Breast Cancer Survivor

Breast Cancer Survivor
"We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails"

Family photo November 2008

Family photo November 2008

Monday, May 18, 2009

Radiation finished!

I finished my last treatment today. Thankfully my burns are healing. They were really bad. My tech said they were the worst she's seen in a long time. I still have one burn that is open and it looks pretty yucky. The rest of it is peeling like a sunburn would only the skin is gray like ashes from a fire, it's gross. Everyone that sees it screws up their face and goes "oh my God!" Even the guy at the McDonalds drive through noticed it and asked how I got burned.

I go back for a checkup in June. I'm also due for my 3 month scans and a follow up with my oncologist and plastic surgeon.

I'll update again after I have those appointments. Hopefully any microscopic cells have been sufficiently fried and I won't have to deal with this again!

Love to All!!
Erica
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Sunday, May 10, 2009

Getting worse

So, things got worse over the weekend. They gave me a burn gel pad thing that sticks to your wound. Well, since one of my burns is in my armpit, it kept falling off. I took a gauze pad and some paper tape (not very sticky) and had Jason put the tape on the other side of my burn, or so I thought. The next morning when I took it off I also ripped off 3 sections of skin. I now have open flesh wounds that are nice and red. They hurt like hell too. Unfortunately, one of them is in the circle where I am still getting radiation so I'm sure it will be a mess by next Monday when I finish. I'm keeping the gel pads on and wrapping my body with that spongy gauze stuff that only sticks to itself. Maybe the doctor will give me some better medicine tomorrow, who knows. 6 more days, 6 more days!!!

I hope all of my mommies had a Happy Day! (just to clarify, I only have one mommy, I mean all my friends, relatives and my mom)

Love,
E
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Another week down, 2 to go

Well, I opened my mouth to soon...not unfamiliar territory for those of you who REALLY know me:) The burns are getting pretty sore now. My collar bone is really red and cracking. The aloe and lotion aren't helping. The doc might give me a prescription cream tomorrow for it. My armpit looks like road rash, it hurts quite a bit too. It kept waking me up last night when I'd roll onto my left side. Will walked in on me getting dressed today and asked "mommy, what are the brown spots on your boobie?" I love it when he asks questions! What do you say to that. I told him it was my new medicine and he just went "oh, ok". It looks like age spots and a rash all over. Hopefully they'll peel off soon. I went to the gym after radiation this morning. It was pretty painfull doing back and bicep exercises. I pushed through it though.

Thankfully today was the last treatment on my collarbone and tomorrow is the last one on the armpit. Thursday starts my "boost" treatments directly over the tumor site. That will last until Monday the 18th, I think. I'll find out for sure tomorrow after I meet with the doctor.

Thanks for the posts!

Love,E
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How it all began......

Welcome to my website! This site was created by my wonderful friend Angela to keep everyone I love updated on my “Journey” beating Breast Cancer.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on December 19, 2007 @ 4:30 in the afternoon. It was quite possibly the worst phone call I’ve ever received. The doctors kept telling me that I was “too young”… it’s probably just a cyst or a fibroid (benign tumor). So, I had convinced myself of the same. Imagine my shock and fear when the doctor said “I hate to tell you this, but it IS cancer.”

I didn’t really know how to react. At first I cried a little. Then, I was ok. Then cried some more, then, ok. It wasn’t until I saw the surgeon and learned of the best option for survival, a double mastectomy, that I really broke down. I had a meltdown for a couple of days and then I was fine. I’ve been pretty good with it ever since. I know that I can beat this sneaky disease and I will live a long life with the loves of my life; my husband Jason, and my 2 boys, Will & Nathan.

Jason had a hard time at first. He just kept thinking the worst, that I wouldn’t make it. He’s doing much better now that we’ve seen all the doctors and the prognosis is good.

The kids don’t really understand. Will (who’s almost 4) thinks mommy is having an operation, that’s it. Nathan just turned 1 so he just wants to be held all the time. That will be the hardest thing on me. I love to hold my babies and I won’t be able to pick them up for awhile.

Thankfully, my mom, Kathy, has come to the rescue. She is here as long as we need her. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful mother and family. My sister is coming from Alaska, pregnant and all, to help out too. My dad is coming back soon and Jason’s parents, Rick & Jan along with his whole extended family are just a phone call away if I need them. Unfortunately, my brother, Steve can’t come although he wants to. I even have my friends from Maine that want to come and help! Thank you Christina and Nikki for offering. My friends here, Angela, Oti, Julie & Niki are all on standby also. They’re ready at a moments notice for whatever we need. I love you all, I can’t say how good it makes me feel to be loved.

Everyone I know is praying for us which is so wonderful. I appreciate all the prayers. Only God knows what will happen but I’m confident that he will pull me through.

Anyway, I hope you log on to find out how we’re doing down here in Texas. My surgery is January 9th @ 7:30 a.m. I’ll be in the hospital for 2 nights.

I hope this site can help anyone else who gets this horrible disease, although I pray that none of you ever have to experience it.

Love to all!
Erica