Laugh with me cause we CAN get through this! My intro.

Hear2day

Hi. I'm Hear2day and I have Breast cancer. Hi Hear2day! Doesn't this sometimes feel as if we are in a TV sitcom idea of an AA or add your own alphabet-letters group together. Weird right? I wish this were a TV sitcom and I bet you do too sometimes! But it's real. Bummer. So I'm finally writing my story after reading, learning and crying with you about your postings.

Memorial Day Weekend I was told I have cancer. June 3, my breast surgeon explained to my daughter and myself, my diagnosis of HER2+ Stage 2 invasive breast cancer. My family history, both sides, from the 1800's till now, not one person had any cancer. And my Node biopsy NED. PET scans (several) revealed it has not spread beyond right breast. Have power port and began chemo last week of June. And soon after, 7 days later, I wound up in critical care because my white cells and platelets were almost completely wiped out. Very scary to be on transplant floor at hospital. As an O negative person ( universal donor) I donate blood and always expected to be used for parts when I passed. I thought they were keeping me on transplant floor, and on hand, because I was so critical. Hey, I am all for shopping locally but really?... So I survived, much to my surprise. And back on chemo. My Chemo is A/C 4rounds 2 weeks apart. Last dose 08/13/2015. Phase 2 of chemo consists of weekly Taxol chemo with every 3 week Herceptin/Perjeta chemo. So week 1 is Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta. Week 2 & 3 Taxol only. Week 4T/H/P. You get the idea.

I'm at The Carol Baldwin Breast Center and it is a terrific one-stop-shopping center. Great warm, welcoming, staff, fabulous Breast surgeon( my daughter could tell because of her stunning Christian Louboutin shoes) and my totally trust worthy oncologist. Surgery to be scheduled. I'm leaning toward the Angelina Jolie special- both breasts removed. My breast surgeon is encouraging me to keep my left breast. She and I still have to go over this. Haven't decided to have or not have reconstruction at all. But I am learning from everyone here that there are too many choices. All these choices are driving me crazy. How does anyone decide at all with so many options?

All of the ladies here, are awe inspiring. Breast cancer is not for wusses. Truth is any cancer is not for wusses. And there were some days I just wanted to give up. It seemed to me that the cure is worse than the disease, at least from where I was on any particular day. Don't get me wrong. I want to live and I have too many interests to stop living now. But, wow, I'll say it again- breast cancer is not for wusses.

Everyone has a coping mechanism to get by when things happen. Mine is laughter. As for me, I have been raped, knife to my throat and a gun to my head. And that's the really, really short list. But I have traveled throughout Europe in high school with my Catholic High School Sisters. I was on the fast track to become a Dominican nun. Yep! We stayed in convents and I even escaped the sisters one night with a few friends to sleep outside in the Alps. It was incredible. We woke up to the sounds of bells from the cows and goats grazing on the grass. Just one thing- we were not very bright- we were on the edge of the mountain and just a few steps .... You can guess what would have happened next. I sang for Pope Paul VI when he came to the 1964 New York's World Fair. I sang solos in church and on stage from the ages of 8 to 22. And that is just a very very very short list of my adventures. I was a published neonatal research assistant at very great hospitals and universities. But on my way to Harvard to continue my research/doctorate program my mom died. I was told at the age of 16, that she had 6 months to live but this was unacceptable to me. Oh heck no!! Not on my watch & not this time. I was the extended family caregiver and was called if anyone was sick, dying, or have passed. Many of my relatives and friends, I have had the privilege of cradling in my arms as they passed. But...Tag- someone in every family gets a job & that was mine. I worked to get into research programs for my mom- my best friend- my buddy- my heart. And I had to keep my dad's best friend here. He was my knight in shiny armour- my hero. Heck, They even let me scrub in when she needed a liver biopsy. People just think I'm smarter & more knowledgeable than I am. Boy, if they only knew how really smart I was not! God heard the prayers of a scared kid and gave my mom not 6 months but 6 years. I don't know why God gave us 6 years, because there were so many more worthy people, but I was beyond grateful. Yes Lord, I know I still owe you and I am working on it! Not one day was wasted. She & my dad walked me down the aisle when I married my best friend (44 years we have known each other & just had our 39th wedding anniversary). While caring for her, finishing my undergrad & working 2 jobs, I intentionality got pregnant in the hopes to keep her here with me. But she missed the birth of her much wanted grandson by 2 months- she died 2 months too soon & he came 2 months too early, a premie. Ain't that something. Then I had my daughter, my heart.

Don't you just hate it when people go on and on and on to get to a point! Ahem... Me? Laughter is my best defense, tool, and cure. So just after my 2nd chemo dose, on my 60th birthday, & looking like a muppet before you add facial features like eyebrows, lashes, or any kind of hair ( yeah - I wore my wig but I was going to whip it off at the end joke- didn't but I was going to -really!!), I get up on stage to do Standup comedy at my local well respected comedy club! You betcha - I did it! And I had a blast! I did my own material about my personal BC cancer jokes. And the comic professionals & the small crowd, laughed with me, at me, about me or to me. Who cares why- they laughed and I felt great. The comics, who kindly gave me tips & time on a busy weekend, and several people from the crowd, came over to tell me about their loved ones' battle with cancer. They poured out their hearts and we cried and chuckled with each other about breast cancer. You could see the tears puddling in their eyes over their loved one's passing or the bright gleam in their eyes filled with pride about the strength of their mom, grandma or sister or daughter. As they told their stories, you could see them begin to relax, because, as someone with BC, I could understand what they felt and what happened to them as a person or as a family. So you think I'm going back to do another standup? You betcha!!! And Cancer- I am warning you. You ain't seen nothin' yet. I'm Brooklyn born. Our laughs will slay ya! For Reals!!

Hugs to all. Make yourself a promise that you will try to laugh every day. It will scare the cancer cells silly. Smiles & Love to all. Hear2day.

Hear2day

Boy don't I have a lot of nerve. But since you are here...

Comic and MC introduces me as I get on stage. If I can post one more pic ( who does she thinks she is? Huh!) you will get a great look at my chemo belly that, I mean this, does giggle like s bowl full of jelly!

Told ya! Jelly belly chemo belly.

I guess what I am trying to say in my silly way is step outside of your comfort zone. You are doing things already that you never thought you would ever have to do to survive. But take a chance to live! Take a chance. Dream, take a deep breath, and then go for it. I left fear behind because even if I bombed or succeeded on my jokes, I had a blast!

Smiles & laughter. Love, Hear2day

sas-schatzi

H2d, found you.......Follow the PM sassy

vlnrph

How about a you tube post of hear2day in action on stage?

GG2

hello hear2day! I was just sloshing around in here looking for where to donate wigs when I came upon you! What a treat to read! Now it's November so I hope you are happy with whatever surgery choices you made and that treatment is not too god-awful. Hang in there!~