Hello! This is Molly writing with a long-overdue update. I have finished radiation and my burns have healed! The burns were no joke and were very painful. I am glad that is now behind me! My energy level is so much better and I feel more like "myself."  I have been buzzing around the house like a bee accomplishing lots of things that had to wait while I was in active treatment. 

I saw my oncologist recently and she was very pleased with my bloodwork. I will have a scan this fall to make sure everything still looks good, but I am currently considered "cancer-free." Great news! I started taking Tamoxifen about two weeks ago. It is a hormone-blocking pill that potentially has some not-so-great side effects. Fingers crossed that they will be minimal! I will also have to take Lupron shots to shut down my ovaries as the type of cancer I had was fed by both estrogen and progesterone. The possibility of an eventual hysterectomy is also on the table but time will tell if that surgery is needed. 

I was able to have direct reconstruction when I had the double mastectomy. Hopefully, the left breast will not become encapsulated with scar tissue from radiation. The right one has not cooperated as well as we had hoped. I am going to have to have revision surgery to fix what I refer to as my "non-compliant boob." It did not heal properly and does not stay in the "pocket." It drifts into my armpit when I lay down. Luckily, Dr. High says that it should be an easy fix!

Chris and I are so excited about an upcoming week at the beach! He has been so busy with his new job. I know we are both ready for a break and a change of scenery. I am also headed to Islamorada for a girls' trip with Nikki. I am really trying to get a sense of "normalcy" back in my life. I am back at needlepoint.com part-time and also making new mollybeads pieces. I hope to get back into more stores and have a sample sale in the coming months. My mom moved from Orlando to Raleigh last April, three weeks before I was diagnosed. I am doing my best to try to finish getting her settled and organized! It's been fun having visits from my brother, sister, and nieces.

A huge shout out to my support system near and far. Thank you all for the love and support over this past year. I truly do not wish this experience on anyone. If I had to choose open heart surgery again or cancer treatment, I would go will open heart surgery ten times over! Hopefully, I am done with these illnesses! 

A great BIG hug and thank you to all of you for the thoughts, prayers, flowers, love, etc! I could not have done it without you! 

Love, Molly 

p.s. - I forgot to mention that my hair is coming back!  I'll attach a picture but it's salt and pepper and does not show any signs of "chemo curls".  I am pretty sure it is going to be straight!