Breast Cancer Life

October 8, 1, 15 & 18 of 2018 Due to being too careful with my arm I now require physical therapy to get my range of motion back. There will be four visits plus twice a day HOMEWORK. Dang you get cancer and homework. Life really isn’t fair. Talking with my therapist I learned the […]

I want to take some time here to talk about what breast cancer really means to a woman.  We women define ourselves by our hair and our breasts. It is what we subconsciously think of that makes us women. Yes, I know we are much more than hair and breasts, but telling that to your […]

September 26, 2018, it’s time to see my surgeon Dr. Woodyard again. Good news! He is removing my drain! Bad news… he is removing my drain. There is nothing given to deaden it or anything. He clips the stitches holding the drain in place and starts pulling it out of me. Thankfully he is quick […]

After getting home and into my own bed there were a few surprises. First off, my bed doesn’t adjust. I bet most of yours do not either. I am a tummy sleeper. This isn’t possible after a mastectomy. The drain is also always in the way no matter how you try to situate. I did […]

Surgery is complete. I looked in the mirror in the bathroom at the hospital. I wanted so bad to cry. But, I will not. I will be brave for my husband who has held my hand and told me I am beautiful even though I know good and well I look like hammered crap. I […]

Its surgery day. My 16 year old will be staying home from school. How could I make him go? He is worried too. As a family we drive to the hospital. Thankfully, even though I cannot eat I am allowed water. WOOHOO! And that is not sarcastic, how people can go to a hospital for […]

Today I went to the Coliseum Hospital for all my pre-op blood work and tests. Tomorrow is the surgery and I am really getting nervous. The lady who performed my EKG was a breast cancer survivor. She was awesome, just talking to me about it and what she had been through. Then she shocked me. […]

The appointment today is with Renaissance Plastic Surgery, Dr. McClendon.  Now is where vanity set in. I have no problem cutting off my boobs. But, I REALLY want a new set when its all over. I am a fluffy girl. With no boobs I am going to look like a weeble-wobble. It was a very […]

Today I see Dr. Woodyard again. Its time for my decision and to start moving forward to get this out of my body. When it was found in the mammogram it measure .8 cm. At the MRI it was 1.1 cm. If it goes past 2 cm I will no longer be in stage 1 […]

Today is my second opinion oncologist appointment.  After the shock of what the last oncologist told my surgeon I am hoping this goes well. I need a new permanent oncologist. My appointment is scheduled for 2 pm. I arrive early because I know there is always paperwork. I sometimes wonder if you could create your […]

I went back to see my surgeon today. Of course I am undressed from the waist up and in a gown. I am starting to get used to this. Boy was I in for a shock. He walks in the room, and says “So, Dr. X called and said you have decided to have a […]

The Oncologist is the person you are trusting your life to for the foreseeable future. I think trust is IMPERATIVE! I will not name the doctor I saw, but I will saw it was my first and last visit. She was fired before she was completely hired. My husband and I both had questions and […]

Its MRI day. My husband goes with me. My appointment is for 3 pm and I arrive at 2:30 because I know there is always paperwork.  Yup, I’m right, I spend 15 minutes doing paperwork. Then the news, even with insurance I have to pay $479.00. I sigh and write the check wondering where that’s […]

I am still trying to decide how I want to proceed. a lumpectomy would be simplest but the chances of recurrence are pretty big. I do not think I could handle doing this again. That leaves a mastectomy. I am a woman. Its natural we hold a lot regards for our breasts and hair. We […]

Cancer comes with extra real life decisions. I am mommy to a 15-year-old fur baby who is the light of my life. Sampson has been the protector to my children. HE saved my oldest son’s life when my was 11. He was always better behaved, and minded better than the children. If he slipped up and […]

Its time to meet my Nurse Navigator. This is a free service offered by the Coliseum Cancer Center in Macon, Georgia. This is a person who will bean  educator and advocate for me and my family throughout my cancer journey. My husband goes with me to this appointment because we both have questions. The first thing […]

August 18 and my baby is getting married. No time for cancer today. I have only told a few of my very closest friends and select family members. I have also told them I do not want to discuss it today. This is her special day and I don’t want a large part of it […]

August 13, 2018 …. the day my world was rocked. The appointment for results. Nervous doesn’t begin to describe it. My closest friends have been praying with me since the 6th.  My daughter, Meagan, goes with me. Mrs. Ford, I am sorry, you have breast cancer. That is the only thing I processed. He talked […]

It was August 6, 2018. Its biopsy day. I did what we all do and looked up the procedure online. Whoops! Now I’m like a little kid, scared of the doctor. My husband went with me to “hold my hand”. You see I am deathly afraid of needles. I hyperventilate and break into sweats. Many […]