It appears that I am finished with my treatments! Other than taking the Tamoxifen for the next 5 years. I was not qualified for the clinical trial, so….this is it! On Monday I went to the hospital to be de-ported. It feels good to be rid of the port.
I visited Dr Mounds on Tuesday. He was not happy with the severity of my radiation burns. He was kind enough to call in a prescription for a new ointment to put on them. So much better.
It is so odd to be at this point. In my mind, I figured that at the end of this journey one of the doctors would announce “Congratulations! You are cancer free!” Not so much. Apparently I will never be considered cancer free. I am not even what they used to call remission. I am just a breast cancer patient that finished treatment. For now.
The one thing the doctors agree on is that it is not if, but when the cancer comes back. Now I am suppose to be on the alert for persistent bone pain, a cough that will not go away, fatigue. All of these are signs that the cancer might be back. Sweet. I will be 50 next month. Bone pain and fatigue are the norm for me.
I I don’t mean to sound like I am complaining. Just making an observation. After the past 8 months everything revolved around fighting cancer. I was no longer just Genevieve, I became Genevieve, the one with breast cancer.
No longer a patient. I have been kicked to the curb and don’t let the door hit you on the way out. No ticker tape parade, no high fives with the specialists.
Time to get back to being just Genevieve.
Thank you all for joining me on this journey. It has been a helluva ride.
Cheers!
learntolikepink 