Into the Whirlwind

It seems appropriate that I start my blog talking about the year that I'm about to complete in June. I've spent the last year celebrating and mourning 5 year anniversaries in regards to my cancer. I found the cancer in June 2020 which started a whirlwind of treatments. My first chemo was in July and my last one in December. I had a surgery anniversary in March and coming this June it culminates with radiation anniversary and the end of all my active treatments. The last 5 months have been a wild ride as I confront all the feels I've been hiding for the last 5 years. I'm making my way through my journal now trying to piece together a story that will make sense to you all! Here is the timeline of how things went in the first year, I know there were other things that happened but these were the ones I wrote down. I'm hopeful it will be helpful to anyone who is about to start their own journey into the whirlwind.

June 12, 2020—noticed breast changed shape

June 16—appointment with gyno, she said don’t worry but sent me for a mammo, Dr. Howard told me it was cancer without telling me it was cancer.

June 25—first biopsy in Jacksonville (had to wait for dr. to get back from vacation)

June 29—officially diagnosed with cancer

July 2—Rachel came to visit (mom and dad had taken Faith to the lake) She sent the case for the resurrection of Christ as a gift to me because I had given mine away. 

July 6—Saw Dr. Wong at ECU and he did lymph node testing. Set a plan for surgery on July 16.

 July 9—came  back positive.

July 13—New plan with chemo

July 20—CT, MRI, Echo, Bone.  All the scans

July 22—met with oncologist, Dr. Mussafar

July 27—Port surgery and first chemo directly after

July 1—mom drove down to stay the week with me while the Cauleys had their family vacation. Dr’s wouldn’t tell me if I could or could not go so I erred on the safe side. I think I could have gone but then I would have missed out on a fun week with my mom. She drove the farthest she had ever driven by herself to come stay with me! 

July 3-5—the power went out because of hurricane Isaias. We slept with the doors open, we nearly died of fumes one night from the generator…you're supposed to keep it away from the house.

July 7— Day 11 of chemo-Pubes started falling out and I got a weird period, it was chunky and crampy and looked like it was closing up shop.

Day 13 of chemo-hair started coming out in clumps. Brian shaved my head July 9,  next day had to shave my pubic hair

because my underwear made them hurt.

Day 16 chemo-got my second round, raked grass in the yard, nausea in the evening.

Day 17 chemo-tired slept most of the day, nauseated. Red Baron pizza sits ok.

Day 18 chemo-constipation started booooo

Day 19 chemo-hair is very painful, used Natural Life buffs, they keep my head at the right temp.

Day 20-most of my hair gone (I used a wash cloth to rub it free from my scalp because it was so painful to leave it in). I walked 1 lap with Brian at the park, my knees were sore by the end.

Day 21-I vacuumed, dishes, laundry, and mopped. I did a light workout that Brian designed for me.

Day 22-I couldn’t move…I did too much the day before.

Day 30-32 bad nausea and tired all day

Day 33-I was uncomfortable in my body between extreme constipation and the weight gain. (they put you on steroids and tell you to expects gains)

Day 34-walked 1 lap at the park, it was really hard.

Day 43- 4^th chemo treatment. 

Day 50-first day I felt good after round 4

I went MIA in writing stuff down for a while, in November I could taste pizza and taco meat.

Day 106-mouth sores developed, I had really bad acne.

Day 109-super dry eye

Day 110-sores getting worse

Day 111-My 40^th birthday. I was so angry and hurt

Day 123-mouth sores healed and a note that I had neuropathy in my fingers and toes off and on since round 9.

Day 129-Last round of chemo, sweet 16! December 9

December 23—Brian bought me a jeep!  

January 19, 2021—My hair started showing up!  I was getting back into swinging the kettlebell.

February 4—Lumpectomy but will find out later the margins weren’t clear.

March 11—second surgery, they removed 13 or 16 lymph nodes, and 11 or 13 had cancer.

June 19—ended radiation, 35 or 36 rounds.