Interesting Articles

http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/cancer-articles/breast-cancer/two-fruits-that-could-kill-cancer

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/25/17-year-old-programs-artificial-brain-to-diagnose-breast-cancer/

Post Surgery and Pathology Results

Okay I'll tell you my pathology results first since that is the most exciting.  After looking at my breast and lymph nodes the doctors couldn't find any CANCER CELLS!  That means that the chemotherapy knocked out all of the cancer cells or for you medical nerds out there Dr. Lilly called it a complete pathological response.  Joe and I were so happy to get this news.  Actually, Dr. Lilly left a voicemail on my phone and when I heard the news I started to cry.  Joe thought that it was bad news and I couldn't stop crying so I just handed him the phone to listen to the voicemail.  We fell so blessed.  I know that so many other women are not so lucky.

I went to Dublin Methodist for my surgery.  That hospital is so nice.  Big rooms, two tvs, one computer to check e-mail or watch netflix, quiet whenever I wanted it, a bed for Joe to stay with me at night, great nursing and room service 24 hours a day.  Oh and let's not forget all of the great pain medicine every 3 hours.  What else could you want!  I was on the same floor at labor and delivery and they played a nice soft song every time a baby was born.  If I didn't want to hear the music I shut the door.  It was great.

So now I'm home recovering from my mastectomy.  It has been hard at times but I remain very optimistic about my recovery from surgery.  I have been busy doing my physical therapy.  It is not easy but I have seen some results and it encourages me to keep going.

I'm so grateful to all of the people who have helped me.  My mom took a whole week off of work and right now my kids are at my sister's house in Virginia so I can relax and recover.  Other people have sent cards, flowers and food.  Thank you for your support.  I am happy and ready for radiation to begin. 

Countdown

We just returned from a great vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  It was so fun to sit on the beach and watch the kids play.  We had fun visiting Kitty Hawk and going out to eat.  Joe and I took naps every afternoon while the kids watched TV or played video games.  It was heaven. 

Sadly now I'm back to reality.  I'll have my mastectomy on Friday the 13th.  My cousin Sarah's birthday is on July 13th and she insists that her birthday negates any connotation that Friday the 13th may be a day of bad luck.  I'm hoping she is right.

So this week I am preparing for surgery.  I'm lucky that I have family around to help out with the kids.  They will be well taken care of.  My friend who just had a mastectomy is taking me to Hope's Boutique to shop for a mastectomy bra and prosthesis since I'm not having any reconstruction done until 2013.

I have such mixed feelings about this surgery.  I have wanted to have this surgery since day one.  I want this cancer out of my body.  On the other hand I have felt so much anxiety about having a disfigured body.  I know things can be worse but it's still hard to deal with.  I'm hoping that I will adapt to this new phase of cancer just like I adapted to losing my hair.  It was hard at first but eventually I got used to it. 

Anyway, that is about all of the time I have this week to dedicate to my blog.  These next few days are going to fly by.