End of the Journey

Yesterday was the final step of the BC reconstruction. I arrived at 4:30 and left at 6:40. The woman who did the tattoos is a big believer in relaxation techniques, and mind control (as in meditation) and inner spirit and peace. The room had a great aroma and was dimly lit. She drew the red circles where my new areola would be mixed the color, prepared the needles and equipment, put on some very relaxing music and got to work. She turned on her bright light and it warmed my face. I barely felt a thing as she filled my skin with pigment. We didn't talk much and I was extremely relaxed. She told me how to care for my tattoos, I paid her and was on my way. This morning the areas are a little goopy from the Vaseline type stuff she gave me to help with the healing. The bandage is still bloody as the area oozes a little. Although it looks like 2 pepperonis are stuck to my breasts I know in a few weeks it will look as natural as it can.

Tattoo!!

Made the appointment for my Areola tattoos. March 9th. I'm sooo excited. Stay tuned.

Feb update

All the pain in my back has gone away, and the pain in my armpit has gone away too. I forget how weak my back is since a muscle is gone and usually over do it. My lifting weight days are pretty much over. So many back muscles are used that we do not realize. Focus on Cardio and legs from now on..It's all good.

So I've been cancer free for the longest now...it will be 2 years in July. I think some people forget that I've had cancer. I've had friends tell me that they want breast augmentation. I want to tell women to be thankful that they still have their God given breasts. I guess unless you've had your breasts cut from your body women will never comprehend the emotional pain that breast cancer survivors go through even years later. Sure we have reconstructed breasts and they look good under a shirt or in a swim suit, but they will never be like the real thing. They're just numb peices of flesh one with an implant and one without. I miss my real breasts. I am alive though and I'll get past the reminiscing and get on with my life. :-). They're only boobs for goodness sake.

Going to call a tattoo place today and see if they can do something over the scar on my back from the lat flap.

January 2012

Happy New Year!!
so blessed to be here for another year! Still waiting on my tats. My health card was declined at the salon for the tatoos, so I have to pay for it out of my pocket and get reimbursed. Don't have $400 laying around after the holidays, so I must wait, but it's ok.

Have an ocologist appt on Feb 2. I've been having some back pain not sure if it's muscle or bone related.
Also pain in my right arm pit...I keep checking for swollen nodes, but can't find any...maybe just pulled a muscle.

EVery ache and pain I get I get scared. Is it back???? I guess that will be the question till I get past 5-7 years NED.

I don't think my brain or body can handle much more chemo..I already feel like I'm 57 instead of 47.

Check back in February!!

I can't believe its been so long. Cat scan showed no evidence of cancer thank god. Currently I'm sitting in a salon about 45 min form home waiting to meet with a woman who will tatoo my aerola. Sounds like fun. Ny nipples are done and they look as good as they can. So great to finally be close to the final process. Life is good. Just have to get the weight off now. Think we will get a family gym membership soon.

Catching up

All healed up from the last surgeon. My PS is really good at what she does!! Can't wait to get the other nipple done and the tattoos.

Cancer has unfortunately took another sweet woman. My mother in law. She was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in April and passed on July 17. The cancer isn't what took her, but it would have eventually. She had a surgery called the Whipple which was very hard on her. I don't think she ever recovered completely from it. She ended up getting pancreatitus and that's what finally took her. She was always there for me and our family when I went through chemo. At times she got on all of our nerves. It was sometimes frustrating having a woman come in and literally take over your house, but she did what needed to be done. She was hard working country woman who loved her Jesus and is now with him.. She will be missed. I wish she could come back and frustrate us again.

I have a pet scan coming up on August 9th. I'm a little nervous because I have some rib pain in my back. I"m not sure if it's a bone thing or a muscle think, but it hurts when I push on it like a bruise, but there is no bruise. Hopefully it's just an injury from painting the kids rooms, yet again.

It's been a great being healthy and enjoying the summer, I haven't had a nice summer in a while. As usual really need to work on the weight.

check back about mid August for the PET scan results.

Nip not nipples

Well I have one nipple. Surgery went well yesterday. I can't take a shower till tomorrow, so I haven't looked at the surgeon's work. I'm only sore in my left arm pit, becuase she made the incision into it. My breasts do not have much feeling, but my arm pits still do.

She ended up doing more work on the left breast then she thought, so she'll do that nipple when I'm healed and the swelling has gone down. She said she can do it in the office.

So one more procedure then the tatoos for the areola. Almost done!!!