5 years ago, I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer... Today, I get to celebrate that I'm still here!

In 2013 - I heard the words... "You have cancer".  Then I was given those ugly survival percentage statistics.  I was told that if I refused treatment, I had a 21% chance of living beyond 5 years.

In 2014, I suffered through the physical trauma of surgeries, chemo and radiation for a year, then staggered through emotional distress trying to find a new normal for another year. Those two years literally sucked for me and my family. That's really the bottom line when it comes to cancer treatment... it just sucks. 

Not a single day goes by that I don't wonder when the cancer will return, but I keep myself busy enough to ensure those thoughts in my head are just a whisper.  And more importantly, not a single day goes by that I don't remain completely grateful. Grateful for every experience, every adventure, and all the people in my life who share these moments with me. 

Do I live a perfect life? No.  Am I happy every moment of every day? Shit no. Life is life, and just like anyone else - cancer or not - I have bad days and sucky moments.  But I still remain grateful.

There have been a lot of changes in my life - especially in 2018. Had the cancer treatments not worked or had I chosen not to lose my hair along with my dignity and every ounce of self esteem - I would have missed my oldest daughter's wedding, my youngest daughter's graduation from nursing school, my better half's promotion at work, my new adventure in Connecticut, my parents retiring, and so much more... so much... and that's just one year - one year that isn't even over yet! 

I don't want to miss one second of my life. I want my life to matter. I want to be a smile on someone's face. I want to be the warm hug that someone needs. I want to see the excitement from my dogs when I walk in the door. I want to feel the sun on my face and the ocean breeze in my hair. I want to live. I am grateful for my life and that I lived to see my 5 year anniversary.

One word of advice... no one knows your body like you... if anything seems odd or changes - get checked and don't delay.  Had I gone to the doctor when I first noticed a change, the cancer may not have traveled beyond the breast and may not have been 'as' invasive...

#remission

There are 4 stages of breast cancer and then they get broken down even more within the 4 numbers, but this post isn’t about any scientific issue with the staging of breast cancer.  This blog post is for the concerned family and friends of my community who read an article written about my breast cancer journey that included a typo.  The typo wasn’t a misspelled word or a grammatical error, it was in fact an error involving which stage of cancer I have.
 
Those of you who know me or have browsed my website, know that my breast cancer journey is an open book. I have broken down all the facts of my diagnosis and my journey through surgeries, chemo and radiation along with the terrors of taking the hormone therapy drugs. I have put the words to paper in my book and have never been shy about sharing all these details.  It is important to me for many reasons that my story is visible. It started as a way to communicate to all my family and friends what was happening throughout the treatment process in order to take some of the heat off my battle buddy and my mom from the continued inquiries into my health status. Writing my story as it happened was also important to me because I was told by many that the chemo would damage my memory...  Should anyone else in my family (especially my 2 girls) or any friends for that matter, need me to recall my journey, I wanted the truth to be out there.
 
I was recently featured on the cover of Syracuse Woman Magazine and what an honor it was to be asked. I am grateful for the opportunity to promote breast cancer awareness and also highlight my charity organization. The whole process from makeup artistry to my photo shoot with the awesome Alice G Patterson to the lunch interview with Lorna, the Editor of Syracuse Woman Magazine – was fantastic and so fun. All the women I met that day made me feel welcomed, comfortable and just plain special.

Shortly after the article was released, I began getting messages from family asking if the cancer metastasized.  Now, unless we are talking specifics, stage 1-3 are one thing but stage 4 is a whole other thing.  The article stated that I have stage 4 cancer.  In the world of survivorship, stage 4 cancer patients (who often get pissed off if you call them survivors), call stages 1-3 “early stagers," because the cancer has not metastasized. 
 
Breastcancer.org states:
“Stage IV describes invasive breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other organs of the body, such as the lungs, distant lymph nodes, skin, bones, liver, or brain.”  This is called metastatic.
 
Now, on my blog, I clearly state that I have breast cancer and I also have basal cell carcinoma which is skin cancer.  Because of this, it is possible that someone could get confused and think that my breast cancer spread to my skin but in fact I have been diagnosed with 2 separate kinds of cancer.
 
Let me be clear one more time: My breast cancer did spread to my lymph nodes but it has not gone beyond that and I do have skin cancer but it is a whole other diagnosis – therefore I do not have stage 4 cancer today, and every day I pray that it stays that way.
 
So for everyone reading this post and everyone who read my cover feature in Syracuse Woman Magazine, I thank you for your support and your continued support of a great publication dedicated to the women of Central New York!

The Oneida Daily Dispatch issues a special supplement called Think Pink for October's breast cancer awareness month.  I was recently interviewed by John Brewer and he wrote a fantastic article on the overview of my breast cancer diagnosis, my non-profit organization Hope Chest for Charity and the CNY Breast Cancer Resource Guide that the Oneida Fire Department helped raise money for.

Pictured in the article is my mom, Gail Iannuzzi - who I drag with me to every breast cancer walk in CNY.  Thanks Mom!

Thank you Oneida for the honor of being featured in your newspaper!

Fall fashion, fresh faces, fragrances, and a whole lot of FUN at the Lord & Taylor Syracuse 2016 Trends Show!

This experience was a first for me. I had dreamed of sitting on the front lines of a fashion show since I was a kid.  Today, I wasn't just watching, I was so proud and excited to also take part in the show.  The Lord & Taylor team graciously honored me and another incredible member of our community, Eva who is the Principal at Van Duyn Elementary School, with a congratulatory gift for our service to Central New York.

Before being brought on stage, I was pampered like a princess! An adorable outfit was personally picked out for me and my smokey eyes with red lipstick was creatively painted on by Chanel. After being brought on stage, Joanne Gabriel and her Lord & Taylor team presented me with a beautiful gift basket!

It was a pleasure to meet so many smiling faces.  Thank you so much to everyone who made today's show successful and allowing me to take part!  The honor was truly all mine.

As a guest blogger on the Cancer Knowledge Network website, I shared my personal relationship with the month of October. Here is the link to read the article --> https://cancerkn.com/my-personal-relationship-with-october-by-shelly-straub/?platform=hootsuite

I was contacted by the Editor of a local magazine here in Syracuse, New York about writing a piece on my cancer story for their October edition. Without hesitation, I emailed back and said "sure, no problem - let me know what information you need."  It wasn't necessary to think much about it because there are several online blog communities that will reach out and ask me to write about random topics relating to breast cancer. And it isn't because I am anything particularly special, its just because I already have a blog of my own relating to breast cancer - so they know I enjoy writing and sharing about my journey.

Shortly after that request from the Editor came, a second email followed and I was asked if I would like to be featured on the cover.  This email induced a pause.  My emotions were caught up in both excitement and fear.  How honored I felt to be asked but how afraid I felt for fear of being judged. 

I spent 5 years being the Editor of a travel and lifestyle magazine and though my newfound friends in New York City couldn't be happier when promising things happened during this career, such wasn't the same for my friends at home. One of my proudest moments as founder of this publication was the day when I received the call from Barnes N Noble who decided my magazine was worthy enough to grace the shelves of their stores. This moment alone was one of the greatest career memories I have ever had. I was certain that everyone I knew would be elated. I learned quickly that not everyone will share in your joy.  There are 2 kinds of people in this world.  The ones who say "congratulations! I'm so happy for you" and the other ones who say nothing at all and then find reason to put you down behind your back.

Knowing there are people who will judge me and put me down, I was hesitant about putting myself out there - all the way out there - like on the cover. But, I did it anyway because there were more reasons to revel in a cover piece than slump and say no.  For one, it may bring some attention to the non profit organization that I founded and if it does - then it was worth it 100%!  Another great reason to say YES to the cover was to show my girls that when faced with fear, push through it because overcoming fear equals strength.

Thank you very much Lorna for thinking my breast cancer journey was worthy enough to share and be featured on the cover. #grateful

Read publication online --> https://issuu.com/syracusewomanmagazine/docs/swm-oct-2016-pages-lo

CLICK HERE to go to the Syracuse Woman Magazine website.

Recovery process: One week after my implant replacement surgery due to capsular contracture.

I saw my doctor one week after surgery (Dr Upadhyaya) and with my list of concerns in hand, I asked:
QUESTION: How long I had to wear a sports bra, which is quite uncomfortable but that's because I haven't yet been to the store to get one that fits my larger size implants, and the incisions are in a lot of pain and are directly where the elastic band sits. ANSWER: Sadly, he requested I keep it on for the next 4 weeks, but did say it could come off for comfort a little bit each day.  QUESTION: I asked him why I only eat 900-1000 calories per day and walk the dog each day since surgery but gained 9 lbs. ANSWER: The body has been through a lot of trama from surgery and will retain fluids - the weight will come off by itself soon. 

QUESTION: I asked him what grade the capsular contracture was and he said ANSWER: Grade IV. Which just re-affirms what was said right after surgery that this was the worst case he has seen. 

Below is the photo of the implants that he removed. The right breast is obviously in very bad shape and the dark parts are actually some of the muscle that he had to cut through to get the implant out.

In summary, I have a lot of bruising on the right side but its completely normal due to the amount of work on that side. Other than that, my vitals are great and I am healing well! 

He also took a video during surgery! Thanks so much Dr. Upadhyaya!! You are the bomb!

Thank you for following my journey through breast cancer!

When I learned that I was going to need surgery to repair the reconstructed breast that was exposed to the radiation, I think I lasted about 10 minutes (which was the time it took to get from the dr office to my truck in the parking lot) before I googled looking for breast cancer survivors who had gone through something similar.

There's plenty of medical information on all the typical breast cancer sites but I always look for real survivor stories because I want first-hand information, not someone's theory based on statistics.

That being said, this is exactly why I am writing this blog post. Truth be told, my doctor told me the surgery would be similarly as invasive as the expander-to-implant surgery so I re-read my own blog to find out what I could expect for recovery time.  Should this happen to me again (which is not so uncommon), I can take a look back and know exactly how things will play out.

So lets get down to it. This was my 4th surgery due to breast cancer.
1. Double Mastectomy - 12/9/13
2. Chemo Port installation surgery - 12/31/13
3. Expander to Implant surgery - 6/6/14
4. Capsular Contracture - Implant replacement surgery - 5/19/16

On Thursday, May 19, 2016 (2 years and 5 months into my "survivorship"), I had surgery to repair the implant that radiation contracted. (so to speak).  To read the blog post I wrote when I learned all about capsular contracture, click here -->  http://www.ataleof2boobies.com/breast-cancer/capsular-contracture

The surgery was meant to last an hour and I was told I would be given the mask with oxygen, but since the surgery lasted over 2 hours I had to be intubated with the tube. And of course this left me with a very sore throat for 3 days and a fat bottom lip but by Monday all is well again. 

Just after surgery, my doctor came out to talk to Lucia in the waiting room and she writes his words to family and friends waiting to hear:
"So surgery is complete. Doctor said it was the worst he has ever seen in her right breast. She will be in a lot of pain due to the extent of what he had to remove. She is in recovery now and I am still waiting to see her. More updates to follow. - 8:50pm."

I was home by 11:30pm.  I don't do hospital stays and all those drugs make me so sick, I wake up and instantly start begging to go home.

Summary:
After just 2 days, I am on straight motrin for pain. I have 2 incisions underneath the breasts, the  one on the right side is obviously much larger (the trouble side). It throbs a bit and I wonder if there was some nerve damage because I feel the random sharp pains but for the most part, the only major uncomfortability is having to wear the tight sports bra for 2 weeks. Thankfully I was able to remove the velcro bra and shower after 48 hours.  The first pic in this post is just after my first shower. You can see the incision under the right breast, along with the marker lines that my doctor drew on before the surgery, and of course, my chemo port scar located above the left breast.

The worst of all this was Day 2 when I had enough of the CIPRO in my system to make me really nauseous. Thankfully, a call to the doctor and a pop of Zofran and that was over!

I will post before and after pics when I get the 'inside surgery' photos that my awesome doctor took for me. But I can tell you that what you are seeing in this photo is a HUGE improvement from what I looked like just a few days ago.

Thank you Dr. Upadhyaya! When I told you I loved you (about a dozen times) just after I woke from surgery, yes I was very drugged - but I meant it. Thanks for taking such wonderful care of me.

DRUGS FOR RECOVERY:
NOTE TO SELF: Never take Cipro again - side effects are nausea and bad headache - BELIEVE IT.
5-19-16 - 1:00am 4 hours after surgery, took 1 percocet and 800 mg motrin
5-20-16 - 5:40am 800 mg motrin
5-20-16 - 7:00am 1 percocet
5-20-16 - 11:55am 2 percocet
5-20-16 - 1:00pm - 1 AMOX/1 CIPRO
5-20-16 - 5:15pm - 1 percocet and 800 mg motrin
5-20-16 - 9:00pm - 1 AMOX/1 CIPRO
5-20-16 - 10:00pm - 600 mg motrin
5-21-16 - 5:00am - 1 percocet and 800 mg motrin
5-21-16 - 8:00am - 1 AMOX/1 CIPRO
5-21-16 - 3:30pm - 1 ZOFRAN
5-21-16 - 5:00pm - 600 mg motrin
5-22-16 - 2:30am - 600 mg motrin
5-22-16 - 7:30am - 1 AMOX
5-22-16 - 4:00pm - 1 AMOX
5-22-16 - 5:20pm - 600 mg motrin
5-23-16 - 7:30am - 600 mg motrin/1 AMOX
5-23-16 - 1:40pm - 800 mg motrin

Once again, I dragged Mom with me to another breast cancer walk. This was my first time here at the Komen CNY Race for the cure...I think.   I did the Komen 60 mile/3 day walk through Philly but I don't recall ever going to the NYS Fairgrounds for a breast cancer walk.  I do like that they walk around Onondaga Lake.  Much nicer than walking through City streets.

This year's event was held on May 14, 2016 and the weather peeps called for rain but it held off and turned out to be a beautiful day for an outdoor event.

It was nice to walk through the Survivor tent and be recognized but since I am now the proud President of a non-profit organization, I have learned a few things... I no longer appreciate the free gifts they give out because the point of a non-profit it to raise money so if I ask people to donate to my walk, I expect that every penny is going to the intended cause, not going to give a survivor a free gift at the next walk.

Komen always does a great job putting on events and they even made most of the crowd cry during the survivor song, myself and mom included but I am not happy that its been 10 days and they still don't have any photos posted. ughhhh 

I am proud to show my support by taking part in the events and I really enjoy seeing all my survivor sisters!

As a guest blogger on the Cancer Knowledge Network, I wrote about my experience with immediate reconstruction after a double mastectomy. 

Read the full article here --> https://cancerkn.com/immediate-reconstruction-post-mastectomy/