Baldy McBalderton
It had been suggested to me to take some bald photos, because I will want them later. Which is probably true, I am not exactly going to be able to block out the experience of breast cancer and losing my hair – so I may as well have fun with the good and the bad. So, why not go all out and have the pictures professionally done by the amazing and awesome Jenny Bauman (her website is: http://www.jennykphotography.com/, feel free to...
For the Sake of My Sanity
I had my 8th and final chemo treatment today, for the sake of my sanity. Cancer treatments come with a lot of decisions, unknowns and best guesses. I am in a study that tracks my chemotherapy side effects, last Friday my responses must have set off bells, whistles, sirens and all sorts of noisy contraptions. The Nurse Practitioner assigned to follow me called me to get the details on my neuropathy (and pain, I have had an unusual...
Hello Menopause, Not So Nice to Meet You
I figured menopause would come sooner than the last couple of weeks as it is a common symptom of chemotherapy for breast cancer. I am now certainly glad it waited to rear its hot ugly head.We will limit the discussion of this beast to its most obvious side effect: hot flashes. I think Mike keeps thinking I am crazy as I throw the dogs off my lap and start gasping for air (I have no idea why I gasp, you would think fanning myself would...
Waking Up From the Fog
The past two weeks stand out as a bit of a blur in some ways. The reality that I would have to have the surgery that I fought to avoid for 3 months, the actual surgery, waking up to life with only one breast, going on disability, my Taxol treatment and the battle of the side effects. Today I am at the phase where I am coming out of the Taxol side effects a bit more. I am able to walk more successfully (the leg pain from Taxol and numb...
Fixing What Has Been Undone
I met with the plastic surgeon today, I had to write down my questions because I had so many of them and wanted to make sure I knew what to expect in the coming months. The first and main discussion was when I would have my next surgery and which surgery it would be. The plastic surgeon looked at my skin after the last surgery and told me that his recommendation is that I have the lat flap surgery on my right side. He told me he would...