Cancer Update (posted by Aly)

So, it's been a while since we’ve posted about cancer. That’s probably because there hasn’t been any major activity going on in our “cancer world” lately (PRAISE GOD!). For those that have just recently started reading our blog, here’s a somewhat quick summary of our cancer story to bring you up to speed:

Nov. 2005, I felt a lump in my left breast and following a lumpectomy, I was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer (1.5cm tumor, hormone positive, no lymph nodes involved). I was 30 years old, living in Texas, and 5 months pregnant with Brooks. My treatment the first time around consisted of the lumpectomy only (no chemo, no radiation, no on-going medication…that’s a long story). Brooks was born healthy in April of 2006 and we moved home to Michigan 2 months later after Brian got a coaching job at Rochester College. It was upon my first diagnosis that Brian decided to create this blog.

Fast forward to Feb. 2007- a routine MRI revealed a new lump, same area as the first one, believed to be a regrowth of the original lump. Again, it was a fairly small tumor at 1.5cm in size. This time one lymph node showed positive for cancer activity so the diagnosis was moved to Stage IIa. I opted for a single mastectomy (partly because this got me out of radiation), followed by 8 rounds of chemo (4- AC / 4- Taxol). I finished chemo in August 2007, had reconstructive surgery in October 2007, and started the drug Tamoxifen shortly thereafter (this is an estrogen blocker used to help prevent recurrence in breast cancer patients whose cancer is hormone positive). Currently, the plan is for me to remain on this drug for 5 years. I have 2 more phases of reconstruction left, the first of which is scheduled for the middle of April and the final phase will probably be sometime in June (I’ll leave it to your imagination to figure out what those 2 phases are). I had my annual mammogram last October which came back normal and I have my next annual MRI scheduled at the end of April. If that comes back normal, I will just continue to have routine follow up visits with my surgeon and oncologist every 3-6 months.

Below are some of the lingering side effects of my cancer treatment that I am currently experiencing (most of these are common side effects; some will most likely be permanent):
-reduced energy level (this is mild and seems to be improving lately)
-sense of taste has been affected (foods just don’t taste the same as they used to, they’re much duller tasting and I find myself craving strong flavored foods)
-it’s very difficult for me to get a good clean shave in my left armpit due to the removal of the tissue in that area during the mastectomy, I really have to maneuver my skin so the razor can be at just the right angle to get the job done.
-occasional mood swings (side effect of the Tamoxifen…these are always fun, probably not for Brian though)
-numbness all over the left side of my chest (due to nerves being cut during the mastectomy)
-recently some of my eyebrows and eyelashes started to fall out again (not enough to be noticeable to most people and already the new growth has started coming in…hopefully these end up sticking around for the long term)
-really weird nerve sensations on my left side (for example, there’s an area about the size of a quarter just to the left of my midline and if I touch it, it feels like my skin is on fire and I actually feel the sensation in a totally different area of my chest than where I’m touching- very interesting and not too comfortable…did I mention it feels like my skin is on fire?)
-last but certainly not least, HOT FLASHES, all the time (these are the worst!!)

I’ve been going to a support group for women with breast cancer for about a year and a half. It’s a monthly meeting put on by Gilda’s Club, a nationwide organization created in honor of Gilda Radner who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. I’m not normally the type of person that would be interested in a support group but for some reason I decided to check it out one time and I’ve been going ever since. I find it to be very informative, quite humorous at times, and extremely encouraging. Until recently, I was the youngest member of the group. But, a couple gals in their 20s just started coming and as much as I hate that they are there (for their sake), I’m very excited to have an opportunity to get connected with some other young BC women. I met another gal in her 30s during chemo and we’ve kept in contact ever since. It’s definitely encouraging to have a connection with other women going through the same thing as you. I’m secretly hoping to get our own little side group started with just young survivors.

Physically and emotionally, I feel really good. A lot of people refer to my current state as “getting back to normal” but as any other cancer person /survivor would tell you, life will never really be “normal” again. And that’s ok, I’m fine with that. It’s just different now. We move forward, but we will always have it with us.

Here are a few pics of my hair. This is 7 months post chemo, and yes, those are curls you see (never had any curl in my hair before).