After my treatment completed and I was released from radiation, I spent the next two weeks resting and healing. Radiation is a process that damages DNA and disrupts cells’ ability to heal. It’s very effective against cancer cells as they do not repair themselves properly at baseline, but as you can imagine it damages the healthy cells as well. I spent most of November changing dressings, resting and back on many of the medications I had stopped after my surgery. The Radiation Oncology team had warned me that it takes 10-14 days after the last treatment to start improving and that’s definitely the timeline I was on! I had third degree burns to the outer right breast and second degree radiation burns to the armpit and chest wall. As the burns heal, fibrosis and tightening of the skin begins to set in so I’ve been keeping up with weekly physical therapy sessions to keep everything moving. 

I felt like I finally turned a corner the week of Thanksgiving! Both families traveled up to Blue Ridge and cooked up a storm. I am lucky to be in a family of fabulous culinary artists and they did not disappoint with their dishes! The cousins had a fantastic time with each other and it’s amazing to see how quickly they’ve grown up. As many of you know, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as it represents family and togetherness as well as gratitude but without the pressure of gifts! 

The week after Thanksgiving was spent trying to get a little stronger. I had spent the last few weeks not really moving due to the skin discomfort so I tried to work on getting up and out of bed, daily stretching and even logging on to the office to help clear my desktop. I started back at the office part time on December 4th, and it was so nice to have hugs and love from patients. It was also nice to be able to say that my treatment was complete and I am cancer free! 

I met with Plastic Surgery December 10th and to quote my surgeon, “this is a win!” We had discussed the complications from radiation & the tightness of my skin but she was happy that the blood supply was good and she felt the tightness was minimal. Strangely, my left tissue expander is loose in my chest (they sew them in with dissolving stitches) so that breast is a little asymmetric but will be easy to fix with a new, more anatomic implant in the future. I asked about the timing of my second surgery and given the radiation damage, she recommended at least six months to let things settle before having another operation as we need the blood flow to be optimal for healing. I got the all clear to return to normal activity and exercise, which I’m slowly reintroducing after such a long hiatus of physical activity. 

As the final leg of my treatment, I started my tamoxifen therapy which has been surprisingly easy with minimal side effects. I run a little hotter at night sometimes but I think at 44, this is pretty normal even without the hormone medication! I’ll take this for 5 years to lower the chances of recurrence to less than 1%, ensuring total cure! 

The Christmas week is always chaotic with frantic Amazon purchases, frenzied gift wrapping and multiple holiday get-togethers. We enjoyed celebrating with both offices as well as our kind and generous neighbors. We did the annual Killingsworth Christmas Cookie Competition, with Evie winning all categories due to her amazing cookie-art skills! The girls opened all of their presents Christmas morning & we met up with my parents, brother and sister-in-law and the cousins for Christmas fun. We went out for a fabulous dinner at The Palm, then slept like rocks!! I am glad that there are 364 days until next Christmas. We flew to Park City, Utah for a ski trip with the girls and to celebrate New Year’s with some winter fun. It’s beautiful here! 

As 2024 gets closer and closer, it’s definitely been a time of reflection and looking forward to new beginnings. I’ve been in survival mode since May, running on adrenaline and just living day to day. I think New Year’s Resolutions are silly, but this year focusing on gratitude and slowing down to appreciate the gift of time is high on my list. I think it’s also important to commit to mental well being, as this past year has really shifted the way I view my life experience. The cancer doctors call it a “survivorship plan” which is basically what happens when you’ve dragged yourself through the gauntlet of treatment and now you’ve emerged on the other side. You are simply on a surveillance plan, meeting with doctors every 3 months and monitoring for any new symptoms or changes. The hardest part is adjusting to “life on the other side” which is much more of a mental game. Choosing positivity over fear and anxiety, choosing to live in the present rather than dwell in the past or future are challenges that take daily commitment and mastery. I have a  lot of anxiety about developing another cancer since my diagnosis is a result of unknown environmental and internal factors. It’s a normal response but it shakes the confidence you have in your own body, making you lack the trust that you will know when something isn’t right. I think it will take some time and dedication but I’ll get there! 

In closing, I want to let everyone know how sincerely grateful I am for you following my story and giving me an outlet to share my experience. I hope it brings some peace and comfort to those who are going through treatment but that it also reminds us of how important being connected is. The love, prayers, messages and kind acts from communities far and wide has been felt deep within my heart and I promise all of you that it will be paid forward for the rest of my life. Never underestimate the power that a single kind act, expression of love and compassion or a hug can bring to someone in need. All of you have contributed in a much larger way than you think! 

As always, love and hugs to you all and I wish you a Happy New Year filled with happiness and good health!