This is the ONLY time I will acknowledge this anniversary

One year ago I got some news that would change my life.  Hell, for that matter, it would change anyone's life.  I got a phone call from my doctor telling me had lobular adenocarcinoma of my right breast.  What a crappy day that turned out to be. 

During this year, I have learned just how strong I am.  I now have a bracelet that has a pink ribbon on it with the words "Strength Beyond Measure".  That  just fit me to a T.  I always said I was a strong person.  Now I KNOW I am a stronger person!

I want to, again, thank all of you who offered up prayers, called to check on me, came over to keep me company and that one person with the coldest hands in Lakeland who come over every morning for a week to give me a shot after I had surgery. 

I will never be able to thank everyone in person but I'm sending out one great big hug to all of you!!!

This is not the end of my journey, as I will have final reconstruction next spring or summer.  I am looking foward to being cancer free for the rest of my life!!!!!

Remember to get your mammies grammed and have your annual exams!
Love you all

Denys

Treatment is DONE!!!

I cannot believe it. I am done with treatment!!!!!  Wow, what a year this has been.  It's so very easy for me to remember the panic, the fear, the sheer terror of finding a mass in my right breast.  The fact that I have done as well as I have is a miracle.  I worked through most of the time I've been in treatment from chemotherapy to radiation therapy.  I can't say enough about my coworkers who have had to deal with me and all the appointments I've had for treatment.  You all rock!!!

My family has been there for me from the outset of this.  My mother gave up her time to nurse me and haul me around to each doctor's appointment and every Monday for my chemo.  I'll never be able to thank her.  My father has been there for me as well.  He filled in when Mom wasn't able to be at appointments with me.  Thanks Dad.  I know you were scared out of your mind as much as I was.

My BFF, Pam was there from the beginning as well.  She actually stayed with me the first night I was home from the hospital just so I wouldn't be alone.  She's put up with my ranting and raving about the bad hand I was dealt.  She came over every morning after she got off work or got up to give me my anticoagulant shots.  She really got to "needle" me for a week. LOL.

My other BFF, Bonnie is a whirlwind of a woman!  She and I reconnected 25 years after we graduated from Lake Gibson High School.  I believe we were put in eachothers' lives for a reason.  She helped me find the positive and "pixie dust" in this journey.  She came to my house after I got home from surgery and just was there for me.  She even did something I never expected her to do.  She shaved her head the same day I did after the chemo started to take mine. 


To everyone out there that has followed this for the past year, thank you.  I will be continuing to post and keep everyone up to date, especially when I get the "rebuilts" placed!  I will only ask for continued prayers.

Remember to feel your boobies! Get your mammograms and do your MONTHLY self breast exam.  Only you know what's normal for you.  I am living proof that early detection is a life saver!!!

Hugs to all
Denys

One Year Later

Wow, what a year this has been!  It's been about a year since I found that damn lump!!!!! 

All of you that read this know that my Mom has been my rock for this past year.  She's seen me at my best and at my worst in this journey.  From the fear of having 7 major surgeries in one 6 hour session to chemo and losing my hair and through radiation therapy, she's seen me through it all.  She's cried with me and laughed with me, watched over me like she did when I was a child.  Thanks Mom!

This is not a year I want to live over again...... but I'm glad I lived through it.
 I've been taught humility.
  I've been taught patience.
 I've been taught unconditional love.
 I've learned to be the patient and let the nurses and technicians do what they need to do  (something I needed to learn, lol!).
  I've also learned to ask for help when I need it and to accept help when I didn't think I needed it.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and prayers.  Without them, I don't know how I would have done. 

I have been on a "break" from radiation because of radiation burns under my arm and on my right breast, but they are almost healed and will resume therapy on Thursday afternoon and will finish the 2 this week and 5 next week and I'll be DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, I will continue to follow up with all my physicians and have my mammograms as Dr. Dupont deems necessary.

Remember all:  FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!!!!! Get your mammograms and annual checkups.  The life you save may be your own.

Love and Hugs,
Denys

The beginning of the end of this journey

Hi everyone,

I know it's been a long time since I posted, but I've been busy living life.  I am going to start radiation on Wednesday, August 10th.  The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter by the day!

There have been a couple of changes in my life.  The first being that my nephew has moved from Georgia back to Florida!!!!!!!!!  I'm so glad to have him here.  It's been a rocky couple of years for him, but he's making strides to be the man I know he can be.  The second is the possibility of my Mom moving TO Georgia.  So, on one hand I'm happy and on the other I am sad at the loss of the closeness my Mom and I have forged over the last couple of years.

I finally have enough hair to now be able to hide the gray that I never knew I had, lol.  My favorite hair dresser is kind enough to work me into her day!

I am going to a dance this coming weekend and am actually competing in my very first competetion in West Coast Swing.  I think I have lost my mind, but I'm gonna have a good time anyway!!!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer so far.  Don't forget to schedule your annual "girlie" exams and tests and don't forget to feel your boobies!!!!

Hugs and kisses!
Denys

Some Good News for a Change!!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!! 

I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day Holiday and remembered to thank those on active duty and those retired military service for their sacrifice in defending our country.

I went to see the surgeon that did my mastectomies and she is "thrilled" with the way I am healing and there is no need to see her until December unless something happens!!!!!  What a great day!

I am counting down the days until chemotherapy is complete!  I only have 2 treatments left, that means I will celebrate my independance from chemo on July 5th!!!!!!!

My hair is continuing to grow back, it's about 1/2 inch long all over my head and it's a little grayer than I thought it would be. LOL!!!  I guess I'll be finding my hairdresser before too long for a little color therapy! 

I will start radiation soon and that means I am one step closer to the end of this ordeal.

Thanks need to go out to all my friends near and far for all the well wishes and prayer and all I can do is ask for continued prayers.

Please remember to take care of yourselves and have your checkups!!!

FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!!!!!!

Hugs and kisses to all!
Denys

One of the "Joys" being a cancer patient

Happy Sunday All,

I know it's been a couple of weeks since I've posted anything, but I have been dealing with one of the joys of being a cancer patient; Shingles!

Around the 18th or so of May, I started having pain in the right side of my head and face.  By Friday, I was in a lot of pain. I called my doctor and she wrote prescriptions for pain medicine and for a medicine for neuropathic pain and I came home for the afternoon.  I finally got the pain under control and was able to enjoy an evening out with my BFF dancing.  Saturday, we picked blueberries and made blueberry jam and went dancing again.  I made it thru the lesson before the dance, but the pain was bad enough I just couldn't enjoy my night.  I came home and took my pain meds and managed to sleep a little bit, but by Sunday morning, I was hurting so bad, I called the oncology doctor on call, told him my symptoms and he said it sounded like shingles to him, but since he couldn't see me over the phone, he would meet me in the emergency room and take a look at me.  So, I called my Mom and she came and got me and off we went to the ED.  Sure enough, I had a pretty bad case of shingles.

I was admitted last Sunday for IV anti-viral medication and IV pain control.  By Monday morining, I was feeling better, but was still requiring a fairly stout dose of IV Morphine to control the pain, along with an oral medication for neuropathic pain.  I told my mom and my BFF that I don't know how people with chronic pain deal with it day in and day out.  I have a new found respect for those with chronic pain.

Now, I am off work for at least another week and a half to make sure I am clear of the virus! 

On top of all of that, I caught a cold while I was in the hospital on the oncology floor!  Only this could happen to me! 

I hope all of you have a great Memorial Day and thanks to all of our service men and women for protecting us!

Remember to FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!!!!!!
Denys

Happy Spring

Hi everyone,

I know it's been a while, but there have been a few problems lately.  One of those is the fact that over the first weekend of April, I had a series of pretty severe migraine headaches along with some changes in my vision. 

When I saw the oncologist, she was concerned enough to send me to see an opthomologist, to have a cat scan of my head and to see a neurologist. 

The CT scan of my head was normal, or as normal as MY brain could be, the opthomologist said the changes in vision were probably just the aura of my headaches and the neurologist said the increased frequency of the headaches were probably from the sudden decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels in my body due to the chemically induced menopause that the chemo has put in.  So, with all of that said, I got a 3 week break from chemotherapy and was actually giving my body a chance to rest and heal for most of the month.

I restarted chemo on the first Monday of May and have done very well with it.  I have enough energy to go dancing and hang out with my friends a little more and am doing well with work.

I still am pretty tired when I get home and I usually just veg out!

I know a lot of you have been asking how I am.  I am doing very well.  I am missing spending time with all of you.  We definately need to get together sometime soon!

Love to all and REMEMBER TO FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!!!!!

Denys