Living with Breast Cancer

In 2006 I was diagnosed with stage II ductile invasive b/c. It was the estrogen receptive type.
Yes I had been on prempro–but only 2 years before this was diagnosed.

They never saw it on a mammogram. It took feeling bad PAIN in the breast to tell me something was wrong, and a CT scan and needle biopsy to affirm it.

I went thru a rt side mastectomy and a 3 node lymphectomy and then chemo with taxol-then herceptin .

I am now on arimedex for 5 years. I am having edemic swelling in my feet and hands as well as neuropathic pain which I didnt learn till today–can be caused by the chemo they gave me.
I thought it was the side effects of arimedex only.

I am beginning expander stretching in hopes of breast reconstruction in sept.
Innately I feel the yearning to regain my breast is very emotional. My Body image suffers and my self esteem too (as I went thru a divorce of my 24 year marriage in the middle of this cancer diagnosis).

Learning to date again like this IS hard.

I live with the fear the cancer will return later at any time ,yes its frightening. (When they say–when you get cancer ITS not IF youre gonna die, its when).

That really frightens me. Your life and daily viewpoint sure changes .To learn to live each day without fear and with hope is the only way YOU survive.

I believe this with all my heart.