She Keeps Going and Going and Going and Going...

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Where all the 'magic' happens (side view/treatment)

Radiation treatment is going pretty well thus far. I have 10 sessions under my belt and now 18 to go (of course I am totally keeping track!). So far just experiencing a bit of fatigue, no skin redness or itching, although I am feeling a tightness in the skin and the implant is getting to be even firmer than before. Rock boob is not fun, nor is it very attractive... I'm sure other ladies out there who have had a recon can understand.

People of Tomorrow - Take Action Today!

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OK my lovely readers... this is some serious stuff I am going to throw your way. So get comfortable, grab a cup of tea and settle in for a bit of information that, if shared beyond this blog, could change lives.

This is about your future. Your family's future. Your friend's, your co-worker's, your neighbour's... Everyone under the blazing sun's future!

Too Much

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Ever feel like there is just so much happening you can't quite figure out what you are supposed to be doing? Where to go and when? What to ignore so you can focus on the important? Confused by random events? Not even able to make sense of the happenings around you? Wondering if you have forgotten something? Or what day of the week it even is? (Or who you even are!? hehe...) This is me right now. And for that, I warn you that this is gonna be a random all-over-the-map kind of post. I will most definitely be jumping around quite a bit!

Wiggin' Out!

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Meet my new friend Bennett! As a caramel-kissed brunette, Bennett enjoys long walks on the beach, sun hats, strawberry sorbet and NOT having to go for radiation therapy next Monday.

On Expectations & The Non-Existent How-To-Deal-With-Cancer Handbook

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There's something about Summer. I've always loved it. The warmer weather, the weeks of sunshine, the flowers, shorts and dresses, pleasant evenings spent outside until late, beach walks, gelato and flip flops. If I could have my way, I'd live somewhere where the temperature never went below 21 degrees Celsius. I'm just that kind of gal.

Art as Therapy – "Lonely"

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"Lonely" 

This piece of artwork was prompted by Illustration Friday's topic of the week. (Illustration Friday is an online weekly artistic challenge and participatory art exhibit)

No Longer a Human Pin-Cushion & Six Weeks in Pictures

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I am officially done with chemotherapy treatments and the neupogen injections that went along with it!!!

To Live and Not Dwell

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I am coming up to my last chemo treatment. Tuesday, July 10th is the final day and I couldn't be more ready for it. This chapter of my life has sure been a real test of what I am made of. It is said that The Universe/God/Life doesn't give you anything you can't handle and I guess that is true in a sense. I am doing it and getting through. It has been excruciatingly difficult to deal with of course at times. Cancer is a whopping pain in the ass that way.

Count Down Is On

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Not only are we moving in 5 days but tomorrow is my second to last chemo session. Woohoo!

Currently our little house is filled with boxes (and Abber jumping in boxes, you know... to keep them warm, I guess?)

Pretty much we can't wait to be outta here! The excitement of this is beyond what I can express. We are stoked to have something we can call OURS and have many ideas and vision for the place. Hopefully some of them will come to fruition by the end of the Summer. (Art room/Studio anyone!?) Yay!

A very big thank you to my Mum (and Robert) for making this first home purchase possible :) We are eternally grateful.

I'm Into Something Good

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There comes a time where a divine balancing act must take place. There is always a constant ebb and flow in life and what we are presented sometimes can make us feel discouraged and defeated.

But as we all know, these hard times don't (usually) last forever... It can't be bad all the time!... And it can't always be blissfully fantastic either. Because really, if it were good all the time we wouldn't really appreciate it as much as we do when we have had a rough patch and things finally turn for the better.

Am I right? ...Yes, of course I am. Those peaks and valleys are just the way it is! ...A continual up and down roller coaster ride we call LIFE.

The Adventures of Chemo Brain!

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Things have been pretty quiet around these parts of blog land. Which basically translates to: Round 4 of the AC drug treatment I received for chemo completely suuuucccckkkkked and kicked my butt! I mean like reeeally reeeally did a number on me. Not just physically... emotionally and mentally I was a complete wreck this last one. I thought the rounds before sucked... but this one proved how much more chemo could bulldoze me.

But praise be! I am half way done now!

This Ain't No Picnic!! & Other Random Musings

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Chemo is no walk in the park. It has sure showed me some rough, tough, down in the dumps, feel sorry for myself pity party times. I am thankful to not be ridiculously ill through this time but that does not mean it hasn't been completely shitty and horrible to go through.

Things That Keep Me Going

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I'm a list maker. I love making lists...doodling in the margins and making my list look fun and happy...So that when I cross something off I feel really good!

Ok - I'm a total geek.

One Chemo Down. Seven To Go.

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Oh Internet. It feels as though I have been away from you for months.

The Chemo Report : Day 1 • Cycle 1

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Just a quick little update to say that so far so good... I seem to be managing ok with only a few little weird things that I am noticing. Nausea has been almost nothing. I am just really tired and feel a bit nutty when I try to close my eyes to rest. It's like an inner movie in my mind that plays but I am not really asleep. When I open my eyes I expect to be seeing what it is I saw with my eyes closed. Like closed eye hallucinations or something? Strange... Making a note of it as I want to try and figure out which drugs are doing what to me. I feel like I'm on sooo many!!

There's Always a Choice

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I wish it was just an April Fool's joke that I have to start chemo this Tuesday. Unfortunately that is not the case. But in the last few weeks I have really been working at being OK with it.

Back By Popular Demand

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I'm pretty sure it goes "First comes love…Then comes marriage...Then comes the baby in the baby carriage" in that silly childhood song, right? These days not many people follow that exact order… it's often that the kidlette in the stroller ends up coming second in the grand master plan. Not uncommon to happen that way and that's cool… I had always thought that might be the way we may have done it… Well did the universe have something wild in mind for us…

Greetings From Estrogen City

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Irritable, emotional and agitated…I am a walking ball of womanly hormones.

Cancer and Boobies and Needles - Oh My!

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Half of my surgery pathology report was in last Tuesday when I met with Dr. McGreatness. There was only good news this time around (Can I get a hells YES!!?) ... Instead of two tumours and a benign adenoma, they discovered that there was only one tumour and an adenoma (adenomas are basically non-cancerous tumours). The single cancerous bastard measured 2.8 cm...slightly smaller than what they picked up on the MRI. All margins were clear meaning that they got it all. I had hoped and figured this would be the result... having a full mastectomy like I did gives you a higher likelihood of having your margins clear. They took all I got! And in doing this it saves me from ever having it return on that one side.

In which I emerge from Post-Op "High" Lands

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Well that was a trip. And hold tight, because this post is a novel.

Pre-Op Angst & Thanks

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Good piece of news: Abdominal ultra sound was clean! No issues with the tummy organs at all! Yay!

Now the countdown is on!

Crazy Sexy Axillary Lymph Nodes

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Ok... I found out yesterday when I met with my surgeon that the node that was biopsied on last week tested positive for the bad stuff.

Fricking cancer.

From The Beginning

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On Saturday December 3rd, 2011 I found a lump in my left boob when I was showering. I think it was the new slippery soap I was using that made me really notice it.  Finding it alarmed me. I knew it wasn't normal breast tissue so I made my way to see my GP first thing on Monday. She seemed to think it would be a cyst because of my age but she sent me for an ultra sound to check it out.