Genetic testing

So to this day I have never been tested for the BRCA gene.  My decision to have the bilateral prophylactic mastectomy was based solely on my own history.  A mother who died of breast cancer and my own irregular pathology which put me at a 50-50 risk which was good enough for me.

The findings of lobular carcinoma in situ validated my decision to act quickly and aggressively.  Once I was finished I did not put too much thought into BRCA genes.  I was doing the follow ups needed and figured we would get the girls tested as they got older.

I have now come to realize that along with the facts that I knew, men in my family also have prostate cancer which is also associated with the BRCA mutations.  So, does it matter at this point?  For me personally probably not.  I have already sprinted out ahead of breast cancer and will have yet another pelvic ultrasound in a few months to once again check my ovaries.

It does matter greatly for my beautiful girls.  For me to be able to protect my girls, to be as proactive as possible with their health I need to have as much information as possible!  I reached out to the genetic counselor I met with almost two years ago.  Thankfully she replied pretty quickly to my e-mail and is pulling my file to check on the insurance.  That was always the sticking point for the testing.  This blood work cost well over $3,000 dollars which is just not in the budget.  I will not rant too much about the insurance company since they were fantastic as the surgery bills came in.  My out-of-pocket was minimal!  It is the entire system that is broken.  priorities are out of whack.

I will receive word probably in a few days and like everything else will go from there.  Until I do hear back, all focus stays on the something really important…10 days until Disney!  Mickey_Mouse_Clubhouse_-_Mickey_-_Playhouse_Disney_Canada

 

Go sell your drama somewhere else

dont worry be happySo, you know those people who are just perpetually unhappy? Their role in life is to bring you into their woes.  Victims to everything and everyone.  We all know one or two of them.  I have spent many years walking on egg shells in attempts to avoid fights.  Recently I just don’t care.  I don’t know if it was the mastectomy, or the realization of how close cancer was with the pathology results or maybe it is just the fact that I am to dam old for other people’s drama but I just will not allow myself to be sucked in.  We all have difficulties in life, we all have problems, sickness, bills and plain old obstacles.  Such is life.

How can some be so angry all of the time?

You can choose to live your life how you like.  I can also choose to say enough.  Life is too short.

Baby Head, baby head oh my poor throbbing head

The woes of the average Kindergartener.  We think they have it so easy get on the bus, arrive at school learn and play then come back home.  It seems that in between there are multiple layers of young stress that I am just not fully grasping.  Today, I was told by my 6-year-old that I needed to give her a little break because she had a stressful day at school.  Hmmmm, all 3 hours of it?  I mean, come on now.

Yesterday, as my little cherub got off of the bus in the afternoon, the bus driver said something to her that I did not hear.  What I did hear was “we all have to be nice”.  Uh Oh….if it had been a major issue the driver would have looped me but since she did not I knew it was minor.  As soon as we got into the house I asked Madi what happened that she needs to be nice.  Of course the quick reply was “nothing”.

It did not take long before I had the answer.  Baby head…seems like such a harmless word combo but to 6-year-old bus riders coming home from what I am not told is a very stressful day it is enough to almost cause a real brewhaha. Seems that a little girl kept poking Madison which she did not appreciate.  Instead of the many choices she could have made she explained to me that she “snapped” (her word) and called the girl baby head. The offended little girl did what mine should have and told the bus driver.

I googled “baby head” and the images were a bit disturbing.

We once again covered proper, expected behavior.  We shall see I guess.

Since Christmas I have been under the weather but between ultrasounds, biopsies, a sick hubby and sick kids I have done little more than take a few Tylenol.  By yesterday my head was throbbing, I could barely hear out of my left ear and when I cough I do believe my head might just split open.  I called the doctor and got and appointment for today.  I was not surprised to hear that I had a sinus infection.  I was a little surprised to also have and ear infection but guess it makes sense.  Now armed with a steroid pack and antibiotics I can only hope that tomorrow brings with it a little relief!

It will be midnight in an hour so the official countdown for Disney is 23 days….anticipation!

Walt Disney World Gallery Photo