Hi Everyone! Happy New Year!
Congratulations for making it through the toughest, longest, coldest month!
I wanted to say hello and update you where I'm at in this roller coaster ...
Although my radiation ended in October, the side effects are just peaking now. It really messes up the scar tissue causing alot of discomfort. It is also causing the first stages of lymphadema, also known as lymphatic obstruction, a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling. Tissues with lymphedema are at risk of infection. When lymph nodes are removed, as 10 of mine were, there is a complex recovery. I'm going to rehab and Physio 5 times a week, and I sit on a pump 3 times a week that helps to get the fluid moving. My lymphadema is treatable at this stage but if it gets to a certain stage, it is not reversible. So my team is working hard to help keep it under control as well as get my arm back in use.
I have 2 more treatments left of a therapy I'm taking called Herceptin. I take it at the chemo clinic every 3 weeks through intravenous. It helps to kill any left over cancer cells, and reduce the chance of the cancer returning. It is very hard on the heart. And although the function of my heart is weakening, it looks like Ill be able to complete the treatment. With rest and time, my heart can repair itself but in the meantime it greatly affects my energy level.
Physically my body is slowly recovering and as far as we know the cancer is gone. YAY! Even though my body handled everything very well, it was a very aggressive chemo and will take some time to leave my body.
Now that I'm slowly recovering physically, there's some emotional and mental recovery to happen. I know I don't need to tell you how overwhelming this has all been for myself and my family. We are just taking some time to catch our breath and enjoy some time together. I'm apart of a wonderful support group and going through some counselling to help handle my fears and concerns for the future and what it will look like. I am very hopeful life will return to a new normal but its very scary understanding now the type of cancer I had and what the future may hold.
I'm working hard to rest, be positive, and recover fully so I can return to work confidently and able to handle all of the physical and emotional challenges and remain healthy. Although I miss it terribly, I'm focussing on myself and my family, which I know you'll agree is what I need to do for now.
I will hopefully have a back to work plan for September depending how the reconstruction aspects go. I started that process Monday with the first fill of the temporary implants which will start stretching the skin to create room for regular implants. Pretty sore the first 48 hrs but feeling less pain today. Being in pain since June's surgery is getting a little tiresome. I was just starting to feel a bit better and now the fills have started the pain all over again. Ill get a fill about every 6 weeks until we're happy with what we see.
I plan to get back to my blog regularly for anyone who is interested in reading...
