Susan G Komen Race for the Cure

I had a blast. This was my first time as a survivor participating in Race for the Cure. Thanks to all my supporters who came out bright and early on that Saturday morning. The atmosphere was full of survivors, pink and happiness. Thanks to my employer Waste Management who sponsored me this year for the walk. My team was awesome and we had a wonderful time, surrounded by the spirit of all the survivors and people currently going through breast cancer. This was a great experience for me. Meeting other women and watching them as they walk with pride and hope. Pink is more than just a color. It gives you something to fight and live for everyday.
xoxo
Superbritt

Supporters from afar and my high school teacher and her football team in Chicago. Thanks for the support!!

Save a Life

Blogging has become a huge part of my recovery process. I spend my days at a coffee shop or at home writing. I was little hesitant about doing it at first but I wanted to share my experience while going through treatment. It was difficult to find people around my age that was going through similar experiences as me so" Living with Breast Cancer" blog was born.
The media portrays cancer as being depress and sick majority of time. For some that may be the case, but for me it has been so much more. I am truly finding myself and bonding with a community that is full of strong beautiful people. I started this blog to show the beauty of this disease and the good times. Now, I will never take away that there are bad times and people have different definitions of what living through breast cancer is like but for me I feel like I am living for the first time. I love opening up the conversation about breast cancer for young women and not treating it like a family secret. In order for us to create awareness and early detection, we have to talk about it because you never know your story may save someone else's life.
xoxo
Superbritt

Girls night out

Having a great supportive group of girlfriends is much needed. These gals make me forget what I am going through and I can always count on them to have fun, let loose and be myself . Days like this will always seem to get you through even when you are feeling tired. Always make time for life because when you look back, its moments like this you will cherish for a lifetime.

xoxo

Superbritt

 

 

 

Weekend Getaway

My weekend was full of fun. I needed to get away so I visited my friend in Houston, Texas. She is big and pregnant and it was great to think about someone else happiness. Sometimes you just need to get away from all the doctors visits and treatments. It was good while it lasted. Talking to your friends on the phone is one thing, but sometimes you need to be around for girl talk or just hang out. I took the Megabus, which was great because it gave me time to myself and time to reflect on life.
The doctors want you to be cautious while having a low blood count (meaning my immune system is really low) but that does not mean that should shield yourself from the world. I take it one day at a time and that's good enough for me. Just make sure to SANITIZE, SANITIZE!
xoxo
Superbritt

Drizzy and me chillin'

Frown Upside Down

I finally reach the point of being over treatment. The chemotherapy for me is not too bad but knowing that I have 4 more to go seems so far away. There are moments when I just want to say "SCREW IT" but receiving pictures and flowers like this keeps me fighting even when I want to give up. Today was my 8th Taxol treatment and I was feeling a little down but I have people out there that turned my frown upside down. It's so great to know that you have people cheering for you even when you think you have no cheer left. I have days when I am so full of energy and some days I just want to lay in bed. My doctors told me not to beat myself up about when I have bad days, but sometimes that is "easily said than done". My weakness is being patient but in this case, I am forced to be. Every time I do blood work, it's always the unknown. Cancer has definitely taught me to look within myself. All the flaws I once had are not relevant nor important to me. Heck! Once all my hair came off, it was "GAME ON!" LOL! You guys stay with me on my journey. You have been a big help to my recovery process and I am forever grateful for the love and support. If you know someone that is going through cancer, please reach out by sending a gift, text or even better a phone call. You will truly make their day!
xoxo
Superbritt

Co workers sent me a picture

 

Flower delivery from my bestfriend

Coat of Polish

My nails are changing and my nail bed is starting to turn dark, but the weird thing is, they are still strong. Taxol has so many side affects and they are a bit scary. For instance, your nails can fall off and you will experience numbness in your hands and feet. I have not quit made it to the numbness nor my nails falling off, but my nails are getting dark.
The best method to protect your nail bed is to keep them polish, which will then keep the light off your nails and stop them from turning dark. Now, I have spoken with a lot of ladies at the cancer center and it works for them.

• Make sure to STAY AWAY from the acrylic nails. Only polish your natural ones yourself.

You have to ice your nails during treatment for at least 30 minutes. Sometimes I forget my mittens however, when I make it home, I quickly ice up for 30 minutes. It SUCKS but having the satisfaction knowing this will help my nails is all the validation I need. Receiving chemotherapy is like having a job that you hate going to but you know you need it at the moment. Strangely enough, I look forward into going every week because I get to chat with other patients and ask questions about their experiences. Don't be ashame of the changes that happens to your body. Just embrace them and put on a coat of polish!
xoxo
Superbritt

Roll with the Punches

Dear Cancer...

I have relationships that have blossom and some that just faded in the wind. In the beginning there are so many people rooting for you, but then life happens. I guess you expect for those relationships to stay strong throughout your journey. NEWS FLASH!! They don't and you know what, that's okay. You learn how to become a stronger person all though at times you need someone to be strong for you. Life is funny at times and you have to learn how to roll with the punches. You may get knock down a couple of times but when you fight, the reward is worth much more in the end! Now I understand the true meaning of fighter.
xoxo
Superbritt