One Year Ago Today...

…I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

The Details: I had multi-focal disease in my right breast (meaning I had three tumors in the same quadrant of the breast), grade 2 cancer cells, lymph involvement (making me a Stage 2A), estrogen/progesterone positive, HER2 negative, BRCA 1 and 2 negative.

The Treatment: After my initial diagnosis I went through lots of tests (and lots of BS) to get to the treatment phase. Eventually though, I had neoadjuvant chemo (for 5 months, shutter), and a unilateral mastectomy with sentinel node biopsy.  

The Result: I had a complete pathological response to chemotherapy. Meaning, on a cellular level, there is no cancer left. This type of response is somewhat rare which I didn’t realize until recently. It’s very good news actually because studies show that I have a greater chance of “event-free” survival. This is the best outcome I could hope for really.

The Physical Side Effects: Are dreadful and I include my hair in this assessment. Have I mentioned the 18 pounds I gained? If you want an illness where weight loss is a side effect, breast cancer ain’t it.

The Other Side Effects: Cancer effects the whole person: physically, mentally and emotionally. Since I was diagnosed one year ago, I’ve been mindful of caring for my mental and emotional selves. I’ve made big changes and hard decisions, all of which have contributed to my physical healing. It’s all connected, in my experience. I saw healing from cancer as a way to heal every area in my life where I felt imbalanced. I didn’t plan on healing that way, but it’s the only way I knew how to do it.

Today: Before the end of this year, I will complete my reconstruction surgery and have silicone implants on both sides. I take aromatase inhibitors daily. I get Reiki when I feel that I need it, about every 6 weeks.

I rarely drink alcohol and limit my intake of sugar. Don’t worry though, I’ll never be that a-hole at your party who won’t eat your birthday cake with you, I’m totally sharing your cake. But, overall, I eat very well.  I drink a green smoothie daily (fav right now: water, plain fat-free Greek yogurt, 3 cups spinach, pear) I cook at home every day using whole foods and I bring my lunch using same said foods.

I also think about exercising 30 minutes a day, like I should. Ok, I’m still working on this one.  I found a solution, but a few more things need to happen prior to implementation of my program. It will happen though.

My new mantra? Progress, not perfection. I can tell you that over these last 12 months, my life has progressed into a new stratosphere. It is not perfect and I love it, even in spite of my old-lady hairdo.