stephanie mastini and breast cancer/an update



 

 

A long due update... I needed to absorb this new diagnosis.. it's true..I have been diagnosed with breast cancer again, and now I need to have a bilateral mastectomy..... I hope that I can chronicle this journey and come out on top...help others by telling my story... I firmly believe that this is a new chapter ...a difficult one at best, but I hope that all the support I have shown to my "Forgotten Ones" will come back to me...I believe there is a reason for everything in life...but still, it SUCKS..to be blunt...having a support team is so important, and that is what I have been working on the last few weeks..it has been exahusting; sometimes cancer society will get a call from me at 2 AM they have a 24 hour hot line called YME?(I will share the number in my next blog)... I have cried a river, and now I am at the angry stage but getting to the acceptance part...I will be having reconstruction immediately, so I will have those 18 year old breasts in one year..!never thought I would have this type of breast augmentation! But the girls will be fine...it's a long road, but I will be approaching this with humor and strength... I am meditating, listening to postive affirmations and tapes and truly trying to keep a stiff upper lip.. There is help out there!...All you have to do is ask..that is what the American Cancer Society is all about!! I will be happy to hear your stories and I will share mine the next few months..sometimes life takes a turn, but there are other roads to travel... I also believe that the mind is a powerful tool and I am concentrating on positive vibes emanating throughout my journey... Hang on tight, this will be an interesting journey...thank you (you know who you are) for your love...steph

 

"And would it have been worth it, after all, Would it have been worth while, After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets, After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor-- And this, and so much more?-- It is impossible to say just what I mean!" T.S. Eliot-J Alfred Prufrock

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Trying to live a healthy life

Image
Familial Adenoma Polyposis. It has been described as a “ ticking time bomb”. After years of diligent follow up suddenly I acquired a lot more polyps.  I’ve had most of my colon removed,  but if more polyps come back, they might have to do additional surgery.  Once you’ve had hundreds of polyps, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to have that major surgery.  The past 11  months have been rough, but i’ve been able to do everything I’ve done before. Just a lot slower. Sometimes it’s an all day encompassing exhausting scenario.  I’ve tried to remain positive.  I won’t lie.  In the back of my mind I’ve been thinking what if it is cancer next time?what if I need more surgery.  The bottom line is that the reason I have some of my colon is because I was quick enough to listen to my body.  Quick enough to have regular screenings.  The hundreds of polyps could not be removed.  This time there isn’t a colon to keep. It could evolve into Cancer. It’s hard to hear others talk about this
Read more

This is going to be a challenge

Image
  Having a partial colectomy is a huge deal.  I know my family doesn’t want to think about it but it has to be addressed.  This is a hereditary disease.  It’s called Familial Adenoma Polyposis.  There’s no cure. There’s real solid hope of one on the horizon.  My hospital stay was five days and I lost a lot of blood. I was very anemic when I got home. I had to take care of myself though the nurse stopped in to check vitals. I think the worst part of this is getting your body acclimated to eating differently. First of all you don’t know what you can eat. So you stay home a lot. It’s really a difficult position to be in when you don’t know from one day to the next or one hour to the next, just how your body is going to react.  I’m supposed to be gluten-free for Graves’ disease and also eat healthy grains.  That’s not always possible from day to day when you’re faced with many trips because of healthy grains.   I’m blessed that I was smart enough to read my body and get colonoscopies regul
Read more

My two battles with cancer/ interview with Madame Arcati

Image
Sunday, March 30, 2008 Stephanie Mastini: 'My two battles with cancer' Kevin Spacey's former sister-in-law Stephanie Mastini has suffered two bouts of breast cancer in less than two years. Here she gives a graphic account of dealing with her illnesses - and offers advice to women everywhere. Steph! So glad you're on the mend. Tell us the history of your cancer problems leading up to the recent serious health episode. It all began on a relaxing sun kissed day. I was enjoying the sun and applying protection lotion when I suddenly felt a small pea-sized lump in my right breast. I knew immediately what it was. It didn’t move like the other cysts I had felt before. I have always had an uncanny way of knowing my body. I waited a few weeks to gather my thoughts and get prepared. I should have acted immediately. Act quickly. After a few weeks, I asked my internist to feel the lump. She didn’t think I had anything to worry about but had been my doctor for years
Read more