44:Leaving da Island

It is hard to believe that one year has past already. This time last year I had just finished my 4th chemo treatment, which for me chemo number 4 thru 6 were the worst. With the love and support of my family I managed to get thru a very aggressive chemo cocktail that in the words of my Medical Oncologist was going to “knock me off my ass”, yes those were his words exactly! Bar none he wanted me to understand how important it was to receive all 6 treatments and not quit on him. ” For this to be successful you need all 6 treatments, this is going to knock you off your ass, you are going to want to quit, number 5 and 6 will be the worst” “Are you ready?” I was ready, and I continue to be ready for anything that is thrown my way!

With that being said, I am home early today from work to prepare for a follow-up Colonoscopy. In February 2015, six months before my Breast Cancer diagnosis I had my baseline Colonoscopy. The results came back that they found and removed Tubular Adenoma Polyps. Because those are the kind that can turn into a cancer, I get to repeat my exam. I was supposed to have it done in February, I was given a pre-op appointment in November 2015 for a Colonoscopy in February 2016! The problem was that I was too ill from chemo #4 to leave my home to keep the pre-op appointment. I then asked my primary doctor if I can just wait till I was thru with chemo, surgery and radiation treatment before revisiting the whole repeat colonoscopy exam! Not exactly my favorite exam, the prep is the worst. Hence my appointment is tomorrow morning.

Leaving da island

For those of you who know me personally, you know that my husband works all over the map. However since May of this year his job has kept him on the mainland. After the expense of staying on the island of Oahu, post mastectomy in March, I have been contemplating  going back to the mainland for the next phase of my surgery. However, now that my husband is indefinitely working near our home in California it is no longer practical for me to remain on paradise without my husband. My prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction will be done in Palm Springs where I used to work. I will not be returning to Maui to work after being released.

I have given my employer notice, my last day working at MDI will sadly be on January 27th. I will keep my Oahu appointments in early January. January 11th, 12th, 13th I will have multiple appointments which include Chest CT and Bone Scan, Medical Oncologist and a follow-up Dr. Nakashizuka.

Today is the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan. Living and working here on Maui, I have met people who remember that day, or have been told stories by their aunties and uncles of that “infamous day”.  Prayers to the people of Hawaii and descendants of people lost on December 7, 1941. Mahalo to all military personnel over the generations. Today also marks my fathers birthday, if he were alive he would have turned 88 today.

Mahalo for reading my blog

Pina