My Breast Cancer Journey

September 3, 2015/Thursday

My meeting with the Medical Oncologist Dr. Clayton Chong went well. Jacquelyn and I flew to Oahu early in the morning, and took a cab to the medical building. We were super early but I would rather be early then to be running late to such an important appointment! The doctors office had faxed me my preregistration packet to my work place, so I already had all forms filled out. Once in the exam room the Oncologist first came in and asked if a resident  could come in and go over all of my medical history, and ask me questions. Then  Dr. Chen (the resident), would discuss the case with Dr. Chong. They would both return to the room and the Medical Oncologist would then go over everything with me. I used to work at a teaching hospital so I was okay with the double question session. Our appointment did take really long, about two hours. Dr. Chong had all my reports from the Cancer Center. He had spoken with Dr. Pearce from the Palm Springs Cancer Center about the new finding near the chest wall on the Breast MRI. We also discussed a small 5mm pulmonary nodule, in the lower lobe of the Right lung.

We discussed the treatment plans in detail. I will be having neoadjuvant therapy, meaning Chemo before surgery. It will be one dose of Chemo every 3 weeks, 6 times. It is a very aggressive treatment, I would be fibbing if I said I was not scared, I am scared. This is the exact coarse of treatment that was discussed with me and my family at the Cancer Center in Palm Springs. I know I am good hands, I GOT THIS!

Dr. Pearce waited in the lobby of Queens Medical Center in hopes of meeting with me, however since my appointment took long with Dr. Chong he had to leave, as he had another engagement.  He called me and told me to go ahead and go to Dr. Nakashizuka’s office and introduce myself. (Dr. was out sick). When Jax and I walked into the office, Millie (the scheduler) was on the phone with Dr. Chongs office. The two offices were coordinating my next appointment. Millie asked if I would like to go ahead and fill out the paperwork required for the first appointment. She asked me for the images that Dr. Pearce had printed for me, I gave them to her. Dr. Nakashizuka is a Surgeon specializing in breast. Mari then asked me what time our flight back to Maui was? They managed to get my in for an Echocardiogram that same day! Jax and I had lunch, and then at 2:15 went to the Heart Institute for my 2:30 appointment. I don’t know the results of that exam, am super appreciative that they worked me in. The technologist and I “talked story” (Hawaiian for chatting/talking). I feel bad that I can’t remember her name, it was either Patricia or Pamela? She was really nice, her next assignment is going to be in New Zealand! I wish her well!

Flying back to Maui, Jax and I did not sit together. I had a window seat and was deep in thought about everything that is going to happen in the coming year. I remembered a question from the Oncologist. “how does a Mammographer end up with Stage 3 Breast Cancer?” I can’t be mad that it wasn’t found on my annual mammograms! Because of the complexity of my dense breast tissue it went undetected. Knowing this, perhaps I should have insisted that my doctor not only order my annual mammogram, but also order an annual ultrasound. He did make me feel better by telling me that because I knew what normal for me that I was able to detect it and get it checked out! So, ladies reading this….please do monthly BSE’s. Be familiar with what is normal for you, as far as the normal lumps and bumps of your own breast tissue. If ever there is something different you will know the difference.

The flight between Maui and Oahu is a mere 30-40 minutes. It was raining almost the whole day while we were in Oahu, with three “flash flood” warnings over the emergency phone system. Our flight home was smooth (I don’t like turbulence) as we started to descend, I looked out my window and saw a rainbow. I wasn’t going to capture it, but when I saw the second rainbow I quickly took my phone out and snapped this picture!

When someone is told they have Breast Cancer usually they break down and cry. You have your moment, then you have a choice. You can either feel sorry for yourself and allow yourself to get depressed which compromises your immune system which could interfere with your healing process. Or you can choose to SURVIVE!!! I will fight this! I have not however had that moment where you just break down…………..super glad it did not happen on the plane flight back to Maui! That would have been bad.

I was right back at work on Wednesday the 26th. I had already made an appointment with my primary physician it was on Thursday the 28th….which couldn’t come fast enough. I did attempt to make an appointment with Medical Oncologist office on Oahu, however without a referral they would not schedule the appointment. I understand that, but it was worth a try. Originally I was told that new patients could not be seen till the end of September!!!! In the meantime my co-worker Carolyn uploaded all my CD’s with my studies from the Cancer Center. She also scanned all the reports, then proceeded to electronically Beam them to the Queens Radiology in Honolulu. The following day I know that they accepted the images because they called and asked that all reports be faxed over.

After receiving my referral from my primary doctor, I reached out to Dr. Pearce and asked if I should wait till the end of September for my first appointment with the Medical Oncologist? Again, very fortunate to have connections, because I received a phone call from the Oncologist’s Office and they gave me an appointment for September 3rd! Flight arrangements have been made………….I will soon know when the treatment will begin.

August 23,2015/Sunday

I am a Radiologic Technologist with a specialty license in Mammography. I know what other modalities in the Radiologic Sciences do, but up until now I have not needed them. When I was given my packet of paperwork for PET/CT, in it was my clear instructions for my diet the day before my scan. High protein, NO sugar at all!!! They really stressed the NO SUGAR part. Think about it…….no sugar, means no carbs……carbs that are not burned up by exercise turn into sugar….I got this! The radioactive material injected goes to the area of high sugar, a cancer will attract the isotope. I was told by a friend that you don’t want your scan to light up like a Christmas tree!!!! Please lord, don’ let it light up!

My cousin Carmen had us over for a lovely meal. My eldest sister brought my mother over so I was able to spend a little more time with her before heading back to Maui. No food after 8pm!!!…….Tomorrow I will find out if this beast inside me has traveled past my lymph nodes to other organs in my body.

When my kids asked me what I wanted to do over the week end I told them I wanted to go to the “Happiest place on earth”!!!! We went to Disneyland!!! I joked with my kids I said, “Josefina Wallace, you have just been diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer” What are you going to do next?……”I’m going to DISNEYLAND!”

We had a blast at the Magic Kingdom…..it brought so many childhood memories. Disneyland has changed a lot over the years, and because my eldest daughter practically lives at D-land she new how to work the “fast pass” method. Gone are the days of the “E” ticket! There is even a smartphone D-land app, you can see the wait time for rides you want to get on!

August 19, 2105/ Wednesday

I was given the 4:30 time for my appointment to given my results. Working at the CCC I knew that by given the last appointment it would allow the doctor more time with me and my family in case the results came back positive. Deep down I had a gut feeling that this was going to be positive……….I did not share this with my husband.

Wednesday morning when I woke up I remember forgetting everything that was happening to me. Then it all comes back to you, I had to wait till 10:30 to take a shower (24 hrs after a BX). I somehow managed to forget to pack the button front top I bought for this special occasion. I purchased two button front tops, one for biopsy day, the other for results day. Button front tops are recommended so that you do not lift your arms up over your head after the biopsy. I didn’t want to wear the same top, so off we went for a little “retail therapy” at TJ Maxx, Yucaipa. After all I am a “fashionista”….LOL!

Driving to Palm Springs, staring out the window I was praying that if it had to be a cancer please let it be DCIS, Ductal Carcinoma In situ. We arrived, Dr. Lander was a little behind with her busy patient load, but that was okay because it allowed me to visit with some of my coworkers from the Cancer Center.

I was taken back alone first  my entourage: Jack (husband), Cisco (son), Jacquelyn (daughter) and niece (Elena). A wound check is done of the biopsy site, so there I am again laying on that table on the receiving end, I would sometimes be doing the wound check on patients when I used to work here. This was also when Dr. Lander, the doctor that I loved assisting with biopsies while working here had the daunting task of telling me I had Breast Cancer! I don’t remember the exact conversation. I remember her soft voice, I remember the look in her eyes. I did not burst into to tears, I actually to this day have not cried! I think I was numb, when she told me that it was not DCIS. I was IDCA, Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma! I believe I cursed after hearing that. I asked about the lymph node, it too was positive, Metastatic infiltrating Duct Carcinoma! Oh CRAP!!!!!!…………………i did not cry…………..I remember getting really mad? Never would I have thought that those words would be told to me.

For the next two and a half hours we sat in the manager’s office, Dr. Lee, one of the Cancer Centers breast surgeons joined the meeting. The doctors went over the results with my family. The pathology report that comes back next day, is a preliminary report pending hormone receptors and prognostic indicators. So, the doctors went over the different scenarios of treatment. Dr. Lee took the time to write all this down for me, both doctors explained everything and allowed for questions………….I was numb but needed to stay focused. Occasionally my mother would come to mind, this is going to devastate her. I was given a pamphlet ” A Woman’s Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment”. I actually told Dr. Lander where she could find it, I used to hand this out to patients during positive results. The Cancer Center does have Medical Assistants that assist with results, but on occasion a Technologist would this.

The doctors also discussed the Breast MRI and PET/CT scan that were crucial to do. Again words cannot describe how grateful I am for this Cancer Center. My profile team was hard at work to get authorizations for these scans before I went back to Maui. I was scheduled to fly out of Cali on Sunday the 23rd. I was also given a list of specialist on Oahu  provided Dr. J. Pearce. The radiologists, Dr. Pearce used to work in Oahu prior to coming to the Cancer Center, I assisted him as well with procedures……love this doc!

The main thing that I got out of this meeting was that I should have neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery. When they mentioned the chemo treatment “Perjeta” I was familiar with that treatment due to the fact that was what they were going to offer my sister.

August 17, 2015/Monday

The CD’s that I expressed mailed to the CCC, which contained my diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound would not import onto the CCC computer. Maui Diagnostic Imaging (MDI) burned another CD and I also printed my images. I printed select images of my own ultrasound.  Working along side with Dr. Lander I knew which images she would want to have. However, I also knew that Dr. Lander or a technologist  would be scanning prior to the biopsy. We drove to Palm Springs so I could drop off these images and CD’s. I reached out to one of my fellow co-workers, she met me outside and took my images. I would have loved to have gone in the Cancer Center, but I knew how busy they were and I did not want to disrupt their busy Monday morning.

August 18, 2015/Tuesday

Driving to Palm Springs that morning was different. My husband Jack and daughter Jacquelyn went with me. For five years I would drive to that Cancer Center to go to work. Prepping sterile trays for a biopsy that I would be in on with one of our Radiologist. Consenting patients, explaining the biopsy, assisting with the biopsy then afterwards holding pressure over the biopsy site. After an Ultrasound Guided Core Biopsy a two view mammogram is obtained to confirm tissue marker placement……..I knew exactly what was going to happen.

I was immediately registered, all the familiar faces started to see me there. I did not hesitate to tell them why I was there cause I needed all the support I could get…….lots of hugs. The Cancer Center Supervisor came and took me back, she did an Ultrasound on me prior to the biopsy for Dr. Lander. I was then taken into the 3-D automated ultrasound room to have that scan preformed on me. An ABUS is performed on women with dense breast tissue. Additional Mammo images were also done, Catherina did Magnification views of the “Unsub”…………..the profile team was hard at work!

Laying on that table was surreal. The area was cleaned off by Dr. Lander. The local anesthesia was administered, except I was on the receiving end. I knew that when Dr. Lander asked for the #11, that it meant “scalpel” I knew it was time for the #11 because she had already numbed superficially and deep into the tissue! So I said, ” I didn’t hear you ask for the #11?” Her response was, “you know too much, there for I am using facial expressions”………the biopsies started. I had three biopsies that day, one on a lymph node and two of the “Unsub”. The area on the Left breast was two lesions. The position I was in permitted me to watch on the monitor as each sample was retrieved with her 14g Tru-Cut needle. Doctor numbed me up so well that I did not feel a thing, only slight nudging……no pain! After the biopsies were over then came the hold pressure part! Sometimes the pressure held is more uncomfortable than the biopsy, but very necessary. So there I lay, allowing my friend hold damn good pressure on me. You finish up a biopsy with post instructions, I know those by heart……..I was given my post instructions!……………the biopsies were done…………tomorrow I will know.