Yesterday Jamey and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniverary. I can't believe we've been married that long. It feels like 5 years maybe! Time does fly!
So here are my updates...
I went to see Dr. Bussey, the breast surgeon. She examined me, said everything looks great and then released me. She doesn't need to see me anymore unless I have an issue. So happy to be released by her!
I also had my appointment with Dr. Cloven. She is an oncology gynecologist. She specializes in cancer of the girly parts, for lack of better words :)
Let me first say, I do NOT have cancer of the girly parts but since my estrogen level is up, I went to talk to her about a hysterectomy. She did an exam and said everything felt good. She is sending me for an ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus just to see. She isn't convinced that a complete hysterectomy is the way to go unless I have any other underlying issues other than the estrogen level. Plus she said insurance might not pay for it.
So this brings the debate... since when did the insurance company become CEO of my body? SO irritating!
So after the extra tests, Jamey and I have a decision to make. I would love to go ahead and get rid of any extra girly parts that I, number one, am done using (no more kids) and number two, is just somewhere else for the cancer to MAYBE spread.
There are no studies out there that show one way or the other, that if I remove my ovaries and uterus, that I won't get cancer again. Or if I leave them in I will or won't get cancer... confusing huh?
So until then, I'm living life!
Love to all!
Christy
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tuesday October 4, 2011
Again, it has been awhile since I have updated my blog. And again, I'm sorry. Thankfully, I'm just busy living life! :-)
I have had several doctors appointments so here is my update.
Two days after my 36th birthday, I got my areola's tattooed. Even though I don't have any feeling there, it hurt. She numbed me in case I had feeling and when she did, she must have hit a nerve because about 2 hours after my appointment I started having some pain on the bottom side of my left implant. It went away by the next day and everything was fine.
Jamey went with me to that appointment because we had to pick size and color. What an adventure. Seeing how I haven't seen a real nipple/boob/areola in over a year, it was comical. Overall, I think Jamey and I chose wisely and I'm happy with the outcome.
On my actual birthday, my breast cancer survivor girlfriend Melonie (otherwise known as my Partner In Crime) and I went and got breast cancer ribbon tattoos. Our husbands were with us, but they declined any pink ribbon tattoos... Can't imagine why?
My tattoo is on the inside of my left wrist and Melonie's is on her left shoulder blade. I have wanted a tattoo there for awhile but actually going and getting the tattoo was spur of the moment.
Jamey had been in Nashville all that week for a school and he was driving home the day of my birthday but wouldn't be home until around 6pm. Well I woke up that morning SO depressed. I had such bad survivor's guilt (don't know what else to call it). Here I was, on my 36th birthday, feeling great and loving life but I couldn't quit crying. So naturally Melonie took me out for drinks to cheer me up and thus the tattoo idea was born (my Mom is so proud :)
Anyway, but to my nipples... hahaha
I had my follow up appointment with my plastic surgeon last week. He said everything healed good and looks good. Took more pictures and said I am now to see him every 3 months instead of every month. I asked for copies of ALL my pictures and he said he would send them to me. I'm not going to have them printed and stick them in a photo album or anything, but I think I would like having them. Seeing my journey and all.
Also since my last update, I had another 3 month appointment with Dr. Nugent, my oncologist. Turns out my estrogen level went from 17 three months ago to 308 this month. Not good. I'm on an estrogen blocker since my cancer was hormone positive. I asked about getting a complete hysterectomy so now I have an appointment with an obstestrician oncologist at Tx Oncology next week. If I'm gonna have to have a hysterectomy at 40 (after 5 years on Tamoxifen) then why not have it now? I do NOT want to give the cancer somewhere else to go...
Also next week is my (hopefully) last appointment with Dr. Bussey. She is the breast surgeon that specializes in diseases of the breast. She wanted to see me after all my reconstruction.
So, that was alot to update you on but I'll update again after next week's appointments.
Love to all!
Christy
I have had several doctors appointments so here is my update.
Two days after my 36th birthday, I got my areola's tattooed. Even though I don't have any feeling there, it hurt. She numbed me in case I had feeling and when she did, she must have hit a nerve because about 2 hours after my appointment I started having some pain on the bottom side of my left implant. It went away by the next day and everything was fine.
Jamey went with me to that appointment because we had to pick size and color. What an adventure. Seeing how I haven't seen a real nipple/boob/areola in over a year, it was comical. Overall, I think Jamey and I chose wisely and I'm happy with the outcome.
On my actual birthday, my breast cancer survivor girlfriend Melonie (otherwise known as my Partner In Crime) and I went and got breast cancer ribbon tattoos. Our husbands were with us, but they declined any pink ribbon tattoos... Can't imagine why?
My tattoo is on the inside of my left wrist and Melonie's is on her left shoulder blade. I have wanted a tattoo there for awhile but actually going and getting the tattoo was spur of the moment.
Jamey had been in Nashville all that week for a school and he was driving home the day of my birthday but wouldn't be home until around 6pm. Well I woke up that morning SO depressed. I had such bad survivor's guilt (don't know what else to call it). Here I was, on my 36th birthday, feeling great and loving life but I couldn't quit crying. So naturally Melonie took me out for drinks to cheer me up and thus the tattoo idea was born (my Mom is so proud :)
Anyway, but to my nipples... hahaha
I had my follow up appointment with my plastic surgeon last week. He said everything healed good and looks good. Took more pictures and said I am now to see him every 3 months instead of every month. I asked for copies of ALL my pictures and he said he would send them to me. I'm not going to have them printed and stick them in a photo album or anything, but I think I would like having them. Seeing my journey and all.
Also since my last update, I had another 3 month appointment with Dr. Nugent, my oncologist. Turns out my estrogen level went from 17 three months ago to 308 this month. Not good. I'm on an estrogen blocker since my cancer was hormone positive. I asked about getting a complete hysterectomy so now I have an appointment with an obstestrician oncologist at Tx Oncology next week. If I'm gonna have to have a hysterectomy at 40 (after 5 years on Tamoxifen) then why not have it now? I do NOT want to give the cancer somewhere else to go...
Also next week is my (hopefully) last appointment with Dr. Bussey. She is the breast surgeon that specializes in diseases of the breast. She wanted to see me after all my reconstruction.
So, that was alot to update you on but I'll update again after next week's appointments.
Love to all!
Christy
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A poem I found :)
Cancer .....
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go
Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go
It’s like a storm, that cuts a path
It breaks your will, it feels like that
You think you’re lost, but you’re not lost on your own
You’re not alone
I will stand by you, I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do and you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes, I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight, and I won’t let go
It hurts my heart, to see you cry
I know it’s dark, this part of life
Oh it finds us all, we’re too small to stop the rain
Oh but when it rains
I will stand by you, I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do and you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes, I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight and I won’t let you fall.
Don’t be afraid to fall
I’m right here to catch you, I won’t let you down
It won’t get you down
You’re going to make it, yeah I know you can make it
Cuz I will stand by you, I will help you through
When you’ve done all you do and you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes, I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight, and I won’t let go
Oh I’m going to hold you, and I won’t let go
Won’t let you go…
It’s like a storm, that cuts a path
It breaks your will, it feels like that
You think you’re lost, but you’re not lost on your own
You’re not alone
I will stand by you, I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do and you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes, I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight, and I won’t let go
It hurts my heart, to see you cry
I know it’s dark, this part of life
Oh it finds us all, we’re too small to stop the rain
Oh but when it rains
I will stand by you, I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do and you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes, I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight and I won’t let you fall.
Don’t be afraid to fall
I’m right here to catch you, I won’t let you down
It won’t get you down
You’re going to make it, yeah I know you can make it
Cuz I will stand by you, I will help you through
When you’ve done all you do and you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes, I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight, and I won’t let go
Oh I’m going to hold you, and I won’t let go
Won’t let you go…
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
July 26, 2011
I feel like a lot is going on but I have nothing to say! :)
I went to see Dr. Strock last week. He told me I could stop wearing the $75 grandma bra and told me which bra at Victoria's Secret to buy. I have never been so excited! I haven't been able to shop there in over a year!
My tattoos are scheduled for Monday August 29th. I need to decide on size and color before then. After that, I'm done!
I'm still going to see my Oncologist every 3 months, not sure when/if that will change.
Later!
Christy
I went to see Dr. Strock last week. He told me I could stop wearing the $75 grandma bra and told me which bra at Victoria's Secret to buy. I have never been so excited! I haven't been able to shop there in over a year!
My tattoos are scheduled for Monday August 29th. I need to decide on size and color before then. After that, I'm done!
I'm still going to see my Oncologist every 3 months, not sure when/if that will change.
Later!
Christy
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
June 14, 2011
Since my last post, I have been in the FOCUS fashion show, participated in my first Relay for Life as a survivor, and had another 3 month check up with my Oncologist.
The FOCUS Fashion show...
I modeled two outfits as did my new "breast" friends Tina and Melonie. Haley, our little 3 year old cousin who has leukemia, also participated. She and I walked together modeling once and Jamey walked with me the other time.
When Jamey walked with me, he stopped up front and then Stacy said "Jamey has a surprise for Christy" and Jamey got up there and sang a song to me! He sang Dierks Bentley "Good Things Happen" It was SO amazingly sweet! I had no clue and was completely surprised!
My mother-in-law came as did my older sister Jennifer. It was such a great day!
Erath County Relay for Life...
Oh my! I have participated in Relay for Life before, but never as a survivor. I was always standing on the side clapping for the survivors, this year people were clapping for me. It was a weird feeling!
The hospital I work for had a team. Between all the friends I have made because I had cancer, and all my co-workers there, I was VERY supported. I think I saw a dozen luminaries with my name on it! I could cry again thinking about it!
Let me paint the picture... Relay was held at the local city park. There is a circular walking path. The survivors were to start walking to the left (all wearing purple shirts and sashes) and the caregivers were to start walking to the right. We all met somewhere in the middle and then the caregivers turned around and walked back the way they came so the survivors could finish the "survivor lap".
Haley just had chemo that morning so I pushed her in her stroller along with my friends Tina and Melonie. I met my caregivers, Jamey and Morgan, (and Haley's caregiver, her mom Tiffany) in the middle and they walked the remaineder of the lap with me and Haley. While walking Jamey commented "this is pretty awesome." This was Jamey's first Relay experience.
Today I had another 3 month check up with my Oncologist, Dr. Nugent. He did the standard blood work, looked me over, asked me if I had any questions, told me I look great, and sent me on my way. I'll take it! I go back in another 3 months.
In my last post, I put that I was hoping to have my tattoos done by July 2nd. Not gonna happen. My next appointment with Dr. Strock is July 5th and then I'll schedule my tattooing.
When I went to get my stitches out, the nurse (who does the tattooing) told me to be thinking of my nipple sizes! Ha Ha Never had to think about that before!
Until next time!
Love to all,
Christy
The FOCUS Fashion show...
I modeled two outfits as did my new "breast" friends Tina and Melonie. Haley, our little 3 year old cousin who has leukemia, also participated. She and I walked together modeling once and Jamey walked with me the other time.
When Jamey walked with me, he stopped up front and then Stacy said "Jamey has a surprise for Christy" and Jamey got up there and sang a song to me! He sang Dierks Bentley "Good Things Happen" It was SO amazingly sweet! I had no clue and was completely surprised!
My mother-in-law came as did my older sister Jennifer. It was such a great day!
Erath County Relay for Life...
Oh my! I have participated in Relay for Life before, but never as a survivor. I was always standing on the side clapping for the survivors, this year people were clapping for me. It was a weird feeling!
The hospital I work for had a team. Between all the friends I have made because I had cancer, and all my co-workers there, I was VERY supported. I think I saw a dozen luminaries with my name on it! I could cry again thinking about it!
Let me paint the picture... Relay was held at the local city park. There is a circular walking path. The survivors were to start walking to the left (all wearing purple shirts and sashes) and the caregivers were to start walking to the right. We all met somewhere in the middle and then the caregivers turned around and walked back the way they came so the survivors could finish the "survivor lap".
Haley just had chemo that morning so I pushed her in her stroller along with my friends Tina and Melonie. I met my caregivers, Jamey and Morgan, (and Haley's caregiver, her mom Tiffany) in the middle and they walked the remaineder of the lap with me and Haley. While walking Jamey commented "this is pretty awesome." This was Jamey's first Relay experience.
Today I had another 3 month check up with my Oncologist, Dr. Nugent. He did the standard blood work, looked me over, asked me if I had any questions, told me I look great, and sent me on my way. I'll take it! I go back in another 3 months.
In my last post, I put that I was hoping to have my tattoos done by July 2nd. Not gonna happen. My next appointment with Dr. Strock is July 5th and then I'll schedule my tattooing.
When I went to get my stitches out, the nurse (who does the tattooing) told me to be thinking of my nipple sizes! Ha Ha Never had to think about that before!
Until next time!
Love to all,
Christy
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Recent Events - May 10, 2010
Since mother told me to update my blog, here I am. Yes, I am 35 years old and still listen to my mother! :-)
On May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), I had what was hopefully my last surgery, nipple reconstruction. Or as Jamey likes to call it "Dos de Nipple Day."
I was forewarned the nipples would be "big." Yeah well... they are! It looks like someone took a piece of chewed up bubble gum, put some stitches on it, and then attached it to my foobs! He said they would shrink but he didn't say how long that would take. I go see him again in 2 weeks to get my stitches out, so I'm hoping they will be normal size by then.
This whole ordeal has been a learning process and just when you think you know what to expect, nope, you really don't!
He said I can get my tattoos in about two months. I am going to see if I can get them done before July 2nd so I can be 100% done before my diagnosis date.
This Thursday is the FOCUS fashion show. FOCUS is the cancer survivor group here in Stephenville and every year they host a fashion show to benefit Relay for Life.
I will be a model this year :)
Until next time, I will be busy with end of the school year stuff. Morgan is finishing Intermediate school and heading on to Jr High next year. She came home last night asking to take Spanish as her elective and also asked to take two pre-AP classes... Next year should be VERY interesting!
Of course I wouldn't have it any other way!
Love to all!
Christy
On May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), I had what was hopefully my last surgery, nipple reconstruction. Or as Jamey likes to call it "Dos de Nipple Day."
I was forewarned the nipples would be "big." Yeah well... they are! It looks like someone took a piece of chewed up bubble gum, put some stitches on it, and then attached it to my foobs! He said they would shrink but he didn't say how long that would take. I go see him again in 2 weeks to get my stitches out, so I'm hoping they will be normal size by then.
This whole ordeal has been a learning process and just when you think you know what to expect, nope, you really don't!
He said I can get my tattoos in about two months. I am going to see if I can get them done before July 2nd so I can be 100% done before my diagnosis date.
This Thursday is the FOCUS fashion show. FOCUS is the cancer survivor group here in Stephenville and every year they host a fashion show to benefit Relay for Life.
I will be a model this year :)
Until next time, I will be busy with end of the school year stuff. Morgan is finishing Intermediate school and heading on to Jr High next year. She came home last night asking to take Spanish as her elective and also asked to take two pre-AP classes... Next year should be VERY interesting!
Of course I wouldn't have it any other way!
Love to all!
Christy
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