Alexandra

What makes me a Tough S.O.B.?

 

It is because I am battling breast cancer for the second time and I am only 49 years old. I am a fighter and I will kick cancer’s ass, big time!

 

I was diagnosed the first time at age 27. It was devastating and I don’t know how we got through it, but we did. We went through hell, all of us, through the surgery, 6 months of chemo, and 1 month of radiation.

 

But somehow we survived. It wasn’t easy and it had long-term effects, emotionally, mentally, physically. As I get closer to every dr’s checkup or routine mammogram and MRI, the anxiety level increases until the dr says all is ok, and I begin to breathe again. It did get easier as I hit the 10 year anniversary, and the years continued to pass and I was in the clear.

 

We are blessed to have 2 boys, I was 37 and almost 42 when they were born, even after I was told I would be sterile and would never have kids.

 

And life continues on, with other challenges, my older son has Down Syndrome, but I stay strong and I have learned to be an even tougher fighter for him.

 

And then boom! 22 years later, in the same month as last time, after my routine mammogram and MRI, cancer is back. A new cancer. A totally different kind of breast cancer from the last time, totally opposite. WTF?!!!

 

Yes, I am BRCA1 positive, and my risk of developing breast cancer again was higher, but I did have a hysterectomy 7 years ago to cut my risk in half (ha!) and eliminate any chance of getting ovarian cancer.

 

Well, guess what, shit happens and life isn’t fair, but who ever said life was fair? So, here we go again. Initial trauma, hope they are mistaken, then devastation and lots of crying and swearing, and then I calmly said to my oncologist, “Just tell me I will be alive to raise my kids and be here for my husband and my family”. She answered, quite emphatically “yes you will” and I said “ok, let’s get to it. What is the plan?”

 

I’m almost finished my 5 months of two kinds of chemo, the first chemo making me extremely ill for the first two months and I spent way too many days and nights in the hospital, but thankfully the second kinds of chemo, in the last 3 months, has been better. There are side effects, but I don’t allow them to get me down. I will also have surgery and radiation.

 

I will be alive and that’s what matters.

 

My kids, my family and my friends have been incredible through this, and I know that has helped me survive this devastating ordeal again.

I AM a Tough S.O.B. and I will always win!!!