I'm taking a moment to focus on the little victories...

Taxotere toes- healing previous post on this click here

Chills... gone

Dry eyes- gone

Anemia- GONE! Blood test on Wed. showed red count is in the normal range, as is my iron levels!

Hot flashes- present

Anal Fizzure- surgery successful :) click here to find out what I'm talking about

Neuropathy- gone previous post click here

Nausea- gone

Hair- coming back in :)

Eyebrows + lashes- welcome back

Appetite- no worries

My post on side effects 5 months ago... click here

I clearly remember putting tennis balls in my top to give myself boobs before 'my time'.

I remember trying to keep my first tube top from falling down.

I remember losing my top after a strong wave on 56 street.

I remember my form fitting songleader sweater.

I remember my boxy t-shirts and Levi jacket.

I remember the first sexy dress I wore to a fraternity formal.

I remember getting measured for my wedding bra.

I remember how they got bigger as I aged + gained weight.

I remember hiding my breasts for 13 years while I taught high school.

I remember them taking over when I was pregnant.

I remember what a difficult time they gave me when I breast fed my first child.

I remember asking my obgyn about some soreness and learning it was just fibrocystic.

I remember Dana + Leah showing me how showing a little cleavage was acceptable.

I remember getting fitted for a good bra.

I remember tweeting from the breast care center about my mammogram.

I remember ordering my bathing suit online.

I remember struggling to put on + take off my sports bra.

I remember feeling the lump for the first time.

I remember the look on my husband's face when we learned my right breast may be trying to kill me.

I remember letting my girlfriends feel my cancerous lump.

I'll remember sitting here crying and my son walking in the room asking what's wrong.

I'll remember sitting on the gym floor watching my son tryout for the basketball team and my daughter asking to sit on my lap + cuddle me because we only have a little time left to do so before my mastectomy.

I'll remember my daughter asking how it will work with my clothes after the surgery since they are made for boobies.

And I'll remember asking myself the same question.

I'll try to remember the good times, the good work, the time we shared playing on the same team.

But that will take time, because I'm angry at you for turning on me.

I appreciate breast cancer awareness month... but I think we need to kick it up a notch and turn our awareness into action.

1. Get to know your body... know what's normal, so that when something is amok you notice, then ACT on it. #promiseme

2. Do self checks... they don't have to be perfect, just get in there and check it out. Do more than self checks in the shower... I didn't notice my lump until I was laying down in the tub.

3. Schedule your mammogram... for crying aloud STOP putting this off. It's awkward, slightly uncomfortable, but trust me CANCER is a bigger pain in the ass and the later they catch something the worse off you are. #trustme

recent tweets on the topic...

@kristacolvin Krista Colvin

know your own breasts... don't rely on a boyfriend/husband to notice a lump, they don't even notice when the trash needs2be taken out ;)

 

 @kristacolvin Krista Colvin
240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year... i'm one of them

 

 @kristacolvin Krista Colvin
ps those 'new' recommendations to wait until your 50 are a crock... I would know. I'm 43 with a lump-a CANCEROUS lump

 

 @kristacolvin Krista Colvin
my baldish head is my pink ribbon... schedule your mammograms, do your self checks NOW #breastcancer

 

 

 

 
I did it. I mustered up the courage to go on live tv without my hat! #wootwoot #yesiwaswearingmybiggirlpanties

Several days ago I faced my fear of going bare headed in public. [click here to see what i'm talking about]Today I kicked it up a notch and did my AM Northwest lifestyle segment au natural. It was easier that I thought. #phew #nowgoscheduleyourmammogram

It felt great to be back in the green room, chat with the other guests, see the AMNW producers, host Dave Anderson [Helen wasn't there today] and work with the show crew. I was thankful to have my friend Dawn with me to help set up + take down... not to mention all the cute stuff is from her fabulous boutique Lily Atelier and her new home decor store Fleurish... Yes, that's a total plug! Troy, the photographer from The Columbian, even met us there to snap a few pics. He also tagged along to my two doctor appointments that followed [echocardiogram, then the pre op with the boobie doc] More on those later as they deserve their own post.

Today's segment was about transitioning into fall, which happens to be my most favorite time of the year! Take a peek click here to watch