Update!
03 Jun 2011 3 Comments
So. I’m “done” with cancer! My last surgery went extremely well and I feel great! Still recovering, for sure – still need to be a little extra careful with how much stress I put on my chest muscles, but all in all, I feel really good! There is some “fall out” from all the treatments, the one most on my mind right now is the navel hernia that popped up during the second half of chemo. I tried and tried to get Dr. Maganini to fix it during my mastectomy, then Dr. Madry during my last reconstructive surgery, and both considered it but said ‘no’ in the end. I respect that they didn’t want to add to my recovery. However, now it is getting some incarcerated fat/tissue and it’s more painful and problematic. Dr. Maganini has referred me to another surgeon – Dr. Altimari (sorry if I spelled it wrong!) and he is going to fix it for me. I can’t wait. This thing is such a pain. Literally. Terribly uncomfortable. So for health stuff, that’s the update.
My intent at the start of this blog wasn’t to gross you out with my continuing health issues. I just thought the update was appropriate since this started as a breast cancer blog. I had intended to write about something else, really, but I think I will save that for another entry. I don’t write often. I want to write more often, but honestly, I don’t know what to write about much of the time. My life is terribly “normal” -ish – and I love it! But I don’t always feel I have anything interesting to report. Many times I will think of something and then realize that it’s still breast cancer related. I have finally come to terms with the fact that my life is STILL tainted with the cancer filter. I STILL think about cancer every day. Everything about my life I STILL relate to cancer in some way. And I suppose it will be that way for a while. I have been told that someday, I won’t think about having cancer so much. I really, really look forward to that. But for now, cancer continues to infiltrate my thoughts and attitudes on just about every thing. Not necessarily in a bad way, although sometimes. Mostly, though, it’s that heightened sense of beauty and joy and life. Gratitude. A sense of being recreated. Made new. Given a second chance. So, I guess I’ll continue to write about cancer “stuff” for a while. Not treatments and surgeries so much, but new perspectives and how it’s changed me. What I’m coping with or realizing in this new world as a survivor. I have heard that adjusting to being a survivor can be challenging, too . . . I didn’t totally understand that, but now I do. And it’s not BAD, but there are a lot of thoughts and emotions to sort out. I will try to work my way through it the best way I know how – by sharing it here. It may, or may not be interesting. It will help me whether anyone reads it or not. Just giving you fair warning . . . 
My family at the Living Well Cancer Resource Center Bridge Walk
Jun 03, 2011 @ 13:09:33
You know Robin, whenever you blog, whatever you say, someone,somewhere will be affected by it. Your courage, your strength, your faith, your fears, your feelings will touch someone, you may never know who or how, but someone, somewhere will feel better because you as a survivor, have shared. Keep up the good work and God Bless
Jun 03, 2011 @ 14:21:20
Robin- Once a life has been touched by cancer, it will forever leave a mark. As a survivor, you will always have that experience to make you truly understand the beauty and also the frailness of life. I am sorry to hear that you will have another surgery in your future, but if it helps,Dr. Altimari is an excellent doctor. You will be in great hands. Dr. Altimari performed two or three hernia surgeries on my grandma, one was very major after another surgeon screwed up. He also removed the tumor from her colon right before she passed away. We have a great deal of respect for Dr. Altimari.
Jun 06, 2011 @ 15:11:25
Brenda, it’s always good to know that someone else has had success with a particular surgeon. I liked him a lot, and he came highly recommended, so this definitely re-affirms my decision to use him!