Think Time

It has been nice to be away from home and enjoy a change of scenery. We have had lots of fun and some really great weather. I don't like when summer gets too hot, so this stretch of days with mid-20 highs has been just right for me. Visits from friends have been great for us and for the girls. Cards, board games, badminton, paddleboarding, walks, campfires...lots to be grateful for.

With each passing day my taste buds have been more normal. As of today I can safely say that everything tastes almost as it should. I continue to take things slow as I've been pretty tired. Being able to sleep later when I need to is definitely a reason to be thankful for summer vacation. From what I can tell the numbness in my fingers and feet is no worse than last round. My brain fog is also much improved, though I still find it difficult to focus at times.

This week I brought along books to read and my embroidery. I have done some work on my embroidery in the last couple of days. I'm looking forward to going home so I can work on more weaving; there just wasn't space for my loom on this trip, so although I got my loom ready for another set of dish towels I didn't actually get to start weaving them yet.

One of my main preoccupations this week has been thinking and learning about some of the surgical options that may be available to me when chemo treatments are finished. I won't know my choices until I meet with my surgeon, but I wanted to arm myself with some knowledge before I see her again. My cancer is in one breast and I don't have any of the known 'bad' cancer genes. This means it is likely that my surgery will be limited to one side, so lumpectomy may be an option but I also need to prepare myself for the possibility that my surgeon will recommend a mastectomy. I'm fairly certain that reconstruction isn't for me for a variety of reasons. So what happens if I'm told I need a mastectomy? Do I spend the rest of my life as a one-boobed woman? That thought has been bothering me because I don't like the idea of asymmetry. I have learned quite a bit in the last few days about the clothing and prosthetic options out there for people who have unilateral mastectomies and was pretty impressed. Still, the thought of having to purchase specialty bras and bathing suits for the rest of my life annoys me. Is that weird? Maybe. I can't possibly predict what my surgeon will say so these thoughts are all just speculation for now. Really I'm just thankful for the think time. :)