It needs to come out!

Right after my initial cancer diagnosis back in July of 2008, I had surgery to implant a "port-a-cath". This was so that they could administer the chemotherapy and draw blood easier and not have to stick me so much. It is placed on my right upper chest, just below my collar bone.

Since December of 2008 (my last chemotherapy treatment), it's been sitting there, minding it's own business! Every 3 months, I have it flushed just to make sure it's still in working order. My oncologist said that he usually has his patients keep these in until around 2 years post treatment. He said part of the reason he leaves them in so long is for superstitious reasons....every time he had one removed when treatment was completed....the cancer would come back and they'd have to get a new one on the other side. Apparently, once it's removed, that's it for that side!

I'm coming up on my 2 year anniversary of diagnosis in July and in December, it will be two years since my treatment was completed. I think it's time to get it taken out!

For one thing, it is one of many constant reminders of this whole, horrible ordeal. Evidently, it's not enough that I walk around with a uni-boob as a major reminder! Secondly, it hurts! I can't lay on that side at night and it has now begun to hurt almost everyday. I was told that the reason we couldn't permanently leave it in was because eventually, my body would begin to reject this foreign object. I think that's what is happening now.

I don't see my oncologist until August so I'm in a bit of a dilemma as to what to do. The pain is certainly bearable, but, I think my body is trying to tell me something. The trauma of having it inserted has still not left me, but at some point I'm going to have to put on my big girl panties and just bite the bullet.

It's so funny to me how weeks (and sometimes months) can go by without much thought of cancer.....and then BOOM, there it is.....right there in front of you! This brings me to the point of this entire post:

Even though I've been known to spend a ton of time complaining about my journey with cancer, I am SO thankful that it was caught early...that I have excellent doctors who are treating me with the BEST that the industry has to offer at the moment.....that my prognosis is really, really good...and that God has blessed me with the most wonderful support system that anyone could ever hope for. Yes, I walk around with battle scars....I walk around with aches and pains sometimes and with an attitude A LOT of the time, but don't let that fool you. I am so GRATEFUL for the blessings in my life and even during the worst of times, I am aware that so many have suffered greatly....much more than me.