Julie's Jaunts - a Jaunt on the C-Train

And now a jaunt on the C-Train. I have commandeered my old travel blog to write about my experience with Breast Cancer. I have been diagnosed with Stage 3 Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma and writing about my experience is strangely therapeutic. The relatively rare (~10%) Lobular cancer is trickier than the much more common (70-80%) ductal cancer. My new favorite saying is: "I *REALLY* like walking on TOP of the planet!" ... especially in my frog's feet!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Off the C Train and back into life

Hey Conductor! What's all the racket?

The C train is coming to a stop. It's the end of the line. Time to get off the train!

What? Really? ... yeah, I guess so. I've had chemo, surgery, radiation and more surgery. I've done everything I could do. Wow. I guess it is time to get off the train. But how am I going to live life off the train? It just seems so surreal.

End of the line! Ya gotta get off! Today is your first day back to work! Get back to your life!

Wow. This is exactly where I got on the train. Was it just a big loop?! Everything kind of looks the same but not quite the same. As they say in Thailand, " same same, but different".

It's certainly more beautiful than I remember! And the love, wow! A final thanks to all of you for your support in all the ways that you show it! See you out in the world!

Are you cured?

I get this question a lot so I thought I'd just come out and address it.

Short answer - I hope so, I assume so, but there is no way of knowing.

Longer answer - There are no reliable tumor markers for breast cancer. I will not get bone scans, PET scans, CAT scans, MRI's or any other test as a matter of course. I will have physical checkups with my oncologist every 3 months. I will take oral meds for estrogen suppression for up to 10 years. Am I cured? I hope so, I assume so..... and I will live life to the fullest!