And you are the winner of a brand new, 2010 PORT Congrats!

It is now the end of June, I have done the scans, tests ect. PET is neg (no cancer in other organs) MRI shows a 4.9-5.0cm tumor, mass, invader, hooter infiltrator what ever you choose to call it, just don't call it for dinner..(it says insert dumb red-neck joke here so go with it). It is in 3 spots, 12o'clock, 6'oclock and in my lymph node in the right breast ( My left breast is just fine) I look at the scans with the surgeon, interesting so it is port time, as the chemo they are starting me on can cause vein death, so a port is the better option, so glad I did even though it is ugly (we will address that later). I get my port on the Wed before the 4th of July weekend as that very Friday the first round starts. Glad they are so wonderful and quick, fear sets in here we go up the first hill of the rollarcoaster, ya hold your breath and hang on. I cut my hair short (very) to prepare for the fall-out..I like it :)

July 2nd 2010, First round of chemo, I am in a reserch study (still same standard of care, just more test, more attention to detail and I am able to help in the future of breast cancer and killing the beast, kicking it is not working). I am proud to be a part of the future while I am still here on the planet, the Dr.'s nurse's and research team are the best! I am very lucky.

The first round lasts for about 3.5 hours or so I will do this every 3 weeks for 24 weeks. After the first round I am so hungry glad it is over and wait to see how I will feel, determined not to get sick, I get my meds, my Nulasta shot the next day going ok. I did great on those drugs and finished early with that as my tumor shrunk, only missed a few days of work being "sick" I woke up everyday, with purpose, gratitude, learned to live in the moment some were fantastic, some really sucked..Guess what I had those days before cancer anyway..

Day 18 after the first round, hair started to fall out in clumps, I chose to shave it off. Had a wonderful women do this for me, my head hurt with hair struggling to stay with it falling on my shoulders like snow..NO NO NO NO HELL TO the NO. Took a shower washed my hair CRIED, CRIED and SOBBED pulling my hair out and it was not fighting to stay in, so it must go..That really was the worst part for me, I have a nice head :) Gonna be G.I Jane for Holloween this year :) I really do not like wigs and there is a reason for that as well, stay tuned for that story :) Scroll down to the 101 Fun things to do when your bald for the answer to why I don't like wigs! It is too much fun!!