Answers and News

Today was my appointment with Dr. Shenk out in Westlake. We discussed the surgery and the plan of attack so to speak. When he called me last Thursday, it was on my cell phone and when you get news like that you have a tendency to mishear what they are telling you. It is alot to take in as you can imagine. When I asked him about doing reconstruction after radiation, he stated I wont be doing radiation if I opt for mastectomy. Ohhhhhhhhhh! Well thats good news, right? He said radiation would be only if I were to opt for lumpectomy. Sure that would be the relatively easy way out. However, I am 38. Imagine living your life always wondering, "What if?", "What was that pain?". I lived that way for 4 years. Always knowing I could get it again.

So mastectomy it is. Get this bitch off. I am sick of dealing with her. Boobs are overrated if you ask me. And they are ticking time bombs. He would like me to have genetic testing so see if I carry the breast cancer gene. If I do, I will have to get my ovaries removed because I am high risk for ovarian cancer. So, once I get this surgery taken care of and I am all healed I will be seeing the genetic counselor for this. I think its important not only for me but for my brother's daughter too. That way when she is old enough, she can get tested.

My surgery will be Wednesday, July 18th. Ironically, my first surgery was on June 18th back in 2008. Weird huh?

I, of course, asked about our family vacation August 11-18th and he didnt see it being a problem. So I will take a few weeks off from work to recover. Go back to work for a week or 2 then go away for a week. FORTUNATELY, I have only used ONE day of vacation thus far.

This Thursday, I will be meeting with my wonderful plastic surgeon, Dr. Soltanian. He did the reconstruction on my right breast. Amazing. I will be meeting with him at 11:45 so I can fortunately just take my lunch break to do that. Then at 4:20 I go and get my damn permanent crown for my root canal from last week. You cant make this shit up!

Anyways, I have decided I will recover at home from my surgery. I will have my DVR, trashy reality tv, Netflix, internet and my kitties. It will be much easier on me. I have had numerous friends offer to help me out with my drains and bandages(which is beyond humbling) and the running joke is Debbie Lamb is in charge of giving me sponge baths. :)

So one month to go and have some fun......if you want to get together pencil me in now! I dont plan on sitting at home the next month as I know what I am facing for recovery. That includes going to see my girl Ms Sarah McLachlan in Toledo June 27th(driving solo!) and going to my friend Jen's wedding on the 30th. I am so happy I can be at these two things right now, you don't even know.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out, sent me cards, flowers, gift cards, etc. It helps me more than you will ever know.


XOXO
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