Done! After almost $500,000 in medical billings and innumerable doctor appointments, biopsies, surgeries, chemo treatments, radiation, and thousands of miles, I am done.
Radiation turned out to be a lot harder than I expected. It may have been at least equal to if not harder than chemo, which I would never have expected. Because of the daily grind of commuting to Boston every day, and the fact that my skin broke down towards the end, it was not the "easy part" of treatment. My skin is still sprouting new open areas and I have sore ribs, tight muscles and a swollen chest. I'm sure it will improve soon. The good news is that I seem to have escaped any extreme fatigue. Must be those pre-natal vitamins (which are also helping my hair grow pretty fast).
It's time to get on with life! We are planning a trip to Florida in February and then our big splurge will be Paris with our daughters in late May. At the moment I am enjoying not planning around the next doctor visit or treatment. I do have a follow-up visit with my medical oncologist next Wednesday, which I fully expect to be routine. I'll see the Plastic Surgeon the first week in March and a follow-up appointment with the Radiation Oncologist in June. Hey, the whole month of February with no medical appointments...how cool is that after 20 straight months?!?
I couldn't have done this without the love and support of all my family and friends. I felt your presence throughout this entire ordeal. I hope we never have to do this again, but you all made the journey so much easier.
Don't be surprised if I don't post much between now and when I get going on reconstruction later this year. In this case, no news is definitely good news!
With deep gratitude for your love, friendship, prayers, healing and positive energy,
Michelle
Michelle - I have to say you have probably done as much for us as we have done for you. You have shown us how to put up the "good fight" and how to live through diagnosis, treatment and reoccurrence with grace, dignity and humor. Your "can do" approach and attitude is a lesson we can all learn. Your willingness to share with us the steps along the way has brought to each and every one of us a deeper understanding of what "living with cancer" is all about.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your planned vacations, your family and your good health. You deserve all of the best that life has to offer and knowing you, I know you will live life to the fullest with gusto!
Elaine
I looked for a t-shirt that read: I survived breast cancer and all I got was a trip to Paris, but apparently no one's thought of it yet. ;)
ReplyDeleteProbably because in the end, you got so much more...
You are a survivor and I love you truly. I miss
ReplyDeleteyou and Rick too. Take it easy, live life and love
every minute. I know all this gives me a different
perspective in my life. After the ordeal with baby Peyton in 03' it was all such a reminder of how precious our lives are each and everyday.
ROCK ON MICHELLE!!! YOU DID IT!!!!
ReplyDeleteWishing only good health and happiness from here on!!!!
Michelle, I feel exactly the same as Elaine. You have shown us all how to get through a terrible ordeal while maintaining a good sense of humor. You are a rock star!
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteYour name fits you. I still think you are an ECaP!! Way to go!
Enjoy your trip to Paris. Sometimes life wakes us us up to take time to smell the roses.
Well done so far Michelle, and may God be with you. Take positive thoughts from your trip because you need that.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been on my blog for awhile - you did good - so glad to hear you are done and can take a much needed vacation in FL and can venture off to Paris. Enjoy all that you can. I love your hair. Blessings to you and your family, Deb.
ReplyDeleteGreat! I am so inspired to people like you that manages to make themselves look great even if they know that they have cancer. I am so thankful and blessed with the life you have right now, have you tried Alternative cancer treatments like yoga, massage, acupuncture and the likes? You looked great and I love it!
ReplyDelete