This is a longer Share ~ get a cup of tea or a cocktail ~ whatever is your wont.

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I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2013.  I was 49 and had never been ill in my life.

Scary stuff.

I had gone for my mammogram as usual and they called me the next day and said I had to come back.  I did and they did a biopsy.  (It hurt)

A week later, I went back for the results and they said that it was cancerous.   I had brought my husband to that appointment and he was waiting outside ~ I asked if he could come in.

His face turned white.  I’m sure mine did too.

They said it was about the size of a grape and manageable.

They booked me for a lumpectomy on 18 December and took some lymph nodes under that arm to test at the same time to see if had spread.

Done.

Follow up appointment at the beginning of January 2014 and, apparently, it turned out to be more egg-sized than grape-sized (nothing in the lymph nodes – thanks much).

(Why are these things rated by food for women?  As I understand it, if it is a male thing, they rate by a sports reference – golf ball, tennis ball, etc. ~ interesting difference and fodder for discussion – talk amongst yourselves!)

The Doctor said that in her experience that although she believed she had extracted it all, by the size, there was the chance it would come back.

What did I want to do???

No question ~ susceptible to breast cancer?  Take them off!  Full Meal Deal please!

I was so very lucky, it was just flesh.  Not bone or cervical or blood or prostate (last not relevant to me but for my male readers – men, breast cancer possible for you too).

Long story short, 8 surgeries and a few years later, I am the Picture of Heath!

Chemo, Radiation, baldness, weird side effects … all par for the course.  Can’t say it was fun.

No issue, and here’s why this is under my Logical Solutions to Life’s Crap category. 

Remember that we can only make decisions in our lives by taking into account all of the information we have on hand at the time.  This is the information that I pulled from to make my decision:

• You have ZERO control

• If you live in Canada or a First World Country that takes care of these things, you don’t have to worry about the finances of it ~ you have paid into the System for your whole working life and that is what it is there for.

• It is scarier to not know what is going on – Get Tested!  (male or female)

• Listen to your options – weigh them carefully and commit to your choice.  Sometimes your chosen path can be adjusted as you go along, but indecision is a bad choice – every time.

As a result of my Logical Decision based on the above:

• Moving along the path I had chosen alleviated a lot of the fear and stress.

• I trusted in the Professionals assigned to me.

• Most importantly, in my opinion, is that I Chose Not To Have Cancer Define Who You I Was!!    (I would like to say at this point that I was very lucky in that it was diagnosed early so I could make that choice.)

• I lived my normal life the best that I could and adjusted as needed – I did my best not to live in my head – Fill your Life!

Then, my Advice:

• Try to embrace the change.  You go BALD (and did you know that you lose All your hair?  Eyebrows, hair in your nose, everything???)  Exactly 12 days after you start Chemo.  Exactly.  Just like they said.

• You realize that all that really doesn’t matter.   In fact, losing all that I thought defined me as a Woman made me realize that those weren’t the things that made me who I was – it was weirdly freeing!

• Have fun with wigs!   Pink, platinum, blue, luscious brown locks (not so good for me), purple!   I gave many away and made people see themselves in different ways as I was learning to do the same for myself.  (There is a great story with a friend, Frenchie, that I may share later!)                  

And, Finally:

• Be Thankful

• Remind yourself of the Great Things you have in your life;  Friends, Family that you like, Food every day, Shelter, AND YOUR LIFE!

• During my experience, an amazing bonus ~ as a Canadian, Free Health Care!  (All of this did not cost us a penny.  I truly believe that I would not be here if I had to find the funds to pay for all the amazing health care and surgeries and treatments that I had.)

• Know that you have many more years with a new appreciation of every day.

Be strong, be confident, have hope ~ whatever challenge is put in front of you. Only You can decide how to accept them and how you will grow because of them.

This is such a huge part of my life that I will probably post more about it as I go along.

(See my follow up post about the Brain Aneurysm Adventure ~ Yes, that happened too.)