Miriam's Journey:

History of Breast Cancer runs in my family. Since it is genetic I always feared I would be a carrier and now this fear has been confirmed.

I had a right mastectomy and an implant. Unfortunately, the implant had to be removed and I had several surgeries becasue the plastic surgeon left a sponge in my body. It was a long recoverery and I still have to go through an implant. I have a chest that looks like a battlefield and I still have discomfort around the site.

The first series left me sick and extremely tired but I tired to keep busy and work as much as I could. The second round (taxal) I lost my hair and was really tired but it was much easier than the first.

Chemo brain is very real!! Although I am better, it was difficult to remember things and to process information. Now I am six months from the last chemo treatment. I still have neuropathy but it is better. My fingernails and toenails that I lost are back, my eye lashes and eye brows are grown back and my brain is working better. I am still tired a good deal of the time but that is better too. The biggest problem now is joint pain and hot flashes from the post chemo meds.

I am in the process of scheduling a second mastectomy. Since my cancer was hereditary I want to eliminate any chance of a reoccurance. When I have the surgery I will have two implants also "installed". I debated on this but decided that clothes don't fit well without breasts. I am looking forward to some closer on this whole process.