I'm having my pleurodesis done next week!

I'm a grenade.....or a dandelion

Since moving to Tn, I've been on quest to take better hold of my health. Part of that is advocating for things my oncologist has not been strong in pushing to correct in recent yrs. It has finally occured to me, that I have to be the one to push for my complete care to be cared for. So, that has been my quest. To finally fix things that I have accepted as standard to ignore as part of my cancer treatment. That means taking care of this weird lump that grew on my port as well as finally seeing that all that can be done about my lungs is being done. Check out this video and I will fill you in on all I have been up to

Most recent Petscan results 2018

Been a long time since we spoke, here's what has been going on

Micro blading when you have cancer.

Here is  what happened.   I lost my eyebrows to cancer treatment.  Over 6 plus years of multiple courses and  types of chemo's have prevented my brow hair from growing back.  Thanks to minoxydl, I have hair on my head and tho sparse, My lashes have returned.  I have told myself to be grateful for what I have.  Yet there has been this little part of me that feels less feminine without brows.  Less expressive, less myself.  Yes, I do draw them on, but that is such a ordeal.  I know, I know, First world problems, right.  Well, no brows is just  another insult to my scarred, breastless body.  I made a call a week ago to Chicago microblading, and spoke with a lovely woman named Tahm.  She asked what I needed this done, and I shared a bit of my cancer background and told her about being browless.  She shared the procedure process with me and then went over cost and care.  I told her  that with all the medical bills I just didn't think I could swing it now, but said If I were able to scrape up the cost I would be in touch.  The very next day my phone rang, and it was Tahm calling on behalf of Havy, the microblading artist offering me the gift of microbladding.  I was blown away.  I didn't need to do anything in return, just get medical clearance to have it done, and allow a photo for the website.  Here is the review I wrote for Havy and her assistant Tahm.  It says how much their gift  means to mean.

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Havy and her assistant Tahm. I have an unusual reason for wanting to have my brows done, I have metastatic breast cancer, treatment is lifelong. All of the different types of chemo treatments have left my eye brows non existent. I was pretty nervous having been through so many surgeries and painful procedures. Havy put me totally at ease. She was super precise in measuring out my brows. She is very gentle and spoke softly, asking often if I was in any pain. I am blown away by how symmetrical my brows are. I can't pencil them in as perfectly as she did. They look great. These ladies are very kind and gracious. I am deeply touched and so so thankful to them both. Havy is an amazing artist. For me, a woman loosing a breast and eyebrows leaves an unfeminine feeling, this procedure gave that part back to me they look so realistic. Well, she literally changed how I perceive myself. To say I am grateful would be an understatement, I highly recommend Chicago Microblading and Havy.

I am so so pleased with how they turned out.  They look just like eyebrows with little hair strokes.  My own eyebrows where never this symmetrical, and uniform.  In a million years I could never brow pencil them on like this.  I am so looking forward to feeling  more "normal" and not having  to draw brows on every single day!!  What an incredible blessing  this is  for me.  If you are  thinking  of having this done, do your research, ask your oncologist for referrals, and check out yelp reviews.  Let me know in the comments below if you are thinking of having this done, or if you have had it done, and what you think about how it turned out. 

Thanks for stopping by- Take a moment to like, share, subsribe,

Leslie

What do I think of bucket lists?

Well hello there my dear friends,
It has sure been a while since I have written a post, or filmed a Youtube video.  I believe the last time I uploaded was in May during a visit to the Chicago museum of art. That was one of the Most lovely times I have enjoyed with my whole family.  It was an amazing time, My daughter graduated from Uni. at Loyola in the morning, my son was here with his future wife visiting for the occasion.  So after the graduation we set forth and took on the city of Chicago, going to the Museum, walking in the park, enjoying the best food the city had to offer.  It was a blast.  An incredible memory and one of the few items I have on my bucket list.  Many people have ideas about travel or sky diving or even some thing simple like Disney.
Those have never been my bucket items.  From the  moment I found out I had  mets bc, I knew my bucket list would only have a few items.  Enduring ones non the less.
I wanted to see my daughter graduate from University.
I want to see my son marry Caitlin.
I want to be here to see their children born and grow.
I want to see my daughter settled as well, although marriage isn't in the near future, I want to be here to see it if she chooses to marry.
I want to see her children as well.
I want to see my husband thrive in his career and be comfortable in his retirement.
I want to see my dogs live  a full and happy life (they are 5 yrs and 8 months old- so that gives me at least 16 or 17 years)
I want to move back to Tn, because no state I have been to has been so suited to me as Tn.  I LOVE it there.  Nashville is the life goal.
I also want to travel, and hike, and see concerts, and watch movies, and dance, and sing, and Live.

Like so many of my metaviver sisters, I would  just like to live out a natural life.  As long as I can possibly live.  So, what do I think of bucket lists?  I encourage them.  There are as many types of bucket lists as there are women and men living with this disease.  What do you think of bucket lists?  Share yours in the comments down below.  I would love to hear the dreams you have.

Thank you for stopping by,
Take a moment to follow, like or subscribe.  If you know someone who could benefit from a site like mine, share.
Leslie

A day at the Chicago institute of art.

Hello dear friends,  Come along with me as I head downtown Chicago and tour the art institute.  I'll be pointing out a few cool Chicago landmarks on the way.
Thanks for stopping by.  Give the video a thumbs up, like, follow and subscribe.
Leslie