My hairless, apendixless life...and you know what? Still pretty awesome!

So a lot has happened in a few weeks!  I lost an organ, cut my hair short, purchased a few wigs, lost some hair and shaved it all off.  Oh and I had my first chemo treatment!  One down, 15 more to go.  There's probably enough there for another post though so I'll save that for a later date.  And that exclamation point at the end of that was perhaps a little generous. Oh and before I forget - because this could be another blog post as well and just might well be - THANK YOU for all the support in the form of kind words, cards, facebook messages, posts, etc, really any and all correspondence that I've received, hospital visits, high school friends showing up for the turkey trot, gifts, offers to take me to chemo apts, help with Megan, Belle, shoveling, plowing and much more.  You can ask Ryan - I am absolutely overwhelmed by all of it, in a positive manner of course. 

Let's start with the hair - or lack there of.  Morgan, I and my closely shaven head set out on a maiden voyage to WalMart a couple of hours ago.  Morgan thinks I can rock it and didn't care if I had a hat on or not.  I am inclined to agree with her since it is my head and all.  I was like what the heck, WalMart is the perfect place to give this look a try.  I forgot to grab my green and purple eye liner from home so we figured we'd go grab some while Taylor and Ryan picked out a Redbox movie.  One of the first nights that Ryan and I were together with all three girls I had on purple and green eye liner, Taylor's astute memory.  They thought it'd be a good look with minimal hair so figured I'd give it a go tomorrow.  Mind you, I <3 Sephora and Ulta so I wasn't quite sure what brands to look for.  I know, snobby right?  But I do love Sephora and I am not ashamed to admit it.  ANYWAY.

Exactly to the date when the oncologist said it would happen, two weeks after my first chemo treatment, my hair started falling out.  Two weeks ago I decided to go get my hair chopped off, I've had short hair before, but it has been a long time.  I've always loved the pixie cut and figured now was the perfect time to take it for a road test.  I liked it!  Betsy did an awesome job as usual!  That and shorter hair left to fall out was a pretty good plan.  Megan was slated to go spend time with her dad leaving Tuesday after school so I had asked her if my hair started falling out while she was gone (returning Sunday) if it was ok that I shave off all my hair while she was gone and she was cool with that.  Thankfully!  Because man, when it started falling out there was NO stopping any of it. 

Jeez, Tuesday seems like so many hairs ago.  When my hair was long, I shed a lot.  This Tuesday business was sort of like that.  I think since my hair has been short, I've washed it every day (YES, EVERY day...for those of you that didn't know, I was one to wash my hair every other day or third day, maybe even stretch it longer) so there was less noticeable shedding.  Tuesday was a definite increase. Wednesday was like um red alert, shit is falling out fast am I going to have enough hair on Thanksgiving to even have cute hair???  I came up to Ryan's Tuesday afternoon to hang out for the weekend (mhmmm my hairy dog and my can't lift over 10 lbs hair losing self) and chillax.  Definitely good planning on my part eh? 

Wednesday I'm working away and I reach up to my head since my scalp felt tingly, scratch a little and notice that yeah my hair comes out with no pulling or pain.  Hmmm.  This is an interesting thing.  Every once in a while I pull some out just to make sure this really is all happening and remind myself of those magazine articles I've read about people that have a syndrome or something where they pull out their hair.  Trichotillomania, just googled it.  I was like oh shit, I better stop this, eventually its going to grow back and I don't need to be pulling at it.  Anyway, Taylor gets home from school and is like what's up?  I show her my new trick and she's kinda like um...  Too polite to call me out on the grossness though.  Morgan gets home and is like oooh can I try?  So I'm like sure, why not have someone else join in on the fun.  I was actually kind of scared to even take a shower on Wednesday and try to do my hair but felt like I might as well try to style it one more time if I can, these days are extremely limited.  That Redken paste might have not been my most brilliant idea, I think the hair mostly just stuck to my hands as I tried to style it. Well or the hair dryer or straightening iron before the paste.  Oh well, I sure didn't need a day with poufy short hair before its all gone. 

Thanksgiving arrives as does this turkey trot that I'm all pissed I can't run in because of that appendix thing.  Whatever.  Ok quick side bar.  My friends Jen and Chad Volz had signed up to do this thing with me/us (Ryan and his girls and niece Haley) which was really cool.  So we meet up before the race and another one of my friends from HS is there with them.  I'm like what the heck is Joanna doing here?!  I had noticed Jen posted something on Facebook about being excited for a sleep over Wednesday night but I didn't think too much about it since I'd ask her on Thursday morning.  Anyway, the sleepover with with Joanna and her daughter Olivia who drove up to visit Jen and Chad and do the turkey trot with us.  How cool was that?!  Seriously, pretty sure I had a frozen tear or two that didn't make it out of my eyes.  Damn weepiness and all.  Was super fun to walk the trot with them and catch up with Jo.  We've been in touch on Facebook, but I don't remember the last time I've seen her. 

After the trot, or walk in my case (yep, still a little bitter), I'm like ok time to brave the shower and see if I can style what hair I have left so it doesn't look like I have too many bald spots.  Many times mopping the hair out of the sink later, I'm like yep that'll do.  I was really looking forward to seeing Ryan's extended family and wasn't too worried about my hair since they all know the story - and are uber supportive at that.  I think the issue was more that I just wanted to feel pretty.  Phew, enough hair, I felt like myself and was good to go.  For the record, I would have been good to go anyway, but always better when I feel good about how I look.  I know, vain right?  Or maybe just writing it feels weird. 

Woke up Friday AM to what I would say was lots of hair on the pillow.  As in more than the lint trap would catch.  Not only that but the pillow kinda hurt my head.  Sort of like if you had your hair in a pony tail all day kind of hurt.  Annoying at best.  Betsy and I had been in a little communication about shaving my hair off and were loosely targeting Friday.  Thank goodness because I had about enough of this nonsense.  Girls were off to go sledding and I was having a bit of a crying jag thinking what the hell.  Well maybe not crying, but a bit weepy?  Heehee.  I am shaving my head today.  Yep, pretty much never thought I'd be doing that.  Oh well.  Also was thinking maybe I'd be better off to head to Betsy's solo, but man would I have been wrong.  Ryan and the girls were more than happy to accompany me.  As was any of my other friends and family - again, love the support - its awesome!

Get to Betsy's and she informs me she got a nice new clippers today and I'm the inaugural clipee.  New word right there.  We were chatting and I was like ok enough chatting, let's get this show on the road.  I thought maybe I'd cry, but having Ryan and the girls there was keeping my mind off tears and they all kept telling me I looked good bald.  Betsy too.  I had no choice but to believe them right?!  Betsy did the bulk of the cutting with Ryan and Morgan each taking a turn.  I missed having Megan there for that moment, but dang I sure wouldn't have wanted to wait a few more days.  All of them kept telling me I looked pretty.  Like some singer from some girl band or something?  I definitely felt some trepidation looking in the mirror afterward, but turns out I have a nice shaped head.  Who knew?  Thank goodness for small miracles eh?  And normal sized ears.  I did tear up on the way home reading the texts from the my family and friends that I texted after pictures to.  For sure.  

Truth be told, I'm a little curious as to what Megan will think when she sees me.  She holds things tight to the vest sometimes so this will be an interesting one to watch her process.  She knows its coming, but I didn't text her a picture yet.  Gonna hold off posting via any of her social media things until she has a chance to see me in person.  I also have a few Megan approved wigs!  Glad I took her with me for the final purchase.  Ended up with one I never would have picked. 

Speaking of wigs - thanks to the awesome stylists at Cali-Sun Salon in Appleton and Jenna and Keith at Keith's Haircenter, I have two sweet wigs to sport.  This is seriously another post in an of itself as well.  Every October, I think Betsy is the main driver of this, the stylists at the salon offer pink hair extensions to their clients and donate all the proceeds from those sales to a cancer patient.  Well, when I went in to get my hair cut two weeks ago Betsy handed me a card.  Rhonda was along for this ride...so I took the card and stuck it in my purse.  Betsy was like aren't you going to open it?  I was like nah, it will probably make me cry.  But she asked so I obliged...I've cried in front of both of them before so what the heck?!  I open it and it has all the proceeds from their October pink hair extensions.  Seriously, I was speechless for a moment.  Yeah - just a moment but speechless nonetheless.  Betsy said she couldn't think of a more appropriate cancer patient to donate the proceeds to.  What a better way to spend the money than on a few fun wigs to get me through the next few months???  Good times.  Oh and Jenna at Keith's Haircenter?  It was scary for me and I can't say enough about how gracious she was to Betsy, Rhonda, Megan and myself while we were there trolling the selections.  Her knowledge was really helpful in making my decisions.  Big recommendation from this girl. 

Ryan could tell you that leading up to any of these new experiences I get a bit anxious and stressed.  Sometimes I talk about it a lot, sometimes not at all.  Sometimes I shed a tear or ten, sometimes not.  Nah, that's not true, a few tears usually flow when I'm anxious and stressed.  I tend to not realize how much I feel it until I feel that sigh of relief that whatever it is, it's over.  Same thing for today.  Anxious and stressed leading up to the shave, followed by a great feeling of relief once it's over.  I mean, I'm not gonna lie.  Its a different look for sure so I still have a little trepidation but no regrets.  Whatsoever.  Plus it wasn't like I could prevent it from happening, eh? 

You didn't think I was going to end this one without a few pics, did you? 

Before shot with Rhonda on the left and Betsy on the right.

Short hair with A, J & photobomber Meg.  Next summer I can have that again!

Morgan taking a turn.

Ryan giving it a go.

Betsy finishing it up!

Photobooth selfie.

Peggy, Betsy, Rhonda wig choice.

Meg's choice.  Kinda fun since I'm not sure my own hair would ever grow this long!

Time to Kick some Breast Cancer Bootay!!

Wow, not sure where to start.  Haven't touched this blog in 2+ years, dang, a lot has changed.  Good thing is I am happier than ever and enjoying life...despite the hand I've just been dealt.  Turns out I have breast cancer as in invasive ductal carninoma.  I was diagnosed on 10/28 and started my first chemo treatment exactly two weeks later, yesterday to be exact.  Two weeks from diagnosis to my inaugural treatment, not bad.  About 6 mammograms, an MRI, ultrasound, biopsies (youch!), one 50 mile relay race, scary phone calls, xrays, IVs, multiple consultations and the list could actually go on.  So many thousands of thoughts have run through my head in the last few weeks.  I'm going to die.  I don't want to die.  Is Megan going to be ok?  Did they say treatable?  Do I get new boobs?  How much downtime am I going to need?  Who is going to manage my life while I figure this out?  How is this going to inconvenience my life?  What about my workouts?  How will the people in my life handle this news?  Is Megan going to be ok?  What about my awesome boyfriend?  What about my fam?  Etc, etc, etc. 

Every song that I would hear took on a different meaning.  OAR's Peace?  For sure.  One Republic I Lived?  Definitely.  WTF.  Pregnancy turned me into a full on weeper.  Suddenly I was tearing up more than normal.  Again, WTF.  I guess I have a lot going on so I'm going with that.  Yep.

I found a lump earlier this year but didn't think much of it.  I'd had an early, but clean mammogram less than a year before and knew that there could be many other reasons to have a lump other than cancer.  Duh.  And admittedly as time went on I noticed it started to change a little.  At that point I was like yep, I need to go in and get this checked out.  I was scared shitless but finally succumbed to the internal pressure and made the appointment.  It was actually Ryan who pushed me...he was heading to the dentist and NOT looking forward to it but still goes every 6 months.  I definitely used a dose of suck it up buttercup, face your fear and make that damn appointment.  Since I told the scheduler that I had a lump they scheduled me for a mammo, ultrasound and possible biopsy right away.  They could do all three things in a row at the same facility...pretty slick.  And turns out I needed all three and then another mammo right after the biopsy.  Yep, they jab you in the boob a few times, take a few chunks, leave a clip of metal and then send me for another mammogram.  That was Friday 10/24.  I was scheduled to run the Fall50 the next day with an awesome group of peeps.  I only ran four of the 50 miles, even though I wanted to run more, my teammates graciously picked up the slack.  I was feeling bad when Nicky reminded me that I would do the same for any of them and she was spot on with that.  It was an awesome day, took my mind off the wait.

Finally on Tuesday, I got the call.  It was my NP, Becky - who is awesome by the way.  She was definitely feeling the impact of the news when she was delivering it. I don't even remember if I called my mom or Ryan first.  They both knew I was stressed and anxiously awaiting the news.  Mom was working and carrying her phone with her every where.  She said after I told her before she went in to see each patient she had to tell herself to quit crying and take a deep breath.  And my mom doesn't cry.  Ryan left work and was sitting by me in about 30 minutes or less.  I sat on the couch with him and cried off and on for an hour, mostly on, and then we left to run a work errand and go out for lunch.  I sure did have a drink with lunch that day.  My head was spinning and I was waiting for another call to come from the breast surgeon's office.  They wanted to get me in there ASAP.  Everything was moving so quick...might have had a little something to do with the invasive term used in my diagnosis.

That Tuesday night, Meg and I came to DePere to hang out with Ryan, Taylor and Morgan.  I really just wanted to be with some of my favorite peeps!  We sure did go right to Dick's and load up on the breast cancer support gear at Dick's.  The first of what was more to come!  It helped all hanging out together, in a way took my mind off it and a kid's perspective is always welcome at a time like this.  

Fast forward to meeting with the breast surgeon the following Thursday.  She said a few times that we caught it early.  She walked through my options and said something about neo adjuvent chemo which is basically treat with chemo first and surgery second.  She wanted me to get an MRI, chest xray and blood work to see if the cancer had spread to my lungs, lymph nodes, other breast and liver.  That was another long few days to wait! The following Tuesday I had a battery of tests, she called me back end of day Wed and said everything looked good.  Finally some good news!!

Quick break in the action - the Saturday in between all this - Megan had her first few league basketball games.  I'm friends with most of the parents of the girls on the team so its always fun!  By then most of them knew of my diagnosis as did all their daughters.  I sure didn't want to keep it a secret, figured we could use all the moral support we could get.  And figured it'd be good for Megan just to have it out in the open.  So, first game that Saturday, a few minutes into the game and I notice every single one of the girls on Megan's team were wearing pink headbands and pink socks if they had them.  I took a few moments to choke back the tears before turning and asking Nicky if that was preplanned.  Turns out all the girls had talked about it at their last practice and all agreed it'd be pretty cool to wear pink.  Yes, pretty cool indeed.  Makes me almost want to tear up again just thinking about it.  

Back to the test results!  The MRI showed clear lymph nodes, but found another secondary tumor on the right side.  7mm in size, very small and on the same side that already had the tumor.  So, not horrible.  Surgeon wanted me to go get another clip placed in the tumor so that if I elected for a lumpectomy I could they could still be able to cut out that smaller section of tissue with the secondary tumor.  That would need to be done with either an ultrasound guided clip placement or an MRI guided clip placement.

So, that sums up oh about the first week after my diagnosis.  So many thoughts running through my head, mostly this is treatable, I'm gonna live even though I'm pretty scared about what the next year will bring!  Thank goodness I've spent some time in the last two years working out and just training for life, I'm gonna need that strength!  Mostly so very thankful for my family and the wonderful support system that has somehow assembled around me over the past few years.  It's been just over two weeks since diagnosis and much has changed as I've started to process.  Definitely more to come as I have the time and process my thoughts.  For now, I end with this - I am a lucky girl, breast cancer or not.