Approaching The Lovely Seven Year Mark

Hi Friends! Both friends I have known forever and friends who I have not yet met who have experienced a cancer diagnosis themselves or with someone they love. It has been a long time since I have posted an update, but I visited my oncologist this week for my annual appointment (only annual visits now!) and she remarked that she has yet to see a triple negative cancer return after seven years. Seven years for me will be December 7, 2025 as my bilateral mastectomy was that day. Oh how I love the thought of seven years quickly approaching!

In the spirit of offering hope and inspiration to those currently in treatment, I would like to share what life is like now. First and most importantly, the positives. I feel strong and healthy. I am able to do all the things I like to do and I feel good in my body. I hardly notice my implants, except when someone comes in for a tight hug and my radiated breast feels like a large rock gently pressing into me (a small price to pay for a good hug). I have experienced wonderful travels and a big milestone (my 50th!). I have remembered, when important fears need to be faced and decisions need to be made, that I made it through big challenges to get to this point. And I made a promise to myself to use the time I have been given to spread love and light, not to sit back and play it safe. These reminders led me to pursue a career in teaching and I get to teach 6th grade starting this fall!

Now for the challenges. Due to having my ovaries removed and starting menopause early, I notice many changes to my body. My skin has been changing quickly, it takes me longer to recover from workouts, I need more naps, and my vagina is not interested in anything other than surviving. Luckily, the last problem has been greatly improved by estrogen (Premarin) cream which I insert twice a week–hooray! Fear does still creep in from time to time, but not in an intense way. I am able to thank my fear for doing its job and refocus on the present. I know there could be hard times ahead physically (and psychologically of course), but that is true for everyone.

As I have said before, I am grateful for my cancer experience because of what it taught me about myself and the perspective it has given me. But I could NOT have imagined I would have felt this way while I was going through it. I was scared, sad, and sometimes angry. So, if you are feeling mostly shitty about the whole thing, please know that you really might look back one day and say
“thank you!” to the universe for this awful, beautiful time in your life. I want that for you so very much.

Love, Amy