That's Right Ovaries.. I'm the Boss!

After a week of roller coaster blood draws I'm glad to finally have some answers, although unexpected. So mind over matter has helped me out for some reason! The shots I was going to have to wait to start until next week I'm starting tomorrow! Why? Well no one knows... my hormones and fertility cycle flip flopped and there's not real reason to back it up other then they (my ovaries) got the message (I didn't want to wait that long!!) So one of the drugs we unfortunately paid for I now don't need but can donate to the clinic since they've donated three out of the five drugs I've needed :) On another note I found out some scary news because they're giving me these drugs so they have more "babies" to freeze, that means my ovaries will be huge in a week like the size of tennis balls! TENNIS BALLS! and they aren't being held in by much so I have to be really careful. *ouch*

Fertility Preservation Begins!

So the wonderful center I found that not only does the whole preservation thing at a discounted price for cancer patients also was able to get some of the most expensive drugs I will need DONATED! Which means I can get started this week! I get to self inject myself (ouch :x!) once a day for the next two weeks or so, but actually my mom will be doing it because needles scare the life out of me. Plus she knows how to mix all the meds and use syringes from working with diabetics. Thank you to everyone who has donated and made this whole process possible ♥

Freezing Babies?

So I had my consult with the fertility clinic today to talk about preservation and well I learned more then I ever thought I would... Apparently women are born with all their eggs, who would have thought?

So because some of the drugs in Chemotherapy can cause infertility, I'm looking into freezing eggs. Something I never would have thought I'd be doing... Here are the Chemo drugs that have been found in studies to cause infertility:

- A(adriamycin)

- C(cytoxan)

-E(epirubicin)

-F(fluorouracil)

-M(methotrexate)

-P(paclitaxel)

-T(taxotere)

The (not so) good news is that all three of my chemo drugs fall on that list AC & T. The actual good news is science is getting really good and "freezing babies" so I'm in luck! The do what's called flash freezing because if they're frozen too slowly they can form ice crystals, which would cause the eggs to rupture (again not so good).

I found out that they can tell when you're going to get your period just from bloodwork! Also ovaries look a lot like tumors on an ultrasound. Completely freaked me out at first, but I guess thats what they're supposed to look like! (when you're fertile anyway) Which was a relief.. because another tumor right now I don't think I could handle :)

Incase any of you are wondering this is what they look like!

Fundraising for Fertility Treatment before Chemo

Diagnosed at 23 with IDC Stage 1 breast cancer, and about to begin chemotherapy I came to realize that fertility preservation is one of the most important steps to take before beginning treatment. So when I found out my insurance didn't cover fertility procedures unless you were infertile (go figure) a wonderful friend of mine told me about this site where you can raise money. So many supporters have come and helped out so far and after finding a fertility organization that does the procedure for less i'm 1/8 of the way toward my goal!

I want to dedicate this first post to all of my family, friends, and women at the Young Survival Coalition who have been so supportive through diagnosis to now beginning treatment, and I want to put all I now know about breast cancer out there so my friends, family, and other visitors of my site can spread the word and hopefully other young women will be diagnosed in earlier stages. I'm incredibly lucky, and I can only wish the same for every other woman out there.

You're never too young to get breast cancer!