I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V3.6 !
.. Over 2 years ago i was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. As i look forward my 34th birthday, i look back on the last couple of years of my Life with wonder...
-
15 Sept. 2005 -i was stung by a wasp after Hurricane Isabella, and noticed something was amiss...
13 Oct 2005 - i met Dr. Elizabeth Weinberg for the first time
24 Oct 2005 - i had my breast biopsy
25 Oct 2005 - Dr. Weinberg told me it was cancer
27 Oct 2005 - i met Dr. Kenneth Kotz, my oncologist, who scared the **SHIT** out of me & james (note to doctors---**NEVER** use a bar graph on a palm pilot to "plot" out my life expectancy with cancer----**WORST IDEA EVER!!*** ;)
1 Nov 2005 - had my port-cath-inserted by Dr. Weinberg, a deft and talented surgeon.
2 Nov 2005 - i started chemotherapy for 4 months...
9 Feb 2006 - my last chemo treatment!!
28 Feb 2006 - i had a double mastectomy---this, for me, was the hardest thing to deal with
10 Mar 2006 - i started 7 weeks of radiation therapy
15 May 2006 - YAY! i finished radiation therapy!! the last week was pretty painful)
6 Dec 2006 - i had my 6 month checkup with my oncologist, Dr. Kotz, and everything is going well! ;)
10 April 2007 - i had a 6-month checkup with my radiation oncologist, Dr. Myerson. So far, things are great, but i probably ought to wait the full 2 years until i have breast reconstruction. The greatest risk of cancer recurrence is in the first 2 years after treatment.
FINALLY! i am preparing to get ta-tas on Tuesday March 4---after 2 years being mistaken for a boy.....i'll keep you posted on the Cleavage Report!!
21 March 2008: OK! Now i have my "starter set" of boobs....it is SOOOOOOOOOOO nice to feel like a girl again!!
20 May 2008: THE GIRLS HAVE LANDED! : ) now i'm at least a good "C"....but i think when everything is "settled" i wouldn't mind being a TAD larger. After all, i'm not a small person, so THE GIRLS must be in proportion and all... ; ): D
i learned SO MUCH from the last year. I Learned: that it's OK to lean on your loved ones for support when you need it**being diagnosed with cancer is not necessarily the scariest thing that can happen**people in the medical profession are very nice and have restored my faith in humanity**i don't take Life for granted anymore**i'm doing all the things i want to that i have time for---i've even taken up motorcycle riding!! ;)** i have a wicked tolerance for serious drugs (chemo, etc.) apparently, but that's merely trivia to me** my family loves me dearly, and SO DOES JAMES!!**i'm stronger than i think i am**stupid people still bother me ;)**my dogs have kept me laughing and kept me sane**i knew i was a PATIENT person before, but after waiting so long for reconstructive surgery, i find i am able to wait for the things i want very much without getting too upset.**GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT...(as long as you are still trying to reach your goals..;) and the most important thing i learned: NEVER LOSE HOPE!!! ;) ;)