Cancerversary

Today is my Cancerversary.

 

One year.
52 weeks.
12 months.
365 days.
8766 hours.
525,949 minutes.
31,536,000 seconds.

 

The day I was diagnosed.

The day my life was changed.

 

Feels like a lifetime ago.

Feels like just yesterday, too.

 

A lot of things have happened during that time.

Things I wish I could forget.

Things I wish to remember  forever.

 

Today, I thought I would add to my “I have survived list.”

 

Here is my list from 2014

I have survived a needle punch biopsy.

I have survived the waiting.

I have survived "the call" with the diagnosis.

I have survived losing all my hair.

I have survived 2 MUGA Scans.

I have survived a Breast MRI.

I have survived PORT surgery.

I have survived 6 rounds of Taxotere, Cytoxan and Perjeta.

I have survived 23 weeks of Herceptin.

I have survived 6 Nuelasta shots.

I have survived 3 blood transfusions.

I have survived 10 blood draws.

I have survived 33 needle pokes.

I have survived a mammogram.

I have survived a Sentinel node biopsy with radioactive dye.

I have survived 2 guide hook wires procedure.

I have survived 2 major surgeries.

I have survived 5 days in the hospital, without my children.

I have survived the loss of my breast (and implant).

I have survived 16 days with a drain tube.

I have survived 32 prescriptions (not including over the counter and hospital meds).

I have survived 32 doctors and specialists appointments.

I have survived the countless hours in a waiting room, the side effects and the tears.

I have survived the "whys" and the "what ifs".

I have the scars, both emotional and physical, to prove I have SURVIVED!

 

Here is my list for 2015, so far.

I have survived mild lymphedema.

I have survived the loss of upper body strength.

I have survived 9 physical therapy sessions.

I have survived 1 CT Scan.

I have survived 4 guidance tattoos.

I have survived 2 MUGA Scans.

I have survived 31 rounds of radiation.

I have survived the blisters, peeling and loss of skin on half my chest.

I have survived 8 prescriptions.

I have survived 11 needle pokes.

I have survived 17 doctor appointments.

I have survived 27 additional weeks of Herceptin.

I have survived a weekend trip to InstaCare.

I have survived Shingles.

I am surviving with permanent numbness in my arm and chest.

I am surviving with a 5-10 year prescription of Tamoxifen.

I am surviving with the help of a monthly support group and wonderful social worker.

 

I AM SURVIVING.

I AM A SURVIVOR.