Posted on
Sep 30, 2009 by amy
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here are some of my favorite things about being a Breast Cancer Survivor. There are actually more, but here are five for now:
1. I’m warmer than I used to be. This is purely my opinion but I honestly believe I’m more cold resistant since I went through menopause. To explain- chemo induces menopause but in my case just before starting chemo my doctors gave me a Lupron shot in an attempt to protect my ovaries and preserve my fertility. So I spent 10 months in menopause- hot flashes, mood swings, the works. The positive was no PMS for 10 months (PMS on top of cancer treatments- I would have been a nightmare!). Ten months later I emerged- no more menopause. During that time I packed all my heavy sweaters away- I couldn’t stand to wear them due to the hot flashes, which was so weird for me because prior to that I always dreaded winter - I felt like I could never get warm. But even now I still can’t bring myself to wear them- even in the middle of January they make me feel hot. I like feeling warm so I don’t mind.
2. People are nice to you when you have cancer. This is especially true while you are sick and just following the diagnosis. Yes of course people are/should be nice all the time, but they are especially nice when they’ve thought about what it would be like to not have you around. Enjoy it.
3. No bra. This is nice but not quite as great as it sounds because even though I have no use for a bra (I am 100% silicone; these things will not budge under any circumstances), I FEEL like I am wearing a bra 24/7. It used to feel like I was wearing one made of cast iron, now it just feels like I’m wearing one in a size too small - something I’d love to remove at the end of the day but can’t. But I can pull off just about any shirt/dress/etc. without worrying about straps or support so it’s not so bad. As a side note you’d think by not needing a bra my Victoria’s Secret card would get a rest. I’m great at rationalizing though so I compensate for my cancer ordeal by buying every thing else there instead.
4. I appear to be thinner since having cancer. Note the word “appear”. The only difference between now and then is, I was rebuilt a size or so smaller- it’s completely an illusion but I am a woman and never mind hearing I lost weight.
5. Cool Experiences. There have been so many cool experiences. I constantly meet inspiring women- through the YSC, through my doctor’s office-- women much cooler and tougher than myself, and they are such great motivators and help me to stay positive and focus on being healthy. A free bike, video shoots, photo shoots, and training for a 227 mile bike ride (it never would have occurred to me to ride that far before cancer!). Free chocolate too.
And yes, of course I trained this weekend- I did my last LONG ride because thankfully now I am in the “tapering” stage. I rode Saturday morning- 60 miles from my house in Linglestown, through Hershey, Elizabethtown, down to Marietta for lunch at McCleary’s, back up 441 past Three Mile Island and back to home. I honestly felt great which is encouraging because I’m one week from go time!!!!
P.S. My quote! I’m headed for my quarterly check up right NOW… I have no worries though. :)