Number 3 and #PinkWeekend

Treatment 3 is done!  I couldn't be more excited about being 75% done with the more difficult part of this cancer killing regiment.  I am learning to embrace all the symptoms with the mindset that any level of discomfort is killing cancer!

Chemotherapy is very reminiscent of Pregnancy: fatigue you cant shake, nausea, insomnia, hot flashes, and cravings.  My motto during pregnancy was to eat through the nausea, so why not do what works?!  I have a list of new favorite foods.  They are cravings like pregnancy, however they are much greasier as if to cure the worst hangover and pregnancy at the same time.  Thank God I have the most amazing husband that is willing to venture out into the greater Birmingham Area to find the foods I crave at all hours of the day and night. 1) Krystals - The Sack Full so I can heat up the leftovers.  2)Waffle House- BLT with hashbrowns diced, smothered, and covered.  3) Captain D's - four piece fish meal with extra malt vinager. 4) KFC- Cole Slaw.  5) LoftHouse Sugar Cookies  6)Strawberry Shortcake Icecream Bars.
Unfortunately, to make way for new favorite foods I have had to exile some old friends; meatloaf, pirates booty, and green apples.  I am beginning to think that I am going to be one of the only Chemo patients to gain weight, especially now that I have some fancy mouth wash and pills to help with the mouth sores.  If you are wondering what I am doing, just living the cancer killing life sleeping and eating.

This past weekend was the Susan G. Komen race for the cure.  It was an emotional event.  People fighting, surviving, and remembering their loved ones.  I was so lucky to be surrounded by so many friends and family members during this event.  I made it one mile!!  Not very far, but far enough to feel like I did something.  Ashley Packard couldn't have planned the race out and organized everyone any better, it was perfect!!!

   We got to put the Bark Inn to the test for the first time, I think it served us even better than the Dresden Inn did.  Every bedroom was filled, the couch, extra mattress, blow up mattress, and even the laundry room was occupied.  So much love crammed into our house!!  After the race we all came back to the house for hamburgers and hot dogs, then the guys started a game of "soccer" in the pool.  I have yet to figure out how you play soccer in the pool , but sometimes you just need things to ponder.  Just when I thought there couldn't be any more surprises the Ross' Renegade's Ladies (near and far) put together a wonderful hat box full of hats and scarves to keep my bald noggin warm!  With the temperatures dropping this is more than appreciated.  Never realized how much I relied on my hair for warmth.

When the sun went down we had s'mores, told stories, and made new memories.  This was exactly what I needed, the best medicine of all, LAUGHTER!!!!  We were so fortunate to celebrate John Packard's 27th birthday with him, ringing in a great year to come with sparklers and our beautiful voices (haha)! The next morning when Anna got up at 7 AM we were tip toeing through the kitchen, as to not wake anyone, and the laundry room door swung open to find Kenny.  " Don't you know some of us are trying to sleep around here!"  Apparently everyone went to bed and left Kenny on his own to find a place to sleep, no better place than the laundry room curled up with a pillow from the couch and a used beach towel as a blanket.  It was so great to have everyone in town!  As each person drove off I cried like a baby!  Missing everyone, but have loved reminiscing over all the memories!

I am so grateful for so many people that have reached out to me from my past and present!  You are all so amazing and make me feel so encouraged and loved!

Recap through pictures!

Family fun day at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham before the big move.

Moving day August 26th!

Anna helping check off boxes as they were delivered!

Birthday celebration, August 30th, 4 days after moving in.  I had so many wonderful flowers delivered, Brandon bought me a wonderful James Avery Georgia charm and breast cancer necklace,
Shannon surprised me, and I had a delicious birthday cake! PERFECTION!  Lets get it all done before 30!

Wig shopping with Mom and Anna.  This was the chosen wig.  I have named her Asmerelda.  Not sure how often I will be wearing her as she is a little itchy.  I have also become a little more proficient with styling her.  Synthetic hair is a whole new world!

First treatment, AC Chemo, September 19th in Birmingham, after being diagnosed on  August 9th in Atlanta. We met with a total of  three surgeons, 2 oncologist and 1 radiologist.  Countless tests which included mammograms, ultrasounds, a core biopsy,  Onco Score, MRI, PET Scan, and a genetic test (many of these tests were performed more than once).

A week and a half after treatment my hair started coming out.  First strand by strand and then clumps.  It was time to bid it farewell.  Brandon did a great job shaving my head.  Thanks mom for a pretty darn good shaped head, if I don't mind saying so myself.  I have been using some gel on my eye brows and eye lashes in hopes of preserving them, so far so good!

Second treatment, AC Chemo, on October 3rd.  Half way done with the hard stuff!!!!

Anna, even on the days its hard to motivated myself she is my reason to get up and at 'em!

cheese and anti-razors

I keep searching for the right words to describe everything my family and I have been through to get to this point, but I am really at a loss.  What I can tell you is that without all the words of encouragement, emails, wonderful cards, flowers, care packages, visitors, and most of all prayers, good thoughts, happy dances, and good juju, Breast Cancer would be much harder to tackle.

I hear it all the time and I identify with it, "I never thought I would be diagnosed with cancer." No one ever thinks that they will hear the words from their doctor, "cancer".  What I hoped to be a clump of cheese in my left breast, formed from the mass quantities of milk I produced, was not of the gourmet variety at all.  Please encourage all the women and men in your life to do self breast exams.  If I hadn't done one we wouldn't have caught it at such an early stage, at this point my lymph nodes look clear on ultrasound and MRI, as well as my PET Scan came back clear other than the mass in my left breast.  I am 100% estrogen positive, 92% progesterone positive, and her2 negative.  This means my tumor is extremely hormone driven and that pregnancy accelerated the growth tremendously (it has been speculated I have had cancer for up to 5 years prior to knowing about it). The good news is it I have a very treatable tumor.  For me I relish in the fact that shock is a beautiful thing and allowed me to cope with the news, take care of a toddler, and prepare to move to a new state.  God works in mysterious ways and has placed many people in my path from both the past and present that have helped guide me through uncharted territory. 

I am currently receiving my second treatment of Adriamycin and Cytoxin.  Total I will have four treatments of this.  These particular drugs are the tough ones on your body especially your heart, kidneys, liver, and veins.  And yes it is the stuff that makes your hair fall out.  In my case I only let a little hair fall out.  Brandon had the pleasure of shaving my head.  He did a fantastic job!  I really think he could have a side job shaving heads.  My mom and Anna watched on.  Anna studied every move, hoping she wasn't taking notes to try it on herself in the future.  (I am sure if she does it will be the day before pictures.) After I finish the AC (Adriamycin and Cyotoxin) chemo I will have 12 weekly doses of Paclitaxel (Taxol).  Then I pray that I will be in pathological remission!   One great perk of Chemo is that I no longer has to spend time washing my hair or shaving!!  I really can be ready in 5.  Scared I am going to grow really accustomed to this new way of life!

For those of you who don't know, my mom has been living with us to help out through treatments and surgery when it comes time.  Her husband, has been so amazing and supportive about letting his wonderful wife come and be with us.  It is so nice to have my mom with me through this.  Brandon and her have had some great bonding time and even have a few inside jokes between them now.  Dana, my fantastic mother-in-law, has come to help with Anna and I. Even before treatments her and my father-in-law, Mike, came and helped accomplish somethings that needed to be done at our new house.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing family!   

I know this has been vague, but so much to catch up on and I am just unsure as to where to begin.  I will be more detailed with future posts.  I am open to answer any questions at any level of detail, and if there is anyone in your life that might need guidance through a similar situation I am would be more than happy to help them (I do pray that this offer isn't needed as it is a beast no one should have to tackle).  Wishing everyone a happy start to October and hope you all are enjoying the fall weather as much as we are in Alabama.  Thank you again for all your prayers and encouragement, they really are greatly appreciated and are so uplifting!