Bright Pink Warrior

I had my appointment with the breast reconstructive surgery last Monday and even though it definitely felt awkward, I got a lot of my questions answered and I have a goal to work towards. I found out that I won't be able to do the mastectomy and the reconstruction at the same time like I was hoping I could. I'm definitely disappointed by that, but thankfully, since I REALLY don't want to go flat, I have the option to have expanders put in until I am cleared for the reconstruction surgery. I had thought a LOT about it before and I don't think I would take it well going completely flat. I already have body issues and I know this would make it worse. I was told this is definitely common and shouldn't be a problem. She did tell me that I will need to lose weight before is even be a candidate for reconstruction surgery. Basically, I'll have to lose at LEAST 40lbs, which is already a goal anyway. And I've lost 10 lbs since seeing the endocrinologist!! The doc ...

So, it's been almost a week since my appointment but I haven't posted anything because I was processing a hard truth. I had an appointment with the endocrinologist and it went really well and I have a great plan on place, but it was also a hard conversation to have. My purpose of going was to see what I could do to more weight as it feels nearly impossible due to PCOS. Traditional "eating healthy and exercising" are all good and well but it's not enough for me. I want to lose at least SOME weight before getting pregnant again, if possible, and then of course to lose more weight to be healthy! The doc and I came up with great and reachable goals for the next 3 month's before being re-evaluated. He also prescribed some meds to help (which I'm on day 2 of taking it). All in all, I'm excited about it! But, we also briefly touched on the possibility of a future bariatric procedure when I'm done having kids. While It's definitely crossed my mind ...

As of this moment, I am still early on in my adventure, but I've also already done A LOT. I had a mammogram, which I will have to do every year until surgery.  I have an MRI scheduled for January, which I will have to do 6 months after the mammogram and will have to switch between the two every six months until surgery.  I have had an appointment with the high-risk gynecologist to make a plan for my ovaries.  I get to see her every year until surgery as well.  Most recently, I met with a reproductive specialist to talk about options to get pregnant again (because ta-da, I also have PCOS).  My next appointments are in November.  First with an endocrinologist and then with a breast surgeon (because I'm anxious and have a lot of questions and need to make a plan).  Phew! It's been exhausting, but it's all worth it. My daughter and my husband are completely worth it!  I have had some AMAZING support from people that are both close to me and those wh...

Websites: Youngsurvival.org Brightpink.org FORCE- facingourrisk.org Books: Dangerous Boobies: Breaking up with my time-bomb breasts by Caitlin Brodnick A Cancer in the Family: Take Control of Your Genetic Inheritance by Theodora Ross The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook by Kathy Steligo

I have been considering doing a blog for a while.  While doing online research to see what others have gone through, I found it to be helpful, and strangely comforting, so I thought that maybe my story can help someone else as well.  So, if you are reading this, welcome!  I am just a normal momma of one, who works hard, loves hard, and is determined to live as long as I can. My story actually begins with my mom.  She was adopted at birth and never had an interest to learn about her biological family; "The mom I know is the only one I need" she would say.  She was right, her mom, Jane, the grandma I knew, was pretty amazing.  The one problem with not knowing her biological family was that we also didn't know any medical history.  If we did, it MIGHT have saved her life. When I was young, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  From what I remember, it was found at an early stage, thankfully.  My mom still decided to have a bilateral mastec...