Summer update

Hi! Hope you are all enjoying a relaxing and fun summer. Just wanted to share an update with those of you who are wondering what is going on. I went through spring with multiple reconstruction visits to the plastic surgeon for the finishing touches. I had a nipple reconstruction and then when those healed, I had areolas tattooed on. I can finally say I am part of that "elite" club of tattooed people. Hopefully it can get me a discount to the Wisconsin Dells!! Let me just mention that this hurt like hell and was quite a process that I hadn't anticipated. I was released from weekly appointments on June 15th and told to come back in 6 months - Yippeee! So I am enjoying a much need break from doctors appointments and am living in fine chemical balance of tamoxifen and balancing all of the side effects. Life is as close to normal as I am going to get. It's a new normal!
I ran a 5K in June and am scheduled for a mini triathlon and the Urbanathlon in a relay this fall. I am feeling great! My only complaint is the hair. I prayed and prayed for hair and then I got it. It is totally curly and I am sporting a white girl afro - which gets especially poofy after time spent in the pool. These are problems I have never had always having super straight hair!! So life is good if that is my short list of complaints!! Here is a picture of the new 'do. I even have a little curly mullet brewing back there - Hey Billy Ray Cyrus - I'm coming after you!!

That is Clay, Me, Lisa & Adam (Clay's sister & Brother-in Law) before U2 at Soldier Field!

I want to invite you to join me and my family for the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" in Lombard at Yorktown Mall on Sunday, September 25th. It is a wonderful way to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. I'd be honored to have you celebrate my one year anniversary with me! There is a walk, a 5K run and even a 10K run. Follow the link and join my team...Treasure Your Chest!

http://www.komenchicago.org/komen-race-for-the-cure/teams/

Call or email me with any questions.

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful summer!

What? There's more?!?!?!

Sorry, I have been a bad blogger as of late. Here is what happening in Round 3 of the cancer fight (Yes round 3, that explains the "what, there's more?") I had no clue what I was in for post surgery and post chemo. I thought I was done. I lost my hair, I lived through chemo and surgery, I thought for sure I was done. I thought I'd be popping a pill daily and things would be super easy. Wrong-o! There have been some challenges that I was completely unaware of. I've been thrown into menopause. At first glance no period sounds like a gift but along with that comes moodiness and hot flashes. Hot flashes are fine but not three of them in the middle of the night disrupting my much loved sleep. I am in phase 1 of anti-hot flash treatment and I'm going au naturel with a high dose of vitamin E and melatonin. Whole Foods is going to love me as I stocked up on a whole arsenal of tricks including black cohosh. You have to be extra careful that what you are putting in your body doesn't change the effectiveness of the tamoxifen. Clay kindly referred to me as a science experiment. Here's hoping that with a few more weeks under my belt my body will adjust to the change and the supplements will help. Also, there is some ridiculous post chemo let down. Who knew? You think you'd be psyched to be done but you are left feeling a little helpless and wondering now what? It's very strange.

I have two more outpatient procedures this spring. If you are squeamish...stop reading now. I will have nipple reconstruction and need to get my tattoos. Yes, I will be able to say that I have 2 tattoos! I am feeling really good physically and I am sure that working out through this whole ordeal has helped enormously. I feel very close to how I felt pre-diagnosis and it's only been 6 months! Life has returned back to normal or the usual Hafner crazy level of normal :)

Looking ahead, please save the date for Sunday, September 25th. That is the Lombard, IL Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I will be setting up a team and would be thrilled to have you walk along side me as I celebrate my 1 year cancer free anniversary!

Speaking of anniversaries...my friend Mary Youngman just celebrated her 5 year anniversary in November from colon cancer. In celebration of this major accomplishment her relay for life team, The Sun Rays, organized a fashion show fundraiser that celebrated the beauty of life. Mary asked me in December if I'd be willing to model as all models are cancer survivors. I said yes not only because it was a great cause and a fun event but also because Mary has been a huge source of positivity and support to me. There is just nothing better than the wisdom and support a survivor can give to you. Here is a link to the story that was just published in our local paper:

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/lifestyles/trend/3087400,doings-cancerfashion-030311-s1.article

You'll see in the picture there isn't much hair but it really is growing! I had to color it because it was coming it white. I mean like 80 year old lady white. No offense to any 80 year old ladies but white hair is not attractive on a 38 year old. So I hit the bottle and am back to being a happy brunette! Here is a picture of my nephew (he just turned 16!) and me. I thought we looked like twins but you'll notice he has a boat load of more hair that I do!

So I retired the scarves and moved on to hats and in a few weeks, I'm going to ditch the hats too! Boy will that be nice.

I am mostly retiring from my blog. With little to report, I feel like I've come out on the other side. It has been a journey and the blogging has been incredibly healing for me. I am amazed at the support of friends and love from family. I feel as if I had the strength of you and your prayers holding me up these past few months. Time to catch my breath now and reflect on all of the wonderful things that await me and my family.

I am so proud of you all for doing your self exams and getting your mammograms. Please know that I am always here if you need me. I need to pay it forward big time and will be happy to do so.

Not enough words to share my thanks so please accept my simple "Thank you."

A watch pot never boils...

There is no more patience left...it is agonizingly slow to grow hair. This is something I used to take for granted...no more...I will appreciate every mm that my hair will give me! I have just begun to see the signs of new hair...a little stubble, no doubt, brought on by my expensive hair growing serum and very cheap biotin vitamins. I think I can, I think I can....let's grow some hair.

I started my next round of the cancer fight by taking Tamoxifen. I have almost two weeks under my belt and it has been mostly uneventful. A couple of 3am hot flashes (How did I wake up in an oven?) nothing a good fan can help :) This is it for the next 5 years. Luckily Tamoxifen is cheap and my cancer-fighting war is just $8/month. It's about time I found a deal in all of this business!

I've been so busy being a chemo graduate that I haven't even had time to blog about my life. I think that is a great thing? I have been feeling great and other than the no hair business, life is similar to what is was pre-diagnosis: too much laundry, dishes, homework, meetings, responsibilities and not enough sleep, relaxation, and spa days. Sound familiar?

Bear Down Chicago Bears...While you are sitting in your warm living room cheering, think of my husband who is braving the cold second Sunday in a row down at the lakefront...where he is going to freeze is going to freeze his flippin' ass off!

I will update pics as soon as I get some hair!!

Hope you are still treasuring your chest and doing your self exams each month. Remember things can change quickly and the quicker you address issues, the better off you'll be!! Off the soapbox now.

If anyone is interested I am starting up my annual American Idol pool and will reload my Idol blog. We are total addicts at my house. I am so excited to get the season underway. Shoot me a note/email and I'll make sure to include you in any communications!!

Keep warm!