Tag: Breast

New Family

I am so glad that I started this blog.  Since I was given my “options” (Meeting with the cancer specialist) I have met many strong women.  I am following a woman who was in a very similar situation as myself and is now more than a month out of surgery and doing great!  I am also following women who are fighting cancer, my heart and prayers go out to all of them!  When I was given the options, I was in an office with two doctors and my husband yet I felt like I was alone in a tunnel.  Reading the stories of these wonderful women is helpful to me as I prepare for my own surgery.

Although I am 100% fully at peace with my decision to have the mastectomy, I still feel like some people look at me like I am crazy.  Why cut into a perfectly healthy body?  One thing the blog has made me realize is that I am now part of  a new “family” of sorts.  Like a real family, you do not ask nor do you have a choice to be a part of it one day you are just there.  It is a family of women who are either fighting or are so high risk are doing everything they can to avoid breast cancer.  This family has no racial or religious bias.  It does not look at background or political leanings.

Thank you to all of my new friends for your strength and sharing your stories.

Random thoughts

Sluggish today…it is grey and chilly out after a few days of sunny 80 degree weather. Hard to get going.  Sitting and listening to Megan practice piano before we go to the bus stop.  Beauty and the Beast right now.  She plays so beautifully!  She always wanted to play.  I can remember a tiny Megan about 3 years old asking if she could play piano.  My answer then was sure while wondering where she would come up with something like that.  By age 4 , it continued so we bought an electronic keyboard for her birthday.  She would sit and hit the keys pretending to perform for us.  At 5, she was able to finally get lessons.  We rented a piano after 6 months then purchased it at 1 year.  She played in her first recital last June at 6 years old playing Mozart.  This year she will be playing Fur Elise by Beethoven.  She is just so beautiful in all of her 7-year-old glory playing like someone much more experienced.  Of course a you tube video will be posted just like last year!

I am so tired.  Was up late looking into the different character meals at Disney World.  I also added some links to the sidebar of the page.  The first is the breast cancer risk assessment tool.  It is very easy and quick to answer but extremely important.  The other is from the breast cancer site and claims to offer free mammograms for a simple click.  The advertisers pay the cost.  I figure it is worth the click if indeed it could help someone who otherwise may not be able to have the screening.  Early detection saves lives..period! The last addition is a link that shows the proper way to perform a breast self exam.  This is how I have always found my lumps.  No one knows your girls better than you!

Take control of your own health!

No regrets

I woke up yesterday to the news that there had been a terrible accident in the community.  Three local girls, seniors in the high school were riding together in a car that collided with a truck.  Two of the girls were injured and one killed.  A beautiful 18-year-old girl who should be preparing for her prom and graduation.  Instead, her parents prepare for a funeral.  I did not know this young girl nor do I know her family yet my heart still breaks.

Just another reminder of how fragile life is.  In the blink of an eye it can all be taken away. I can not even imagine the pain those parents feel.  I made sure to hug my girls a little harder last night and to be honest drove just a little slower today. It also helps to reinforce my decision to do everything I can to avoid breast cancer! There are some who think prophylactic mastectomy is just crazy.  I feel that view is…guess it is all in how you look at it.

It is not always cancer or sickness, you could  just be in a car driving home or standing on a corner.  Life is short and unpredictable.  Make sure to hug your kids today, tell your family you love them!