Thursday, January 4, 2007

Happy Dancing!!!!!!!!

Well I made it, I had my final chemotherapy on Tuesday and I had my final shot of Neulasta yesterday!!! I've been HAPPY DANCING ever since....well, until this morning that is, now the pain is starting to hit me, but who cares......I won't have to experience this kind of pain again....crossing fingers, hoping forever!

I brought into the chemo room a very large chocolate/chocolate cake to celebrate my last round......and as sick as some of the other patients were......chocolate makes everything better!! LOL LOL LOL
An older man (mid 50's) who's cancer had just returned after 16 years, who has to at least start off with 2 rounds of chemo and that day being his first had been refusing his wife's attempts to eat, I bounced around from patient to patient chemo pole and all and offered cake....this gentleman put a smile on his face and said chocolate cake sounded pretty good, so I cut him a huge piece and a few minutes later his wife came to my side and called me her angel, that her Husband finally out of the blue told her it was time to tell their 16 year old Son, what his Father is on the brink of, he didn't want to tell him, but something I said about this (my cancer) only being a bump in my road, took a burden off of him and the wife left to pick up their son from school and bring him there to do the family counseling meeting that was taking place in an hour or so......another older woman said, that she has never sat and chatted with anyone during her treatments, but you all know what a chatter box I am and when I was getting ready to leave she thanked me and told me that talking to me made her feel better and we exchanged hugs.....I told her we are all here to help each other cope, share our stories because you never know how it might help someone in need of hearing it.

I did so well with the chemo that I don't have to see Dr. Serious until MAY!!!! And if I want to I could have my final surgery in just 2 weeks....My Mother and Jim boycotted that idea and want me to wait at least a month, wait until I no longer feels the effects of chemo and I know they are right, but the faster I get this last phase over with, the faster I can get on with my life once again.

I start my Tomaxifen Link ~~~> 
Medication - Tomaxifen  in two weeks and I was told by my Oncologist (Dr. Serious) that if there are any rogue cancer cells that have made it past my surgery and my 16 weeks of chemo the Tomaxafin will seek them out and make them dormant, and cancer cells would rather commit suicide then be inactive so goes their life expectancy! lol Once my ovaries have shut down completely and believe it or not there is now a shot that can do that for you too, I will be taken off the Tomaxafin and put on a less dangerous drug for the rest of my life. I have to get past that golden 5 year mark in order to be considered cured instead of in remission. So for the next 2 years I will see Dr. Serious every 4 months, then after that the 3-5 year mark, every six months, and every year after that only once a year. It is up to me to be diligent about what my body is trying to tell me, I need to follow up with my regular woman's check up, pap smear and so on plus my yearly mammogram on only my right breast, because my left breast will always be checked through an MRI/cat scan and ultra sound machine....no more squishing that baby under glass! lol lol lol

So if I disappear for a few days it's just the bone pain keeping me held hostage in my room, if I disappear for longer it might be because during a crisis I keep myself together and then fall apart after wards...I'm not sure if and when that will happen but if it does....I'll get through that too....I am a warrior!

Thank you for your love and support and especially Jeanne over at "A journey to a new me" (private blog) who never let a week of my life since first discovering I had breast cancer pass without a lil something sent to pick me up and put a smile on my face....every comment left in my blog from all of you since this journey of mine began has lifted me, pushed me and carried me on those days when I needed it the most. I felt you reach across the Internet and I hope you know every prayer, thought and best wishes helped in my journey.

God has blessed me with friends I may never get to meet, but I will always carry around in my heart!

Love,
Kimberleigh

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

Hugs!!!!! What great news!!!
Betty

Anonymous said...

congratulations!!!
you have been such an inspiration to me through your journal.
i hope that the pain is not too bad and that you have a lovely rest of the day
lucy x

Anonymous said...

oh Kimberleigh!  I am so happy for you! what a milestone for you.  You are obvioulsy a warm, loving light to those that are on this same journey also.

take care and be well!

tina

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the completion of your chemo!!  I've been reading you for a while now, and certainly before your diagnosis, not commenting much, mostly because I didn't know what to say.  "Hang in there", "this too shall pass", seemed so inadequate, but you've been in my and a lot of peoples' prayers, and He's listened!!  You attitude through this whole thing has been the key to your success.  You are selfless, caring of others, and you have touched any and all whom you've come in contact with.  I know that your future is bright, because would anyone dare to mess with it??!!  I think not!!  Take care...
xoxo ~Myra

Anonymous said...

 I am so happy your done with your chemo and on the way to complete recovery.  The entire J-land community is doing a happy dance with you.

                   Julie

Anonymous said...

Kimberleigh,
You are indeed an Angel!  Thank you for sharing your battle with us.  You have thouched the lives of many.  I know your strength has helped many others.  I'm sure the cake helped too!  LOL  I don't think I told you, but I am also a cancer survivor.  In fact, I believe this is the first time I have admitted it in a public forum.  I cried with you.  I felt your pain.  If you don't mind, I will do the happy dance with you too!
Smiles,
David

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Anonymous said...

I'm SO HAPPY for you Kim!!  WOW you've come such a LONG way baby!  GOOD for you!  Doing the happy dance here, right along with ya!
You're on the downslide now, and you'll be fine.
Love to you...Pam

Anonymous said...

I am so doing the happy dance with you....And will continue to pray for you...you go you warrior....Big Hugs,TerryAnn

Anonymous said...

Doing the happy dance with you right now!!! You are definitely a champ and will remain in my prayers!

Anonymous said...

YIPPIEEEE!!!!!  The last one!  I am so happy!  Linda

Anonymous said...

Congrats Kim.  I agree with everyone on waiting.  I know the temptation to get it all over with, but the time will be well spent. ~ Mike

Anonymous said...

Kimberleigh, congratulations on reaching this milestone in such a great fashion. Nice to hear how your cheerie self and chocolate cake was so appreciated by the others. Good luck to you and prayers, Bill

Anonymous said...

Kim, we always knew you were an angel, a warrior angel.  I love hearing that your enthusiastic presence made a difference.  :-)  I'm so glad that you are done with the chemo.  It'll be much better reading about your hot flashes!

Take care.  Sending out gentle hugs to you since you still have some yucks to endure. - Stephanie

Anonymous said...

I'm doing the happy dance here for you.  Sorry, I gave up pole dancing when I could no longer lift my leg higher than my knee.

Anonymous said...

Kimberleigh, you made my day hearing that you had your final chemo yesterday, you have truly been a strong I'll get through this woman and I know it has helped so many others who read your journal and I know you'll continue to do just great. Your chocolate cake was a true blessing to all those who's lives you touched in the chemo room.  You were indeed their Angel, how wonderful for you to share  what you've been through, give them hope and be there for them.  We'll be here waiting for you whenever you put your words down in your J-land writings because you've become such a part of all of our lives.  We don't have to meet face to face to be friends, we've all become friends in heart with you dear.   Bless you.....Arlene (AJ)  

Anonymous said...

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And a HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR, because, let me tell you, this is going to be the best year JLand...and you especially, has EVER seen!!!

When's the celebratory party?  When you are feeling a little stronger, we need to have a SERIOUS JLand PARTY for you!!

((hugs))
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Yea!!!  I am so very happy for you!!!!!!
Time to party!!!!

Kathy

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim,
Absolutely delighted the chemos are now a thing of the past. As you say, it's the 5 years that count, but you'll sail through those no problem. See you in 2012!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim;

I am absolutely thrilled at your demeanor and attitude and I believe that is why you've done so well.  I can just see you bouncing around being an angel to others and distributing chocolate cake.  In my imagination, all my angels bear chocolate. lol
Congratulations to you for holding on through it all and I pray and believe that the pain will diminish very quickly.  FOREVER.

Gentle hugs,

Nelishia
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/WISHINGANDHOPING/
http://journals.aol.com/tsalagiprincess1/JumpingOffTheDeepEnd/

Anonymous said...

GOD BLESS YOU SUGAR!!!!! IT IS A HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!!!
LOVE YA,
CARLENE

Anonymous said...

So happy to hear the good news. Keep on keepin' on girl. Paula

Anonymous said...

Doing the Snoopy Happy Dance..... Doing the Tigger Bounce.... spinning in circles round and round till I get dizzy!!! I am so happy to hear this, You Warrior Woman, you! This is a great milestone and I'm glad you let us celebrate with you...

Oh, yeah, and Chocolate cake?? YUMM!

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

May this new year bring you only the best, putting all the pain of last year away from you.  You have been my heroine....love Sandi

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

We've never met Kim but I love you and your bravery, I think of you often and send you loving thoughts (Oh Crap, I'm crying!) This has just been a short interlude in your life. There is no reason why you shouldn't on to be a great grandma. I had an Aunt who had breast cancer, twice and still lived to her 80's and that was before we had all this new treatment.

A local woman has been in the news this week. She has had breast cancer 3 times but each time has got rid of it by sticking to a healthy diet. Not something I would advocate, as I think drugs are also needed but it might be a thought for the future that maybe, what we eat has something to do with the cause and healthier eating could help prevent it.

Take care, hope you are not hurting too much now.

Linda x.

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

You hang in there my friend and keep your chin up and a smile on and know that inside I am crying the tears for and with you and rejoicing with you at the same time!!  We made it to KY and the house closes next week.  Sharing a phone line with nine people means less journal time for me than ever though so just know you are with me in thoughts.
Hugs, and happy new year and what a great milestone!  Take care of you!!!!  Prayers, hugs and yay!!!!!
Lisa

Anonymous said...

A hug and a giggle

Anonymous said...

I'm doing the happy dance with you my friend!!!
((((((((((((((Kim))))))))))))))))))))
We're here for the long haul...girlie...
Friends for life...here in Jland....
Wishing you the best for 07'

Life might not always be the party we had hoped for...
but while we are here ~ we might as well dance!

Love & Hugs,  
 ~Terri~

Anonymous said...

Kimberleigh, girl, cried when I read about you going around with the chocolate cake and such sweet encouragement to that man in the hospital. I could just see you doing all of that. How amazing! It must feel somewhat surreal. Just to be past all of this. ALL of those fighter endorphines are doing their thang, and agreeing with you, its a journey that has a new enlightened start.  I dont know if you ever get alittle tired of people saying how strong you are but I have never written it once without "feeling" it all, as true. I am sincerely happy for all the life ahead of you. ~Raven

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS!! YOU HAVE WON THE BATTLE!! GOD WILL GIVE YOU VICTORY FROM CANCER, I CAN JUST FEEL IT FOR YOU!! YOU ARE SO PRECIOUS SWEETIE, AND GOD'S NOT DONE WITH YOU YET. YOU HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO GIVE. YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,
LIZ IN VA.
http://journals.aol.com/bethjunebug/Bethjunebug

Anonymous said...

Wow, Kimberleigh, I am so happy for you, I am doing the dance of joy for you, too!! You are awesome and I hope you never have to deal with this again...

:) Carol

Anonymous said...

Kimberleigh

Congratulations.......you are truly one remarkable lady. So positive yet so funny

I wish you all the very best in the world and pray that you stay cancer free

Hugs
Jayne