Have you heard this before? What goes through your mind? I didn't know what to think of this comment – until I could see it from both sides...
- I have several, very visible scars across my chest which are a constant reminder of my battle. Parts of me which were removed in surgery have been replaced by tattoos, which look quite convincing from a distance ... but aren’t real. Because everything was removed during the mastectomy, my chest is completely numb and always feels cold to the touch.
- Chemo-brain is very real and does not improve over time. Remember in high school, when they warned us about the dangers of alcohol, we were told that once we kill brain cells, they don't come back? Yep ... Same holds true for pumping your body full of poison to kill off an invading mutation.
- I continue to deal with the neuropathy caused by the last four chemotherapy treatments I received. I can’t feel the bottom of my feet and have pain which radiates from my feet, up to my knees.
- I am also quite immune deficient and have to wear a mask in places where infection might sneak up on me; church, planes, hospitals, conferences, etc. I don’t eat at buffets or accept samples at big box stores. Any food which can be touched by the public is off limits.
- I am still taking medication, including having a monthly “pellet” injection into my belly, and will take an aromatase inhibitor long-term.
- My surgeries were complicated by diabetes and the wound sites healed more slowly and with much more scar tissue because of it.
- I’m also told that while the neuropathy from The chemo is temporary for most patients, D made sure I would experience this, long term.
- Like cancer, D invades my thought life, but not out of fear. I am constantly having to calculate, analyze and guesstimate insulin doses, carb counts, reasons for highs/lows, second guessing those calculations and recalculating. With the help of my pump and continuous glucose monitor these calculations are much easier, but having a CGM alarm sound during a meeting can seriously upset your mojo. And then, of course, you'll the need to explain the interruption to those around you, and it's just one more reminder that you’re not “normal.”
- We no longer have a bucket list. If there is something we’ve always wanted to do, we make a plan and make it happen. We “eat dessert first.”
- My diet has definitely improved. While I occasionally slip into old habits, I try to eat more organic, fresh, plant-based foods.
- I try to reduce the toxic load on my body by using natural cleaning products, and personal care products, making many of these at home.
- I’m studying herbalism and incorporating natural remedies and essential oils into our health and wellness plan.
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Medical or nutritional information on the mySugr website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a physician or health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.