Charlotte Tallas

Survivor

Survivor

3 Strikes & I’m Not Out!

Well it’s 2003 and I just finished showering. But oops, I had forgotten to shave my arm pits. So I began to shave and to my surprise I noticed what I thought was a cute dimple. I knew it didn’t belong, so I began my self examination. And YES. It was a lump about the size of a pea. I didn’t waste any time to get a mammogram. Well the findings were not unexpected from what I have read. There is no breast cancer on either side of my family. With my head full of knowledge I went in and had a lumpectomy radiation & chemotherapy. All was fine. Went every year for my mammograms. And just as I was coming to being considered in remission, the bitch came back Back to my right breast. I had to be insistant to have a ultrasound done because of the placement of the New lump, it was right under the scar from the lumpectomy. “I know my body”. So I had more tests done. It’s now 2010 and I am now getting a double mastectomy. More chemo therapy. And yes again I lost my long beautiful hair. I never wore a wig, but did get a henna tattoo . I also tried to have implants but failed because of the radiation previously. That implant practically fell out of my body.

After several months of healing, I swore off Breast Cancer forever so I thought. It’s now 2017 and I am feeling tremendous pain in my left leg. Did all the right things for lower back & leg pain with a chiropractor twice weekly and occasional prescribed pain medications. Nothing was helping. I was losing sleep and pain was horrible. After 6 months of dealing with various doctors and medicines, I finally had a body scan. (MRI & PETscan). And there it was in Black & White. The cancer had spread to my spine. Let the games begin I told myself. 25 bouts of radiation to my back, and now pill form of various chemo medications. (Because of different growths in various places).

So now I’m dealing with Metastasize Breast Cancer. It’s creeped around and still shows growth. But I show my teeth and put my fist in the air “You’re not getting me to be another statistic.” I stand my ground with a vengeance to defeat this setback in my life. There have been inbetween stories about where it spread to, but I am sticking to the basics.

It is now 2022 and was told my tumor markers have gone up. So there I went to get the full gamut of scans. Now it decided to weasel its way to my skull. Not my brain. I am truely Greatful that this bitch has not spread to any of my very healthy organs . I do have wonderful doctors. From the phlebotomy nurses to radiation & surgical doctors. Mostly my oncologist who stays on top of it just as I do by staying in tune with my body.

Having a very loving supportive husband and family make things what could be a horrible dreadful experience.

Support and a healthy outlook is so very important. I ignore my state of being for the most part and carry on my life as normal as it can be. I’m starting to act like that spry 60 year old grandmother. I have 4 sons who are all grown and doing their thing, and do pop in to see how Mom is doing. It was harder to convince them not to worry.

I do love my life and try to keep up with myself LOL. I am retired and we plan to do some more traveling.