Hello Everyone!

It’s been a few months since I’ve been able to take a few moments of “me time” and put my thoughts down. It’s been a busy spring and summer. While I am still working on work-life-me balance, I feel sometimes that I am not succeeding. That said, one friend noticed at how I am always getting people together and keeping in touch. It’s a labour of love – but it is worth it. Even though I feel like I could sleep for a week – or more!

Realizing how precious time is – how fragile life is – how dear friends and family are – – we all keep going. It makes life better. For me at least. I have been spending more time with family – my father is getting older and my mother – well – with the Alzheimer’s – there are good and bad days. On the good days – you enjoy. On the bad days, when she forgets seeing you 15 minutes after you leave – – well, you try and smile and remember that it is the disease.

I have been golfing – which has been nice. Getting out, walking, and sweating – – guess it is my small attempt at ‘exercise’. I saw my chiropractor today. He said – while that is OK – if I want to have good skiing next season – I’d have to work on muscle building……yikes. Better put that on the list.

I finally finished my “hoodie” on my trip out to Nova Scotia where I start an annual knitting project. It’ll be my first, and last hoodie. It turned out pretty well. My next project is a linen/cotton blend tote bag. Hopefully I’ll have it finished next summer. LOL.

Recently, a warrior told me that textured breast implants have been in the news. Not good news. So I contacted my surgeon to see what I have……Textured. *heart sinking feeling when they confirmed. They have been associated with a malignancy. It’s called Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). While they said it is a rare condition, there are cases presenting themselves. They said the risk is 1/3000. While it seems like a small percentage – when you’ve had aggressive cancer cells, one can only wonder. Sheesh – just when I figured I didn’t have to think too much about this stuff other than the usual regular fear of recurrence. *Sigh.

I saw my surgeon earlier this month and talked about the options. From doing nothing – (and watch for symptoms) – to invasive surgery to remove the implant and the capsule (the scar tissue around the implant). Risk of further surgery versus the risk of ALCL. It’s been 8 years since my surgery. He suggested we do a MRI for now and take a look-see. What bugs me is that he said he hasn’t been using the textured implants for some time now. And he tells people of the potential ALCL risk when giving options of the type of implants available. Which I promptly said, “I don’t remember having that conversation at that time” He said we didn’t. While there had been talk about further cancer association, it wasn’t too mainstream at the time. What’s worse – is that they have banned the textured implants in Canada I’ve been told. Nice….We’ll I’ll be doing the MRI later in August. Until then – I am trying not to think about things too much. Needless to say, keeping busy helps when you are suddenly “shaken” with this news. I think I live my life in a bubble sometimes.

As mentioned before, knitting is considered therapeutic therapy. Better get going on my tote bag……

So for now – all I can say is this: “Mangia been, ridi spesso, ama motto.” (Eat well, laugh often, love much.)

Stay tuned.

Big hugs. Lots of love.

Winnie, The Warrior xo