Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Week- it's more than just awareness

September is ovarian cancer awareness month.  October is breast cancer awareness.  Straddling both months is Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Awareness week.

September 27th to October 3rd.

Throughout the last 2 years I have felt guided on this wild journey.  A journey that started with a crazy move from Connecticut to Texas continued with finding out I was BRCA 1+ and then discovering stage 1 fallopian tube cancer.

While I'm very sure there is a higher power at work here.  It has also made me incredibly aware of the power of my family and those that went before.

I acutely felt the loss of my grandmother and aunts taken way before their time.  The birthdays, holidays, graduations, weddings...the lives they missed.

I feel so blessed to have the knowledge they did not.  

So while we paint everything in teal and then in pink.

I often think of the fallen.  I thank them for the knowledge that saved my life.  I wished they'd lived longer.  I wish I had known them.  

Ease on down the road

 

I celebrated another birthday over the weekend. One thing about surviving cancer?  I don't care about getting older anymore.  It's a option I almost didn't have. So more birthdays...is always a GREAT thing!

I'm finally feeling normal again. Also good.  

Sure, I still have some neuropathy in my feet, but I have a feeling that may just be the new normal for me.  But more importantly my stamina is coming back. For the past year getting to work and back was just about all I could handle. Now I am focused on some work projects, home projects, traveling and perhaps a new hobby...writing.

And it all feels good.  

Really good.

I've also decided to get moving on my next set of surgeries.  I had an appointment last week with my new plastic surgeon. I have started the process of having  preventative mastectomy surgery in November with reconstruction to follow next spring.

The whole thought of "preventative" surgery makes me cringe a little.  Since that was how my ovarian cancer was discovered.  Yes it was preventative...it prevented me from dying. .  

Hoping this time will be different.  But if they find cancer, they find it early.

I may be the poster child for that :)

I have to admit the thought of losing my breasts is hard.  I am struggling with it.

But today when I was shopping I realized I have had to work my wardrobe around my breasts since I was 15.  Being large breasted is truly a pain...in the chest.

So here's to preventative surgery...whatever it may prevent.  Cancer or death.  Perhaps both?

And here's to wearing cute bras without massive support, camisoles with thin straps and backless shirts.  

Silver lining?  CHECK!

Maybe even a rainbow...