Leslie Donovan
Dear Joan,
I hope that your treatment and recovery are going well. Thank you for sharing your experiences publically and being an inspiration to others.
Oprah Winfrey did a segment in 2009 on WFAA, channel 8 news highlighting Cleaning For A Reason; a free service provided by cleaning companies nation-wide for patients undergoing chemotherapy. I did not see it but apparently several of my friends did and referred me to the website in 2014. You see, on July 2, 2014, I had a mammogram only to discover a small mass which was not previously there and was undetectable to the touch. Dr. Zuubier strongly recommended a biopsy immediately; either right then or within a week but not to wait. I chose “then and there” and insisted she call with the results rather than trying to schedule an appointment. On July 3rd late afternoon, she called with the results - Stage 1 Ductal Invasive Carcinoma in situ (DCIS)…CANCER! How could that be, I’m only 45? Dr. Zuubier had already scheduled an appointment with a breast cancer specialist for Monday morning telling me that I would be under the care of one of the best – Dr. Negar Golesorkie. What a way to spend the long holiday weekend!
I immediately took to the internet to learn more about DCIS. It was a very surreal weekend as I notified my family, friends, and boss. I was handling it pretty well I thought, until it actually hit me a week later when after leaving the movies. I was driving home with tears pouring out of me uncontrollably. A multitude of thoughts were running through my head and I was especially worried about my daughter – had I passed this onto her? There was absolutely no family history of breast cancer in my family so my fear and guilt was overwhelming. I spent the next few months going to appointments of many specialists: breast cancer, plastic surgeon, oncologist, genetic, nutritionists, etc. Thankfully my BRCA 1 & 2 and genetic testing came back negative. As a mental outlet to relieve my worry/stress and to keep everyone up to date, I started a blog: TheHostess-TheBoob.com. I also made the decision to be a survivor rather than a victim, insert humor whenever possible, look for the silver lining, and to encourage women to get their mammograms so I created car magnets saying “IF you go, WE will know”. As you will read, the blog is from two viewpoints; mine as the hostess (of the boobs) and the boobs (hostess of the cancer). The blog is factual, real, humorous, raw, and emotional…it is my life as I learned how to navigate having breast cancer, surgeries, continual testing, and chemotherapy treatments.
August 20th I had a double mastectomy and Diep flap procedure. There was some unexpected trauma which delayed my recovery and the start of chemo treatment. It was not until November when treatment started and I was finding it difficult to keep up with everything; errands, appointments, and cleaning. Being a single independent woman, I was trying to do everything myself. My daughter and several other friends forward the Cleaning For A Reason information. I applied but was turned down because there were no availabilities with participating cleaning companies. I was disappointed to say the least but I reapplied in January including a doctors’ note outlining my chemo treatment. My application was approved and accepted by Vanessa Maids, LLC. Upon meeting Vanessa, she apologized that she could not accept the job of my original submission but she already had six other cancer patients at that time. Luckily, she finished with a client in December and could then accept me. Her team has cleaned for me twice thus far with two more pending. Even though it is once a month (for 4 months), I must say it has been such a burden lifted off of my shoulders, making my life during chemo a bit easier.
As of April, I have completed six hard core chemo treatments which were every 21 days and lasted five or six hours and currently on round 2 of 6 Herceptin treatments. I hope to schedule breast reconstruction and a hysterectomy in the next few months. However, while I was feeling somewhat well, a photographer friend, Tami Stieger offered to do a photo-shoot to document my journey. After talking with my doctors and showing them the photos, several have agreed to include this card in many of their patient information folders. Tami and I hope by sharing these photos and her services, women will be encouraged, if not inspired, to realize their own strength and beauty.
Joan, I realize that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month; however, breast cancer does not wait for a specific time to invade ones’ life. This wonderful service, Cleaning For A Reason and Vanessa Maids, LLC has helped me tremendously. I hope to inspire other women by transforming my blog into a book and sharing these photos and car magnets; letting them know they are not alone. It is my sincere hope that you will consider doing a show dedicated to Cleaning For A Reason and all of the companies which participate but also to Breast Cancer and Mammogram awareness.
My whole breast cancer journey including photos is located here: http://www.thehostess-theboob.com
Thank You,
Leslie