Diagnosis Day-5 Years Out

With the anniversary of my diagnosis day (August 8th, 2012 at 3:30 in the afternoon), my mother and I were discussing the day. She remember's sitting with me wishing it was 5 years from then, when she knew everything would be ok (forever the optimist, that mother of mine).

5 years after hearing, "you have breast cancer". 5 years after being forced to face my own mortality and choosing to let people and all the good in.

5 years of #cancersurvivorproblems.

Now, this is another thing that keeps on growing. When you have had breast cancer and it surprised your doctors, they spend a lot of time trying not to be surprised by things. So, when you are physically active and you still develop blood clots on your long term hormonal treatment, everyone is surprised afain. Then they put you on a poop emoji looking blood thinner. And that's when people start checking on everything (#cancersurvivorproblems).

Because my iron labs have been a little off multiple people advocated that I have a colonoscopy. Oh yeah. I got to drink this 4L jug of poop juice...

It is pictured here with my clear liquid diet and some items featured in my low fiber diet that needed to be consumed leading up to the exam.

And guess what? The anticipation of the colonoscopy is the worst part. The actual prep, isn't pleasant, but for a constipated lady like me (#cancersurvivorproblems), it did get rid of all my belly pain. And I was awake enough that I got to see the inside of my colon. (The science nerd in me was so amped). And there was nothing wrong with it (not just per my visual inspection, also per the gastroenterologist who did my colonoscopy).

5 years ago, I never would have imagined that I would get excited when I put a couple of months together without a doctor's appointment or test. I never would imagine that I would be living with my boyfriend or making travel plans to celebrate my niece's 3rd birthday. I never would've imagined that you can experience overwhelming gratitude about being alive at the same time you feel like human science experiment, but I'm glad I get to.

And who would have known 5 years ago I would wake up singing soulshine. I can deal with all the #cancersurvivorproblems because I'm still here to have them, and it sure is better than rain.