MY story hope it is encouraging

Seems like we have alot of post of sisters who are scared so I thought maybe telling my story might encourage some.  Spring of 2009 felt a spot that wasn't a lump more like a thick spot.  forgot about it until October and then I had a swollen lymph node in my right armpit.  Dr. said it was the size of a golfball!  Took me a couple of weeks to make an appointment with the Dr.  Had to get my head around the thought of breast cancer.  Lots of BC on my maternal side.

Luckily my Dr.'s moved quickly and the day before my 54th birthday I got the diagnosis.  Triple negative breast cancer with lymph envolvement, which but me at Stage 3.  4 rounds of Taxotere, xeloda, avastin and Gemcitabine, 4 rounds of Andromycin, cytoxan and avastin.  Then a double mastecomy followed by 6 rounds of the two cocktails again.  Did not know a person could feel soooo bad and not die.

Still dancing with NED and I finally have the energy to dance with the dude!  I do  have lingering side effects from all of that.  Still have neuropathy and a atrial septial anuerysm (bulge in the heart wall between the top chambers).  But life is good.  Went back to work end of January and I love my job. Finally getting my mojo back. I am interested in life will be starting a masters progrma at MSU this fall.  Can't wait for warm weather so I can work in my flower beds/veg garden, get on the motorcyles again, have a butt load of projects I want to do.  Even had a friend tell me she was so happy to see the old Vicki has finally came back.

So for those just starting the journey have hope.  It is a rough road to go down but your kindred spirits are there with you.  More and more of us are making it thru to the other side and living good long lifes and so can you.