Breast Cancer, And The Aftermath.

I haven't posted here in a long while. But today, I figured it was a good time to do so.

I've been sick since Friday. It's now Tuesday. Day by day from Friday until now, it's gradually gotten worse. My lungs ache. My ribs ache from coughing so much. I'm exhausted. Fever. Chills. Sweats. Both cold and hot. I'm dehydrated because all I've done is sleep! And today, I woke up with plugged ears. I actually took a sick day today. I hope tomorrow will be better. I have meds in pill form and 2 inhalers.

To quote my tattoo, "she was not born to break" I'm not broken. But I feel broken. Months of chemotherapy really f**k your immune system up for life. 7 years out, and I still get knocked on my ass from time to time.

Gentle reminder to all ... especially cancer patients ... take care of yourself. Even if you think you're doing a good job ... step it up a notch. I will be! This is brutal.

Much love ... your warrior! X

? *ttylungs *ttyimmunesystem

Please. Check yourself. This is your monthly reminder!!

And get you teens to check themselves too.

Males, you too!!

I found my cancer. And it could very well have saved my life. I encourage you to know your body. And know when something isn't normal. I encourage you to to encourage your teens to know when something is out of the norm. Start knowing younger and keep the checks as a regular part of your life.

Cancer is on the rise. We can't stop it. But hopefully we can slow it.

**kcancer

7 years ago I had my second 1st chemo treatment.

I used to say I would do it all over again just so my family and friends wouldn't have to. I'm not that brave anymore. But I will 100% stand beside anyone who has to deal with this hell. I will share my tips and tricks. But I hope with everything that I have that I never have to start another 1st chemo!

Cheers to going on 8 years clear!

To whoever is currently battling ... you're a rock star. And I love you!! ❤️

5 years ago, today he told me I have breast cancer.

5 years ago, a plan was set in my mind to kick its ass.

I did.

Take every chance.
Drop every fear.

2019 vs. 2022

4 years clean of disease today! Released from Cancer Care a few days ago.

I'm killing this thing called "surviving" 🤪 You're all stuck with me until I'm a senile old lady!

4 years ago today, after 8 rounds of chemotherapy, 100s of needle pokes, scans, medications, biopsies, and appointments, and MANY Cancer scares, I had a life altering, life saving double mastectomy.

I'm still on the right side of the earth, I beat cancer 3 times over and I've got 2 feet on the ground moving forward.

Anniversary dates are hard but I'm surrounded by so much love and laughter through my days that they are pushed to the back of my mind for the most part.

I share my anniversary dates as a part of my healing. And hopefully as a part of some one else's healing. It does get better. It takes time. But it gets better.

This is cancer. This is my story.

**kyoucancer **kcancer

Worth the read. It's a long read. But it's 100%
I have posted it before but it's been a few years.

Read it.

"What's having cancer and going for treatment like?"

It’s like this:
One day, you’re minding your own business, you open the fridge to get some breakfast, and OH MY GOD THERE’S A MOUNTAIN LION IN YOUR FRIDGE.
Wait, what? How? Why is there a mountain lion in your fridge? NO TIME TO EXPLAIN. RUN! THE MOUNTAIN LION WILL KILL YOU! UNLESS YOU FIND SOMETHING EVEN MORE FEROCIOUS TO KILL IT FIRST!
So you take off running, and the mountain lion is right behind you. You know the only thing that can kill a mountain lion is a bear, and the only bear is on top of the mountain, so you better find that bear. You start running up the mountain in hopes of finding the bear. Your friends desperately want to help, but they are powerless against mountain lions, as mountain lions are godless killing machines. But they really want to help, so they’re cheering you on and bringing you paper cups of water and orange slices as you run up the mountain and yelling at the mountain lion - “GET LOST, MOUNTAIN LION, NO ONE LIKES YOU” - and you really appreciate the support, but the mountain lion is still coming.
Also, for some reason, there’s someone in the crowd who’s yelling “that’s not really a mountain lion, it’s a puma” and another person yelling “I read that mountain lions are allergic to kale, have you tried rubbing kale on it?”
As you’re running up the mountain, you see other people fleeing their own mountain lions. Some of the mountain lions seem comparatively wimpy - they’re half grown and only have three legs or whatever, and you think to yourself - why couldn’t I have gotten one of those mountain lions? But then you look over at the people who are fleeing mountain lions the size of a monster truck with huge prehistoric saber fangs, and you feel like an as***le for even thinking that - and besides, who in their right mind would want to fight a mountain lion, even a three-legged one?
Finally, the person closest to you, whose job it is to take care of you - maybe a parent or sibling or best friend or, in my case, my husband - comes barging out of the woods and jumps on the mountain lion, whaling on it and screaming “GODDAMMIT MOUNTAIN LION, STOP TRYING TO EAT MY WIFE,” and the mountain lion punches your husband right in the face. Now your husband (or whatever) is rolling around on the ground clutching his nose, and he’s bought you some time, but you still need to get to the top of the mountain.
Eventually you reach the top, finally, and the bear is there. Waiting. For both of you. You rush right up to the bear, and the bear rushes the mountain lion, but the bear has to go through you to get to the mountain lion, and in doing so, the bear TOTALLY KICKS YOUR ASS, but not before it also punches your husband in the face. And your husband is now staggering around with a black eye and bloody nose, and saying “can I get some help, I’ve been punched in the face by two apex predators and I think my nose is broken,” and all you can say is “I’M KIND OF BUSY IN CASE YOU HADN’T NOTICED I’M FIGHTING A MOUNTAIN LION.”
Then, IF YOU ARE LUCKY, the bear leaps on the mountain lion and they are locked in epic battle until finally the two of them roll off a cliff edge together, and the mountain lion is dead.
Maybe. You’re not sure - it fell off the cliff, but mountain lions are crafty. It could come back at any moment.
And all your friends come running up to you and say “that was amazing! You’re so brave, we’re so proud of you! You didn’t die! That must be a huge relief!”
Meanwhile, you blew out both your knees, you’re having an asthma attack, you twisted your ankle, and also you have been mauled by a bear. And everyone says “boy, you must be excited to walk down the mountain!” And all you can think as you stagger to your feet is “f*ck this mountain, I never wanted to climb it in the first place.”

Know your nodes!

I am still the storm.

4 years ago today was my last chemotherapy treatment. I hope my last one ever in my life!

In a few months I will be 4 years free of cancer. I have had scares. Many, many scares. But I will make it to 4. After that,I will make it to 5.

At 5 years, my recurrence rate goes down and my survival rate goes up. And there will be a party.

**kcancer

I feel I will always have anxiety attacks when these appointment reminders come in the mail. My heart is legit pounding as I type this. Its suddenly harder to breathe. And my eyes are welling up.

Bloodwork. Scan. Follow-up.

I live a pretty good life these days. But I absolutely despise this part of my life. Cancer never really goes away. There is always going to be blood work needed. A scan around the corner. And the dreaded follow-up with results of that scan.

I have had 2 scares since November, 2020. Most of you only knew of 1.
2 more procedures.
2 more scars.

I'm currently listening to Elton John/Toronto Egerton... "I'm still standing! After all this time ... IM STILL STANDING! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

Pretty good timing on that song, YouTube Music!

The fear of scans will hopefully be a thing of the past.
Someday.
Until that day comes, I'll straighten my cape and carry on!

✌&❤ from your favorite cancer fighting superhero!

**kcancer

P.S. Elton John makes things a lot better!

Today is National Cancer Survivor Day.

In 1993 I survived Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
In 2017 I survived Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
In 2017 I also survived another form of Lymphoma.

To me, and all the other warriors ... this day is for us!