Bilateral Masectomy Here I Come

Written February 6th

I am obviously devestated and upset by this new revelation, I was more distraught yesterday. I had some big decisions to make. My left breast has to come off regardless but I also have the decision to keep my right one or have the two removed. After much careful consideration I have decided on bilateral masectomy. I would rather never have another chance of a tumor popping up, having a mammogram every 6-12 months for the rest of life and the constant worry about recurrance is too high a price to pay. I will get a reconstruction and implants to match my current size after I finish all my treatments so in about 6 months.

My masectomy is scheduled for Valentines Day; February 14th, 2011. What a day for it, I thought I might be able to have some flowers, chocolates and maybe a present but instead I will be in surgery and recovery.  I should be in hospital for 2 nights according to my surgeon.

Two New Tumours :(

Written February 2nd.

Well last week I had a biopsy for two new lumps I found. I never posted because I was clinging to the hope they were benign. Well unfortunately they are not. I have two new tumours that have grown while on chemotherapy. They are very small only 5mm in diameter each. I am very lucky I am still doing breast exams even while on chemotherapy so they think I have caught it very early which is always a good sign.

So I have what is classed as a Local Recurrence which is not the same as the cancer spreading to the rest of my body and can still be cured so long as that while this was growing the cancer has not spread anywhere else. I am booked in to have a CT scan and another bone scan to make sure it has not metastasized to anywhere else in my body.

Now my decision needs to be made on whether or not I want a bilateral (both sides) mastectomy or just a left mastectomy. I have one week to decide, then I meet with my surgeon to sign the necessary paperwork. This is going to be one tough decision.

My mastectomy is scheduled for February 14th, 2011. This is actually quite funny and kind of like de ja vous, considering I had a dream the night before my biopsy that it came back as cancer and I had to have a mastectomy on Valentines Day and I wrote a book about my experience and somehow worked Valentines into the title, haha. Maybe I am a little psychic, lol.

Excercise Physiologist is a good fit.

I typed this post on January 31st, but never posted it. Can you tell I am catching up since neglecting my poor blog

Well today I went and met with my exercise physiologist and she was great. We had a chat about my goals, and dietary needs. I also had a fitness test which I aced :) She said she will need to changer her program because my results completely screwed her average for her chemo patients and I will need a whole different program!

So the plan is for me to see a dietitian and get my diet into check without restricting calories (a big no no while on chemo) and then to get an exercise program and see her once a week for the beginning for the first month. She will give me at at home exercise plan so I can follow the program from home and still see results. Then I will have another 10 weeks of training (once a fortnight) and by then I will nearly be over all this cancer crap so I can get on with life! I will keep you posted on how it all goes!

Reached The Halfway Point

This post was typed on January 27th...I just never had a chance to post :)

Well everyone I have had my 3rd Chemo and I am halfway through!! I am so happy to finally reach the halfway mark, I feel like I can see light at the end of the tunnel. It has been a long time coming and it finally feels like I can get through this. After I finish chemo I just need to do 6 weeks of radiation and I am finished.

The only thing I am struggling with is an approved exercise regime.  I know they say to exercise I just don't know when its overdoing it so yesterday I got a referral to an exercise physiologist who specializes with chemo patients. I am looking forward to seeing what she recommends. I got referred by the lovely ladies at the cancer council.

 I also bought a bicycle and a kiddie trailer so I can ride with my boys for a bit of exercise on my two good weeks. Chemo only really seems to knock me about for a week and then I have 2 good, albeit tired weeks. I am hoping between Pilate's and bike riding I can get rid of the 5kg I have put on in the 3 and a bit months since diagnosis. Two of my main drugs Taxotere and Zoladex have the primary symptom of weight gain and water retention so between that and some naughty snacking its all working against me. Hopefully I can overcome it all and kick some of the weight to the curb. Fingers crossed.

Well wish me luck for my last 3 chemo's and kicking this weight gain into submission!