Published: February 17, 2010 08:47 am      

There are positive effects to come after cancer surgery

By Lara Hayes



In two days I will be minus one breast. Uneven. Off-kilter.

But that’s OK.

When it comes to dealing with a pending mastectomy, women with breast cancer react in different ways. Some don’t want to say goodbye to one or both of their breasts and others can’t wait to be rid of them and their unwanted “guests” (aka tumors). I’m firmly entrenched in the latter category.

Bring. It. On.

Ever since I first learned my lump was malignant, it’s been like a large, nasty and painful bug I can’t knock away. Now — after months of waiting while enduring chemotherapy — the time is finally here, and frankly I couldn’t be more excited. The best part is, a year after my final daily radiation treatment (which starts in about a month), reconstruction coupled with reduction and lift will make me whole once again.

Woohoo! Did I say I was excited?

Some of you may be wondering how in the world can she be excited when she has cancer? Cancer is scary stuff.

Well, as I’ve said before, I refuse to let this disease get me down, so I look for all the blessings and positive things I can. For instance, my hair may grow back curly so I don’t have to pay for perms anymore. My parents and I are enjoying a closer relationship since I moved back in with them. And this experience will be the motivation I need to finally start a much-needed diet and exercise program.

Perhaps the biggest blessing of all has been learning just how much I mean to the people in my life. A couple of weeks ago after I finished my last chemo treatment, the two nurses presented me with a tiara to celebrate. That night I was “Queen of the House,” which gave me the idea to wear it to work the next day and be “Queen of the Newsroom” — all in good fun, of course. Well, publisher William Bronson saw the tiara that morning and, upon learning the real reason behind it, asked classifieds manager Susy Talley to order a large cake with the words “Congratulations Lara” and also get a big container of ice cream.

I had no idea about any of this until I got a call that afternoon asking me to come downstairs.

The minute I saw the giant cake, the tears started — and they continued as Susy told me how much I was loved by the staff and they were proud of the way I had handled my diagnosis. Honestly, I don’t consider myself special at all, but I can say without reservation that I work with a group of phenomenal people.

Countless men and women have also said prayers, called and sent cards, letters and gifts … family, friends and even those who don’t know me. That support is priceless, especially on days when it’s all I can do to muster up the energy to get out of bed. I can’t thank them enough.

My surgeon and oncologist say it may take a month for me to recover from surgery and return to work, or it could be a lot less. It all depends on how my body reacts. While I’m gone, I’ll miss seeing my co-workers and customers I’ve come to love over the years and writing my “Friends and Neighbors” stories. But never fear. In the words of Arnold Schwarznegger …

I’ll be back.