If I had a tree, I’d hug it!
I started Weight Watchers on Saturday, February 23. I went to our local center to get “weighed in”. I don’t stay for meetings, but I like going to be weighed in weekly because I feel like I have someone besides myself to be accountable to. Next, I headed to Wegman’s since they have the largest selection of organic food in my area. It’s only been a few days, but once I have my mind made up, look out! I’ve been trying to cut out sugar and I’ve been eating a ton of “greens”. I’m anxious to go back on Friday or Saturday morning to see how I’m doing. I’m looking forward to the clearance from my plastic surgeon to begin running and lifting weights. I’m interested in yoga, too, since it’s a very granola thing to do! I’m determined to be at my goal weight before my 35th birthday which is on June 4. My body will not be a conducive dwelling place for a cancer recurrence.
Sal and I had a very busy Tuesday morning. We first met with Dr. Peters, my radiation oncologist, in Dunmore. I’m set up for radiation treatment planning on March 6. They’ll give me 3 tiny black dot tattoos on or around my left breast. I only need radiation on the left side. Anyway, the tattooing is done so they’ll know exactly where to focus the radiation beams. After this appointment, we hopped in the car and drove to Philadelphia for a 1:30 appointment with Dr. Steve Rubin, my gynecologic oncologist. I had an exam then we spoke in his office. I asked a lot of questions about having a total hysterectomy versus having just my ovaries removed. Breast cancer normally spreads to the liver, lungs, brain, and bone. I’m not at risk for any gynecologic cancers but that’s not to say that it can’t happen. However, cervical cancer is normally detected with a routine pap smear and uterine cancer usually has symptoms. Dr. Rubin is a great physician. He doesn’t see an added benefit in removing everything even though I’m not opposed to doing it. Like I said before, though, doctors won’t just start removing your organs!
The next few weeks are definitely going to be very busy. I’m scheduled to have an oophorectomy (ovary removal) on Friday, March 15. Sal and I will have to stay overnight from Thursday to Friday since my procedure will be Dr. Rubin’s first procedure of the day. I’ll most likely be starting radiation on Monday, March 18. I’ll receive this daily, Monday through Friday, for 6 weeks. I’ll continue Herceptin every 3 weeks until the end of October.
I’m doing great with my OT exercises. I find that I can move my arms a little easier every day. It’s been so nice being able to wear normal shirts. I, unfortunately, still need to wear comfortable yoga pants or sweatpants because of where my abdominal incision is located. It’s really quite amazing, though, how resilient our bodies are. Everything is healing so nicely. Chase really likes pirates so I’ve tried to have my torso resemble a treasure map with all of the incisions!!!
One more piece of advice before I end with a funny story. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for copies of your medical records, reports, x-rays, scans, etc. It’s your right as a patient. I had to have bloodwork and a chest x-ray as part of my pre-admission testing at Penn yesterday. I asked for a copy of my chest x-ray and the tech tried to discourage me because he was busy. I told him, kindly, that I’d wait because I’d prefer to leave with a copy of the x-ray in hand. Since August, I’ve asked for copies of everything. Sal and I have all of my “cancer stuff” neatly compiled in case I ever need to send something out quickly for another opinion. It’s come in handy, believe me.
Lastly, Sal and I are so pleased with our children’s school. We love the kids, the other parents, the administration, and the teachers. Chase’s pre-school teacher pulled me aside at pick-up this afternoon to share the following story. It went something like this. Keep in mind that Chase is very animated and uses his hands and eyes when he speaks – I have no idea where he gets that from!
Setting: Pre-School Classroom decorated with a lot of green in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day on a cold winter’s day
Chase: Why is there so much green in here? There’s green everywhere!
Mrs. Simkulak: Well, Chase, I like the color green and we’re preparing for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s one of my favorite holidays. I’m Irish (I think Mrs. Simkulak said that she’s Irish. If she is, I like her even more!) What’s your nationality?
Chase: I don’t know!
Mrs. Simkulak: Are you Irish?
Chase: I don’t know!
Mrs. Simkulak: Are you Italian?
Chase: I don’t know!
Mrs. Simkulak: Well, there are a lot of different things that you can be. You can be Polish, German, Greek, Russian……
Chase: That’s it! I’m Russian. I’m Russian because I’m always rushing around from here to there!
Kids are so funny! Have a great night!
“And it doesn’t matter how you get knocked down in life because that’s going to happen. All that matters is you gotta get up.” – Ben Affleck
LIVESTRONG and God Bless!
