So, what's in store for me after remission?

I'm not one to dress up for my doctor's appointments. UTMB and Target have seen me at my absolute worst. When I had hair I didn't brush it and I always looked like I just rolled out of bed. However, something told me on August 6 to get dressed that morning in REAL clothes for my appointment.I couldn't even enjoy a proper shower! So, Daisha, what's next? The question that everyone seems to be asking and for the first time, I don’t have an answer to.
Me? Your control freak friend does not have an answer. 

I realize that I need to get out of that habit seeing as I am an ~adult~ now. Big T-shirts and Nikes aren't gonna cut it anymore.

On August 6, 2018, that morning felt different. For the first time in a long time, I felt like something good was going to happen. I walked into my last appointment with my oncologist expecting to mentally prepare myself for round 6 out of 8 that following Monday morning. 

Oh, I went into that appointment complaining – guns blazing! I told my oncologist about everything that ailed me and wanted him to give me anything to make it stop. You can read all about my experience with chemotherapy here.

By this point, the side effects of the new regimen were taking a toll on me.  I was experiencing severe neuropathic pain and itch, numbness in my toes and hands, lack of appetite and overall fatigue. 

I'm assuming he got sick of my complaining and basically told me, "Shut up, we’re going to stop treatment.” His words. Not mine. Maybe mine, I don't remember. 

If I had known all I had to do was complain to stop treatment, I would have done it a long time ago.

Technically speaking, I was cancer-free after the removal of my tumor during my double mastectomy in June. However, it was decided that continuing my original treatment plan was beneficial to stop the cancer from coming back and/or keep it from spreading. 

With me being so young and experiencing side effects that could potentially last for the rest of my life, the cons definitely outweighed the benefits. 

What? No more? Shut up!

I had my very own Princess Diaries moment. Except I wouldn't be crowned Princess of Genova but finally being in remission is definitely better than that. 

My mom and I were shocked. We didn’t even get to finish discussing my side effects (even though I was definitely out of itch meds). We were just preoccupied with the excitement of finally getting to ring the bell that's been teasing me for the last six months.

As of August 6, 2018, I AM IN REMISSION – the greatest birthday present I could ever give my mom seeing as her birthday was the following day. 

Well, for starters, I graduated from college. I was already in limbo about what I wanted to do next but I never got to soak in that accomplishment. A new semester has begun and I still think I should be checking Blackboard for new assignments. Thankfully, I won't miss that.

I won't have an all-clear from my doctor to return to work until November – three months after the given remission date. Three months. If you think about it's not a long time. Honestly,  I'm not in a rush to get back into the hustle of "normal" life. Many people don't get the opportunity or time to sit back and figure things out. So, here I am trying to figure things out. But during that time, I plan on enjoying life with no real restrictions – that includes lots of tons of sushi, celebrating and travel.

If cancer has taught me anything, it's to celebrate even the small things that life that was given to you. 

What's next isn't really in my hands, it's in God's.