On December 1st, I had a regularly scheduled appointment with my regular oncologist, Dr. Schwab. He felt that my biopsy would probably show fat necrosis.
On Friday, December 3rd, I finally got a call from a doctor telling me that my biopsies were negative for cancer. Yay! Good deal. Dr. Schwab was right............again.
Monday, December 6, 2010
NOVEMBER 2010
I went to see my radiation oncologist and she didn't like the lumpy area on the left side of my breast reconstruction. She ordered an ultrasound test.
I went to my ultrasound appointment as planned. The ultrasound tech spoke to the radiologist doctor who wanted a mammogram and then another ultrasound test. I went through these tests. As I was lying on the ultrasound table, two doctors came into the examination room and told me that I needed a core biopsy.
About two years ago, I had a total of 24 core biopsies performed on each breast. On the left side, I had guided ultrasound biopsies. On the right side, I had guided MRI biopsies. Did I mention that core biopsies are quite painful? It took about a year for the areas biopsied to stop hurting.
On November 30th, I again had a core biopsy performed on the left (reconstructed) side. The doctors decided to take four biopsies this time. They then sent me home to wait.
I went to my ultrasound appointment as planned. The ultrasound tech spoke to the radiologist doctor who wanted a mammogram and then another ultrasound test. I went through these tests. As I was lying on the ultrasound table, two doctors came into the examination room and told me that I needed a core biopsy.
About two years ago, I had a total of 24 core biopsies performed on each breast. On the left side, I had guided ultrasound biopsies. On the right side, I had guided MRI biopsies. Did I mention that core biopsies are quite painful? It took about a year for the areas biopsied to stop hurting.
On November 30th, I again had a core biopsy performed on the left (reconstructed) side. The doctors decided to take four biopsies this time. They then sent me home to wait.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
OCTOBER 2010
OCTOBER, 2010
Wow, it is October - already. We have had seriously hot weather lately here in San Diego (over 100 - record breaking) and in the last few days, tropical type weather - cloudy, hot, some thunder, lightning, rain, fog - you name it! Blue skies today with some clouds.
I go to my doctor soon - October 14th and will hopefully be wrapping up all of my reconstruction surgeries real soon.
I would like to go back out to the corporate work world also, but am still completing all of my treatment journey, including reconstruction.
I am going to be reviewing some skin care and make up items here, as well as taking on other subjects from time to time.
Wow, it is October - already. We have had seriously hot weather lately here in San Diego (over 100 - record breaking) and in the last few days, tropical type weather - cloudy, hot, some thunder, lightning, rain, fog - you name it! Blue skies today with some clouds.
I go to my doctor soon - October 14th and will hopefully be wrapping up all of my reconstruction surgeries real soon.
I would like to go back out to the corporate work world also, but am still completing all of my treatment journey, including reconstruction.
I am going to be reviewing some skin care and make up items here, as well as taking on other subjects from time to time.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
FALL IS HERE 2010
Welcome to fall in San Diego! That means "hot" and "dry" also known as FIRE SEASON. Fortunately, we have had a cooler than usual summer here in San Diego. However, it is THAT time again and temps are expected to be in the triple digits today and for the next couple of days.
This means hot flash central for me. My oncologist explained that hot weather aggrevates hot flashes and makes them more severe. Yikes!
Something new to my blog: I will be reviewing skin care and make up products. It will be my Beauty section that I hope will help others and provide a place for interested parties to share their experiences and finds when it comes to beauty products. This is something that I will be working on and tweaking in order to get it in the format that I like and think that works best.
Other than attending my first Yoga class and lecture to see if this is something I am going to persue, I am following our local sports teams - the Padres (in the pennant race - so far) and the San Diego Chargers. Go Chargers!!!!
This means hot flash central for me. My oncologist explained that hot weather aggrevates hot flashes and makes them more severe. Yikes!
Something new to my blog: I will be reviewing skin care and make up products. It will be my Beauty section that I hope will help others and provide a place for interested parties to share their experiences and finds when it comes to beauty products. This is something that I will be working on and tweaking in order to get it in the format that I like and think that works best.
Other than attending my first Yoga class and lecture to see if this is something I am going to persue, I am following our local sports teams - the Padres (in the pennant race - so far) and the San Diego Chargers. Go Chargers!!!!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Labor Day 2010
Here it is Labor Day already! This year is flying by. Time to get well and get back out there in the work pool. However, there is more surgery, more tweaking to be done.
I am going to go and check out a new Yoga studio that opened nearby later on this week. Got bills to pay and need to get back on track.
Right now, I am just hanging out with my two yorkies.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010
OK, current day!
I still have fatigue and the hot flashes from the Tamoxifen are tough to endure. I still have tenderness from the hip to hip incision from the tram flap surgery. It has been determined that more revisions to the reconstructed area are to be made later on this year, probably in October.
I have hair now, about seven inches long. It is VERY curly hair, but it is at least my hair.
It is hot and sunny outside. Now, all I have to do is get well. Harder than you would think, but I am still hanging in there. I like to connect with others in the same boat. A really good thing is that it is now football season.
To be continued............
I still have fatigue and the hot flashes from the Tamoxifen are tough to endure. I still have tenderness from the hip to hip incision from the tram flap surgery. It has been determined that more revisions to the reconstructed area are to be made later on this year, probably in October.
I have hair now, about seven inches long. It is VERY curly hair, but it is at least my hair.
It is hot and sunny outside. Now, all I have to do is get well. Harder than you would think, but I am still hanging in there. I like to connect with others in the same boat. A really good thing is that it is now football season.
To be continued............
SUMMER 2010
After the reconstruction Tram Flap surgery, there is a large wound that would not heal. This lead me to going to daily hyperbaric treatments to help with wound healing. One of the side effects from hyperbaric treatments is severe blurring of vision and near-sightedness.
Once it was determined that everything that could be done with hyperbaric treatments, another surgery to close the wound is performed. Timeline: July 13, 2010. I then go back to hyperbaric treatments beginning the day after surgery for two weeks.
August, 2010: The wound has finally healed and I had all external stitches removed. My stomach is still sore from the tram flap surgery. I no longer have to wear the large elastic bandage. I am able to venture away from San Diego for a few days. I still have fatigue, but look forward to rejoining normal life.
Once it was determined that everything that could be done with hyperbaric treatments, another surgery to close the wound is performed. Timeline: July 13, 2010. I then go back to hyperbaric treatments beginning the day after surgery for two weeks.
August, 2010: The wound has finally healed and I had all external stitches removed. My stomach is still sore from the tram flap surgery. I no longer have to wear the large elastic bandage. I am able to venture away from San Diego for a few days. I still have fatigue, but look forward to rejoining normal life.
SPRING 2010
After undergoing reconstruction surgery and getting an implant, I have complications with the damaged skin from radiation. The surgery won't heal, it is later discovered.
The skin damage leads to five more surgeries/procedures. Finally, a date is set to do another reconstruction surgery called a tram flap surgery.
The skin damage leads to five more surgeries/procedures. Finally, a date is set to do another reconstruction surgery called a tram flap surgery.
2010, A NEW YEAR
Well, here comes another year and I am still unable to work and working on recovery. I have had numerous issues with skin damaged by radiation, but have dealt with all of them. I have the first official reconstruction surgery in January. Time to heal.
WINTER 2009
Everything is now all about getting over treatments and getting well enough to have reconstruction surgery. I never have any energy so far. It is a journey I tell myself.
FALL 2009
OK, I am still recovering from all of the chemo, surgery, and radiation treatments. I am going to the surgeon to get saline fills into the expander. My skin got severly damaged from the radiation. I had the skin open up and I had several emergencies related to the skin damage. I had open wounds and had to treat them and try to continue to recover.
SUMMER 2009
During Summer, 2009, I began radiation treatments. I went every day, Monday through Friday, for radiation treatments. Finally, during August, 09, I had completed all of the radiation treatments. I looked forward to going somewhere and doing something not related to treatments.
Boy, was I wrong! I had severe fatigue after the radiation ended and could barely stay awake for just a few hours per day. I took care of my pets, ate a little, and slept a LOT.
Boy, was I wrong! I had severe fatigue after the radiation ended and could barely stay awake for just a few hours per day. I took care of my pets, ate a little, and slept a LOT.
SPRING 2009
Well, I have some catching up to do.
Springtime brought the end of my chemo and my first surgery.
It was a mastectomy and all lymph nodes were removed from under my left arm. I also had an expander inserted during the surgery for the reconstruction, to be done at a later date.
Time to heal, for now.
Springtime brought the end of my chemo and my first surgery.
It was a mastectomy and all lymph nodes were removed from under my left arm. I also had an expander inserted during the surgery for the reconstruction, to be done at a later date.
Time to heal, for now.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
2009 - February and more Chemo
February, 2009
More chemo.
I am now getting chemo with a schedule of every two weeks. I continue to give my self shots in the belly every night after each treatment. By Day number 5, I really hated that shot. But, I went along with my treatment program - I want to live!
There has been no birthday, no Christmas, no New Years celebrations - there has been treatments. That is the focus for me. Keep doing what the UCSD Cancer Center people tell me to do so that I can live.
I did not have surgery first, as most breast cancer patients do. I had chemo first, to try and shrink the size of my tumour.
So, the chemo treatments and trying to recover from the chemo treatments, getting through the most basic functioning and taking care of my pets and myself were all I could do.
More chemo.
I am now getting chemo with a schedule of every two weeks. I continue to give my self shots in the belly every night after each treatment. By Day number 5, I really hated that shot. But, I went along with my treatment program - I want to live!
There has been no birthday, no Christmas, no New Years celebrations - there has been treatments. That is the focus for me. Keep doing what the UCSD Cancer Center people tell me to do so that I can live.
I did not have surgery first, as most breast cancer patients do. I had chemo first, to try and shrink the size of my tumour.
So, the chemo treatments and trying to recover from the chemo treatments, getting through the most basic functioning and taking care of my pets and myself were all I could do.
2009 - More Chemo
Merry Christmas, you got chemo!
And the Year 2008, went out quietly.
2009
Happy New Year, You've got more chemo...................
The chemo treatments continue. I felt out of it and VERY ill. It is as if your body is trying to squeeze every drop of poison out of your system. I sweated, got cold, got very sick. Surprisingly, to a lot of people, I did not experience much nausea. I was given anti-nausea medication, steroids, fluid IV, and a cocktail of medications before, during, and after the chemo treatment. I took a pill on Day One - the first day of chemo, a very expensive pill, for anti - nausea. I took Reglan and other anti - nausea meds were administered during the treatments.
All of the anti - nausea meds were of a newer generation and they worked pretty well for me. I really didn't have much nausea, but felt ill, as in worse that the worse flu you can have.
Three weeks after my first chemo, I cut my hair to my shoulders, knowing that very soon, my hair would be coming out. The chemo nurses and my oncologist had advised me that it would be coming out.
They were right...............my hair begain to come out in large clumps about 3 and a half weeks since the first chemo.
One Year Ago - in January 2009, I had my hairdresser shave my head. I had read about other breast cancer patients and I had gotten a wig. I decided that having my hair come out daily and having it fall into the shower would be more depressing and stressful than just getting my head shaved. Very shocking, but at that point, I spent so much time being sick from the chemo, that I didn't really deal with it.
And the Year 2008, went out quietly.
2009
Happy New Year, You've got more chemo...................
The chemo treatments continue. I felt out of it and VERY ill. It is as if your body is trying to squeeze every drop of poison out of your system. I sweated, got cold, got very sick. Surprisingly, to a lot of people, I did not experience much nausea. I was given anti-nausea medication, steroids, fluid IV, and a cocktail of medications before, during, and after the chemo treatment. I took a pill on Day One - the first day of chemo, a very expensive pill, for anti - nausea. I took Reglan and other anti - nausea meds were administered during the treatments.
All of the anti - nausea meds were of a newer generation and they worked pretty well for me. I really didn't have much nausea, but felt ill, as in worse that the worse flu you can have.
Three weeks after my first chemo, I cut my hair to my shoulders, knowing that very soon, my hair would be coming out. The chemo nurses and my oncologist had advised me that it would be coming out.
They were right...............my hair begain to come out in large clumps about 3 and a half weeks since the first chemo.
One Year Ago - in January 2009, I had my hairdresser shave my head. I had read about other breast cancer patients and I had gotten a wig. I decided that having my hair come out daily and having it fall into the shower would be more depressing and stressful than just getting my head shaved. Very shocking, but at that point, I spent so much time being sick from the chemo, that I didn't really deal with it.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Back to.......December 2008
There's really no way to prepare yourself for the after shocks of chemotherapy.
You lie there feeling more sick than you can imagine. Your body has been fed a lot of poison and it is reeling!
This is when you know that you are seriously ill.
All of the biopsies haven't even healed yet. 24 Biopsies on each side. A lot of pain.
I have now been in so many imaging machines with the medical workers dressed in Haz-Mat suits administering to me, that I really am expecting to be able to glow in the dark.
Now with this chemotherapy, I am to give myself shots in my stomach every night for five nights after Day One. Starting on Day Two, I give myself shots to help build up white blood cells that were destroyed by the chemotherapy. They literally build you up so that you can be torn down, i.e., have another chemo treatment. You will be wiped out and you will need someone to drive you home each time. Check - I had that.
You keep getting chemo for three - four months - unless something stops your chemo treatments.
That happened to me. I had a side effect called neuropathy. Meaning that you lose the ablility to feel in your feet and in your hands, especially your toes and your fingers. It was hard to walk for a while. This complication caused me to have my last two chemo treatments cancelled.
Then, there are times when your body can't take a chemotherapy treatment. That happened to me also. I had to be rehydrated and wait another week for my treatment.
Yes, I had no hair. That happened three weeks after the first treatment.
You lie there feeling more sick than you can imagine. Your body has been fed a lot of poison and it is reeling!
This is when you know that you are seriously ill.
All of the biopsies haven't even healed yet. 24 Biopsies on each side. A lot of pain.
I have now been in so many imaging machines with the medical workers dressed in Haz-Mat suits administering to me, that I really am expecting to be able to glow in the dark.
Now with this chemotherapy, I am to give myself shots in my stomach every night for five nights after Day One. Starting on Day Two, I give myself shots to help build up white blood cells that were destroyed by the chemotherapy. They literally build you up so that you can be torn down, i.e., have another chemo treatment. You will be wiped out and you will need someone to drive you home each time. Check - I had that.
You keep getting chemo for three - four months - unless something stops your chemo treatments.
That happened to me. I had a side effect called neuropathy. Meaning that you lose the ablility to feel in your feet and in your hands, especially your toes and your fingers. It was hard to walk for a while. This complication caused me to have my last two chemo treatments cancelled.
Then, there are times when your body can't take a chemotherapy treatment. That happened to me also. I had to be rehydrated and wait another week for my treatment.
Yes, I had no hair. That happened three weeks after the first treatment.
Now What, the sequel.....Flash forward to 2010
I have learned that this must be the hardest thing I have ever gone through. It has to be.
I have learned that you can have a family of non-related people that surround you with nurturing, care, love, support, and respect.
My pets also make me happy. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? As much of a big pain in the butt that they can be, they are also my special joy. I have a puppy, Laci June. She is such a delight at this time in my life. Yes, it is hard to raise a puppy when you are ill. When you are weak, in pain, and sweating like crazy from the chemical induced menopause that you deal with 24/7.
At least that seems to be one of the major "unfun" things that has come as a result of my treatments and my ongoing medication. The sweating - the chemopause.
Nobody really tells you what this part will be like. And that's not good!
For me, it has been very challenging, but I want to go on and on, so I must continue to deal with this VERY difficult side effect. I was never a sweater. I ran more on the coolish side. Not anymore. I get hot, really hot and no matter how many showers I take, it just keeps happening.
Enough about that for now - but it is at the forefront of my life now.
Little Laci makes me smile a lot these days. I can't say for the other two fur family members.
I have my hair growing back really curly. So not me.............can't wait to see how it turns out.
Now, I want my energy back as well. So, it is a process, a journey.
I have learned that you can have a family of non-related people that surround you with nurturing, care, love, support, and respect.
My pets also make me happy. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? As much of a big pain in the butt that they can be, they are also my special joy. I have a puppy, Laci June. She is such a delight at this time in my life. Yes, it is hard to raise a puppy when you are ill. When you are weak, in pain, and sweating like crazy from the chemical induced menopause that you deal with 24/7.
At least that seems to be one of the major "unfun" things that has come as a result of my treatments and my ongoing medication. The sweating - the chemopause.
Nobody really tells you what this part will be like. And that's not good!
For me, it has been very challenging, but I want to go on and on, so I must continue to deal with this VERY difficult side effect. I was never a sweater. I ran more on the coolish side. Not anymore. I get hot, really hot and no matter how many showers I take, it just keeps happening.
Enough about that for now - but it is at the forefront of my life now.
Little Laci makes me smile a lot these days. I can't say for the other two fur family members.
I have my hair growing back really curly. So not me.............can't wait to see how it turns out.
Now, I want my energy back as well. So, it is a process, a journey.
December 2008
My first chemo session.
Whoa!
A little nerve wracking to say the least.
The appointment has been changed several times.
With the holidays coming, I have to be fit in.
My new team of doctors are in a hurry, especially Dr. S, my oncologist.
December 23, 2008.
They hook me up to IVs.
I get the strongest chemo available for breast cancer. A/C. The bright red devil. Actually it has several nicknames. Just do this and get it over with to help save me, right?
I had NO idea what I was in for.
Whoa!
A little nerve wracking to say the least.
The appointment has been changed several times.
With the holidays coming, I have to be fit in.
My new team of doctors are in a hurry, especially Dr. S, my oncologist.
December 23, 2008.
They hook me up to IVs.
I get the strongest chemo available for breast cancer. A/C. The bright red devil. Actually it has several nicknames. Just do this and get it over with to help save me, right?
I had NO idea what I was in for.
November 2008
This has changed my life forever. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer at age 51.
Oh My God. Now what????
Anyone who goes through this must have to be 1) completely overwhelmed, 2) wondering "what did I do wrong" or "why me?" and 3) now what?
Since November 2008, I have been working on all three of these 1, 2, and 3, but mostly on number 3 - Now What?
Now What has been a long journey that started with learning that I had breast cancer. Large, advanced breast cancer.
I got on the internet and started researching for help with treatment. I found that!!! Hallelujeah!
And so the long journey began...........
Oh My God. Now what????
Anyone who goes through this must have to be 1) completely overwhelmed, 2) wondering "what did I do wrong" or "why me?" and 3) now what?
Since November 2008, I have been working on all three of these 1, 2, and 3, but mostly on number 3 - Now What?
Now What has been a long journey that started with learning that I had breast cancer. Large, advanced breast cancer.
I got on the internet and started researching for help with treatment. I found that!!! Hallelujeah!
And so the long journey began...........
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