About

I've been living with cancer for 5 1/2 years now.  Wow! I can't believe it's been that long.  I remember being at a doctor's office when I first found out I had this and the nurse telling me I should do something fun over the weekend and eat anything and everything I wanted to.  I also remember going back to that office about a year  later and when she saw me she said in shock, "I can't believe you're still here!"  I know at the beginning doctors and nurses really did not think I would make it 6 months - it had spread to that many places in my bones but not my organs - and that is a big deal.  That is when the fight really gets hard.

I decided to start this blog because I realized a lot of people don’t understand what my life has really been like since being diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer that has spread to my bones.  Maybe I should say people don’t understand living with cancer period.  People look at me and think that I look fine, even healthy, I am - but I’m not. 

I’ve gained weight - which is partly because of cancer partly because I’m a sugar-holic and I don’t exercise like I should.  I would probably be doing even better if I could kick the sugar and lose some weight.  I also know though that if I’d been skinny - when this started - I probably wouldn’t be doing as well.  Having some fat to be able to lose is better than being skinny and no room to lose when fighting this disease.  I did lose weight at the beginning - 10 lbs. but I gained it plus 10 more back.

I’m thinking about trying the Whole 30 diet.  If I do I’ll write about the experience here and let you know if it works.

Since March of 2011, I’ve been through 4 surgeries, and 3 rounds of radiation.  I take a daily pill that’s supposed to stop cancer from coming back in my breast, and I get a monthly shot called Xgeva - which is a bone strengthener.  They tried something else at the beginning that they put in through my port but my doctor found out about Xgeva and wanted to try that.  

Maybe some of you don't know what a port is so here's a definition:

A device used to draw blood and give treatments, including intravenous fluids, drugs, or blood transfusions. The port is placed under the skin, usually in the chest. It is attached to a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) that is guided (threaded) into a large vein above the right side of the heart called the superior vena cava. A port may stay in place for many weeks or months. A needle is inserted through the skin into the port to draw blood or give fluids. Also called port-a-cath.

The port didn’t work for me.  They were able to take blood out, which was awesome because it really is hard to get blood from me -my veins in my arms are pretty much shot.  They were not however, able to put anything in because my lips would turn blue, my heart would burn and skip beats, and I would almost pass out.  It also caused nerve damage in my right arm. They took it out 6 months after putting it in and I was so glad.  I hated that thing!  

I’ve learned that compared to other Stage IV breast with bone mets survivors I’ve met, I think I’ve had it pretty good.  I do suffer with crazy fatigue, pain, and forgetfulness.  Some symptoms are from the bone mets, some are from medications, and some are from radiation side effects, but it’s ok.  I can still get around, sometimes I need help, but I can do a lot of things on my own.  I’ve learned I need to rest a lot.  As long as I take breaks and rest - I’m able to do what I need to and if not – then I don’t really need to.  I do what I can - when I can - if I can - and if not - no big deal. That’s my reality.  I hope reading this will help people to be understanding when I say, “Sorry, but I can’t.” 

Thanks for reading and letting me be “real” with you!

letsgetreal715@yahoo.com

vlynnhud@yahoo.com

My Facebook page: Mama H