Next appointment...gynecologist...

Now that the worst of my breast cancer experience is behind me, I do still have some mountains to climb. Yes, chemotherapy is completed and so is my first mastectomy and radiation. I still have a lot of healing to go through followed by another mastectomy, breast reconstruction on both sides and a hysterectomy (ovaries and fallopian tubes, however I am going to opt to have my uterus removed if allowed). I met with my gynecologist to discuss what the procedure would entail and what my options are. She reported to me that removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes is a day procedure (meaning again, I would be leaving the hospital the same day I check in - crazy) and it is a very simple procedure. A small incision (about a centimetre in length) would be made just above my belly button and two small incisions (half a centimetre) would be made about three to four inches below my belly button - one on my left side and one on my right side. My ovaries and tube would be removed through these incisions. I asked my gynecologist if having a full hysterectomy was an option that I could explore. She told me that there were two ways this could happen. If my uterus had 'dropped' (become weaker and looser), than I could do a vaginal hysterectomy (everything would be pulled out there) or if my uterus hasn't 'dropped', I would have about a five to six inch incision made along my bikini line and have everything removed that way. An exam would be done to determine which type of complete hysterectomy I can proceed with. Long story short, I will be having a complete vaginal hysterectomy early into 2016.

An interesting fact that my gynecologist told me is that by walking every day and remaining fairly fit, I can decrease my chance of cancer reoccurring by 60%. Needless to say, I will continue to walk daily for the rest of my life!

Definitely helps to keep cool this summer...

My hair is really growing back now. I would say that it is close to, if not an inch long now. I never wear my wig anymore and don't wear hats now unless I feel like it. It feel so soft and it is growing back a colour that is very close to my natural colour. I'm not sure yet if it will be straight or curly. Not one grey hair has appeared on my head (before or after chemo). I'm going for my second hair cut tomorrow - just a trim around the edges but it feels so awesome to walk into a salon again. It's a cool pixie look now. I've had a number of people tell me that it looks good on me, and that it suits me. Some have even encouraged me to keep my hair this way. I have to say that I would be tempted to do that except every time I look in a mirror, I still see a bald head at first glance. I realize I have a decent amount of hair back but I can still see that shape of my head. It is still a constant reminder of what I went through and how far I still have to go. I am really looking forward to having enough hair grown back to put it in a ponytail again. Funny thing, when I asked my son when he felt it would be okay for me to go without a wig or hat, he said to me, "Mommy, you know when you do this with your hair (using his fingers to sweep it back from my face)?' I wasn't sure where he was going with this but I replied that yes, I knew what he meant. He then said, "And then you put it in that 'pony' thing?" I immediately replied, "Yes, I know what you mean and no, I'm not waiting that long." I then explained to him that we were going to a function with all of my friends and he could see for himself that they weren't going to laugh at me, or think I'm a man (his biggest fear). When my son saw that everyone accepted me as I was and didn't make me (or him) feel uncomfortable, he's been cool with my short hair ever since. Even when we are around his friends or around people that we don't know, he's totally cool with my hair now. Speaking of, it's not so bad having short hair for the summer. It is so much cooler than I have ever known. Can't wait for it to grow back though! Can't wait...

Radiation completed...check...

Finally, the worst of the worst is over!!! My last radiation was yesterday. I made it through all twenty-five bouts of radiation. It wasn't too bad and my skin was handling it fairly well until appointment number twenty-three. From then until the end, it turned my skin painfully red. It is itchy, and peeling and my skin is swollen. I have a patch of skin that is about a three inch triangle right on my breast bone where the skin is the thinnest that is extremely painful and almost purple in colour. I am putting cream, cortizone and aloe on it like it's going out of style. Anything that rubs against the skin there, irritates it. That's okay though. I feel as though I am finished the worst part. The best is yet to come...

Almost done radiation...

Only five more to go! My chest is looking quite burned now and the skin is very bumpy and itchy. I can't wait for this to be completed. You can clearly see where they are radiating my skin.  A very clear diamond has formed on my chest that is red, particularly right in the middle of my chest where the skin is very thin and the bones are close to the surface. That part of my skin is almost purple. Nevertheless, it's almost finished and I can begin to heal my skin...