On Adversity, Boobs and Silver Linings
Greetings Rock Stars!
FYI there is some stuff going on for me medically. It may or may not be of interest to you and absolutely no hard feelings either way. I've written a post about it (because... apparently that's what I do as part of my "process") and if you'd like to know more please click through.
I recognize that for some people topics like boobs and cancer are uncomfortable, so I didn't slap the text here. But this is your official heads up: don't click through if you'd rather not read about those things!
In any event, I'll be falling off the Strava boards for a couple of months and at a minimum if you read this post you'll know why.
Cheers! - Jenn
http://jennifermaeedwards.blogspot.com/2016/12/on-adversity-boobs-and-silver-linings.html
Comments
You are going to kick cancer's ass, Jenn! I love your positive attitude and sense of humor. Can't wait to hear your comeback story in a couple months!
Thanks for sharing and best wishes for a full recovery!
Jennifer, it seems that you have attacked your cancer diagnosis with the same ferocity that you have your Ironman training. You have surrounded yourself with a world-class team of medical experts and you have gracefully accepted the love and support of family and friends. God bless you and your family as you fight this disease. I look forward to toeing it up at the start line of a future Ironman.
Hello Jenn,
I am a newb here, learning how to use the website and hoping to find my training "Home" where I can put my thoughts to rest and just do the work. I went through an experience similar to you in 2013 and I just want you to know that you will be okay and yes, all the doctors and crap are going to make you grumpy and sometimes feel sorry for yourself and such but you will come out of it stronger. Though, hell, you are already an Ironwoman so I don't know how much stronger you can be!
Can't even begin to reiterate what everyone else said about your courage and attitude. Look up Joe Matchette (sp?) he's been a big advocate for fundraising as his wife had a double masectomy. I have a friend here in NY that had the prophylactic mastectomy & reconstruction. She is an insanely competitive half & full marathoner, happy to intro you if you want to PM me.
You seem to have alot of supporting people around you.
Wishing you the best
I'm sorry to hear about this....as Scott said, my wife and I travelled this road back in 2010/2011. As you are in recovery now with not much to do over the next few days (especially), you might enjoy reading my wife's blogs (she transitioned from CaringBridge to Blogspot
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/genmatchette/journal
http://genmatchette.blogspot.com/
I have something I'd like to send to Mark...PM'ing for your address. Or he can call me -- 602-312-7373.
Joe
Jenn, I'm finally catching up on things and low and behold I read your blog. I am so sorry, but in reading your blog (which was awesome by the way), I can see you have the right attitude going into this journey. You are one of the most up beat, positive people on this team!! Attack this with the same vengeance you attacked Kona and you will be back chasing your dreams in no time! All my happy, positive mojo coming your way!
Hey Team
Back home from the other side! The surgery went fine, (5.5 hours) though I did require the expander thingies which means a second surgery in a couple of months. At this point (24hour) I will say that this sucker REALLY hurts and looks horrible so that's bee'
hard emotionally. Loaded up on a coctail of of drugs which allows for 10' lucidity per house. So much for all that Clean eating!
I've taken many of your suggestions and insights to heart. THANK YOU!
http://jennifermaeedwards.blogspot.com/
Hello from the Other Side
Well hello from the other side! Thank you for the kind words and notes. Despite my attempts to will it to be so, this round has definitely not been a piece of cake. Certainly easier than the round first which benefited from a full week on 24x7 narcotics but no, not much fun at all. As I understand it this is due to the additional rearrangement of the musculature.
Considering there's extra dressing on one side and surgical markings up top it could be worse!
Presently we are in the midst of Operation Hard Boiled Eggs. For the future reconstructive surgeons out there: We want these implants to adhere to their "pocket." This is typically not a concern for cosmetic augmentation as normal breast tissue solves for that. In my case, fluid (envision the white part of a raw egg) is the enemy. Increased heart rate = increased blood pressure = increased fluid = Jenn's eggs never set. We want them to adhere so that I can get clobbered in a future mass Ironman start and have them stay in place.
The Boob Dream Team continues to be AMAZING. I am forever grateful for their support and the rally of our collective tribe. I also continue to have gratitude that I'm fighting to get back in the saddle not fighting for my life. We are at over 30 mammograms now - keep them coming! The new doctor brings a ton of mojo (he's not hard on the eyes either… ) and I'm sure will provide an additional mojo infusion at my next appointment.
SS
Dawn
Just to put a pin in this... I'm considering myself officially off the IR after the lovely Zwift ABP ride with the cool kids Sunday. Everything about my triathlon self is slower, tighter and a bit more tired, but the overwhelming emotion is simply grateful to be healthy enough to do it. I'm looking forward (hopefully) to the kind of improvements you only see when you have a ways to go.
The short health wrap up is I have an excellent prognosis with a recurrence risk of less than 1%. (Almost no tissue left = almost no risk!) I also have what my friends say is a nice looking top that some people pay good money for. The weight penalty is about 1 lb, the aero penalty is still TBD. Sadly I can't and likely never will be able to feel them because the nerves are all severed in the scooping out process but hey - at least they're still there!
The Zwift ride is SO MUCH FUN - I highly recommend it! Envision all the trash talking and and group dynamics of a "real" group ride in the safety of your pain cave.
THANK YOU for all your support, kind words, mojo, friendly smoke signals etc. through this journey!
xoxo - J