Today, one year ago, I was told I had breast cancer.
In February of last year, I felt a lump in my breast. After Tyler clinics ran tests but still
didn’t give me any answers, I called my pedi oncologists in tears. He personally recommended me to Dr. L. and
got me in 3 days later for a biopsy.
Within the week, it was confirmed I had cancer – again.
From here Dr. L. had a consult with me and my family. She was surprisingly calm through the whole thing
– even though my family was clearly on edge.
It’s like she already had all the answers and kept trying to reassure me
that everything would – eventually – be ok.
She kept asking me what I wanted and made sure I was on the path that
would work for me. I told her I didn’t
mind the long trips and miles put on the car – as long as she would take me in
and get me through it all.
She then referred me to Dr. S. for chemotherapy and
Herceptin. He is a great doctor too, and
I’m so glad I got to have him watch over my care. I don’t know why he likes me so much, but it
always makes me feel special when I see him.
After the seemingly endless round of chemo and drugs, I was
then referred to Dr. A. for my reconstruction after my mastectomy. I met with him a few times and discussed my
options after surgery. I definitely opted
for reconstruction – somehow I thought it might bring me closer to feeling ‘normal’
again.
In August I had a double mastectomy. Dr. L. came to see me after the surgery and
told me they believe they got it all since the cancer hadn’t spread and none of
my other organs or lymph nodes tested positive for it. I felt such relief and felt like it was a
huge hurdle I just jumped over and cleared.
The next phase would be finishing the Herceptin therapy and rebuilding
the breasts that now resembled something out of a Frankenstein movie.
Dr. A. has taken great care of me during the reconstruction
phase. He has faithfully stuck by my
side even when one complication after another has popped up. He has calmed my frazzled nerves every time I
try to panic or go flat out nuts. He
always flashes me one of his pretty smiles, pats my hand or my shoulder, and
assures me it’ll work out. And I’ll be
damned if I don’t believe it every time.
The ladies up front always greet me and chat with me when I come in like
they have known me for years. I always
feel at home in the office – like I can be myself and they won’t think I’m
crazy.
So here we are a year later.
I’m done with chemo, but have a few more Herceptin therapies to go. Then two more surgeries and I’ll have my
implants. Fighting leukemia took a lot
longer before hitting some sort of finish line, so it almost feels like
something is unfinished now? Can I
officially say I’m done after my implants?
At what point do things go back to normal? At what point can I say I’m done with this
part of my life and can do something else?
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| Happy anniversary/re-birthday to me. |
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