Kicking cancer's ass - day 1523

October 31 - Getting a mammogram can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer by 30 to 40% among women ages 40 to 70. 

I will be the first to say that you should not rely on mammograms alone.  I had my first mammogram at age 38, my second at age 39 and another right before my diagnosis at age 40.  None of them clearly indicated breast cancer, even after I'd found a pretty sizable lump.

However, this routine test has been used for decades to screen for breast cancer, and mammograms have saved lives by detecting cancer that women did not find themselves.  My sister-in-law is one of those.  While you should not rely solely on one specific test, especially if you feel that something is 'off', please get your mammogram every year.  It's an uncomfortable ten minutes that could save your life.  

Today brings us to the end of PINKTOBER.  

For me, every month is breast cancer awareness month.  

Oh, and Happy Halloween from my kiddos!

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1522

October 30 - Only 5-10% of breast cancers occur in women who have a genetic predisposition for it. However, women with the gene mutation run a lifetime risk as high as 4 in 5 of developing the disease. The risk of developing ovarian cancer also rises to 2 in 5.

That's not confusing at all, is it?

Let's break it down.  Basically "they" are saying that only 5-10% of all breast cancers are hereditary.  So 90 out of 100 people who get breast cancer do NOT get it because it was passed down through their family....they get it because of other risk factors or just dumb luck.

However, if you carry a gene mutation (for breast cancer), your risk increases to about 80% (as opposed to the 1 in 8 for people without the gene mutations).  So while the majority of breast cancer incidences are not caused by hereditary gene mutations, being a carrier of one of those gene mutations increases your risk of developing breast cancer.  A lot.

That sucks for my children.  They have a 50-50 chance of being carriers of the same gene mutation as me, and if they are positive, their risk of cancer is MUCH higher than average.  

That's something to think about, be aware of, and take precautions for, but not something we can do anything about right now.  They can't even be tested until they are 18.  So.... we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

In the meantime, speaking of my children.... here's some great advice that's been floating around Facebook (and not just for daughters):

Rules For My Daughter:
1. Don’t knock it ’til you try it.
2. Send Thank You cards for every act of hospitality — except another Thank You card.
3. Travel light through life. Keep only what you need.
4. Put cinnamon in your coffee, and twice as much when you miss me.
5. It’s okay to cry when you’re hurt. It’s also okay to smash things; but, wash your face, clean your mess, and get up off the floor when you’re done. You don’t belong down there.
6. If you’re going to curse, be clever. If you’re going to curse in public, know your audience.
7. Seek out the people and places that resonate with your soul.
8. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
9. 5-second rule. It’s just dirt. There are worse things in a fast food cheeseburger.
10. Happiness is not a permanent state. Wholeness is. Don’t confuse these.
11. If you’re staying more than one night, unpack your bag.
12. Never walk through an alley.
13. Be less sugar, more spice, and only as nice as you’re able to without compromising yourself.
14. Can’t is a cop-out. Don’t want to is perfectly acceptable.
15. Hold your heroes to a high standard. Be your own hero.
16. If you can’t smile with your eyes, don’t smile. Insincerity is nothing to aspire to.
17. Never lie to yourself.
18. Your body, your rules.
19. If you have an opinion, you better know why.
20. Study your curiosities and practice your passions.
21. Ask for what you want.
22. Wish on stars and dandelions, then get to work.
23. Don’t skimp on good sheets.
24. Fall in love often. Particularly with ideas, art, music, literature, food and far-off places.
25. Fall hard and forever in love with nothing but yourself.
26. Say Please, Thank You, and Pardon Me, whenever the situation warrants it.
27. Reserve I’m sorry for when you truly are.
28. Naps are for grown-ups, too.
29. Question everything except your own intuition.
30. You have enough. You are enough.
31. You are amazing! Don't let anyone ever make you feel you are not. If someone does....walk away. You deserve better.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1521

October 29 - Between the years of 2006 to 2012 the overall 5 year survival rate for ALL breast cancer patients is 89.7% according to the SEER database.

Survival rates can be confusing.  Not only do they take into account the varying stages of cancer at diagnosis, but also the grade, the hormone receptor status, and the patient's age at diagnosis.  

To break it down as simply as possible, here's a look at the current 5 year survival rate by stage at diagnosis:

Stage of breast cancer

Stage 0 100%  5 year survival rate

Stage I 100%  5 year survival rate

Stage II Around 93%  5 year survival rate

Stage III Around 72%  5 year survival rate

Stage IV 22%  5 year survival rate

Keep in mind that aside from all of the factors mentioned above, cancer is a very individualized disease.  One person who is diagnosed at Stage III may live much longer than someone diagnosed with Stage I.  And with treatments ever changing and improving, survival rates will continue to improve.

That's good news for me, because I'm not too fond of the 72% Stage III survival rate.  Actually, I'm not overly fond of the 5 year rate theory at all.... because who has a goal of only living five more years?  I was 40 years old when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I'm sorry, but I'm planning to live to be much older than 45!  

With that being said, five years seems to be the magic number.  Even though anyone with cancer has goals beyond five years, meeting that goal is a big deal.  275 more days to go for me!

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1520

October 28

Nobody likes going to the dentist (except my son, who actually looks forward to it!).  But let's face it.... oral health affects more than just your teeth and gums.  

You know the drill:  brush, floss, see your dentist regularly.  

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1519

October 27 - The youngest known survivor of breast cancer is Aleisha Hunter from Ontario, Canada. At only three years old, Aleisha underwent a complete mastectomy in 2010 to treat her juvenile strain of breast cancer.

I'm glad October is almost over.  I'm pretty much done with providing facts about stupid dumb breast cancer.  

With that being said, as awful as having cancer is, I'm overwhelmingly grateful that it was me and not either one of my children that got sick.  I can't imagine watching my child go through what I went through, or worse.  Back in the spring I went to the funeral of a girl who passed away from cancer.  She was a little younger than J.  I didn't know her or her family (my only connection was that her mom was J's teacher the year before).  A lot of my friends knew her though, and of course being a part of my children's school community, I followed her story.  I have to say, that funeral for a girl I never met was one of the most gut-wrenching things I've endured.  

Her older brother was in the high school band, and the band was invited to play "It Is Well" at the service.  Oh.My.God.  That song gets me every single time when the band plays it after football games.  Listening to that amazing band (including my son) performing that beautiful song for a girl taken way too young...... there are no words.

On a lighter note.... know what makes me happy?

This guy.

Everyone knows that children are a product of their environment, and that good parents raise good children.  Hubby and I must be doing a hell of a job, because our son is a fine young man.  He's lazy and a loner and hoards empty water bottles in his room like they are worth something.  He leaves his towel on the floor, doesn't care if he combs his hair and would rather sit home playing xbox than go to a school dance.

But he's polite.  He's clever.  He's incredibly funny.  He's sensitive and kind.  He is his own person and doesn't care what anyone else thinks.  He's scary smart (like.... he has a 3.6 GPA without EVER studying or even doing one page of homework).  There's a lot to be said about a teenager who still hugs his mom, even in the middle of his high school cafeteria.  

He's just a GOOD kid.  

I'm a proud mom.  Most of the time I'm a busy softball mom.

Tonight I was a (freezing) band mom, and I enjoyed every second.

It Is Well.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1518

October 26 - The first operation to use anesthesia was a breast cancer surgery.

I've been under general anesthesia nine times.... seven of those since my cancer diagnosis.  I've never really had much trouble coming out of it, although I do remember being very nauseous after my mastectomy.  Many people have much worse reactions to anesthesia.  My good friend S has to have the nausea patches every time she has surgery or she spends the next 48 hours throwing up - and that's never fun after surgery!

However, there have been studies involving general anesthesia and both the immediate and long-term effects on the brain and the body.  Since August 2013 I have had general anesthesia seven times.  Two of those surgeries were 8-10 hours or longer.  That's a lot of hours to be asleep during surgery.  

With that being said, I'm very thankful for the invention of anesthesia.  

In 1810, the daughter of John and Abigail Adams, Abigail “Nabby” Adams Smith (1765-1813) was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a grueling mastectomy—without anesthesia. 

I'm sure there was some type of drug administered to keep her out of it, but could you imagine??  

No, thank you.  Anesthesiologists are some of my favorite people!

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1517

October 25 - Minimize alcohol intake to control risk. That means one glass of wine, one beer or one hard liquor drink per day. (Drinking seven drinks in one day and none the rest of the week is not OK.)

Ok, this might be a tough rule to follow today.
I went to the doctor this morning.  In my pjs.  Without brushing my hair OR my teeth.
Good thing it wasn't for me....I was just the driver.

Batten down the hatches... I have not one but TWO sick men in my house!  Lord help me.

My son has been dealing with congestion and a sore throat for a few days, but no fever.  He's allergic to everything and always has sinus issues, so I wasn't really that concerned.  Until he woke up today sounding like death warmed over.  

Hubby went to bed feeling ok last night.  I woke up at 4am with him tossing and turning (and moaning)... and none of that was in a good way!

me:  Are you ok?

Hubby:  Noooo. Ugh.

me:  What's wrong?

Hubby:  101.6 fever.  Everything hurts.

me:  Did you take something?

Hubby:  No.  Didn't know what I could take.

Commencing nurse duties immediately!  I doled out meds for his fever and headache and went back to bed.  Got the kids up two hours later, breakfast made, lunches packed, phone calls for sick Hubby not going to work made..... and then I took a look at my son.  I made him take his temp and when it showed a little fever, considering what was going on with his dad and the way he sounded, I figured he'd better stay home, too.

Luckily I got them in to see the doctor this morning, so they've both already had their first doses of antibiotics.  Strep and flu were negative (which shocked me.... I was positive J had strep and Hubby had the flu).  Diagnosis:  bronchitis for the young man, pneumonia for Hubby.  😷

Given that I've had Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus AND breast cancer in the last five years, it's an understatement to say my immune system is slightly compromised.  So the prescription for me is to stay far, far away from the germ guys.  And maybe have an adult beverage or two.  

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1516

October 24 - Lymphedema is a potential side effect of breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy that can appear in some people during the months or even years after treatment ends.

I miss wearing my wedding rings.

Lymphedema is annoying.  It's uncomfortable.  It can be painful.  Mostly it's frustrating.  

Mine isn't severe.  It's limited to my left forearm, wrist and hand.  But that means my rings don't fit.  And that upsets me.  I cried in the hospital when I had to take my rings off long enough for surgery...it does not make me happy that I haven't been able to wear them in months.  MONTHS.  

There is no cure for lymphedema.  Once it shows up, you're stuck with it.  It can be managed and hopefully get better, but it doesn't go away.  Since mine appeared back in June, it has not gotten better.  Despite many, many hours of therapy, stretches, exercises, and wrapping, it's still the same.  Despite thousands of dollars spent on appointments, a lymphedema pump, custom sleeves and gloves, and bandages, it's still the same.  Whether I do my pump therapy every day or not at all, or whether I wear my compression garments or I don't... it's still the same.  Actually my new "custom" sleeve and glove seem to make it worse!  How fun is that?

There is an experimental surgery that involves transplanting lymph nodes, or rerouting the lymph vessels that both my lymphedema therapist and my doctor have mentioned.  I didn't jump all over it because yeah... another surgery?  And the success rate right now is about 40%.  But....

There is a lymphedema institute in Dallas that I may add to my list of places to visit.  

If you had surgery for breast cancer, lymph nodes removed and/or radiation, please please PLEASE take precautions against lymphedema.  I don't know what set mine off, but it took almost 4 years to do it.  Unexpected, and unwanted.  I hope it doesn't happen to you.

                

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1515

October 23 - Women with high breast density were found to have a four- to six-fold increased risk of breast cancer compared with women with lower breast density.

If you've been told you have dense breasts, insist on something other than (or in addition to) mammography.  I wish I had.

I had weird symptoms going on for almost two years before my cancer was found.  Why wasn't it found?  Because it wasn't big enough to feel, and my dense breasts hid it from three different mammograms.  Scary, huh?

I wish I had asked for an ultrasound or MRI, and I wish my doctor had informed me that those were options.  My cancer might have been caught a whole lot earlier than Stage III.

Hindsight.

It doesn't help me, but it can help you.  If you have dense breasts, don't rely on mammograms alone, especially if you feel like something is "off".  Be your own best advocate.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1514

October 22 - Exercise reduces breast cancer risk for women of all body types – even lean women, according to Leslie Bernstein, Ph.D., director of cancer etiology at City of Hope.

As with most other breast cancer "facts", this one aggravates me.  You know why?  One of my KCA friends was incredibly active.  She ran half-marathons.  She taught yoga.  She loved to go horseback riding. 


She passed away today.

Everyone knows exercise is good for you... good for your body, and good for your mind.  But it frustrated me when something like this is listed as a fact, because it makes people think if you exercise you won't get cancer. 

Wrong.

Do what you can to take care of yourself.  Go for a walk, take the stairs, run a marathon.... whatever floats your boat.  But don't think you will get cancer if you don't hit the gym every day. 

RIP Nichole Taylor.  You were one of a kind.
My prayers go out to your beloved Matthew.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1513

October 21 - No matter what happens, whether the cancer never flares up again or whether you die, the important thing is that the days you have had you will have lived.- Gilda Radner

Happy 77th birthday to my dad.  💙💙💙

Three years ago we didn't know if he would ever leave the hospital.  His heart attack and stroke changed his life drastically..... but he makes the most of what he has.  He enjoys his lady's cooking, watches golf on tv and spends a lot of time sitting and walking outside, just enjoying nature.

Tonight the kids and I called him to sing happy birthday, and when we finished, Dad added on (in a singsong voice) "and many moooooorre!"  Ha ha.  I just love that.  Sometimes I look at him or talk to him and all I can see is this new person that the last three+ years have created.  In so many ways my dad is very different than he was.  And yet, inside, he is still Dad, and that shines through.

Whether you spend your days watching squirrels fight over the bird feeder like my dad, or horseback riding along the beach like my friend Nichole, make the most of what you've got.  We get one shot at this thing called life.    

Treat it like the gift it is.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1512

I'm blessed to still be living the life I love.  Having gone through what I've been through the last 1500+ days, I count my blessings all the time.  Life IS amazing.

And then it's awful.  

I don't have an October breast cancer fact today.   I can't do a mundane "about breast cancer" post.

My mind is stunned, my heart is heavy.  

One of my friends.... a KCA buddy who was in the chemo trenches the same time I was in 2013 (and again this past year).... I learned last night that she has almost reached the end of her fight.  I know miracles happen all the time.... but her doctors think she has only days left.  DAYS.

I'm mad.  I'm sad.  I'm so disappointed in modern medicine.  I'm baffled that someone who can run half marathons and teach yoga can be brought down by f****** cancer.  I'm scared, because the farther out all of us get from treatment, the more I'm hearing about my friends and Stage IV incurable cancer.  It SUCKS.

I'm also selfishly dealing with survivor's guilt.  It's a fine line to walk..... enjoying every second and being grateful for what I have, while at the same time being filled with sorrow over my friend not having that chance.

Please pray for Nichole.  Pray for her husband of 25 years.  Pray for her family and friends.  Pray for those of us who met her under horrible circumstances but are blessed by knowing her.  

Life is amazing...because of people like her.

And then it's awful.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1511

October 19 - The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports a higher risk of breast cancer in women who take multivitamins.

Unless you live under a rock and exist on water and seaweed, you probably eat something, drink something, wear something or are exposed to something every day that someone somewhere has discovered causes cancer.

As an obsessive researcher, I know all about just about everything that is considered "dangerous" as far as cancer goes.  Stay out of the sun.  Don't eat processed foods.  Don't heat up plastic in the microwave.  Don't grill foods to "well done".  Don't freeze water bottles.  Avoid parabens in everything.  Don't eat sugar.  Don't smoke.

The list is endless.

I know people who live by these guidelines.... strictly.  I know people who don't follow them at all.

I'm somewhere in between.  I try to make healthy choices, but I also try to live my life.  I did everything right for the first forty years of my life and I ended up with cancer anyway.  I don't smoke.  I rarely drink.  I love fruits and salads.  I drink water or tea.  I buy hair products that are paraben-free.  I wear sunscreen (because face it.... I live in Texas, I can't exactly avoid the sun).  

But if I want a cookie, or a piece of chocolate, I have one.  I eat grilled chicken.  I love bacon.

There's a fine line between overly cautious and overly reckless....and for each person that line is different.  Be smart and find what works for you.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1510

October 18 - The youngest known survivor of breast cancer is Aleisha Hunter from Ontario, Canada. At only three years old, Aleisha underwent a complete mastectomy in 2010 to treat her juvenile strain of breast cancer.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1509

October 17 - Approximately every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and 1 woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes.

The truth hurts.

It's a mystery to me how we (the human race) have made such incredible strides in curing all kinds of diseases and yet the above fact remains true.  Cancer, not just breast cancer, is SO prevalent in the world and sometimes it seems there's no stopping it. 

How can we discover planets and galaxies millions of light years away from Earth, but we can't figure out a way to stop one tiny malignant cell from multiplying?  We can create vehicles that practically drive themselves, build gigantic machines that fly through the sky, invent the incredible online world that ties us all together called the internet.... and yet we have no cure for a disease that kills people every few minutes.  It's mind boggling.

I've been struggling lately.  Not physically, and not because of myself.  I'm fine, I promise.
But some people I know... they are not fine. 

One of my KCA sisters who I see in Vegas every year.... her cancer has returned with a vengeance.  It's migrating from lymph node to lymph node, and now it's in her brain.  She's not much older than me.

Another of my KCA sisters is also dealing with Stage IV breast cancer that seems resistant to every treatment they are throwing at it.  Her first recurrence was in her cheekbone.  What.The.Hell.   Now she has mets (cancer that has spread) throughout her body.  She's tired and weary of the fight, but still forging on.  She's younger than me.

My mom's good friend, a lady who I've known my entire life, is also living with Stage IV cancer that her treatment isn't touching.  This lady lives a healthier and more active lifestyle at 70 years old than most of my friends my age.  And yet cancer is taking over her body.

My good friend Kathryn is in the hospital right now dealing with cellulitis and sepsis.... complications from surviving cancer.  If she hadn't been on the ball and gotten to the hospital as quickly as she did, she would have probably had a very bad outcome.

I hate that so many of my loved ones are suffering because of this horrible disease.  Breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer..... I don't care which one.  They all suck.  And they are all hitting too close to home.

I despise being a "woe is me" person, though.  Despite all of the tragedies in the world, life does indeed go on.  I can pray for those who are hurting.   I can worry about my own future.  And I can grieve for the ones who have no hope.  But then I have to pick myself up and forge ahead.  I have to do my best to keep myself healthy.  I have to enjoy the time I have with my family and friends, doing the things that I enjoy.  And I have to continue to find hope wherever I can.

Yesterday I found it in the parking lot at work.

This isn't a pretty pink ribbon printed on a cup, or ironed onto a shirt.  There is no "save the ta tas" (ugh) message with it.

It was just a piece of wire, laying on the asphalt next to my car.  God's way of sending me a little hope... .a little faith....a little more strength when I needed it.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1508

October 16 - There are a number of misconceptions about what can cause breast cancer. These include, but are not limited to, using deodorants or antiperspirants, wearing underwire bras, having a miscarriage or induced abortion, or bumping/bruising the breast tissue.

Oh... well that explains it.  I've used deodorant since I was old enough to need it.  I always wore underwire bras.  I had two miscarriages.  Wow.  It's all my fault.

Contrary to popular belief, most of what people say or think causes cancer is not true.  

I know overweight, unhealthy people who have breast cancer.  I know super thin, fit, active people who have breast cancer.  I know people who didn't need to wear a bra who have breast cancer.  I know plenty of people (unfortunately) who have had miscarriages... and most of them do not have breast cancer.

Don't believe everything you hear.  There's a difference between educating yourself and living smart.... and living in fear of everything.  

I do think that there are certain things we do, eat, drink, or are exposed to that could possibly increase our risk of breast cancer.  I also think that you could avoid everything that everyone says causes cancer and still end up with breast cancer.  You just never know.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1507

October 15 - Over 2.8 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States today.

Today is a special day, so it deserved an encouraging fact.  It sucks that there are so many cases of breast cancer, but how awesome is it that there are MILLIONS of people alive who have fought this disease?!?!?!?

Sixteen years ago today I married the love of my life. 
Hubby and I have had our share of ups and downs.  We've seen each other through sickness and health, good times and bad, for richer or poorer.  If there is ever a man who truly lives his marriage vows, it's my husband.

Hubby.... you are my rock.  My friend, my confidante, my soul mate.  You make me laugh even when I don't want to.  You are an amazing dad.  You are a genuinely good man.  I'm blessed to have had you by my side every day for the last sixteen years.... and then some.

I love you more today than ever.
Happy Anniversary. 

Today is a special day for two other reasons.  

October 15th was my dear friend Allyson's birthday.  Not a day goes by where I don't think of her.  Her picture hangs on my fridge so her sweet face is one of the first things I see every day.  She left her mark on this world, especially me.  I miss her friendship, her laugh, her silly songs, her inspiring faith.... I miss her.

October 15th is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

This is another "1 in 8" that I didn't really ever want to be a part of.  

Hubby and I have two angel babies in heaven.... babies that we never got to see or hold, never got to name, never even got to hear their heartbeat.  But they were babies we loved and grieved for.

We are so blessed that God chose us to be parents to J and K..... but I'll never forget what might have been.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1506

October 14 - On average, it takes 100 days or more for a cancer cell to double in size. It takes about 10 years for cells to divide to a size that can be actually felt.

This fact is infuriating to me.  Ten years?!?!?!?  I had three clear mammograms in a row, and then not even a year later I felt a lump that turned out to be Stage III cancer.  So exactly how long did I have these stupid unwelcome cells multiplying in my body before I found the lump? 

It's also depressing because we all know "early detection is key".... but what is considered early detection?   If it's already been there for 10 years before you can feel it, how is that catching it early?

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1505

October 13 - Pomegranates may help prevent breast cancer. Chemicals called ellagitannins block the production of estrogen, which can fuel some types of breast cancer.

Do you eat pomegranates? 
I confess I've never even tasted one.  Maybe that needs to change....

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1504

October 12 - Breastfeeding has consistently been shown to reduce breast cancer—the greater the duration, the greater the benefit.

This "fact" frustrates me.  I had two kids, and I nursed both of them for over a year.  Breastfeeding didn't help me out in the cancer department, that's for sure.

I didn't nurse my babies to decrease my breast cancer risk.  I nursed them because I wanted to do what I thought was best for them.  If this added "benefit" helps other nursing mothers avoid or delay getting cancer, all I can say is I'm glad for them (and a tad bit jealous).

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1503

October 11 - One in 40 women of Ashkenazi (French, German, and East European) Jewish descent carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer) gene, which is significantly higher than in the general population where only 1 in 500 to 800 people carry the gene.

I know a lot about breast cancer, but I didn't know this.  I find it very interesting, because I'm of German/Eastern European descent, and I carry the BRCA2 gene.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1502

October 10 - 8 out of 10 breast lumps are benign. 
Feeling a lump in your breast can be a terrifying experience, but according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, most are not cancerous. Most breast lumps are cysts (fluid-filled sacs within your breast), benign tumors such as fibroadenomas, mastitis (breast inflammation), blood clots from trauma, scar tissue, or simply nodules of dense breast tissue, which are not typically linked to cancer.

(I was not thrilled when I saw this pic on Facebook the other day, but it seemed to fit with today's fact, so there you have it.)

Finding a lump is scary.  Believe me, I know.  I was on vacation in New York when I found mine.  Thousands of miles away from home, away from my husband, away from my doctors.... away from any answers.  Even before that..... years before that..... I had signs.  Swelling in my lymph node areas led me to my first mammogram at age 37.  I was called back for a closer look after that first one.  You want to talk about being afraid!  I wish I had insisted on more imaging instead of accepting a "You have dense breasts but everything looks good" report.  My next mammogram was clear, as was the next.  Then out of nowhere I felt a lump, and the rest is history.

Don't let fear keep you from getting checked.  I did.... for six months.  I waited and procrastinated.  Hoping it would go away.  Afraid of the answer.  Then when I had the mammogram and the doctor didn't find anything, I was so relieved!  (Obviously now we know it was a false sense of relief.... but I'm an unusual case.)  Once I felt the lump, I immediately asked Hubby to get an appointment for me as soon as I got back from my trip.  No more procrastination.  In my heart I knew it was cancer, and I wanted to deal with it ASAP.

It's difficult to keep our minds from "going there" when there is something out of the ordinary.  Facts are facts, though, and MOST breast lumps aren't going to be breast cancer.  Don't stress about it for weeks or months (or years) because you're afraid of the answer.  Be proactive and find out what you're dealing with.  That's way better than not knowing, I guarantee it.

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1501

October 9 - The left breast is statistically more prone to developing cancer than the right breast. Scientists are unsure why.

My cancer was on the left side....how unoriginal.  😁

Kicking cancer's ass - day 1500

This is day 1500!

One thousand five hundred days.  

Thirty-six thousand hours.  

Roughly two million, one hundred sixty thousand minutes that I've been fighting cancer.  

I became a cancer survivor on d-day, which was August 1, 2013. 
However, I started my daily ass-kicking blog on August 28th, which was my very first chemo treatment.  Since then, every single day, I have been doing something, enduring something, facing something to shrink cancer, remove cancer or prevent cancer.  We brought out the big guns first.... eight rounds of super harsh chemo.  (You know it's bad when they have to wear gloves to administer it!)  Then surgery.  Then radiation.  Then more surgery.  Now at least ten years of taking an estrogen-suppressing medicine daily... a medicine that gives me hot flashes, added thirty pounds, makes my restless legs worse and makes all of my joints hurt.

October 8 - The warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women.

Everyone knows the drill.  Get your mammograms.  Do your self checks.  Investigate any lumps.

But what else?  These are important to know, because breast cancer doesn't always announce itself with a lump that you'll feel.  I had swelling in my lymph node areas (under my collarbone and arm) for over a year, and some dimpling in the skin of my breast before I ever felt a lump.  One of my good friends is a survivor of inflammatory breast cancer, which presents itself as a rash.  

 

 

 

Please know your body.  If something doesn't feel right, look right or seem right, get checked.  It's better to be an alarmist and have it turn out to be nothing.  Be your own advocate.  Trust me, you would much rather worry for nothing than wait and have your worst fears come true.