter in life.
Hi Angella,
I just caught up with your blog - hey, bigger boobs are great - I always wanted bigger, so I can relate to wanting them. Sorry I haven't written in a while - I unfortunately did get the "virus" from hell and it went into pheumonia. Doing much better now. The chemo sounds like a tough bugger to get through - my thoughts are with you. I laughed when you were in the car and took off your wig - your husband sounds like a good guy!
I just received the book "The Spirit of Peace - His holiness the Dalai Lama". It's so interesting - I'm sure you have the book if you like the Dalai Lama.
Please tell me when a good time would be to bring over a dinner (haven't forgotten)Let me know. I know we tried calling each other a while back and between Mom and getting sick I was a little out of it.
Hang in there Angella and know the positive thoughts and healing is always coming your way.
Love,
Kelley
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Hi Kelley! Great to hear from you- I actually not read The Spirit of Peace- I am jumping on the Oprah & Echart Tolle bandwagon Awakening To Your Life's Purpose. I haven't gotten the book yet, but have been trying to listen to the podcast on Oprah.com I'll call you next week when I'm back with the Living
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I think most of us wouldn't mind "bigger boobs" !
Hope you get good news re no radiation. Think about all the time and miss you.
Good thoughts and prayers are coming your way! Love, Rita
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Yeah- now's my chance!! Heck of a way to get a boob job. . . .
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Hi Angellah .. So good to hear that you had a good day. I wish I could give you info on "expanders". That's the first time I've heard that term. I recently heard from my Portland friend and she just called it "reconstruction". Her surgery is April 21 and she hopes to be finished by September. We talked about the September 21 Race for the Cure in Portland. I always used to run into her there. Hang in there and know there are lots of us pulling for you.
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Hi Angellah,
We just got back from Disneyland. I think I walked a million miles. We had a great time. Talk about living in the moment, there is no better place to be.
I've heard that expanders are way easier to recover from than the other procedures. I have to make an appointment in Seattle this week to see what my options are. I went to the oncologist last week and he told me to come back in June. I really don't have cancer any more!!!!! I can't believe I don't have to see him for three whole months!! Of course, now I have to start seeing the naturopath every week for detoxing but that's way better than the oncologist.
Have you ever listened to Oprah's radio station? She interviews some pretty cool folks. (All the people she didn't think her T.V. audience was ready for.)
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Whooo- Hooo!!!! That's awesome ! I'm so glad you went and had a great time. Next week is my last chemo and already my thoughts are already going to what things will be like when I don't have cancer anymore. . . .Please let me know how the detoxing goes and what kind of program you are doing. I would like to do that when I am finished up- I'm kinda nervous about all the ugliness getting everything out- but it can't be worse than chemo - can it???
I haven't listened to O's station- I should check it out though- I have been tryingto listen to the new podcast's with Eckhart Tolle but I never can seem download it correctly- guess I should just go get the book
Good luck with the appointment- I know you will find exactly what you need!
Many blessings to you-
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