How Time Flies

 2008 -2016

Eight years later and still going strong.  A life altering experience of CANCER changes ones perspective, values, and ability to breathe and let go.  This Maui trip with best friends has made the realignment easy -

Good Energy Brings Good

Fantastic!

Dr Macadam presented her paper comparing different types of reconstruction using a patient's tissue and was awarded Best Breast Paper by Plastic & Reconstructive surgery with her co authors today in Boston at the American Society of Plastic Surgery Metting!!!

5 Years Cancer Free! Yippee!

Happy 5 years cancer free to me!
Happy 5 years cancer free to me!
Happy 5 years cancer free to m -  e!
Happy 5 years cancer free to me!

3 More Sleeps . . .

3 more sleeps and it will be (5) FIVE (5) years since my Cancer surgery.

Happy recovery to me!  Happy recovery to me!
Happy recovery dear Lisa -
Happy recovery to me!

. . .  and many more!

4 YEARS CANCER FREE!

Four years ago today I had my 15 hour mastectomy and reconstruction! Cheers to me :)

2010 Top Breast Cancer Blog Award

OnlineNursingSchools.com

Good-bye Tamoxifen!

I have officially completed 2 yrs of tamoxifen.  Goodbye to that noise! 
I am now on to 3 years of Anastrozole.  Apparently joint aches and bone density (decrease) is an issue with this drug. No problem :)
I have a bone density scan coming up here in PG and then a follow up appointment in Vancouver (November).

Summer surgery healing is ongoing.  I feel good - still a tad tender on the left hip.  Black and blue bruising is all gone though.  :)

Day 4 Stage 2 - DIEP Recovery

Up and around . . .


A little bit if bruising on the chest - not bad.  This definitely looks worse than what it feels like.  I just have a pinching sensation under my armpits - where a bra would sit.











Still a bit of bruising on the right side. This is not painful though. It is yellowing and healing nicely.

The left side is another story. This looks bizarre in real life. I have never seen this much skin so black! It is kind of itchy and puffy soft.

This is the look under both armpits.  Yellow bruising.

And this is my recovery computer budy - Ethan.  In the morning and afternoon he is my email checker and he likes to play "mine game" - Monster Nitro Trucks.

Always a treat to have around!

Post Op - Day 3

Post Op Day 3 and I feel human again.  The headache has lifted and I am up and about. I am not running marathons . . . but I am moving.  :)

DIEP Day 2 - post op

Last night was pretty rough.  I was nauseated and had a massive headache. I am also peeing like a racehorse. It is painful getting up and down AND actually maneuvering garments over the bruising.  OUCH!

Today is much the same.  The girls want to take me out for a walk - but no, no, no. It doesn't feel right. Tomorrow will be my "out" day. I feel like a dog.  More reading, soaps, and dozing in and out today  :)  I get enough exercise going to the washroom (heehee)

Maybe tomorrow

DIEP Stage 2 Surgery Success!

Two years have passed and reconstruction resumes. Surgery was Monday, July 19.2010. Rhonda took me in @ 9:30am and I was taken in to the O.R at 12:30pm.
Surgery was 2 1/2 hours and I was released @ 4:00pm.
Here was the day:

Arrival at UBC Hospital . . .  surgery day is finally here!

Admitting : reviewing data :)

Small world with superb nurse - Cathy. She knew about the TIT's as she knows Chrissy from the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club $$ Cathy was extremely helpful and just such a beautiful person inside and out.

So I went home and was up and about until 8:00pm.  Not too bad.  The bruising looks worse than what it is.  Day 2 - I met with Karen Gelmon - oncologist. In September she will switch me to a new drug for my last 3 years.  Adios tamoxifen - yeehaw!  She want me to return in November to see how I'm doing. Also - I will have Andrea and Sheina tattoo the areola at that time.

So this is day two. Rob Gilbert - a local professional photographer (and family member) took these recovery pictures. I'll post day by day.

Can you believe that people PAY for this pain?
Good God . . .
I have the breast shots as well - but I'll email these for DIEP candidates as requested.

Surgery Stage 2

Surgery went well.
I was at UBC for 9:30am - under at noon.
3 hour surgery and good to go at 4:00pm
Rhonda was my nurse :)
A tad groggy right now.
Pictures tomorrow!

DIEP Stage 2 Surgery

Surgery date is set for Monday, July 19th. I am scheduled for the following:
Left Mastopexy (lift)
Bilateral Dog ear excision,
Bilateral Nipple recon,
Lipo to bil. hips and axillae (arm pits).

I am so ready for this procedure. I'll blog throughout this second surgery.

Visit My Crazy Sexy Life

2 Years Cancer Free!!

What a difference two years makes! This time two years ago I was still on the operating table after a 7:30am start. 15 hours later I was finished and off to recovery.

This second year has been difficult. I have NOT regained my energy,and I am just emotionally flat. I have recently resumed running. I usually tackle the university hill from our home.It proves to be a 10km run, but I am not enjoying myself. It is still and chore.

Will this ever change?

Remembering the Fight

"For me, breast cancer has been a great challenge, and an even bigger triumph!"

Lisa Norman, Mom, wife, breast cancer warrior, amazing woman

Pretty awesome reconnection with Suzanne. Here's her post. Thanks friend!

http://www.amazingwomenrock.com/stories-written/breast-cancer-triumph.html

BOOB -A -GRAMS

SEND A BOOB-A-GRAM !!!
By sending one, you will be helping an important woman, 50-69, become aware by reminding her about the significance of mammograms. But don’t stop there! Send it to all the women in your life and ask them to pass it on to the women they know who should have a mammogram.

Just fill out the “to” and “from” fields, customize your Boob-a-Gram with your own personal message, and then hit “send” and your message will be on its way.

http://boobagram.cancer.ca/sendaboobagram.asp

Still Amazed!

I am stunned by the number of women who opt for a lumpectomy or single mastectomy despite the incredible stats of cancer reoccurring in the other breast. I just completed an eight week online group study conducted by the BC Cancer Agency. This two year study is aiming to target women in their early 40's who have recently battled breast cancer to better understand the recovery process after treatment. Two of our group had a double mastectomy as well as having our ovaries removed. The others in the study had single lumpectomies or mastectomies. These women live with the constant fear of cancer coming back. These fearful thoughts impede the recovery process.
This does not make sense to me. Would you not rid yourself of all possible sites for cancer to reoccur? If the breasts are removed, the ovaries are the next best site for the cancer to metastasise. Have it all removed and live - knowing you've done all that you can. It takes a long time for recovery, so why give cancer ANY chance to come back just to do the whole process over again? No thanks. Yes, it's a personal decision . . . I guess it's just a no brainer for me.

One Year Check-up in Vancouver!

A year ago I completed my chemotherapy and started tamoxifen. I have one more year of tamoxifen. Dr. Gelmon does not want to see me until next August. She will then start me on Anastrozole for 3 years; then I'll be free and clear :)I had a great check up. We had a chat about Bev because, of course, she was Bev's doctor for 13 years. She marveled at Bev's courage and spoke about talking with Bev just days before she passed away. Sad. Bloody cancer!

After my appointment with Karen Gelmon, Jordyn and I whipped across the street to see Andrea and Sheina (plastic surgeon). Thank God I did. I slipped in for a quick hello AND I got taken in for a consult! It looks like next summer I will go under the knife. A little lipo suction here and a little tuck there . . . I cannot wait. These dog ears on my hips are gross. They are flaps of skin that I have to tuck in to my waistband. On low cut pants - it's a mushroom situation. REALLY attractive!


All is well and I am healthy! If the flaps are my biggest problem . . . it's a no brainer. Suck it up buttercup - or should I say butterball!

Metabolism Booster

I have just about completed 2 weeks of my metabolism boosting meal plan. I have lost 12 pounds and I feel energy plus! This will give me a good kick start to Clean Eating. After our trip to Vernon/Kelowna/Vancouver - our home will be using the meal plan from the Fall 2008 edition of Clean Eating. I have my food processor ready to go! There is even zucchini hummus! slurpy!