I AM DONE!!!

August 18, 2009

I need to write this day down in my calendar...


I AM FINISHED WITH ALL MY TREATMENTS!!!


Oh and I have one better for you than that.


I had my first cancer follow-up mammogram today (I will switch between mammograms and MRI's every six months for the next 5 years) and I am clear!!! You read that right baby!! I am clear!! No more cancer in these Ta-Tas!!!


Oh I am so excited!!


On Monday (after returning from the lake in PA), I had my treatment and my skin was so raw between my breasts that Sharon, the tech recommend that I see the Doctor. This was a different doctor, she was very nice and invited my two little ones (Chris and my 13 year old were in the waiting room) into the room with me (they were crying for me). Since I have second and third degree burns between my breasts (it is completely raw meat) she changed me to a aquaphor/lidocaine cocktail (a cream for my ta-tas) and as soon as radiation was over I received a prescription for Silvadene (that is the stuff they use on burn victims in the hospital). So at least my pain was relieved.


Today I had my mammogram done at 1:30pm. I was okay until they brought me in a waiting room to wait for my results. I was the first one in there and then 3 more women came in. When they all got called before me for their results, I got scared. But then I was brought in and the Radiologist said I was clear, that there were no malignant changes that they could see!!!!!


Oh my gosh the relief!!


Then I high-tailed it to my radiation appointment, I got there early and they brought me right back. So within five minutes I was done. Yes, done. The nurse gave me a certificate of completion. When I got in my car, I thought how stupid (at least for chemo I got a tiara), and as I read it out loud, I started to cry.

Certificate of appreciation

Be it Declared That

Laurie N____

Has Completed the Prescribed Course of Radiation Therapy

with the Highest Degree of Courage, Determination and

Good Nature. We Appreciate the Confidence Placed In Us

and the Opportunity To

Serve You

Shady Grove Adventist Radiology Oncology Center

Then it has all the doctors names and staff. (Yup, teared up by just typing it).

After nine long months (from finding my lump on December 5 until now) it has been such an emotional roller coaster, with highs and lows. Then end was rather anti-climactic, but if feels so good to be done.


I am putting all the cremes on my burns and I hope that I will be doing better in about a week. But what is so important is that I have eyebrows, and eyelashes again. My hair is growing in... and I am ALIVE!!!!




Now don't fret. I will still be updating as I go along. I have a follow-up next week and the week after with my Radiation Oncologist, a 6 months surgical check up on Sept 2, a 3 month chemo checkup on Sept 21, and then another MRI in February some time. So I will keep updating as I go and we cannot forget the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in October!!

My thanks and love to everyone that has followed me, supported me and prayed for me while on this journey. Words cannot describe how much I appreciate everyone.

Thank you