One day I was walking down the stairs to the basement to do the laundry when I could feel a heaviness in my left breast. First I didn't think anything about it. This feeling of heaviness continued for about two weeks. One day I was watching Dr. Oz and he was talking about breast cancer. I thought to myself that I haven't had a mammogram in five years. I also remembered that my aunt on my mother's side and my grandmother were both breast cancer survivors. This prompted me to make and appointment to get a mammogram done.
I went in for my mammogram and they called me to speak to the doctor. They then informed me that they saw a mass in my left breast. My husband was there beside me and I began to cry. They told me that they wanted to do a biopsy right away. Everything was a blur for the next week or so just waiting. I was made an appointment to see a surgeon and talk about getting a lumpectomy. I was very scared but remembered that I come from a family of survivors.
I was scheduled a month later to get the lump removed. The lumpectomy went great and they got it all out. After the surgery I was informed by the doctor that the lump had doubled in size in just a month. He said that I was very lucky that they had found it when they did or it would have spread.
How I begin my 25 sessions of radiation therapy. Every day for 25 days my husband accompanied me to my therapy sessions. I wasn't afraid at first, then I thought about all the radiation that my body was getting. Every day that I went I would see men and women in the waiting area along with me having to get chemo therapy. I thought about how lucky I was that I did not have to go through that. It was day 25 and 3 days after my 50th birthday that I got to ring the bell. My journey was not over yet. I had a monthly appointment to see an oncologist. This meant blood test and screenings every month and 5 years of taking hormone blockers. The tatoos markers from the radiation and the scar from the lumpectomy are a constant reminder of surviving this journey.
In the mean time I had gone to see the ON/GYN because my periods every month were very heavy. I could go through a box of tampons in a day, that's how bad it was. I had also gone to get an ultra sound on my uterus. That is when they had found a ovarian cyst the size of a golf ball. They had also found multiple fibroid tumors and my uterus was swollen. Here we go again I thought to myself. My doctor had advised me to get a hysterectomy. I was 50 years old and not planning on having anymore children I made an appointment to get the procedure done just 3 months after my last radiation session. After getting the hysterectomy done the nightmare began. I went into menopause mode. My poor family having to deal with me having PMS 24/7. i called my doctor and they gave me a subscription to help with my moods.
It's been almost 5 years since this journey began. I am still cancer free and taking my meds.
Please make sure that you get your mammogram done, especially if you have a history of breast cancer in your family. We all hate going to see the gynecologist, but it may prevent you from going through what I had to.
Experience the Snuggle Scent Boosters in Lavender Joy. The concentrated scent packs give your laundry a boost of long lasting fragrance. I love the scent of lavender, it is very relaxing. The fragrance on my bed sheets help me relax at night.
Just toss it into your wash and enjoy the aroma of lavender joy.
I received a free product from Snuggle Bear Den to do this review.
We saw this huge Pelican.
Someone threw him a piece of squid that he did not like.
This is one of favorite places in Southern California.
Here is the sunset.
