Pleased to meetcha!

I've been lurking and posting here and there, but haven't yet shared my breast cancer story.

I was diagnosed in July 2015 after my annual mammogram. They said it was a small tumor, the 

size of a pea, and I was Stage 1. I opted for the lumpectomy and lo, I went in a Stage 1, and came

out a Stage 3. There were 2 tumors, the pea-sized one that showed up on the mammograms and sonograms 

and a second tumor that was 6 cm across. It had also spread to two lymph nodes. It was ER positive

and invasive.  I knew radiation and hormones were going to be in the plan, but chemo was added.

So I shook hands with The Red Devil - that's what they called AC and I had the Neulasta shots the next day.

My hands, feet, and nails turned black, as if I had dyed my hair black without wearing gloves. I had gone to

a barbershop and had my hair sheared off the week before I started. I don't know, I think it made me

feel as though I had some control of the situation. It made me feel powerful, but only a little.

I had 4 prescriptions for nausea, so that wasn't a big issue with me. My problem was that my blood count

kept dropping really low. I had 3 blood transfusions by the end of my chemo and I was still exhausted

all the time.  Breathing felt like work to me and there were days when I had to force myself to get out

of bed. I actually kept working a full time job, but don't ask me how.

Radiation was easier. I finished two weeks ago. I'm still working on some burns and peeling skin on my underarm

and underbreast areas. I've got lymphedema from the surgery and neuropathy from the chemo. I call them my 

cancer scars.  Sometimes I'm depressed because I can't move around like I used to and the stinging in my fingers

drives me insane, but I'm still here.  I have not yet been declared "NED" (there are nodules in my lung), but I'm

going to take it as it comes and find my little bit powerful where I can.

peony