Candi’s Story

Site created on October 26, 2021

As some of you know and most of you don’t I have some personal news to share, I am NOT doing this for sympathy or to upset and or worry anyone but merely to put this out there as a reminder how important it is to take care of yourself! I have spent the last few weeks contemplating if I wanted to share this information on a public platform or not. The reason I have decided to follow through with this is if I can help anyone even if it is just one person then I will know that it is or will be well worth sharing. The end of August I was talking with a friend and our conversation steered to personal care and the crazy times we are living in, she mentioned that she had just had a mammogram which sparked the reminder that I had lost track of time and scheduling my yearly follow up one for myself. This conversation took place Friday August 27th, I made an appointment for my mammogram for the following Monday August 30th. Fast forward to Thursday September 9th @ 7:30 A.M. as I was getting ready for work my phone rang I was told that I had been diagnosed with Invasive lobular carcinoma breast cancer!!! From September 13th through October 11th our lives have been quite the rollercoaster and needless to say been turned upside down multiple times. I have been to countless doctor’s appointments, and many tests have been completed. Three hours after I received the call that my last biopsy was negative my phone rang again, that call was to schedule my surgery to get this cancer out of my body. I will be having bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction done on Thursday November 4th. I am very grateful for all the support from my family, “work family” and friends. Anyone who is interested in knowing what is going on over the next few or more months, I will posting updates on here.  

Newest Update

Journal entry by Candi Kesler

Wow how has it been two months and two days since I have given an update? where to start?

Back in mid December due to staffing issues at work I returned about 3 weeks earlier than planned with much begging and pleading with my boss to let me come back before I was scheduled to. I had one 20 hour week with restrictions then back to full time. I will forever be grateful for the amazing support from my "work family" throughout this process they are the ones that kept me from over doing "stuff". I know I can be a challenge and am positive I was and probably still am!

The hormone therapy is not quite as bad since my medication was changed, don't get me wrong I am still dealing with side effect just not as bad, for the 1st hour after I take my meds I feel pretty crappy which is OK I just get up earlier in the morning to give myself the time I need to let this "yucky feeling  pass". I always look for the silver lining in everything.

I also had a base line bone density test done and am happy to say it came back normal so no infusions for now. I think it has been the only thing that has come back "normal" since this craziness began.

I am happy to say things are going so good with my oncologist I actually get to go 2 months before I have to go back and see him. I will take any win small or large!! 

My energy level isn't where it was prior to surgery and wonder how long this will take to return? I have to remind myself I am only 3 months post op and things take time. Anyone who knows me knows how hard I push myself and get discouraged when I can't complete or do as much as I expect I should be able to. My doctors have told me it can take 6 months to a year... let's hope not! 
Thank goodness for Drew and his patience with me, there are days I come home from work and don't have the energy to make dinner and for that matter do much of anything else other than fall asleep in my chair. He is my knight in shining armor I am the luckiest lady to have him by my side through out this crazy journey. He picks up and does anything and everything I don't get done.

On a side note some of you have contacted Chelsey and myself asking if I am ok, I am fine and no my cancer hasn't returned but we do have a family member that has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has a long journey ahead. My words of advise was no one wants to be in the "cancer club" things are about to get crazy you are about to be on a roller coaster ride that you can't get off of. Enjoy the calmness and quiet times when you have the chance, you will miss it the craziness won't last forever!!!
Please if you pray please send up extra prayers for calmness, comfort and positive ju ju it would be very much appreciated. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this more than likely I won't have much to post for awhile, I am sure no one wants to hear about work since that is pretty much all I do just like before my diagnosis. 

Good night and sweet dreams to you all <3
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