Breast Cancer Update April 2010
It’s been a while since I have posted a breast cancer update. I’ve been busy getting back to life.
Life After Breast Cancer – April 2010 Update
Things are going well. I’m feeling good, for the most part. I still get sick easily. I had a stomach bug a couple of weeks ago that was no fun. Evan got it first, Noah had a slight case, and then I got it. Somehow Morry avoided the bug.
I have been more active. We plan on joining Lifetime Fitness soon. They have a great childcare area as well as classes for the whole family. We did the week trial and enjoyed it. I was actually able to take a few group classes and run on the treadmill.
Noah turned 2 on March 20 and Evan turned 4 on April 5. We had a joint birthday party for them between their birthdays. We had family and friends over at our house. The weather was wonderful and everyone had a great time.
Fatigue and Hair Loss after Cancer Treatment
Back to me – besides being worn out easily, most days are good. My hair is growing back. The only annoying thing now is my fingernails. They became weak from the chemo and 5 of them have fallen off. Since there was already some nail regrowth it doesn’t look too bad. Just the upper half or 1/3 of the nails are missing. Really, it’s not too bad considering everything I have already been through.
Port Removal After Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
My port is gone. I had that removed in February. It feels so much better without it. The breast surgeon did an amazing job removing it and fixing my scar. You can hardly see where it was now.
Surgery to Have Expanders Replaced with Implants
On April 23, I’ll have my final surgery for now. The expanders will be removed and the implants inserted. I’m not looking forward to another surgery, but I’ll be glad to have it completed. I have heard that surgery is not too bad. The surgery is scheduled for a Friday in Dallas and I plan on driving back to Austin on Tuesday.
Here’s a little about what to expect after going through a mastectomy and reconstruction. I’ll show you what the expanders look and feel like. You can also see what my scars look like after surgery. Overall the expanders aren’t too bad, but I’m sure the breast implants will feel and look a lot more natural.
Pictures 4 Months After Chemo
Here are a few pictures that were taken today. You can see my head is covered in hair now. I’m no longer wearing wigs or hats.
I hope you all are doing well.
Rachel
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Read more about my breast cancer journey from 2009 to the present here.
If you know anyone having a mastectomy or other breast surgery, these breast cancer recovery shirts are a must-have.
Rachel K. Belkin, M.Ed, is a journalist and writer with over 15 years of expertise in travel, business and marketing education, health, and local Austin, Texas events.
With a Master's degree in education from Texas State University and a Business Foundations Certification from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, Rachel's extensive background is highlighted by her published works and contributions to prestigious publications, including HuffPost, Hometalk, Matador Network, AP News, and MSN.com, as well as on her own platforms, Rachel K. Belkin, Elkin Bay, and Probe the Globe.
Beyond her accomplishments in writing, Rachel is a sought-after educator, teaching businesses effective marketing strategies and content creation techniques. Notably, she successfully built a blog from scratch in 2008, ultimately selling it for six figures in 2021.
Rachel's commitment to advocacy is exemplified by her role on the Breast Cancer Resource Center Advisory Council, particularly contributing to the success of the Young Survivor Project. Rachel is also an experienced public speaker with appearances on TV segments for Fox 7 Austin, KXAN, and CBS Austin and as a speaker at conferences and professional networking meetings for business owners and cancer survivors.
