I Can't Even...

 It has been a while...I have a lot to say, but sometimes I share too much I think.  But hey, that's life, right?  In the past two years, I've still been healing, physically, as well as emotionally.   Cancer changes you.  But, I'm marching forward.    And life does indeed, move on.  This past year, especially the past 6 months, have been life changing.    My Daughter graduated from high school, (Virtually, and with a parade) - that was different.   She missed all of those last moments, band concerts, senior walk through, Prom, a real graduation.   But Wow, she is resilient.   Just last week, we dropped her off at College.   She's my baby, my beautiful girl.   She was so so  happy, but pretty hard for this Momma.   She'll do great - I just need to deal with the empty nest thing now.  Now for another life changing event - My Son and Daughter -in-love made me a "Nana...

The Flower Child in Me...can't help but dig into some Essential Oils.   With my illness of last year, and now trying to be more "in-tune" with Mom Nature....I've been studying quite a bit about essential oils.... Some things help, some don't.   Some herbs and essential oils are a big no-no for someone like me with Estrogen Positive cancer.....Don't want to feed it.....But there is so much controversy on this subject it will scramble your brain.    So, I won't preach today.....But,  I did want to share 2 products I have personally tried and LOVE.... doTerra Deep Blue Rub, and doTerra Digestzen.....My review is presented in the video below.   Well, "presented" might be a wee bit of a stretch!!    doTerra Review! My doTErra Website

Some days the most inspirational thing I do, is get out of bed, and that is usually an effort the past six months or so.....But a couple of people have told me that over the past year.   I strongly disagree with them and keep on keeping on.  I was telling someone, at the beginning of the cancer map...you have so many decisions to make you don't really have time to dwell on the negative aspect of things.   For me, I KNEW this was not going to take me out.....That I HAVE to be around to watch my daughter graduate from high school.   That I HAVE to be here to see the future grand babies my son and daughter in love are going to give me.... Was it all sunshine and roses, heck no.....I had days where I cried and cried..   But there were definitely more good than bad. I went back to work to keep my mind busy as soon as possible (good medicine for me).  I prayed for good results at every step....I think God has a plan for me.   No...

Time Flies when you are having fun is the saying.  The past year has been a DOOZY...Is that a real word? Oh well..... On September 2, 2017, I  had a Sentinel Node Biopsy.  Thankfully no cancer cells were found in my lymph nodes. On September 26, 2017 I had a Bi-Lateral Mastectomy with Reconstruction...All went well, I healed a little slower than my impatient self liked, but all went fairly well.  On November 28, 2017 I had a complete Hysterectomy, and they also took my ovaries.   Reason being the genetic mutation I carry Lynch Syndrome PMS2 raises your risk for most below the belt cancers.....So I eliminated about 5 cancers with that surgery....Yay me. On January 2, 2018 - I had my implant switch.   This is where they take the tissue expanders out and replace them with Implants. Fast forward to today.....I'm doing well, tomorrow is my 1 year Survivor check up.....Not exactly sure what that entails, but I'm sure I will find out. I atten...

Some days it's the small things that make me happy.  A few weeks ago, my coworker brought me this little Prayer Box.  The kind thoughtful gestures mean a lot.   I am so guilty of taking those little things for granted sometimes.   But I am certainly making an effort to recognize them now, and going forward.  Again, I am so so blessed to be surrounded by such great people.   Some, I've known forever, some only a short time.   But wow, I've had some people placed in my path for a reason.  I know this beyond any shadow of a doubt.    Anyway, the box, I put 2 things in this little box, almost immediately.  Today one of those prayers were answered, I just wanted the Oncotype Test to be a low #.   About 4 weeks ago,  my biopsy sample was sent for an "Oncotype" test.   Yeah, I had no idea what that meant either, but I'm getting an education whether I want it or not.  This test looks at the genes in your cancer sample...

Oh so many decisions to make.  It's hard.    What do you do?  I've been overwhelmed with information, testing, testimonials, statistics.....What do you do?  The doctors don't want to sway you one way or the other.   It's got to be YOUR choice. For me, my options were lumpectomy with radiation, or mastectomy. We are unsure about chemo at this point. My mind was made up for the the most part, prior to getting the genetic testing results.  But that just confirmed it for me.  For me, there is an elevated risk for almost all cancers. Bi-Lateral Mastectomy it is.   I'm opting for reconstruction - which is a future post all on it's own. I had to give up nicotine for the plastic surgeon I wanted to even consider doing the recon, but I'm 3 weeks Nicotine free now.....But I digress. I gave my decision to the surgeon last week.   He agreed.   I talked to my GP about it, he told me it is what he'd recommend to his wife, so that made m...

So deciding to do Genetic testing, was not an easy thing.   Where do you draw the line?   Are some things just better left unknown?   Believe me, I asked myself all of these questions, and more! But at the end of the day, I felt knowledge was power.   Power for me to make a good treatment decision, power for my children and their futures.   Power.  And when you are feeling powerless, you jump for any semblance of power. I was fully expecting the the results to come back in as either BRCA1 or BRCA2 positive. (you can read more about those terms here)  BRCA   But they did not - so sort of good news!   However, there was a mutation called PMS2  (you can read about that here)   PMS2 For me, that also means a hysterectomy in my near future.   And a colonoscopy. While knowledge is power, sometimes it's too much to digest. I can only fight one cancer at a time people!! I feel like I'm losing everything that makes me a woman....