Kicking Cancer's A** -- My Road to Recovery

This past week I have paid $50 in co-pays just for the privilege of talking to a few specialists. Not even a blood draw in the mix. I am about 6 weeks post-surgery and I have to make a decision on my next treatments. I thought I had that figured out and I thought it would be easy. As has been the case several times along this rocky road I have been on since August of last year, I was wrong. Just a final update on my condition post-surgery: I am as recovered as I think I'm gonna be for the most part. The scars are healing (although they still look like angry red cuts) and the residual pain and sensitivity is minor. I have been completely off any pain meds for two weeks. The cosmetic appearance is actually very good (after the surgery I looked and felt like a carved up Thanksgiving turkey). Thumbs up. So to catch you up on the past week, I met my radiologist on Thursday. He is a nice man, probably in his 50s or early 60s and the first guy I have let touch my breasts since the s...

This posting is for my medical, scientific and technical friends (and you know who you are). I promised doing a summary report with all the pathology info so here it is. To date, I have had two different labs analyze and report on two different samples taken on two different dates (October 23 and December 11). Both reports are remarkably similar. I will not attempt to identify or explain any of the technical/medical terms listed below. That information is readily available online and it's a bit too tedious for me today. I will also not give much commentary on the report. As my title suggests, this is just a collection of the objective facts. Anyone who wants to do more research on any of this is more than welcome and I would appreciate any feedback if you have it. Patient has family history on paternal side with Grandmother and Aunt diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Genome test: Negative for genetic BRCA mutation. Patient has life-long history of fibrous breast tissue and fibrocyst...

Hey everyone! I went back to work last week on January 3rd. After working a 4-day RV show in San Antonio, I am now in Phoenix, AZ, doing the Maricopa County Home Show at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. I return back to Texas on Monday. My next shows are the last week in January in Sugarland/Katy, TX. You could say I am back in the saddle again with my work schedule in full throttle. So far, so good. My boss is understanding now, and will continue to be in the future, as far as ongoing doctor appointments and future treatment schedules and will work with me in reducing hours should I find I am tiring more easily. I am very lucky. Money is tight as my checks have not gotten back to normal; that should ease soon as our busy January through April show season kicks in full force. I am feeling much more like myself pre-cancer and like I am easing back into what I think of as normal life. That is a good feeling. I am healing slowly but surely. The pain is much less (but not completely go...

Happy New Year to all!! It has been three weeks today since my surgery. Although I had been on somewhat a plateau with a few set-backs for the past week, as I approached the weekend (and the New Year holiday) I started to improve again and the pain is much less. I even went to Six Flags with my daughter this past Saturday (on the only day that was reasonably warm) and rode some rides. Although I was concerned that might be too much, I did quite well. And the next day I felt better, not worse. I have actually had some time with virtually no pain over the past couple of days and that has not been the case since the surgery. Although the soreness and aching comes and goes, the shooting sharp pains have stopped. I am not as tired now as I was before and will be ready to return to work as planned, on the 3rd. I am getting stronger and better every day and think in another week ALL the pain and discomfort will be gone. I just changed insurance companies, effective today, and will be mo...