Here goes nothin...

Hey Y'all, I'm Taylor and this is where I will be spilling my heart out during my journey through a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy! What the heck is that, right? Don't worry.. I'll save you from having to google it and explain! 

First, let me tell you some boring facts about myself..

I am 24 years old and just graduated from the best University on the planet, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. I am a damn proud TAR HEEL. My degree is in Global Studies focusing in Latin America. Basically, I studied international politics. I am super sarcastic and basically an all around clown, so hopefully I make you laugh at some point!  I have two corgi's, Presley and Gibson, and yes my dogs are cooler than yours.

I have a hereditary gene mutation called 'BRCA 2' and simply put... I am at high risk for both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Crapppyyy right? So instead of sitting around freaking out about getting cancer, I am having a preventative mastectomy. I will eventually also have my ovaries removed, but the doctors have made me confident that I can wait until after I am married and able to have kids before I do that part. I am writing this blog for anyone going through this emotional roller coaster of a journey to hopefully feel like they're not alone! 

How it works: I have two wonderful doctors taking great care of me! Dr. Rhonda Harmon is a wonderful lady and my general surgeon. She goes in and takes out all the insides of my boobs... however you do that. Then, the fabulous Dr. George Papanicolaou (Dr.P) puts me back together. The initial surgery is 4 hours... There is 2 hours where Dr.Harmon will be removing everything and makes sure I am currently cancer free and then 2 hours where Dr.P puts in spacers and closes me up! I then have these spacers (also called expanders) for generally 3 months. Every couple of weeks I go in and they fill the expanders with more fluid until my boobs are the size I want them to be! Once I reach that point, Dr.P will go in and put in implants! Sometimes there are extra steps, but hopefully I won't have any of those.  It is basically a 4-month process.

Am I scared? Heck yeah, I'm scared, are you crazy?? But I would rather go through this now instead of the potential alternative. I have the most amazing support system in the world,  all the way up and down the east coast behind me on this one. I find out tomorrow when my surgery will be! 

Things that I have learned so far: First, people say some stupid stuff about this... the best one so far is 'it's just a free boob job.' Second,  you will find that people who say they will be there won't and people you never thought would be there are and its awesomeeeeee. Third and finally: If you're nervous and you get drunk with your best friend, you will cry about it. It's okay to cry about it because it's scary and overwhelming and about 43985734985 other emotions  so crying actually makes you feel better. Well, it made me feel better haha. 

I hope that my writing about this journey gives other people the strength to be proactive. I will be completely honest throughout the process, so whether I feel like shit or feel fabulous, you'll know it.

I also hope that if breast, ovarian, prostate, or uterine cancer run in your family that will talk to your doctor about being tested. All you have to do is spit in a tube. Yes, spit in a tube.. how awkward right? 

GO GET TESTED, Y'ALL. 

That's all I've got for today, but I will post more tomorrow! Feel free to ask any questions-- I am clearly an open book <3