All I want for Christmas.......

All I want for Christmas is good health. That's not asking for too much right? This Christmas will be very special this year. I get to celebrate another holiday with friends and love ones, eat all the GUMBO I want and enjoy all of  the good food before my New Years resolution lol! Which I'm pretty sure many of us have the same ones.

I will cherish every moment.

Some of  you may be currently going through treatment before the holidays and some of you are just finishing yout last treatment. Remember to always celebrate life throuhh good and bad times.You never know when your last day on earth will be. I finally come to the realization that Christmas is not just about the gifts and spending time with your loves ones. Its a true celebration of LIFE. I am so grateful that I am able to be with my family and to have another Christmas. Whether you are at home or in the hospital, know that you are loved. Know that this fight is only temporary because there will be a light  at the end of the tunnel. 

I never really looked at Christmas decorations but this year is different. I find myself admiring Christmas trees, ornaments, gift wraps and stockings. I feel like I have a brand new set of eyes. Seeing life through a crystal ball. Soaking it all in and appreciating "The Now". Take time to live in the moment because not everything is what it seems.

Exhale, Breath and take a look around, look how far you have come.

Merry Christmas
Superbritt

Understanding Labs

Always trust your doctor they say. Listen to what the doctor says is what we have been told since childhood. In many cases, that is true but for patients going through chemotherapy, there's more to it. If I did not know anything else, I knew these 3 things:

1.  Insurance plan
2.  Lab paper work
3.  Education(ask questions)

These things are so important when going through a cancer diagnoses. I've met women who had no idea about their insurance, no understanding of paperwork and not educated on what they've been diagnosed with. Now I know it can be overwhelming, I get that, but the more you know the better your outcome with treatment will be. If you don't get anything out of this post, the main thing to take with you is Lab work/blood work. I know it can be confusing at times looking at the numbers, abbreviations that you've never seen and medications you can't even pronounce but just having the understanding of some of the paperwork will help in making decision when it comes to getting treatment.

I saved myself from getting treatment one time when my WBC were too low.

• Before receiving treatment, you should always have labs done to make sure you're okay for treatment.
• Make sure to look over paperwork and compare it to any previous labs. By doing so, you know that you are able to be treated when you have certain numbers.
• If WBC look low, ask your doctor what is the normal range and what numbers do they not treat. It's normal to experience low WBC when receiving chemotherapy, so don't be alarmed. If you are on the borderline, please think about whether treatment is good for you at that time.

Remember you can always get the Neulasta or Neupogen shot and wait a couple of days or a week to see if your body reacts well to the medications. Do not be afraid to refuse treatment on that day if you do not feel comfortable.

WBC(white blood cell) helps fight infections. There are many variables that play a part in calculating your WBC. Just make sure to look at the number as a whole. So you may see 3.4, 4.4 or 2.2, 1.4. The lowest my counts have been was a 1.4 and usually, I compare my lab work. 1.4 is low but when comparing my lab work from the previous time, I was okay with that number because it was a 1.4 last time.

So understanding your labs is IMPORTANT. Educating yourself on your labs will help you tremendously while going through treatment. Remember it is your body, so you can make decisions on what is right for you.

xoxo
Superbritt

Chiropractor Fun

 

Slay Cancer Fashionista's

This photoshoot was inspired by Deniece Styles line Slay Cancer. I was so excited to receive my hat. It made me feel like I was receiving my graduation cap in the mail. Being that I went through a lot this year, you know, fighting cancer, It would only be right to say "I slay, I slay ALL DAY" but all jokes aside, Through fashion, she was able to channel her fashionista while being treated for cancer. I admire her because it takes a strong individual to still find beauty in it. I know I did!

Deniece Style was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her passion for fashion inspired her to create a new  empowerment and beauty from the INSIDE! She decided to fight fire with fire and embrace the consequences of her situation and use her voice to inspire and motivate others. Deniece maintained her flair and fashion sense while going treatment. As the child of a breast cancer survivor, she is empowered and motivated to encourage other affected with the disease to take the same stance of beauty through their battle. Her message of inspiration is clear, ” Just because you are sick, it does NOT mean you cannot be fashionable”.

I applaud you my pink sister! Keep bringing awareness through your fashion! Make sure you all check out her website so you can SLAY CANCER.
xoxo Superbritt

 

 

Pill for a Lifetime

Tamoxifen is what they call it. TAMOXIFEN, TAMOXIFEN, TAMOXFIEN is all I hear. Now I'm not against it but for me, I'm still in limbo. Is this normal? On one hand do I take to reduce recurrence or do I risk the side effects:

• blood clots
• other cancers
• vision lost
• weight gain
• mood swings
• vaginal irritation
• Joint pain
• bone loss
• depression
• Hot flashes
• fertility issues

The list goes on, but all of this is a very low percentage. Well guess what? I am that low percentage. When you think it's all over, it's always something else. I went to get my prescription filled the other day and all I could think about is could this little pill be a matter of life or death? Honestly, I thought it would be a no brainer and for some it may be,but for me, this is a huge decision. Tamoxifen lowers the chance of recurrence. So let me break it down on what Tamoxifen does.

Tamoxifen is used to treat hormone-receptor positive breast cancer.(that's me) My cancer needs the hormone estrogen and progesterone to grow.

The figure below shows how Tamoxifen works. Tamoxifen attaches to the hormone receptor in the cancer cell, blocking estrogen from attaching to the receptor. This slows or stops the growth of the tumor by preventing the cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.

Treatment with Tamoxifen lowers the risk of

• Breast cancer recurrence
• Breast cancer in the opposite breast
• Death from breast cancer

Tamoxifen is a pill taken every day for 5-10 years. The benefits from Tamoxifen last long after you stop taking it.

Now there are some health benefits but not many:

• Improves cholesterol
• Helps maintain bone density

Now I have out weighed the pros and the cons. I have spoken with many women about this pill and everyone experience is different. Make sure you do what's best for you. Also, research more information on Susan G. Komen or National Cancer Institute.
Leave comments. Let me know what you think?

 xoxo

Superbritt

Faith Wears Pink Christmas Tree

I had a wonderful time getting to know these ladies. It all started from someone adding me to the facebook group. I was so amazed to hear other women stories, journeys and cancer diagnoses. For the first time in a long time, I felt NORMAL. We were able to show our boobs and scars like hand bags. I guess that's the joy of being around women who share similarities. This night represented so much more than just showing of boob jobs. It represented the struggles, countless surgeries, chemotherapy and those who are no longer with us today because of breast cancer.

There was a story that stood out to me. One lady spoke about meditation and she never meditated a day before in her life but hell she said, lol I guess I could give it a try. She said she close her eyes and everything went silent. All of a sudden she heard 3 birds and that was GOD telling her that everything was going to be okay. To her, it represented the father, the son, and the holy spirit. I was touched by her testimony and many more.

Many of the women are still fighting their battle with breast cancer, yet they were able to have a moment of normalcy. So many stories, so may love ones lost and in spite of it all, we were able to laugh, talk and place an ornament on a tree that meant more than just a Christmas decorations. For each ornament, there was a story and those stories will continue to live on.
We shared a lot of  happy moments and some sad but all of us were there for a reason. Everyone says  FUCK CANCER but for some, cancer has brought them closer to God and established new relationships that turn into long-term friendships.

So I say thank you CANCER for making me STRONGER, A FIGHTER, and someone who can help others by creating awareness.
xoxo
Superbritt

 

 

Chemo Madness

Happy Revision Holiday

I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving, eating everything in site, filling your belly's and being with love ones. I had my revision reconstruction surgery the week before the holidays, so I was still sore but that did not matter. My family came down for support and my mom cooked a big Thanksgiving feast.

Even though I could not laugh as hard at all the jokes, having them around made my pain not as painful. I'm in week 2 of recovery from surgery and let me just say I am loving the results thus far. I don't want to get too excited, but my doctor did a great job and even had a little liposuction on the sides.

The only issue I am having is the part where he did the liposuction which is normal but it harden up so I have to massage it every single day, but it is getting better. My surgery this time was only 2 in half hours, so it was not that long. The best part was my room. It was a suite. Felt like a hotel room. It was HUGE and I enjoyed every single moment of it.

The procedure:

• Lift
• Bigger size went from 480cc to 590cc. Now I know that may sound HUGE, but its not. It depends on your body frame and trust, I  AM NOT a boob girl lol!
• Liposuction under right arm by the breast. It was creating dimples in my breast.

Caspuslorrhaphy-(Internal Bra)my breast bottomed out. Refer to Crawford Plastic Surgery for additional information but I have the definition below:

Capsulorrhaphy: To elevate the breast and restore a normal appearance, sutures may be placed in the lower pole of the breasts. The capsule that holds the implant is adjusted, and the position and size of pocket is tweaked so the implants sit higher on the chest.

Through it all, I think the best part was seeing the nurse that took care of me for my bilateral mastectomy. She too was going through cancer treatment and she came by to visit. That made my day knowing that she was doing well and LOOKED FABULOUS!

Taking care of someone with the same diagnoses as you while going through your own treatments is true definition selfless. I will always remember and cherish her for the rest of my life. So If you are nervous about getting lumpectomy or bilateral mastectomy just do your research and make sure you are comfortable with your decision because you have to live with it for the rest of your life.

PS:I will post before and afters's later. Love ya!
xoxo
Superbritt

Fertility and Chemo side effects

Okay. How many of you are experiencing changes in your bodies after chemo or during? Well lucky me,  I really did not experience any changes until the end , Oh I forgot weight gain but we already talked about that. So lets get to the nitty gritty.

It was recommended to do fertility treatment because it is a possibility that your ovaries will shut down and you won't have a period. Well, that was music to my ears. Lets face it ladies, we all hate that time of the month but when you are told you may not be able to conceive, it changes your whole perspective. So, I went through the procedure before starting chemotherapy. That's most important. "START BEFORE CHEMOTHERAPHY". Now I hate needles and I am sure I am not the only one being that I had to give myself a shot every freaking day, but it made me a solider. This procedure was easy but the aftermath was painful. This does not happen to everyone. As a matter of fact, my doctor said, I was his only patient that reacted. At the end of it all, I received a called on mother's day that I have 11 embryo's. So I have 11 babies on ice.

I went through a foundation called Live Strong Fertility. They help pay for majority of your fertility medicine which expensive. The only thing I had to pay was for the procedure. Most insurance companies do not pay for fertility. I wonder why??

Anyway, getting a little side track. During my chemo, I still had a period. My doctor was like WOW, I guess you won't be needing your eggs after all. My husband response was " Oh we are using those things, they are already paid for" lol! So lets just say, we will not have the privilege to practice. I was a little disappointed because I looked forward into not having a period. Little did I know, my period stopped when I had TWO MORE TREATMENTS. A little too late for that!

My hair started growing back after my 3rd treatment and by the 7th one, I had a head full of hair but it started to shed all over again, Not a lot. Then that's when I met my worst enemy. HOTFLASHES!! They are the devil. They come and go every hour. I sweat like it's 100 degrees outside and I'm inside with the fan on and air on 60. Now, I know I have this to look forward to when I am older but right now, I'm begging for my period to come back. PLEASE COME BACK!

Lets talk about ACNE. My skin was so clear in the beginning. Smooth, not oily and just looking fabulous. That freaking chemo and steroids was a mix cocktail for acne. I looked like a Dalmatian. Only with just dark skin lol! So, if you are experiencing acne, nothing will help, just keep your face cleanse and moisturize. Now that I am poison free, It is clearing up slowly. Also, my nails did not fall off or turn black, just light brown and they grew like crazy. I should be a case study. I am that 1 in a million person that gets everything.

I like to joke about what's going on with my body in order to not be depress. Sometimes you have to do that. Just know it is temporary and they're so many options out there. Make sure to consult with your doctor about any issue you have. I know going through chemo is not fun but it is what you make of it.
xoxo
Superbritt

LivingFree and Topless

Mastectomy is an option...... is what my breast surgeon told me. Never had a problem with my breast. Matter of fact, I loved my breast, the size and the perkiness of them lol! Being told you have to get a unwanted boob job because of your age and the chance of recurrences is 70% was mind blowing especially for someone who is only 26 years of age. For any other young woman this probably would be a dream but for me it was a nightmare. You're talking to someone who never had surgery and never thought about having surgery unless it was a mommy makeover (after children).

Coming to the realization that I will no longer have my own was a lot but at the end of the day I knew my boobs were replaceable but my life was not. Researching what a bilateral mastectomy entails was heartbreaking for me knowing that I could no longer breast fed, or have a sexually arousal. That was Breaking News for a 26 year old. I had a good surgeon and he explain the outcome of the surgery and what to expect afterwards.

Bilateral mastectomy is the removal of both breast including majority of your breast tissue and is a major surgery and for some not an easy decision. Below is the paperwork I received on the day I made the decision to chop my boobs off. Pretty simple on paper right?
this is before I had surgery. They staged me at a 1. Now once they went in, it was a different story. It was stage 2B with 3 tumors.

• Tumor 1-2.5
• Tumor 2-1.5
• Tumor 3- 0.5
• Went into 2 lymph nodes out of the 3 tested but very minimal

I'm pretty sure this looks like chicken scratch but to me it was everything I needed to know.

My breast never defined me as a women. Well let me take that back. According to text book and evolution and what's in stealed in us as young women .Now wait! before the surgery, my thoughts were not feeling complete and not feeling like a complete women, but now I consider them accessories, warrior wounds and represents a strong, phenomenal black women.

Now that I have completed my chemotherapy, it's time to finish my reconstruction and make them even more perfect. Tell me what you think? These were taken before my final surgery. This was my celebration for finishing Chemotherapy. I CELEBRATED MYSELF. I SAW MYSELF AS A BLANK CANVAS and FEELING LIKE BARBIE! Love ya!
xoxo
Superbritt

PhotoCredit: Todd Patrick
MakeUp: Candace Hampton

Girls Just want to have Fun

 

Having a girls night out was needed after completing chemotherapy. I had so much fun with these girls and sometimes you just need that time to escape from what lies ahead. My breast reconstruction surgery is coming up and I needed to let my hair down LOL! Make sure you surround yourselves around good people going through your cancer journey and have fun. Not everything is about being down and depress. Make the best out of a bad situation.

My Motto: Always Turn a Negative into a Positive.

 I love you all and thanks for all the support and love!

xoxo

Superbritt