Anything But Routine

Today was nothing like I expected.  This morning, I had a 9:15 appointment for highlights and a haircut at Salon and Spa Vanessa.  Usually, it is very routine ... Brittany, my stylist, and I chat while she does my highlights, then a good washing, and finally the cut and blow dry.  Well, not today ...

With my head almost full of foil, a young, joyful, short-haired woman enters the room and asks to photograph my stylist.  She apologizes for the interruption and announces that the picture is necessary ... she is six months out of treatment and wants to document everyone that was a part of her journey.  Of course, my ears perk up ...

Her name is Dana and she just recently completed treatment for breast cancer. She is 34 years old.

At that point, with a little help from Brittany, I tell her about my recent diagnosis.  We begin talking and sharing information with one another.  As I explain the specifics about my type of breast cancer, triple-negative, the young woman sitting next to Dana raises her hand ...

Her name is Mary Ann and she is a three-year, triple-negative breast cancer survivor.  She was 40 at the time of her diagnosis.

From that point on, the conversation was ... well ... just what I needed!  Perhaps it wasn't the "usual" salon chit-chat, but I loved every minute of it!  We talked about treatment plans, chemotherapy, mastectomies, medication ... we covered almost all things breast cancer related in just a short amount of time ... and I took it all in!

As I sat in that room, talking that talk ... I took a moment to look around.  There were only six women sitting at that table ... and three of our lives have been forever changed by breast cancer ... 50% ... there are just no words ...

So, for me, this morning was far more than a routine hair appointment.  I truly believe I found my way around that table for a reason.  The two women I met are fighters ... and survivors ... and I needed to see, with my own eyes, that it is ABSOLUTELY possible!

Thank you, Dana and Mary Ann, for the conversation ... and for providing me strength and encouragement ...

Dana, Mary Ann, Me

Anniversary

Today marks the one month anniversary of my cancer diagnosis.  As I type it, as I say it, as I experience it ... I still cannot believe it ... I have breast cancer ...

On this day, though, I feel very differently than I did that horrible day ... I am full of faith ... full of hope ... and full of strength.  I have started treatment and, I know in my heart, I am absolutely on the right track.  Without a doubt, I will become a breast cancer SURVIVOR and will look back on this anniversary as a day that changed my life ... in so many ways ... and, most importantly, enabled me to REALLY enjoy each day and cherish every moment!

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it."
— Mother Teresa

Honored

This morning, I received an amazingly thoughtful email from my neighbor, Rob. He wanted to let me know that his coworker and friend will be walking this October in the 3-Day for the Cure ... and will be walking on my behalf ... wearing my name, among many others.

Although I would love to participate this year, I will be in treatment. So, I am amazingly honored to have a perfect stranger walking FOR me ... what a thoughtful and selfless thing to do ...

Thank you Rob ... and Terri ... from the bottom of my heart.

Timing

It is truly AMAZING ... each day, throughout this journey, someone has given me just what I need ... at just the right moment!

Today, this video was sent to me ... and the timing couldn't be more perfect ...

Thank you, Sandra ...

What Faith Can Do - Kutless

Fear and faith cannot coexist ... I choose FAITH ...

Living in Fear

This morning, I have been looking back at pictures of my precious children.  It is amazing how quickly they grow up ... Maddie is almost 8 years old and Andrew is almost 5.  In some ways, I wish time would stand still ... but, in others, I wish I could fast-forward ...

Now that I have been diagnosed with cancer, I live in fear every day.  I am only 34 years old and I want to see my children grow up, get married, and have babies of their own ... I don't want to have cancer and I don't want to live with the fear of dying ... and missing it all!

Somehow, I need to realize that I have a REALLY good shot at this and, more than likely, I am going to live a long and happy life ... 

"Faith is the only known cure for fear."
-Lena K. Sadler

Feeling Cancer-Free

Today was just another Sunday for most people ... for me, it was the first time I have felt cancer-free since my diagnosis ...

Although it was a fairly overcast day, we decided to grab some friends and head to the lake for some fun on the water ... and we certainly had FUN!  We spent much of the day "playing" as I call it ... wakeboarding, surfing, and tubing!  Everyone had a GREAT time ... including me!

Of course, in the pit of my stomach, I still had that sickening feeling.  But, I was able to overlook it and enjoy every moment ... especially on my surfboard ...

Here's to a GREAT day ... and to feeling cancer-free, even if only for a little while ...

A Piece of Joy

Today, I am going to make a change and I need YOUR help!  As most of you know, I have had a VERY difficult time finding joy in things lately and, more than anything, I want to change that … so, I have decided to conduct a survey …

joy  noun  /joi/

1. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

2. A thing that causes joy.

Please take a moment to think about your life.  What brings you joy?  Hopefully, as you reflect, you will realize how much you have to be thankful for and how much joy each day brings.  If you would, please choose only ONE thing to share and email it to me at sjmcneal@mac.com.  Feel free to share anything … a moment, a memory, a story … anything that brings a smile to your face.

My goal is to collect “a piece of joy” from at least 150 people. 

Then, each day for the duration of my chemotherapy treatment (140+ days), I will have something to think about ... something to bring a smile to my face ... something to bring me JOY!  

As always, thank you ALL for your love, your support, and your prayers ...

"Joy is increased by spreading it to others."

-Robert Murray McCheyne

Treatment Plan

As you know, I began treatment last night ... and feel great relief in FINALLY beginning the road to becoming cancer-free!  Of course, it will be a LONG road and I thought I would share with you a little about the final treatment plan ...

For the first four weeks, I will take only an oral medication called Sorafenib.  Although I will be taking this medication alone in the beginning, I will continue it for the duration of my treatment. 

On Thursday, September 29th, I will begin chemotherapy.  During the first four infusions, which will take place every three weeks, I will be administered a drug called Cisplatin.  Then, for the remaining four infusions, a very commonly used drug in the treatment of breast cancer, Taxol, will be used.  This portion of the treatment will take place every two weeks. 

If everything goes as planned, I should complete my oral medication and chemotherapy by the end of January ... and, God willing, I will have a 100% response to the treatment!  Then, off to surgery ...

Until then, I will be spending quite a bit of time at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University Hospital ...

 

Although I never imagined that I would walk through these doors ... it is the direction my life has taken.  And, I thank God each day for providing me such an amazing place ... a place where I can heal and prepare for the wonderful future that lies ahead!

The Beginning of the End

IT'S OFFICIAL ...
At exactly 8:07 this evening, I began my treatment ... this is the beginning of the end of breast cancer in my life ...

Tonight, or whenever you read this, please take a moment to say a prayer for me and my family.  This phase of the journey will be difficult, I have no doubt, but with my family, my friends, and my faith in God ... I have hope ... and will find the strength to do whatever it takes to become a SURVIVOR!

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops ... at all."
-Emily Dickinson

Tiny Ta-Tas

As I woke up this morning, I gave great thanks to God for blessing me with such "tiny ta-tas" ...

Throughout my adult life, I have always wished for just a little more on top, but today I couldn't be happier with what God gave me ...

I found this lump and I found it early ... it has not had the opportunity to spread ... and I am so amazingly grateful for that!  Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive cancer and if I had "big ta-tas" ... things may be very different!

Here's to an A cup ... and a GREAT day ...