Update - Two Years Post-Surgery

It's been a while.

I don't post much on this blog any more and have moved my focus over to www.eileenbjennings.com.  That being said, events over the last couple of weeks have brought the subject of my breast cancer experience back to the forefront of my thoughts.  My Timehop app kept reminding me that it has been a little over two years since my mastectomy and reconstruction surgeries.  It kept reminding me that this blog was a huge part of my recovery/therapy during that time.  I have had a few friends that have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are going through their own journey with the process.  I have also had a number of friends test positive for the BRAC genes and decide to a have a prophylactic mastectomy to curb their risk of developing breast cancer.  And then yesterday, my plastic surgeon's office called yesterday.  Would I be willing to talk with a patient who has been recently diagnosed and will be having a mastectomy soon?  Of course.  The nurse also told me that they give my blog address to patients and they find it helpful.  Who knew?  Snarkiness can help?  Love it.

So here is a quick update:

-  Things are good.  All of my follow-ups with surgeons and oncologists have been good.  They tell me to be diligent, but that my risk is very low for re-occurrence.
-  Menopause has not been fun, but it hasn't been that bad either.  I was going to go through it at some point any way...why not go cold-turkey.  I have to think like a 55-year-old woman and focus on bone density, mental sharpness, etc., but it's better than cancer.
- The fake breasts are getting better.  They were very perky and high (I could hold a flashlight in my cleavage...seriously) and now things are a bit more relaxed and there is more movement.  I haven't had the last procedure (medical tattooing) because it has take a long time for my scars to fade.  That will happen soon.
-  Post-traumatic stress is real.  It took a while to internally acknowledge that what I went through was difficult and took a fair amount resolve to endure.  I didn't need to minimize it.  It happened, it was hard and I made it.

So, things aren't the same as they were pre-cancer, but they aren't bad.  We all will have challenges that we have to work through and we can't expect ourselves to remain the same through it all.

To those that read this that I will never talk with or meet.  Hang in there.  Your cancer story is your cancer story.  Don't compare it to others.  Do what feels right and keep asking for help until you feel as satisfied as you can.

Best wishes to all.