Kellie May's December Update

Luckily, December didn’t fly by like November did or my four weeks of rest and recuperation would have been entirely too short! But that wasn’t the case. It was the perfect amount of time off from work, time with my family, and time to enjoy the holidays.

So now I’m in the process of reconstruction. I’ve had the surgery to remove the right breast and place expanders on both sides. I’ve been into the surgeon’s office twice to get “fill ups.” I’m just now hitting puberty, which is about where I was before all this started. I’ve been a junior high teacher for years, and when this process is done, I won’t look like I’m in junior high anymore! Ha!

The most difficult thing about the surgery was recovery the week after. I did have a fabulous anesthesiologist who really listened to me and made it so I didn’t throw up multiple times after surgery, which was the case every other time. But recovery was more mentally tough than physically. Not feeling “well” or “normal” brought back the memories and feelings from my summer of chemo. It’s difficult to be down like that, you feel like your body is betraying you. And if I can help it, I don’t want to be sick ever again. I know that’s probably not realistic, but I’m determined not to have any more bad days and being sick is my definition of a bad day. Luckily for me, my mom was here for 3 weeks allowing me the time I needed to get mentally and physically strong. I honestly don’t know what we’d do without her.

My hair is really starting to grow back. It’s not curly, but not totally straight. It’s a little wavy, but it’s still pretty short. If I pull it straight out it’s about 1 ½ inches long. People tell me that I look good with short hair, which I would have never thought or known had it not fallen out from chemo. I don’t think I would have ever cut my hair this short. Now that I’ve been bald, I think that I could probably change my hairstyle all the time. It’s just hair, right? And right now, it reminds me a little of monchichi hair, for those of you that remember what those were.

I am looking forward to a wonderful new year. It’s not that 2007 was all bad, the cancer was the only bad part. The rest of what I got to experience was great! Watching my boys grow and hit milestones. Being loved and supported by my husband. Having family and friends surround me during the difficult and enjoyable times both. It was like being able to get a glimpse of my funeral without having to die.

Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence and for most who get it, it’s not. Early detection is the key and for younger women that means breast self examinations, monthly as well as yearly paps and a routine exam by your doctor. A friend just told me about a 17 year old that just found out that she has breast cancer. She’s a junior in high school. Though breast cancer at that age is rare, her mother had it at 28 and her grandmother at 36. So please, do yourself and your loved ones a huge favor and be aware of your body. Remind all the females that you know to do their monthly exams, even if they are getting yearly mammograms.

Until next time, remember that every day is a gift.