My Mastectomy, My Blog, An Introduction

I am a mother, a wife, and a carrier of the brca 1 genetic mutation (the breast cancer gene). Just a couple months ago, in August of 2013, I discovered this news and intend to use this blog to document my next year and a half journey. In the months to come,  I will take control of my health by getting both a preventive oophorectomy (ovary removal surgery), mastectomy and reconstruction - all in time to celebrate my life and new body on my 40th birthday in March of 2015.

I intend to update this blog bi-weekly on Mondays (‘Mastectomy Monday’). My intention is to be authentic and honest and to also bring a touch of humor to the otherwise serious subject. When I'm feeling empowered (which I genuinely feel most of the time) you'll know it and when I'm feeling scared or angry, I'll share that too. What you won't see is pink ribbons, posed pictures of me walking on the beach, or inspirational images of me doing yoga beside a Buddha statue. I promise not to be preachy (or at least I'll try not to... I do have soap box tendencies). I'm going to write about my appointments,  and how I'm doing both physically and emotionally. And then, when I need a distraction from all that, I'll write about the Super Sweet Sixteen style, huge 40th birthday party that I'm planning!

Since writing is very therapeutic for me, I’d like to have an audience to share my thoughts with. Please follow my blog and encourage others to follow it as well as this will be your opportunity to keep ‘a breast’ of my journey as I do the exact opposite. Stay tuned for my next blog entry about why I chose to do genetic testing.