A Tale of 2 Boobies
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You might ask why I have a calendar page of my personal appointments on this website.  Simply because when I began this journey in October of 2013, every person told me the same thing... this is going to be a lengthy process, so get yourself a folder, a notebook, a calendar, and get organized because the road ahead is a long one.  I had so many questions that no one could answer, such as if I would be able to work or continue my regular routine of activities.  All they could tell me is that each person is different and everyone handles the treatments differently, so there is no way to know.  I honestly thought that kicking cancer's ass would be an easy-peasy piece of cake... little did I know that it would consume not only my physical and emotional state but also, all my time.  Below is a calendar of the facts with photos of what happened to me-- something I wish I had seen before I started this process.  Not that it would change anything but so I could be better prepared for the journey.

2016 - 3 years after diagnosis


Feb 2016

Feb 29 - Follow up w/ recon dr again

Mar 2016

Mar 23 - Skin biopsy again
Mar 31 - Full skin checkup

May 2016

May 16 - Pre-Op Visit
May 19 - Surgery - Capsular Contracture - implant replacement
Picture
May 2016 - Komen CNY Race for the Cure. Shelly and Michelle, survivors.

Nov 2015

Nov 18 - Radiation Oncol follow up

Sept 2015

Sep 1 - Skin cancer check up

July 2015

Jul 29 - Radiation Oncol follow up

June 2015

Jun 4 - Oncology follow up
June 4 - Group therapy
June 25 - Group therapy

2015 - 2 years after diagnosis


MAY 2015

Picture
May 5 - Psychiatry appt
May 12 - Skin Cancer biopsy
May 14 - Psychiatry appt
May 19 - Pap smear/ovaries checked
May 21 - Group therapy appt
May 28 - Group therapy appt

APR 2015

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Apr 7 - Psychiatry appointment
Apr 14 - Psychiatry appointment
Apr 15 - Radiation follow up dr appt
Apr 30 - Psychiatry appt

Mar 2015

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Mar 2 - Psychiatry appointment
Mar 9 - Psychiatry appointment
Mar 17 - Psychiatry appointment
Mar 19 - Physical Therapy for arm
Mar 31 - Psychiatry appointment

Feb 2015

Picture

Jan 2015

Picture

Dec 2014

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Me and my brother, Christmas shopping
Feb 2 - Physical therapy for lymphedema
Feb 6 - Physical Therapy
Feb 9 - Physical therapy
Feb 12 - Follow up oncology appt
Feb 13 - Physical therapy
Feb 16 - Psychiatry appointment
Feb 23 - Physical therapy appointment
Feb 23 - Psychiatry appointment
Jan 16 - Follow up appointment with mastectomy surgeon
Jan 16 - Follow up appointment with reconstruction surgeon
Dec 10 - Follow up appointment with radiation doctor

2014 - the year of treatment


Nov 2014

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NOT A SINGLE APPOINTMENT!!!

Oct 2014

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Oct 9, 2014 - Oncology appt to discuss hormone therapy

Sept 2014

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Sep 12, 2014 - Radiation follow up
Sep 16, 2014 - Brain MRI
Sep 18, 2014 - Oncology follow up
Sep 23, 2014 - Stopped Tamoxifen


Aug 2014

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Aug 1 2014 - My girlfriend and me
Aug 1, 2014 - Radiation #16
Aug 4, 2014 - Radiation #17
Aug 5, 2014 - Radiation #18
Aug 6, 2014 - Radiation #19
Aug 7, 2014 - Radiation #20
Aug 8, 2014 - Radiation #21
Aug 11, 2014 - Radiation #22
Aug 12, 2014 - Radiation #23
Aug 13, 2014 - Radiation #24
Aug 14, 2014 - Radiation #25
Aug 15, 2014 - Radiation #26
Aug 18, 2014 - Radiation #27
Aug 19, 2014 - LAST Radiation
Aug 20, 2014 - Start Tamoxifen

July 2014

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July 29 2014 - Me, My daughter, My girlfriend
July 21, 2014 - Radiation #8
July 22, 2014 - Radiation #9
July 23, 2014 - Radiation #10
July 24, 2014 - Radiation #11
July 25, 2014 - Radiation #12
July 28, 2014 - Radiation #13
July 29, 2014 - Radiation #14
July 30, 2014 - Radiation #15

July 2014

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July 1 2014
July 1, 2014 - 6 month follow up with mastectomy surgeon
July 7, 2014 - Radiation mapping
July 10, 2014 - Radiation #1
July 11, 2014 - Radiation #2
July 14, 2014 - Radiation #3
July 15, 2014 - Follow up dr visit for reconstruction
July 15, 2014 - Radiation #4
July 16, 2014 - Radiation #5
July 17, 2014 - Radiation #6
July 18, 2014 - Radiation #7


June 2014

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June 2014 - It can only be uphill from this!
June 6, 2014 - Exchange surgery

June 12, 2014 - Reconstruction follow up

June 17, 2014 - Follow up dr appt with oncologist

May 2014

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May 8 2014 - My last chemo!
May 6, 2014 - Dr Appt -reconstruction follow up

May 8, 2014 - LAST CHEMO!!!

May 13, 2014 - Reconstruction Dr Appt

May 19, 2014 - Radiologist dr appt

April 2014

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April 2014
April 10, 2014 - 2nd Taxol chemo

April 24, 2014 - 3rd Taxol chemo

April 25, 2014 - Ultrasound for lymphedema arm pain


March 2014

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March 2014
March 13, 2014 - 4th AC chemo treatment

March 14, 2014 - WBC shot

March 27, 2014 - 1st Taxol chemo

February 2014

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Feb 15 2014
February 4, 2014 - Reconstructive dr appt

February 13, 2014 - 2nd A/C Chemo

February 14, 2014 - WBC Injection

February 27, 2014 - 3rd A/C Chemo

February 28, 2014 - WBC Injection


January 2014

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42 days after mastectomy
January 2, 2014 - Lymphedema dr.

January 2, 2014 - Petscan

January 3, 2014 - Oncology follow up

January 14, 2014 - Reconstructive dr appt

January 30, 2014 - 1st A/C Chemo

January 31, 2014 - WBC injection


2013 - the year of diagnosis


December 2013

Picture
Photo taken just before mastectomy
December 9, 2013 - 1st Surgery - Double mastectomy and reconstruction with expanders

December 17, 2013 - Follow up after surgery dr appt

December 20, 2013 - Dr. Appointment - Meet and greet with oncologist and radiologist

December 26, 2013 - Repair drain tubes

December 30, 2013 - Echocardiogram to check the heart before chemo


December 31, 2013 - Remove last 2 drain tubes

December 31, 2013 - Surgery for port installation

November 2013

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Photos taken before I go under the knife
November 6, 2013 - Dr Appt with the surgeon to discuss biopsy results and options

November 11, 2013 - Dr Appt with the reconstructive surgeon to discuss options

October 2013

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Pre-diagnosis and happy!
October 17, 2013 - Felt a lump in right breast

October 24, 2013 - First Dr. visit, mammogram & ultrasound

October 31, 2013 - MRI

October 31, 2013 - Biopsy

I prefer not to be defined by cancer, but my life has certainly changed because of it.
Today, the simplicity of life and small moments of joy is what drives me.
Thanks for following my journey!