On Feb. 2, 2007 I got the news most of us women don't want to hear. You have breast cancer. I was 38 and saw my life flash before my eyes. I have 3 kids Alyssa 17, Jordyn 9 and Jonny 8. Two girls and a boy. All I could think of was I won't be around to see my children get married and have kids etc... I was diagnosed with stage 2 IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma) my tumor was 4.5 cm. I was also tested for BRCA 1 and 2 ( the gene mutation that causes cancer) and I tested positive for BRCA 1. Which put me at an 87% chance of getting breast cancer by the age of 70 and a 50% chance of getting ovarian cancer by the age of 70. I did chemo first and this ended 8/16/07 and then I went in for my surgeries 9/21/07 I received a bilateral mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction, a complete hysterectomy and an Oopherectomy (ovaries out). Doing this ups my chances for survival by 90%. My surgery experience was horrible. I was in surgery for 14hrs and had to get 10 units of blood. I was then in ICU for 5 days
I am on the mend now! Oh and all the tissues and some lymph nodes were tested and came out cancer free!!!
I am a survivor and will not take my life or health for granted ever again.
I have done LC in the past and been very successful. I always felt great and lost weight. I new it was the way of life for me but never stuck to it. My doctors told me that eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight is the best way for me to do what I can to keep cancer at bay. I have 20-30lbs to lose and I will do it. I have tried many diets and I feel the best when I eat low carb.
I have now been thrown into early menopause
I am only 39 and this is not pleasant. I am interested in seeing how LC will help me. I have hot flashes and some hormonal ups and downs. The hot flashes are driving me crazy
Today is my first day back to LC and I am so happy to have started. The last 8 months have been **** for me. I am so ready to get back to normal. Not sure if my old normal will be possible. My body has been tortured
Who knows maybe I will be better than before
Anyway, I am so glad I found this site. I am inspired to go for it and do this for the rest of my life. Life is good! I look forward to getting to know you all.
Tina