Two Years And Counting!
If you’ve read any of my stories, you’ll know I was diagnosed back in January 2015 and after a mastectomy and tamoxifen, had a recurrence in May of 20 17. It was unexpected, unwanted, and terrifying. But I made it through like so many of you! I had to have my ovaries removed, the cancer removed from the skin, and my medication was switched from Tamoxifen to Aromasin.
Let’s just say that losing my ovaries challenged me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I thought I’d suffer from the stereotypical hormonal side effects everyone always talked about, but instead, in many ways, I started to feel better…but one. It annihilated my sex drive. Unfortunately, the radiation kicked my booty along with some huge life changes: a move, going back to a full-time day job, and helping our kiddos change schools.
I was exhausted and in denial about the stranger I carried around with me from the neck down.
It didn’t look the way I recognized, it didn’t feel the way I recognized, and it didn’t work in ways I recognized. I held it together in public and in front of my children, but once in my room away from the world, I kind of fell apart. But don’t lose hope! It didn’t stay like that forever. I eventually felt sparks of life returning to my unfeeling, unresponsive body.
Hormones are wicked crazy and so much needs to be better understood in order to keep breast cancer patients and their loved ones from suffering needlessly. I should have gone to therapy or a support group. My husband kept asking me to, but in so many ways I felt fine, so I resisted. And I have regret.
When you’re diagnosed, go find a group, go find a therapist. Sometimes, you don’t even know when a little more understanding will prevent you from hurting in a way you never expected.
Thankfully, I felt as though I was starting to come back to life. The radiation after my second recurrence caused a bad encapsulation and contracture. In order to fix this, it was recommended that I have a DIEP flap surgery on my left side…my right side was good to go at this point. A two-phased surgery that would be number six and number seven for me. I’ll admit, it was a way harder recovery than I’d expected, but it worked! My breasts went from wonky to wonderful and had a significant impact in how I felt about myself. I know I shouldn’t let it matter, I know I’m lucky to be healthy and here, but seeing myself look more like…myself…had a big influence on my confidence. So now I’m strong and healthy…I am me. But guess what? I was me all along! I know this is something women especially struggle with all the time. Our self-worth, our value.
So, I shared my journey of trying to find me in my new book, NOT YOUR USUAL BOOB, The Good, Bad, and Wonky of Breast Cancer. If you think it’s something that might help give you a little guidance, then I’m smiling, because that’s what’s it’s for…
Dear Reader,
When I got my breast cancer diagnosis, I was immediately inundated with books on Cancer. They terrified me. So, this book…is Not Your Usual Boob. A little informative, a little sarcastic, a little funny—I hope—and a lot real. This is the book I wish I could have read in my time of need. A little bit of what you can expect during your journey, and how to prepare yourself with a healthy mindset and coping skills before they’re needed.
The #NoFilter is exactly that...no filter on the front cover—me and all my wonkiness with no photoshop—and it’s what you’ll find inside these pages—including an F-bomb or five. Because more important than shielding myself is being real with you. You may laugh, you may cry, you may want to punch me in the face...but in the end, remember this. If you ever meet me, I’m hugging you.
And more than anything, that is the big reason behind this book.
I am still ME.
And YOU are still YOU.
XO ~ MK Meredith
Preorder here:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2nlbT9b
Apple bks: https://apple.co/2lbniaV
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2lQKj3d
