Rare & Valuable… For a Few More Days

Rare & Valuable… For a Few More Days

🌼 Date: Friday, March 6, 2026

⚡ Energy: Slightly Improved but Still Coughy

💗 Status: Expanded and Educated

😒 Outlook: Apparently “Deflate Gate” Is Coming

I had my plastics appointment today and got another 50cc added to each side.

Which means I am now sitting at 515cc in each expander.

For those of you keeping track in beverage math, that equals 17.4 ounces.

Naturally, I had to Google what drinks come in that size. Because this is the kind of research project cancer recovery has turned me into.

And guess what I discovered?

During the 2018–2020 NFL seasons, Pepsi made special cans with a textured surface that mimicked the grip of a football.

They were called Pepsi Laces cans.

Apparently, they were marketed as collector items and were considered rare and valuable.

See? Even in the middle of this nightmare journey, we’re still learning new and completely random things.

Which means, technically speaking, I am currently sporting a pair of rare and valuable 17-ounce collectors’ editions.

Not bad.

Unfortunately… the good news portion of today’s program ended there.

Next week at my appointment they will be draining the saline out of the right expander in preparation for my radiation appointment on the 17th.

Yes.

Draining.

I asked if they could just drain both sides so I could stay symmetrical until radiation is finished.

My plastic surgeon said that is a hard no.

The reason is that after radiation, the skin on the left side will become much less pliable. It won’t stretch the same way, which is why I have to wait at least six months after radiation before I can have my final reconstructive surgery.

Radiation basically toughens the skin to the point where it wouldn’t stretch enough to properly cover an implant.

Which would completely defeat the purpose of spending the past several months slowly stretching the skin with these weekly fills to make room for my future “gummies.”

So next week, whether I like it or not…

Deflate Gate begins.

At my radiation appointment on the 17th, they’ll do all the imaging and measurements needed to get the radiation machine properly set up.

I’m sure that appointment will come with a whole new set of information and adventures.

More on that once I know more.

But in the meantime, I have less than five days left to enjoy being both rare and valuable.

Well… my boobs are anyway.

After that, I’ll be rocking the one-boob look until radiation is finished, which will likely be sometime around mid-May.

Cancer really does keep things interesting.

💗 Tina –
One Badass Day at a Time