OLYMPIC FEVER!

Sorry, folks! It's been a while since my last update. I am sure you're wondering where I've been. Actually, I've been competing in the Chemotherapy Olympics. You're probably wondering which event I'm competing in.... it's the decathalon, of course! Below is a listing of the events that I have completed so far:

-Hurling
-Throat and gum swelling
-Constipation
-Fever and chills
-Hemmerhoids

More events to come!

NORMAN MEOWSERS

I would like to dedicate this week's Life's Little Joys post to my cat, Norman Meowsers. Norman is always there for me providing me comfort and entertainment! It's funny how he knows that I am feeling bad. If I'm not feeling well or if I am sat, Norman always comes up and rolls around on my lap. Meowsers!

I MADE IT, BARELY

First off, thank you to everyone for your words of care and concern! They are really helping me through this.

I made it through the first round of treatment. Friday night was probably one of the worst nights of my life, but I got through it. I am still feeling kind of quesy and a bit achey, but I am starting to feel a lot better.

Again, thanks to everyone for your support!

UNLEASH THE DRAGON

The Red Dragon, that is. The Red Dragon is one of the regimens of chemotherapy that I will start tomorrow. It will be the first of 8 total treatments of two different drugs that will span over 16 weeks.

I am happy to report that after my surgeries and tests (a bone scan, echocardiogram, and a catscan of the chest), it doesn't appear that there is cancer anywhere else. If there are floaters in my bloodstream , the Red Dragon should take care of them. Bring on the Red Dragon!

SHARING THE LOVE

Now that my drain has been removed, I have relinquished my drain purse. My friend, Shelby McTriever, loved it so much, I decided to let her borrow it. Puppies!

GET TO KNOW YOUR GIRLS, GIRLS!

As we have all learned, you're never too young to get breast cancer. Young women need to be especially aggressive in checking their boobs for lumps since annual mammograms typically do not begin until after 40. So, learn out to do a Breast Self Examination (BSE) and do them religiously! The more that you check your boobs, the better you get to know them. The Susan G. Komen Web site provides a great how-to guide for BSEs. Check it out and get to know your girls!

If you're having trouble remembering your BSE, the 3M corporation has a great BSE reminder program. Check it out be-otches!

MAKE YOUR MARK ON HISTORY

By putting your name on the world's largest pink ribbon made up of pink post-it notes! The World's Largest Pink Ribbon will stand over 70 feet tall and consist of over 75,000 pink Post-it® Super Sticky Notes. By entering your name, city and state on the website, you will not only be supporting City of Hope through the 3M contributions ($1 for every post-it), but also be represented by one of the more than 75,000 Post-it® Super Sticky Notes making up the World's Largest Pink Ribbon.

Thanks to my girl Adina for the link!

LUCKY FOR ME, HATS ARE BACK

According the Fashionistas at the New York Times, hats are making a comeback. Sweet.

Registration may be required...boo.

HEAVEN'S POOLS ARE FILLED WITH CHEESE DIP

When you're facing a life-threatening illness, you realize how much the simple things mean to you. I've decided to start dedicating a weekly post to life's simple joys.



By far, one of my joys is cheese dip! Cheese dip from Agua Linda is my favorite by far. Not only do can you enjoy its scrumptiousness by dipping crispy tortilla chips in it, it is equally good when your burrito is smothered in it! Yummy! Experience this joy yourself!

SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN

Ahhh...finally, I have showered! Don't worry, I have bathed in the past three weeks, but I have not been able to shower because of my drain. Yesterday I had my drain removed and today I showered. It was GLORIOUS!



In honor of this momentous occassion, learn more about the history of the shower.

LEAVE IT TO THE DRUG COMPANIES

Gosh! They'll market to anyone. Check out this ad I found in a magazine.

BALD IS THE NEW SHAG

If you're facing chemotherapy, you're probably wondering how you will look with no hair. I was curious myself. Instead of waiting for each strand to fall out, I decided to create a bald me.



Beautiful, huh?

For those of you who are curious how your favorite celebs look with no hair, check out this site. Thanks to Mail Clerk and my friends at thedayjobs.com for the link. Holla.

NICE SACK!

It's the newest trend in Fall fashion: The drain purse!



No, seriously. I've had a drain in since my lymph node surgery on July 23rd. And, it is a real pain in the ass, but my new drain purse has made it a lot more bearable! Thanks to the folks at the Loran Smith Cancer Center for my drain purse, a real life saver and staple for your fall wardrobe.

"CAN I GET A NUMBER ONE AND A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY WITH A DIET COKE?"

Thanks to my dad for this one.

From lifetimetv.com:

On September 25, 2003, Lifetime Television delivered more than 5 million petition signatures to Capitol Hill, urging Congress to ban "drive-through" mastectomies — the practice in which women are forced out of the hospital sometimes only hours after breast cancer surgery. Sign our petition now to help end drive-through mastectomies once and for all. Read the article and sign the petition. I did.

I CAN'T MOVE MY ARMS

Does anyone remember that episode of Seinfield in which Molly Shannon played the girl who never moved her arms? I am that girl right now.

Yesterday, I had a number of tests and a passport put in upper left arm. The passport will provide easy access for the chemotherapy. Now that I have a fresh incision on my left arm and a sore right arm from my lymph node surgery, I cannot move my arms! At least I can move my fingers enough to types messages. So, if you see me walking with stationary arms, now you know why.

PS-I have a number of posts to upload, but they include pictures but I have yet to learn how to upload pics (I need help from Computer Support). Keep checking back!

LIFE'S JOYS: HAIR, BOOBS AND CARBS

First they tell me that I going to lose my hair and maybe even my boobies, now they might take away my precious carbs! Well, I guess it doesn't matter too much since I already have cancer.

SO, HOW DID I GET HERE?

Earlier this year, I was doing my BSE (Breast self-examination), and I found a lump. It really didn't concern me since I have lumpy-booby disease (AKA Fibrocystic disease) and I've had a biopsy before that turned out to be nothing. I decided to wait until my yearly examination with my gyno.

When I met with my gynecologist, she referred my to my surgeon, Dr. Cannon, to have it checked out. He suggested that I get an ultrasound. The radiologist said that it looked benign and that I shouldn't worry since I'm so young. (For those of you that don't know me, I am 25).

I met with Dr. Cannon after the ultrasound. The final report from the radiologist said that my suspicious lump was "definitely as cyst." Dr. Cannon decided to do a needle biopsy (Ouch!) just to make sure it was a fluid-filled cyst. Well, it wasn't. He did capture some tissue during the needle biopsy, and had it sent to the pathologist for testing. It turned out that they found "atypical cells," and that I needed to have surgery to have it removed.

As I slowly awoke from the wonderful drugs (undoubtedly the best part about surgery), I saw the blue blur of Dr. Cannon next to me. He told be that I had breast cancer. I responded with, "OK, great. Thank you so much" (drugs talking). I remember feeling like I wanted to cry but I didn't because I was still hoping that it was a drug-induced dream. When they rolled me into the recovery room, and I saw everyone's faces, I knew it wasn't a dream.

That was a month ago, and since then, I've had another surgery to remove and check my lymph nodes. Just 2 out of 21 had cancer in it. Next week I have a number of tests before I can start chemotherapy.

Again, welcome to my blog. I hope that my friends and family with use this blog to track my progress. And, I hope that other women with breast cancer will use this blog as a resource and much-needed comic relief. Enjoy and check back!

WELCOME!

Hi! Welcome to The Tit Offensive, my blog dedicated to my fun-filled journey with breast cancer. More to come!