The Adventures in Pink Continue...

I can’t believe it has been over a month since I updated my blog last – where has the time gone! I thank God daily for my health and the energy to live life and enjoy being with my family and friends.

I started hormone therapy at the end of September, the 29^th to be exact and it definitely has been an experience.  I don’t mind the Tamoxifen which is the daily pill I take that blocks my estrogen but it’s the monthly Zoldadex injections (stops my ovaries from producing estrogen and is causing me to go into menopause) that I could surely do without!  When I went in for my first Zoladex injection and was told by my nurse Kris that she would be numbing my stomach so she could inject the Zoladex pellet (yes pellet!) I knew I was in for trouble.  The whole experience was pretty difficult and emotional due to the fact that I didn’t know what to expect, not knowing how I would respond to the possible side effects, and that I would be pushed back into menopause which I had already experienced during my chemo treatments (and I was not missing the night sweats and hot flashes one bit!).  I had to fight back tears as she sprayed my stomach with lidocaine which stung but I knew was necessary to numb the area and it was just a quick stab and a little more stinging as she injected the Zoladex.  It was over quickly and I thought “first injection down 23 to go” (24 injections in total since I get these injections every month for two years).  Hey whatever it takes to get me through this – right? J

The few days following my first injection were tough. I was very emotional, tired, irritable, cried easily, became upset with my girls more frequently and felt sad and depressed which unfortunately are side effects of hormone therapy.  I did not like it one bit!  I asked God if this was really worth going through.  I didn’t want to put my family through this – having them to deal with me feeling and acting so crummy.   I had been informed as well as read that hormone therapy helps only 2 to 5 percent in preventing the cancer from returning.  I thought if I continue to feel this way for the next two years I may rethink this whole hormone therapy thing.  It’s just not worth it!  I felt better as the week progressed and just made sure that I got my rest, exercised and drank a lot of water.  I was talking with a friend a few weeks later and she shared with me about a woman she knew who had gone through breast cancer treatment but opted out of doing the hormone therapy and five years later her cancer returned as stage 4.  God was so faithful to show me and reassure me that continuing with the hormone therapy was the right thing to do. 

I had my second Zoladex injection on Oct 28^th and it went much better.  I knew what to expect walking into the cancer center and the side effects weren’t as extreme this time.  Woo Hoo!!  2 down 22 to go!  I still experience the hot flashes and night sweats but I will take those over the other side effects any day.  I pray that the side effects will continue to be minimal – maybe my body just needs to get used to the Zoladex and the side effects will continue to minimize as the months go by.

My reconstructive surgery is scheduled for Wednesday November 30^th – yeah!!  I can’t wait to say goodbye to the not so little and the not so comfy tissue expanders that have taken up temporary residence in my body these past few months.  The surgery is outpatient at Tri City Hospital and will take about 3 hours with a recovery period of about two weeks.  This surgery should be a walk in the park compared to what I have gone through this past year with chemo treatments and two previous surgeries but please pray that the surgery will go smoothly and that I will heal quickly without complications or infection.

The day before reconstructive surgery on Tuesday November 29^th I will be sharing my faith story at my women’s bible study at church to a little over 300 women. I am both very nervous and excited to share how the Lord has worked in my life this past year and what He has taught and shown me.  What a perfect opportunity to give God the glory for all I have experienced this year and for ultimately being cancer free!!

Thank you for all your continual prayers, support and encouragement. I appreciate it all so much! 

I want to leave you all with a verse that just recently encouraged me and hope it will do the same for you: Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

I also leave you all with this very touching and inspirational video.  Get some tissues ready...

Much Love,

Kelly~