4 years cancer free

4 years ago i found a knot in my right chest wall. i wasn't worried but i should have been. i had a lumpectomy that revealed malignant cancer..next they tried a quadrilectomy (removing one fourth of the breast)but that procedure still didn't get it all. the cancer was identified as an invasive lobular malignancy - stage 3 which is quite advanced. so after the initial two surgeries which weren't effective, i had to have a full mastectomy. i also had some lymph nodes from my armpit removed to determone if the cancer had spread beyond the breast to the lymph nodes. i wasn't worried but i should have been. the results came back positive for cancer. it had spread to my lymph system which is very bad news. the pathology report indicated widespread infestation of the invasive lobular cancer (one of the most dangerous and aggressive types)5-7 cm in diameter. this news was bad in every way. my statistical chances of surviving were poor. i had the other breast removed because of suspicious tissue found in it. i had a chemotherapy port put in my left chest wall so the strong chemo regimen wouldn't destroy my vascular system. i had to have heart tests to determine if my heart could withstand the powerful chemo drugs they planned to use. my chemo cocktail was the most toxic, aggressive type used (ACT). the A drug is referred to as the red devil because it is so toxic - my chemo nurses wore thick rubber gloves when injecting it into me. i received the treatment every three weeks for 7 mos. all of my hair fell out on the 13th day. after each treatment i would have 2 or 3 very sick days, followed by a week of feeling like i had the flu, followed by a week of feeling okay. then the process was repeated all over again. i developed sores in my mouth and damage to my cornea (eyes). i lost my eyebrows and lashes and had bruised fingernails and very dry skin. because my cancer was estrogen responsive, i had to have a complete hysterectomy (cervix,uterus,ovaries) and i can never take estrogen supplementation because it feeds the cancer cells. so i continually endure cold turkey surgical menopause which according to doctors is ten times worse than regular menopause. i am always hot - have gained weight in weird places - all kinds of strange symptoms. my chemo nurse was an angel from heaven. she prayed for me before every treatment, asking God to protect my good cells while killing the cancer cells (thank you missy). a friend had a thoughtful gift waiting for me at every chemo appointment. those gifts were such a blessing to me (thank you amy). and hundreds of people prayed for me and sent me cards and helped me in many ways, from cooking meals for my family to painting my not so white picket fence (thank you friends).
cancer was a blessing. my life slowed down to a point where i could get a grip on it. i began to truly enjoy life - every minute of it. i learned to play guitar, paint, and improved my photography skills. i learned to never postpone joy. i am grateful for friends who were willing to "waste time" with me. i am thankful for the invaluable life lessons i learned.
next year will be 5 years!
God has been with me every step of the way.
My true friends have stood beside me through the physical and emotional pain.

my hair began to grow back 3 months after my last chemo treatment. it came in wiry and dark - so i dyed it blonde.
my bout with cancer made me closer to the person God has always intended me to be.