Sayonara to Chemo!

It's been a long time since I updated this blog. Sorry everyone. That last chemo session in January hit me like a ton of bricks! I've been pretty sick. The chemo is now hurting my taste buds, so everything tastes gross. I'm really having a hard time eating or drinking.

Anyway, I just had to write and tell everyone that I just had my very last chemo treatment on Wednesday. YAY!!!! I can't believe it's over. I'm so happy. Sick, but happy. My doctor actually told me this time that the chemo leaves my body after about 4 days. I didn't know that. He said the side affects stay for about 3 weeks, so that explains why I'm sick for so long. But, the good news is that my hair should start to grow back in about 3-4 weeks. I'll have a head full of peach fuzz when my missionary son, Grant, comes home in 5 weeks.

Yesterday, at the chemo place, all the nurses were so happy for me. Then my sis, Kris, showed up with my niece, Ellie, and a hand full of balloons (pink hearts and a great big monkey) and a pretty velvet box full of goodies. The nurses sent me home with a bottle of sparkling peach/apple juice. I'll have that when my mouth tastes better. Other patients kept saying things like: "Congratulations" and "Good luck". My mom cried before the chemo started and I cried the second I stepped out of the office. What an emotional day. I just can't quite describe how it made me feel to know that I made it through the chemo and now I'm on the road to recovery. I feel like I've been holding my breath for 6 months and now I can finally breath again. Wow.

I've been under the impression that I have to wait for 6 months after the last chemo to have my reconstructive surgery done. But, yesterday my doctor said no, I can have it done whenever I want. Isn't that great news?! I thought I'd be having it done in September, but now, as soon as we are finished expanding I can have the surgery done. I'm hoping it will all be over by June. I can't wait to get these expanders out! My chest is getting very tight and sore. The doc said that as soon as I decide that I'm at the size I want to be, then he'll expand two more times and then schedule surgery. I've heard that the surgery is really hard, but I think mine won't be quite as painful because I'm still numb all across my chest. Hopefully that will help dull the pain of recovery. I'll actually have one big surgery (to replace the expanders with sicilone implants) and then two smaller surgeries - one to form the nipples and another one to tattoo around that area. I'll just be happy when it's all over.

The only disturbing part about this whole thing is, my doctor said the only way to keep on top of future cancer is follow up visits. There is no test that can help. I'll just have to wait until I have, for instance, a cough that won't clear up, or an ache that won't go away. Then we can check it out. Of course, I'll never have another mammogram (what's the point, right?) no other test will catch anything very early (MRI, CAT, blood tests, etc.). The doctor says it doesn't make him too happy, but all we can do is meet every 3 months for the first two years, then every 6 months for a year, and then every year for the rest of my life. I wish there was a better warning than a cough or an ache. Oh well. I'll just have to keep myself really healthy - lose weight and really start seriouly exercising - and then hope for the best.

I'll try to start the blog posts on everything that led up to when I started this blog. There's alot to tell and hopefully my experience will help others.

Bye for now...
-Kara