The Blessings of Life

It has been a while since I last wrote . . .  I just wanted to share a little bit.  I promise to keep it short.

I've been cancer free since February 2009!  For that, I am very grateful.  There's so many things for me to be grateful about.  I'm grateful for sunshine, for a soft breeze that hits my face, for a chance to spend time with my husband . . .  my family. . .  my dog.  Ah, there's so many things to be grateful for these days. . .

I am grateful for how cancer changed my life.  The changes were baby steps at first and have now come forth with great significance.  One major change, God became more and more important.

Last February I picked up my guitar and started practicing with the worship band at church.  It took a couple of months to build my speed up, form callouses on my finger tips and get enough courage to start  playing with the worship band on Sunday mornings.  I had to over come my fear of playing in front of people and/or making mistakes that someone one might see and hear.

In April of 2012, I took the Abate class for Motorcycle safety and received my motorcycle endorsement.  Believe it or not at 54 years old I am riding a motorcycle and loving it.  But I had to overcome a lot of fear.  I had to get past the accident I had 30 years prior.

Cancer taught me that time and life are precious.  I didn't want to wait for a "better" time or when I had "more" time or when it didn't seem "as scary" to do the things that were important to me.  I encourage everyone whether they are facing a life threatening situation or not to make time for God, your family and the things you hold dear.  Step out in faith, you never know what you might find.

God Bless

Surgery Completion

On August 21, 2009 I went in for the final surgery to complete the process. YEAH! It seems that each plastic surgeon has their own way in regards to the reconstruction process. This time my surgery involved a reduction (mammaplasty) to my natural breast as well as a nipple for the implant breast.

It's been a month and I'm happy to say that everything is healing well and the doctor says I am doing fine. There was no cancer found in the tissue removed in the reduction. I will not be dealing with breast doctors again until November of this year when I go in for my yearly mammogram. Again YEAH!

It really is amazing what these doctors can reconstruct on a human body. Of course it never takes the place of what I had, it is cancer free and looks pretty normal. I'm doing well and I believe that's the most important thing to focus on at this point.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and support over the past several months. I am a very blessed person.

How Do You Spell Relief? I M P L A N T

On Monday of this week, I had my surgery to remove the tissue expander and replace it with a saline implant. What a vast difference in how that area feels since the exchange! I'm a bit tired and sore, but no more "rock hard booby!" What a relief!

I am still one more surgery away from being complete with this process. In a few weeks, I will go back under to reduce and "perk-up" the natural breast. Some of the tissue taken out from this breast will be used to make a nipple for my implant breast. I will be thankful when all of this is done. It has been a long process.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, I really do appreciate them.

Sincerely,

Getting Closer One Surgery At A Time . . .

I just arrived home after a visit to the Plastic Surgeon's office. I received my last expansion fill and will now wait about four weeks (at least) before I have the surgery to remove the tissue expander and put in the implant.

More decisions?????? I was given pamphlets on "silicone" and "saline" to look over and try to decide which one will work best for me. I also need to decide whether I will have a "nipple" put on as part of my reconstruction. If not, then I have this last surgery before me. If I do, then I'll have one more surgery after the implant to reduce my natural breast and use some of that tissue to make my new nipple on my reconstruction breast. Yikes!

If you're reading my posts and have been through this process, I'd love to hear what decisions you made and how you decided. (I'm not thrilled with the idea of two more surgeries.) Please share your insights.

Sincerely,

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter everyone. . . And it is a good Easter Sunday. I apologize for not writing the last few weeks. Seems increasingly harder to find the time since I returned back to work.

Medically, I am still in the expansion stage. I see the PS doctor again this Thursday and this will probably be my last fill. I will be so glad to get rid of "rock-hard" booby and replace it with something a little more comfortable. I will still have another surgery to go through after the implant. The PS said that he does not reduce the natural breast until he's finished with the tattoo on my fake one.

I feel pretty good these days but I do get tired. Especially when I have to put in a 10 - 12 hour day for work. Life seems to be back to a more normal place. I believe hearing those words "Cancer-free" helped out a lot. My surgeon does not have any further tests he wants to put me through and I will go back in November for my mammogram. I was suppose to go and see the Chemo-radiologist guy one more time just to look over everything and see if he had any further recommendations but I guess the coordinator that said she would set the appointment has forgotten me. Monday I'll have to call there to see what happen.

I wish everyone a blessed day and thanks for stopping by my post.

Peter Tork Has Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

I was saddened this evening when my husband Bob showed me an article on Pop Eater.The article was from today reporting that the former Monkee, Peter Tork had been diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. It was found on the lower region of his tongue. According to Peter's website, he was to undergo extensive surgery today, followed by radiation afterwards.

If you would like to read the original article, click this link; Former Monkee Peter Tork Fights Cancer.

As a kid I remember Peter Tork best as the Monkee with the cute dimples when he smiled. Often casted as the "dummy" in the TV show "The Monkees."

My prayers go out to Peter Tork as he goes through his treatment for his cancer. (An update on Facebook says that he's out of surgery and things have gone well.) May you meet your goal of being well for your concert dates starting in June 2009

Yeah, Peter for putting a link on your website to Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Alliance!

Returning to Work Monday

Yes, tomorrow I am suppose to be able to return to work. I've got some catching up to do. I'm hoping I can get back into the swing of things quickly. I was working from home a bit this past week, answering emails and returning phone calls. Now I've got to jump in and start going to meetings, visiting my properties and getting paperwork done.

This past Thursday, I had my last drain removed. I wasn't sure if Dr. PS would do that seeing as I was still putting out 25- 30ccs a day. Wow did that spell R E L I E F when it was pulled. How nice to not have a bulge on my side taking up space or to have to worry about dropping it when taking a shower, changing clothes or putting up with the itching pain when the stitches are pulled. I also received another 50ccs in my expander. I didn't feel discomfort that day, Friday or even Saturday Morning when I got up.

So here it is Sunday and I woke up early this morning with a piercing pain near my breast bone when I moved to get out of bed. (I've been able to lay down and sleep in my own bed for the last week without a problem.) Even as I sit on the couch typing on my lap top, I feel pressure across my right rib cage. When I got into the truck this morning, that movement caused piercing pain. Even opening the slider to let the dog in the backyard hurts. So now I'm wondering and trying to figure out what is causing this discomfort. I guess I will have to call first thing tomorrow morning to let Doc know what's going on.

Well I guess I will return to working on my daughter's Memory Book. Again, thanks for listening.