Heads Up, Seven Up

Chemo session numero sette was another swift and unproblematic one.  Almost halfway through the chemotherapy process has me feeling optimistic and relieved, hopeful the second half will be as routine and easy as the first and greatly assured I can handle what is to come before surgery time.  Admittedly, I am not putting much mental energy into that piece just yet, but I'm confident in the surgeon I've chosen and trusting I will know the right course of action to take when that time comes.  

I tested negative in having a mutation in the "breast cancer genes": BRCA1 or BRCA2, so I do not have the higher risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer, compared to the risk associated with testing positive in those genes.  This means I don't necessarily need to have a double mastectomy, but rather a lumpectomy surgery, and any reconstruction surgery to the breast that has the tumor(s).  

This makes me remember the adage "be careful what you wish for"...don't go wasting your wishes.  

What my flat-chested, teenager-self longed for during puberty was to grow a nice set of boobs to at least fill out an A or B cup.  When by my late teens, progress had happened, but compared to models and curvy-proportioned friends, I was still a long way away from having "a nice rack."  The older I got, and more fitness oriented I became, the less I cared.  After knowing several close friends who suffered the opposite problem, to the point of having to have breast reduction surgery, I began to feel quite lucky with my body.  

Currently, I want the least invasive thing done to me.  If you asked me what I would do today, I would tell you: "Take out the lumps and let's call it a day."   I'm young enough to care about my appearance, but old enough not to feel beholden to it, and as long as I'm able to do all of the physical things I love to do, and feel adored by those close to me, no matter what my rack looks like, I am unsure I will do much reconstruction at all.  

But I will cross that boob bridge when I come to it.

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