Here I will share upcoming opportunities to learn more about the disease and the role genetics play in our everyday lives as survivors and previvors.
Decoding genetic tests for parents to be
May 12 @7pm CDT
Free resources and exercise classes for cancer patients uploaded to Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU's YouTube channel
As you all know, the BRCA gene has made an imprint on the ladies in our family. We don't know a lot about how the gene would have or impacted our male family members because we don't really have any left.
Unfortunately, the genetics don't discriminate :(
Learn how our risk impacts the men in our circles.
Register here
More information on hereditary cancers can be found here. More information on breast cancer in men can be found here.
For any questions, please contact us at 312-357-4718 or JewishGenetics@juf.org.
Hey!
Welcome to all the newbies! It seems like there are too many of you :( but I'm so glad we're all here, together. I am almost a full previvor and will wait 5-10 years before finishing. This last year, I had preventive nipple/skin sparing bilateral mastectomies with expanders for 2.5 weeks before DIEP on July 21, 2020. I spent 5 nights in the ICU and went home on a Sunday after my surgery. Overall, I've done really well and have no regrets. I do wish I'd had done it much sooner, though!
So, as of today, I'm very active. I took advantage of the snow and enjoyed sledding for the first time ever! Phew - those hills! I shoveled snow all winter long. And now I'm walking 5-6 miles a day and my pet-sitting business is on fire. :)
I still focus on eating a high protein/high fiber diet. I try to stay away from carbs and sugars as much as possible. I feel and look great and I'm ready to have some fun in the sun this year! I am planning a big garden/yard overhaul project this spring.
I wanted to bring all the important stuff here in case I'm not back for a bit.
I made a list for everything. This google sheet has a to-do list of everything I did to prepare, a timeline of all my to-do's, a link to my amazon wishlist. All prep stuff.
Be sure to connect with The Blessing Box Project for your mastectomy pillow.
Feel free to email me at kaitlynLkeen@gmail.com with any questions!! Much love to you.
The tatas, the tubes, and my chubby belly all got left in 2020. I had phase 2 and tubes removed on Wednesday, December 9th. Surgery was about six hours long and I did well. Love my results! I had lipo done from my belly/flanks to fill up top. Hoping it absorbs but not sure it will..? She removed my paddles (the flaps) and removed my dog ears. I stayed in bed for 4 days to manage pain and by day 5, I was feeling much better. Lipo hurts! And I don't bruise so I have no bruising to show off. In the pic below, I'm wearing a Large bralette from Target.
Here's a photo of my daughter and I spent Christmas Eve cruising around town, looking at lights and drinking hot coco. I went in my PJ's :)
Who's ready for 2021?! CHEERS!
So, it's November 17, the election is behind us, and I'm finally feeling a touch of hope. You? COVID is OUT of control, but people aren't willing to do their part so we're in terrible shape until January. I'm ready. Ready as can be. Working on stocking our food/frozen meals to ease the recovery burden anyway, working remotely, hunkered all the way down. It's not so bad. I'm enjoying it until hope rings through.
I'm sharing some photos to summarize the last month.
I'm feeling great, really great. I'm reminded of my wounds when I first wake in the morning, after sitting for a long time, and at the end of the night. But you can forget jeans... I won't need them anymore, LOL. I haven't even tried, but I don't intend to. Ready to wrap all this up <3
I got the good news yesterday that my next and hopefully last surgery will be December 9. Now the scary part, if we cancel elective procedures I could lose my date, potentially not allowing for surgery to happen this year. For financial reasons, I desperately need this last surgery to happen this calendar year! If you're reading this, please send me all your good vibes!
I'm really enjoying my cute little tummy. I see baby abs poking through and I can't wait to get back into the gym after I'm finished with surgery and get my bod ready for next bikini season - woooohoo! I've NEVER confidently worn a bikini (I'm 30), even prior to giving birth, because I've just never had a cute tummy. I can't explain my excitement, LOL
If you've had DIEP and/or tubes/ovaries removed, comment below with what you had done and anything I should know to prepare!
xoxo
Heyyy, there! It's been since the end of last month since I provided an update. That's good news! I feel really great. I'm back to work, Vaida is back in [virtual] school, and things seem to be moving in the right direction. I've started cleaning and cooking and doing many things that I really, honestly missed doing (being dependent upon others to keep my home and routines up to my liking was really the hardest part of all of this for me). Still no mowing, real yard work (I have SO many perennials that need split, but...), lifting or moving, or anything strenuous but it does feel good to start getting back to normal. I exercise every day (elliptical and a walk) which is good for all things.
My wounds are still healing but they are healing... so that's good. I just need to be patient and keep up with my daily cocktail - 100g protein, zinc, vitamin C, tons of water, elderberry jam in honey tea, 2 packets of juven. I do recommend this cocktail. I've made great progress with healing.
Dr. Cochran is pleased with my progress and we're still hopeful I can have my last 2 surgeries this calendar year. Please cross your fingers for me!
Cheers! It's almost been 5 year since my preventive (sometimes called prophylactic) double mastectomy. That surgery was July 2, 2020. ...
