Tag: Breast cancer

7 hours away

So this will be my last post for a few days.  Frank says he will bring my laptop to the hospital if I want so we will see how that goes.  I should probably be sleeping since I have to be there so early but I feel like I need to stay up and drink another glass of water.  Amazing how thirsty you become when told you can’t have anything after midnight..nothing..nada!  Not even a tic tac.  Just the thought makes my mouth dry :-).

I do need to vent for a second…went to a sports store yesterday and a young boy behind the counter had on like 10 of those stupid rubber bracelets.  Every cause you could think of including a pink one for breast cancer awareness and a “save the boobies” one.  So, with all of the different causes on his young wrist, do I feel that he is a true supporter of these causes or are the bracelets cool?  Especially the save the boobies one..which I hope I do not offend anyone, but I find that one annoying and almost offensive.  I say F— the boobies save a life.  The boobies can be replaced.

Maybe I am a little cranky…still pretty calm though!  7 hours away…

Worry

SO as the time draws closer, my thoughts have been increasingly drifting to my daughters.  Not the same worries about them dealing with me.  These concerns are bigger and more concerning to me.  See I am high risk due to my mothers cancer and my own pathology.  I was never tested for the BRCA gene since it really did not matter to my own risk factor. A positive test maybe would have put me closer to 80% or so… 50-50 was enough for me.

I am half of the plot for my girls.  I honestly do not remember if I ever mentioned that I never met my mother in law.  She passed when my husband was in College.  She also had breast cancer.  So I place myself back in the office and my meeting with the Genetic Counselor but the patients are now my own babies. Two grandmothers with breast cancer, one diagnosed under age 50.  Mother…hmmm, how do I fit? No actual cancer but abnormal cells…. Mental note to make sure the girls have a very clear understanding of exactly why I am having this surgery.

I guess the best thing to do right now is get through the surgery.  During my followup visits I think I will have to run my concern by some folks.

I will do whatever is needed.

Somewhat overwhelmed

So the clock is spinning at record speeds now it seems.  I can not believe we are just a little over three weeks out of the mastectomy.  The march forward continues.  I had my blood work done yesterday and was rather impressed with the efficiency of the process.  I usually go to a labcorb or Quest for blood work but they preferred I went right to a Cooper center so they could access the results directly.  I was there for less than 15 minutes from check in til walking out the door.  Almost a pleasure really, (as much as having a pointy item stuck into your arm can be of course) :-). I have had to sit for well over an hour many times…nice to have something move so quickly!

I am a bit overwhelmed. We have received many offers to help out during my recovery for which I am so grateful! So many of the offers are so sincere, I mean we all know how it is right?  You are standing there and the conversation comes up about someone cutting off part of their body and no one is sure what to say so the offers to help come pouring out. We have all been there ugh..right? Alright, maybe not exactly  that situation but I think we all know what I mean.

We do not have parents who are usually the ones who come running. Frank and I are used to facing things for the most part alone and head on and do not ask for help well.  We also do not quite know what to do with help that is offered sometimes. I think we  may be underestimating the degree of assistance we may need.  I believe that after all of the different biopsies we both expect hope that I will be up and around very quickly.

To all of my friends I thank you and appreciate the offers!  We just might need you all!