April 1 is the one year anniversary of my mastectomy

I have been thinking quite a bit about this one year anniversary.  I was diagnosed in April 2007 with DCIS which sounded to me like cancer with a "lower case c" and decided to pursue alternative treatments rather than the mastectomy my surgeon was recommending.  It sounded like too much surgery for what I had.  So for one year, I did acupuncture and rolfing, diet and positive living.  One morning in March 2008 I had a dream that I had found a lump under my arm, when I work up I checked and sure enough there was a lump.  I had kept a relationship with my frustrated and wonderful surgeon throughout the year I was refusing the mastectomy.  I feel that her commitment to me as a woman, and her commitment to her professional opinion saved my life.  We scheduled surgery and I had the mastectomy on April Fools Day 2008.  My family, all of them, came to the hospital along with food and games in the waiting room.  I know that everyone talks about the support and love of family and friends being a critical aspect of recovery and I believe these angels have lifted me up and carried me through this year.  The chemo was a nightmare, very difficult to go through...Soft pjs and nice bedding got me through it.  I continued to work a very reduced schedule throughout, which was so great.  I think the only times I was not consumed with me were the times I was working with "my families".  I am through the surgery, chemo, and radiation and into my herceptin treatments, which are relatively easy.  I am so fortunate to have such a great medical team.  I travel to San Francisco for my treatments at UCSF and I can not say enough about the wonderful doctors and nurses there.  Even the people in the business office have been lovely and helpful.  I would never have chosen this illness and work so that we can protect other women from this disease.  But trite as it may sound, it has changed my life in beautifully positive ways.  I am striving to live my life with honesty and with love.  My best to all of you, Dee