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Thin My Whole Life - Until Now
I was always thin, 5' 8 1/2", weight at diagnosis around 120 - 124 lbs.
ER+; PR-; HER2 +++
I was always able to eat whatever I wanted without gaining weight; being on the tall side helped, I suppose. Wore a size 4. I was always, naturally, rather flat-chested and it was unimaginable that breast cancer could afflict me. I thought, I'm embarassed to confess, that breast cancer only struck those who actually had, well, big breasts.
Post everything I've been through I weigh 153. Size 8. Still taking Arimidex which makes me always hungry. Shrinking besides. Now I'm 5' 7 and a half. Thank goodness I was on the thin side to begin with, I guess I still look normal but when I look in the mirror I do see too much weight around my mid-section and in my face. Had reconstructive surgery, L latissimus dorsi since my stomach did not have enough weight to make a new breast. Now my chest matches the rest of me size-wize. Having a larger chest also makes me look a bit weightier.
But I digress. This morning I am happy to be alive and want to keep fighting to stay that way.
Mary
diagnosed: 4/2002 ER+ PR- HER2neu +++
3 rounds A/C
cancer grew on A/C
L modified radical mastectomy - 13 of 13 positive nodes
6 months of Taxotere
1 year of Herceptin
Radiation
Two small brain metastases discovered Spring '05
Gamma Knife 4/2005
Weekly Herceptin resumed
continue on Arimidex
Last week's brain MRI showed only 1 lesion which shrinks from scan to scan
Currently applying to University of Washington's Vaccine Trial
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