My last chemo treatment is on Wednesday, and I am looking forward to being done with this stage of cancer treatment. During my last treatment with taxotere, I again experienced symptoms of anaphylactic shock, pretty much as soon as it hit my veins. The oncologist decided the hypersensitivity was too severe to continue with the same drug, so it was on to the next. The next is adriamycin, nicknamed (I kid you not) the "red devil". It's literally red, and so toxic they don't want to hang it, but push it from syringes into the port tubing, while wearing extensive PPE (disposable gown and gloves). There are extra valves to keep it from leaking and literally eating away your skin. On the plus side, that should mean it's extra toxic to cancer cells. On the minus side, the side effects sucked way more than for taxotere. For all you have done AC (oh, when that just meant air conditioning!), you're tough as nails. So. One more of those, then a couple bad days, and a few medium days, and I'm through to the other side. I have some plans to make this easier than last time though; we shall see how they pan out.
On the super plus side, Will and I have escaped to the beach for a week. I'm glad we could as the rest, fresh air, waves, sand, sun and time together are a balm to the body and soul. I am feeling good besides some fatigue and drinking water like crazy to stave off the dehydration. Yay :-)
Surgery has been scheduled for June 13th. At this point I'm going for the bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction. The idea of multiple surgeries over the years, plus the extended recovery time and increased (albeit slightly) risk of infection precludes reconstruction for me. I "have" to get the one breast removed due to extensive non invasive, abnormal cell growth on top of the invasive (cancerous) tumor; a lumpectomy won't cut it. The other, well there are lots of reasons from symmetry to never wanting to go through this again. I understand it does not change my survival rate, but it does decrease the chance that I will get cancer in the other breast, even if it just decreases from the risk the general population runs (about 1 in 8). I don't want to have to do this again. Chemo kinda sucks. And having two surgeries is riskier than one. Anyways, I could change my mind, but it's unlikely. More on the benefits of no boobs later... ;-)
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| It wasn't this calm most of the week, but it was this clear. Gorgeous. |
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| Headed to the Hollywood, FL boardwalk. |
Comments
1. No requirement for a sports bra. That's exciting.
2. Strappy shirts and dresses.
3. Don't have to wear a bra. That should be number one....
4.....
5. Incentive to keep your abs tight
6. You can cannonball into a pool without your boobs hitting you in the face
7. Naked jumping jacks are suddenly possible
8. When you drop food off your fork it will actually hit the napkin in your lap instead of the front of your shirt
9. No need to worry about gravity pulling your nipples to your belly button
10. Not sure what it feels like to bend over and touch your toes with boobs but it seems like that gets a whole lot more comfortable without "the girls" reaching down too
11. Riding a horse doesn't require 2 sports bras
12. More compliments on your eyes as people aren't staring at cleavage
I'll let you know as I come up with more :)