The race started on Jan 6, 2014 and it ended on Feb 9, 2015. From the first call of my doctor telling me I was BRCA2 positive with an 87% chance of getting breast cancer and a 55% chance of getting ovarian cancer to "I don't have to see you for a year." It's been a roller coaster ride, and I'm glad it's over. 2014 was tough, but God made me tougher and for that I'm grateful. I wouldn't change one moment of my journey because I'm now in a better place of understanding to help others. So, whatever God has in store for me, I know that He has prepared me for the road ahead.
I saw my Plastic Surgeon last week and he released me for good. I saw my Breast Specialist yesterday and she said I don't have to come back for a year. Wonderful news! I still have to rub lotion on my scars twice a day until the inner stitches are gone which could take another 3 months, and I have to work on getting my implants to shift more towards the middle ... but overall, things are good! I'll have follow up MRI's every 10 years, and I still have to do breast self exams to watch for any abnormality since my chance of getting breast cancer will never be 0%, but it is significantly lower. Like less than 8%. Praise the Lord!
The only negatives that I've dealt with from the full hysterectomy are break outs on my back (which aren't nearly as bad now as they were in the beginning) and I'm freezing most of the time due to hormone changes. I haven't lost my mind so I'd call that a win!
The #1 question that people ask me is ... "Do you love your new boobs?" My answer is that we have a love/hate relationship. I didn't want them in the first place so it definitely took some adjusting, not to mention my route to get them wasn't a lot of fun. I'm getting used to them, but I'm not at the "loving them" stage yet. They are still numb and they could stay that way for life, or the feeling could come back in 5-10 years per my doctor. I would love for it to come back sooner than later, but I'll be fine either way.
My parents got me a massage for my birthday in December and I finally took the time to go last week. I was hesitant because I wasn't sure how I would feel laying on my chest for that long. When I mentioned my concern to the tech, she came back with this chest pillow that went under the bottom sheet of the bed. Pure awesomeness! Good old booby cutouts in a pillow. Who knew?!
Here are some pics of my Breast Specialists office. Every exam room is decorated this way and it's so inviting. I love the lighting!
And, here I am ... in my last blue cape of this journey! God is good! All the time!
Number of Doctor visits: Approx 40
Number of major surgeries: 3
BRCA Testing, Mammogram, Ovary Ultrasound, Breast MRI, Hysterectomy with Ovary Removal, Double Mastectomy with First and Second Stage Breast Reconstruction: Approx $120,000
Knowing I'll never get breast or ovarian cancer: PRICELESS
Thank you for taking this journey with me. Thank you for the prayers, meals, cards, encouragement, support, and love. My strength came from each of you, and my prayer is that God returns the favor to you like the lyrics of one of my favorite songs (More Than You'll Ever Know by Watermark)...
"You have carried me
You have taken up on a burden that wasn't your own
And may the blessing return to you
A hundredfold"
1 Corinthians 9:24 - "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."
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