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