I feel almost guilty not having introduced you to my kick-ass boots. I was going to tweet [again] about the audible 'OOOOH' I heard from a gal as I swiftly walked out of Dr. Gabriel's office...  then link to my blog post + photo about my boots. [because you need the photo for it to be effective #don'tchathink] But then I searched high + low and couldn't find a post. If I'm remiss then chalk it up to chemo brain... if I'm not, I am truly sorry for not having shared these with you before now.

Meet my Cancer-Ass-Kickin' Boots. They are a bit Mary Poppins meets dominatrix.

When my husband laid eyes upon them, he said I might be sending the wrong message... I didn't care. It wasn't a message meant for the local men. It was for my inner-brave girl...

These chica's accompanied me to chemo, radiation, doctor consults + follow ups, dinner on the town and coffee at Caffe Piccolo. When cancer got ugly, I knew my shoes were still the cutest within a 2 mile radius.

Today it seemed fitting to strut into my breast reconstruction post opp appointment wearing them along with my new bra...

The audible "OOOOH" which included a finger pointing gesture as I swiftly exited the waiting room was affirmation that cancer is ugly, but my life doesn't have to be.

I feel almost guilty not having introduced you to my kick-ass boots. I was going to tweet [again] about the audible 'OOOOH' I heard from a gal as I swiftly walked out of Dr. Gabriel's office...  then link to my blog post + photo about my boots. [because you need the photo for it to be effective #don'tchathink] But then I searched high + low and couldn't find a post. If I'm remiss then chalk it up to chemo brain... if I'm not, I am truly sorry for not having shared these with you before now.

Meet my Cancer-Ass-Kickin' Boots. They are a bit Mary Poppins meets dominatrix.

When my husband laid eyes upon them, he said I might be sending the wrong message... I didn't care. It wasn't a message meant for the local men. It was for my inner-brave girl...

These chica's accompanied me to chemo, radiation, doctor consults + follow ups, dinner on the town and coffee at Caffe Piccolo. When cancer got ugly, I knew my shoes were still the cutest within a 2 mile radius.

Today it seemed fitting to strut into my breast reconstruction post opp appointment wearing them along with my new bra...

The audible "OOOOH" which included a finger pointing gesture as I swiftly exited the waiting room was affirmation that cancer is ugly, but my life doesn't have to be.

Just got wind of my PET scan results....

CLEAR baby CLEAR!!!!  That's right sistah' "No evidence of cancer". #highyatakethatbreastcancer

Also, I'm sportin' my new girls....and afer the rock hard mounds I was toting around, these girls are pure squishy soft heaven.

Since I'm still poppin' pain killers, I'm going to keep this post short + sweet.

Thank you Chicas + Chico's for all your love + support. And a HUMONGO thanks to my Medical Team. You are all so appreciated~

XOXO, Krista

Just got wind of my PET scan results....

CLEAR baby CLEAR!!!!  That's right sistah' "No evidence of cancer". #highyatakethatbreastcancer

Also, I'm sportin' my new girls....and afer the rock hard mounds I was toting around, these girls are pure squishy soft heaven.

Since I'm still poppin' pain killers, I'm going to keep this post short + sweet.

Thank you Chicas + Chico's for all your love + support. And a HUMONGO thanks to my Medical Team. You are all so appreciated~

XOXO, Krista

As I sat in the plastic surgeon's waiting room I couldn't help but notice the division in the room. There were 3 women that were obviously there for the same reason I was. #theirheadscarves+wigsgavethemaway The other's I wasn't so sure...

I was there to schedule my breast reconstruction surgery... yes, I'll spend this years Breast Cancer Awareness month getting my new girls. Last year was spent removing them. They will no doubt be better, stronger, higher, tighter than the original girls. They come with history #isaidhistorynotbaggage They come with no nipples. [i'll get those tattooed on later]

I don't have anything against breast enhancements. But please do not confuse this surgery with optional boob jobs. I didn't want new girls. They are just the replacements. I won't shun them, or you if you have optional boobs... just mentally it isn't the same. I understand people when people whom don't know me just want to connect... I really do... but connecting over your boob job story or your botched booby job is no where near the same... it just isn't. #feltgoodtogetthatoffmychest #neitherischemotakingyourpubesequatetoabrazillion

My plastic surgeon gets it. He founded The Pink Lemonade Project as well as proposed a bill that will require physicians to provide information to clients. I was interviewed for this news segment along with my doctor, Dr. Gabriel. [fyi- it takes a minute to get to the segment] for the full news story click here

As I sat in the plastic surgeon's waiting room I couldn't help but notice the division in the room. There were 3 women that were obviously there for the same reason I was. #theirheadscarves+wigsgavethemaway The other's I wasn't so sure...

I was there to schedule my breast reconstruction surgery... yes, I'll spend this years Breast Cancer Awareness month getting my new girls. Last year was spent removing them. They will no doubt be better, stronger, higher, tighter than the original girls. They come with history #isaidhistorynotbaggage They come with no nipples. [i'll get those tattooed on later]

I don't have anything against breast enhancements. But please do not confuse this surgery with optional boob jobs. I didn't want new girls. They are just the replacements. I won't shun them, or you if you have optional boobs... just mentally it isn't the same. I understand people when people whom don't know me just want to connect... I really do... but connecting over your boob job story or your botched booby job is no where near the same... it just isn't. #feltgoodtogetthatoffmychest #neitherischemotakingyourpubesequatetoabrazillion

My plastic surgeon gets it. He founded The Pink Lemonade Project as well as proposed a bill that will require physicians to provide information to clients. I was interviewed for this news segment along with my doctor, Dr. Gabriel. [fyi- it takes a minute to get to the segment] for the full news story click here

As I sat in the plastic surgeon's waiting room I couldn't help but notice the division in the room. There were 3 women that were obviously there for the same reason I was. #theirheadscarves+wigsgavethemaway The other's I wasn't so sure...

I was there to schedule my breast reconstruction surgery... yes, I'll spend this years Breast Cancer Awareness month getting my new girls. Last year was spent removing them. They will no doubt be better, stronger, higher, tighter than the original girls. They come with history #isaidhistorynotbaggage They come with no nipples. [i'll get those tattooed on later]

I don't have anything against breast enhancements. But please do not confuse this surgery with optional boob jobs. I didn't want new girls. They are just the replacements. I won't shun them, or you if you have optional boobs... just mentally it isn't the same. I understand people when people whom don't know me just want to connect... I really do... but connecting over your boob job story or your botched booby job is no where near the same... it just isn't. #feltgoodtogetthatoffmychest #neitherischemotakingyourpubesequatetoabrazillion

My plastic surgeon gets it. He founded The Pink Lemonade Project as well as proposed a bill that will require physicians to provide information to clients. I was interviewed for this news segment along with my doctor, Dr. Gabriel. [fyi- it takes a minute to get to the segment] for the full news story click here

I've never written to my Washington State house representatives... until last night. My plastic surgeon is sponsoring a bill that requires a medical community member to give information to women regarding their breast reconstruction options. I fully support women being informed. Amazing that this information has not yet been 'assigned' to a particular type of doctor etc.- hence it gets lost in the shuffle. My breast cancer sisters should NOT be lost in the shuffle.

Here is my letter (if you would like to support this bill the information is below the letter)

I'm writing in support of the HB 1101 Breast Reconstruction Bill.  Within months of my 43rd birthday I found a large cancerous and aggressive tumor in my breast. I am thankful that my two children, age 10 and 7 burst into the bathroom as I was soaking in the tub. I quickly covered myself and my fingers felt the edge of the lump. The previous spring my mammogram had been clear.
 
Before my bilateral mastectomy my daughter asked if she could sit on my lap and snuggle me... She knew what my surgery entailed. What she did not know was my decision to have reconstruction wasn't an easy one. I debated my options.
 
I was thankful to have them (options). I am happy with my decision. I am grateful that my medical team communicated with me. I am one of the few.
 
Please support the HB 1101 Breast Reconstruction Bill so that all women may have the information they need to make an educated choice. Women should have more than a Google search when making a medical decision.
 
Sincerely,
Krista Colvin, Stage 3A Breast Cancer Survivor
.........

If you so desire to support this important bill: contact legislation by going to http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/HCW/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx.  

You can address your support to the Health Care and Wellness Committee.  
 
Details about the bill:  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1101&year=2011

A simple note is all that is needed, you can add your personal story to what is listed below. 
 
Send your e-mail to Maureen.Gallegos@leg.wa.gov. Please give her permission to share with all legislative members.
 
If you weren’t informed of your reconstruction options:
I’m a cancer survivor and  I was not given my options.  I did not have reconstruction because I didn’t know insurance would cover it. I support HB 1101 Breast Reconstruction bill!
 
If you were informed of your reconstruction options:
Your story and a statement that you support the HB 1101 Breast Reconstruction Bill
 

I picture my radiation oncologist and my plastic surgeon doing a lil' rock em sock em as they discuss when to re-inflate my expanders. Both Dr. G's have valid points and want the best for me. After a couple of phone calls with one being from the doc's Hawaiian vacation [apparently my girls are that important] I waited one week to get the process started instead of three.

Factors included: skin readiness v. skin 'cementing' down and making expansion difficult.

I love that my doctors work together... I don't think they are this close though #arethosetoysmakingout

When I first heard about blogging I figured I'd be no good at it... I may 'drink + blog' and what an utter disaster that could be for my business. Flash forward 4 years and you've got a new non biz blog with a chica popping meds to handle the pain of my 'fake tatas' a following up those narcotics with sleeping pills so that I don't have crazy dreams from the pain killers....

But as you can see I'm now over the stigma of pill popping because 1. these are prescription 2. I am in pain. 3. I'm considering this the 'low' and appreciate there are meds to help me out of this medical low.

Today I saw the Physical Therapist... I look forward to the visits as her hands are somehow magical and with barely a touch she has my pecs stretched out and feeling grand. I've got to get these stretches down... I'm tired of the discomfort that comes along with missing lymph nodes and having expanders under my pecs to increase the chest size for the real 'girls' I get later.

I see my boob doctor tomorrow. The plan is to deflate 1 or maybe both of the expanded girls for my round with radiation. It's just easier to zap me when they lay flat and don't move around. I'm not quite sure what the deflated girls are going to look like... quite possibly they'll resemble my saggy chicaritas pre mastectomy. #ofcoursei'llgiveyoudetailslater

The following day I'll be seeing the Radiation Oncologist to get 'marked' for radiation treatment. Basically I'll get zapped in the same areas for 6 weeks m-f.  This should keep the lil' cancer f*ckers from returning.  The schedule however will keep me on my toes as daily radiation appointments will continue right on through winter break and into my son's birthday, my husband's birthday and my birthday.

Time to hit the hay and hope that I can sleep on my side tonight... even if it's just for a bit.