Great News!

Great news for me...  Peace of mind and very blessed.  I know not to ever take my health for granted.  I am so grateful for being healthy.  Makes taking the yucky drug tamoxifen for 5 years worth it!!!   xoxo!

Check up's that never will end...

I follow up with my oncologist about every 4 months.  I think because the cancer went to my lymph nodes it's more often than the "norm",  However, it feels like it will never end.  I guess I have to get to my 5 year anniversary before my doctor will back off to every 8-10 months.  So after this followup it has led to another Scan which will be tomorrow.  An appointment I dread because it's always the "unknown" and waiting for the Radiologist to come in and say..."things look good".  So I will say I'm a little up tight tonight.  Just for that reason.  Results TBA! Wish me luck!

Pink Ribbons Can't Cover Scars

  THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE SCARS WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME 7 TO BE EXACT!.  

I'M GLAD I'M ALIVE DON'T GET ME WRONG BUT IT IS A REMINDER OF THE LIVING HELL THAT IT WAS.

BREAST CANCER HAS SO MANY SCARS CONNECTED TO IT PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE SEE SUCH PRETTY PINK RIBBONS TO REMIND US OF
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS IT WILL NEVER COVER UP THE SCARS

a real reality

THE VIDEO BELOW IS KINDA A HARSH REALITY...

BUT IT'S BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

WE NEED TO KNOW THE REALITY OF WHAT BREAST CANCER REALLY DOES TO A WOMEN



FACT: WOMEN WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH AGGRESSIVE BREAST CANCER USUALLY HAVE NO FAMILY HISTORY,   JUST 1 IN 8....IS ALL IT TAKES




Just an illusion

CLICK ABOVE TO SEE VIDEO

Four Years~ JUST Breathe...

 Cancerversary 4 years!  I still don't know how to feel about celebrating!!! The day that I got that dreaded  phone call "My life will be on hold for a while" crushed me into pieces.

( I was driving home with my 3 little ones in the car.  I had to pull over and  get my thoughts together for a minute!)

So I guess I  am celebrating that I am still alive and healthy... I am still in remission,  no signs of cancer. I'm still here to be a wife & a mommy!

So with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month I would like to encourage my friends and family to be aware of things that don't feel quite right either in your heart or something physically!

For me it was a feeling I had.  I went with that intuition and it saved my life!  So everyday I Just Breathe and try to be happy and thankful.

xoxo

DONT GIVE UP!!!

2012 BREAST CANCER WALK/RUN DONATE HERE

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING TO A GOOD CAUSE PLEASE THINK ABOUT A SMALL DONATION FOR THE BREAST CANCER SOCIETY.  IT'S A PROGRAM THAT HELPS WOMEN ALL OVER THE US WITH ASSISTANCE THEY NEED WHILE THEY ARE GOING THOUGH TREATMENT.

IT'S SUCH A WORTHY CAUSE.

I'VE SEEN WHAT THIS PROGRAM CAN DO FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THESE WOMEN NEED OUR HELP.

MANY OF THEM ARE SINGLE PARENTS AND TRYING TO RAISE CHILDREN WHILE FIGHTING TO LIVE...

MANY OF THEM ARE ALL ALONE AND HAVE NO ONE...

MANY OF THEM JUST NEED SOMEONE!

Good & Bad to Everything...

 

Their is always some good to everything.  I am happy to report that my "salt of the earth" friends little boy KEAN aka Keanut is responding to the Chemo!  This has made my day and again put my life into perspective. Good and Bad to everything in our life.  But today their was good!

In the end we are blessed by good things and today Keen was given great news.  Please continue to pray for him.  I love this family...

My Heart Aches

Today I found out that my dearest friends had been given some devastating news.  Their 2 year old son Keen was diagnosed with leukemia.  I can barley write without breaking down. So for now I just ask all my readers to please pray for this family.  They are seriously the most amazing people I know.  Not to mention the"salt of the earth"  I share you their blog because you need to know how special they are.  Please pray Please pray.  http://reincarnatedasamother.blogspot.com/ 

Thinking about the 4th of July

Lately I have been trying to remember what I did the last few years on the 4th of July  I realized that 3 years ago I was:

1. Finishing my treatments
2. Growing Out my hair
3. Starting Tamoxifen
4. Trying to be a mommy again
5. Learning to deal with my reconstruction gone bad

That feels like 100 years ago! I had to count back several times.  Couldn't believe it!   3 years has gone by... Many challenges still come in my life but this one is behind me.  This picture brings back memories of very dark days for me.  Those feelings are gone now.  I'm so grateful they are.  It's one of the things I hate most about cancer those dark days...


I hope to enjoy my 4th with Special Friends and Family this year with many Bright Days ahead.

xoxo

Pet Scan # 3

It's hard to believe that I have now had 3 pet scans since I had my cancer taken out 3 years ago. 

Ive said this before but once a person has cancer and it is invasive and goes to the lymph nodes you

really never have this behind you.

So I do everything my oncologist says to do and that means follow up with a terribly expensive test to

keep me on my toes til the results say= NEGATIVE for Cancer Cells!

So for now I will be extremely happy and feel blessed for another miracle in my life.

xoxo

Maya Maya Maya...

Went to her ortho appt recently and had her legs measured and a series of xrays.  The outcome looks good!  She is healing really well.  The doctor sees improvement in the way she is walking.  I thought I was seeing the right leg/hip rotating in but at times I thought it was wishful thinking because then in her next step her leg would turn out.  But we both agree she is really making an effort to strengthen her muscle and that in time she will be walking almost perfect (for Maya).  So no surgery for at least 6 months.  Blessed and very happy for this sweet angel. 

6 Week Post Op...Maya's New's...

Maya went to see her orthopedic surgeon a few weeks ago and according to her xrays she is healing and the "hardware" in her hip is doing well.  However, I had noticed that the leg that was worked on turns out as if she was in 2nd position in ballet.  I kept thinking that it was because her muscle was cut and it needed to get stronger.  So when I brought it to the doctors attention he had her walk for him and then he said that when he did surgery he saw that the ball socket is much flatter than a normal ball in the hip.  This is part of dysplisa. 

As Maya grows and gets bigger her bones form differently than a normal bone would.  He feels that this might be another surgery for Maya in the near future.  My heart was broken and sick!  This means 2 more possible surgeries for her.  I just wanted to get her in as best walking condition as I could for next year when she goes to Kindergarten.  Not in my plans I guess!  Maya will see her doctor in a few weeks to get sort of a plan for her future surgeries.

Maya's 1st step

It's been 4 weeks post op for Maya.  She started taking steps last Thursday.  She is not 100% stable without her walker but she is doing great!  Because both legs were effected this time with surgery she is a little slower in her healing process.  We are so proud of her.  More updates to come!
Just watch her!!!!

She Truly Is A Miracle

 Maya was born a complete surprise!  12 weeks along and I didn't even know I was pregnant!  Because I was told I couldn't have children without IVF help we never thought this would happen.  Then after she was born we were told she had a skeletal dysplisa which would cause her bones to not grow properly.  When she was 18 months old I got Cancer!  I had to put Maya's medical issues on hold for a while and get well so that as she got older we could tackle the problems that might come with her dysplisa.  At the age of 4 the doctors began to see what was happening.  Her hips were not growing properly and the muscle attached wasn't growing at all!  So then it was time to make the decisions for her. 3 surgeries to correct this problem.  At times I was down because it was 1st my issues then her medical problems. I felt like I didn't have a break!  After the 1st surgery I learned a lot about Maya's strenght and toughness!  But now I see she is truly a miracle!  She tries to do everything on her own. She never complains and will sit for hours just cutting out little pieces of paper.  All I want to say is she came to our family for a reason.  I am still learning to be grateful for everything that has been given to me.  I'd be lying if I said this experience has been so easy and wonderful!  It hasn't.  It's hard on me to watch her in pain and to wonder what her future will be.  But for now I will say to myself that she truly is a Miracle and be good with that.

Maya's Pre-Op

Miss Maya had her pre-op for the next surgery in her right hip.  Because of the "bony" issues she has with her dysplisa the doctor has concern for her spine and neck.  I'm happy to report that for NOW her neck looks good and no fusion needs to be done at this time.

So we will move forward March 5th for the next phase of her hip.  She is a trooper!  She told the doctor that when she was done with surgery she was going to "DaNcE"  to funny...

I watched her yesterday play in my room and noticed how content she is playing with a baby doll and a remote control.  Life for her is so happy.  It reminded me again to be happy for the little things. Be grateful for everything!

Life is good~

3 Years Ago



I've been reflecting on the past 3 years and how far I have come.  For example, less doctor appointments, less pain and less thoughts of how hard having breast cancer was for me.  I realized that I truly can do hard things!  So when I complain about the things I have to do currently in my life I go back to how hard it was for me 3 years ago and my perspective becomes so much clearer!



3 years ago:  I can do hard things!

Maya Girl and her 1st Promo for Phoenix Childrens Hospital

When Maya had her 1st surgery it happened to be during one of the biggest Fundraiser of the year for Phoenix Children's Hospital.  It involved KTAR a local radio station that hosted a 2 day telethon.  I was taking Maya for a little stroll around the hospital and was approached by a PR person from Phoenix Childrens'. She asked me all about Maya.  After meeting this person I was then asked to do a radio interview http://cluffcrew.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html and share my experience with how Phoenix Children's Hospital has helped Maya.

About 8 weeks later Maya was asked to return to the Hospital to do a photo shoot. We were able to share her story with sponsors and thank those who have donated to the hospital.  These donations help make it possible for children like Maya to have such great care here at Phoenix Children's ~ 

For February Maya was chosen to do the Thank You card Promo.  I believe their is more to come of her.  The photographer took pictures of her for almost an hour.  With here personality... she did every pose they asked here to do.

And can you believe this was 8 weeks post op? Here hip was broken-reattached-and a plate was placed to hold it together!  I will post more pictures as the PR department continues to send them.!

Maya will have another surgery in March on her right hip.  But I'm very hopeful she will do great!

Love You Maya! And so does everyone else!

Fittness & Cancer: Guess Post

 Written by: DAVID HAAS

It stands to reason that someone who has been recently diagnosed any kind of cancer including common cancers such as breast cancer and skin cancer and even rare cancers like mesothelioma wouldn't want to spend a lot of time exercising. The shock of having been diagnosed with an often fatal disease combined with the sickness, pain and fatigue associated with said disease can all but destroy any motivation that one would have for remaining or becoming physically fit. Physical fitness is important for everybody, even those who are suffering from cancer. Recent studies have found that while a regular exercise regimen is by no means a miracle mesothelioma treatment or a cure for any other kind of cancer, it has helped aid the recovery and improved the prognosis of many cancer patients.

Two of the most common and debilitating side effects of most traditional cancer treatments are fatigue and loss of muscle strength. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy tend to make patients feel very fatigued, so naturally they do not want to spend a lot of time doing much of anything, let alone engage in any kind of exercise. The muscle weakness commonly experienced by cancer patients naturally results from this fatigue. As they are deprived of exercise, these patients also miss out on some of the benefits that come from being physically fit including improved sleep patterns, increased energy, decreased depression and a generally improved sense of wellbeing. In other words, exercise can help a cancer patient or cancer survivor get his or her life back.

One form of exercise that many experts suggest for cancer patients is lightweight training. It's already been established that many cancer treatments cause a weakness in the muscles, so a weight-training program has proven to be very beneficial for many patients undergoing chemotherapy or similar treatments. It is not recommended that anyone who is experiencing fatigue or muscle weakness attempt any rigorous weight training exercises, but there are plenty of light exercises that can be done that will still help to build lean muscle mass and improve the overall fitness of cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Society has become so convinced by the benefits of exercise for cancer patients that they have implemented moderate exercise programs for patients who have been newly diagnosed with cancer. These exercise programs can technically be considered palliative therapy, which means that while they will not cure or treat the cancer directly they will at least improve the symptoms of the disease or treatment.