Since my last blog a lot has happened, my July infusion of Herceptin was on the 22nd. The day before that on Thursday the 21st I had another Echocardiogram, and a baseline Bone Density. The Echocardiogram (this was my fourth one) I had one before chemo started last year in September, the second was performed in November, the third was done one month after my last chemo and now this one in July. The purpose? The chemo treatment I was given effects cardiac output, also one of the side effects of Herceptin effects the heart. So far so good!!!! The heart is strong!!! I started to take Anastrozole (Arimidex) in February. One of the side effects of Arimidex is bone loss, hence the necessity for a baseline Bone Density. Happy to report I am in the “green”…..fellow technologists will know what the means!!! Normal! As of right now, my bone density is “normal”!….I would like to keep it that way.
I have also been going to Physical Therapy twice a week for Myofascial Release Massage (covered by insurance) which has been wonderful!!! I have been going to Kihei Physical Therapy with Christine Lachance DPT. MSPT. CLT., she specializes in Cancer patients.
I am back in the ocean! The first week-end in August I paddled out with the Maui Canoe Club, it was beautiful! (With the exception that they were burning cane that Saturday morning and there was a huge brown cloud over the island). None the less, it was beautiful to be out on the water. Once I got back to the condo after the morning paddle out I turned my tv on and started to get sucked into watching the Olympics which were on day 2! I quickly turned the tv off, packed some fruit, grabbed some water, towel, chair, book and to the beach I went!!!! I was at the beach from 10 am till 4pm, so refreshing to be in the water again!
This past Friday, August 8th I was back in Oahu for Herceptin. I had a great visit with my Oncologist Dr. Chong, we talked about the past years treatments and how well I did. He commended me for having that fighting spirit and mentality to fight and stay positive (attitude toward treatment is half the battle) We talked about what is yet to come.
Saturday morning (13th) I had every intention on paddling out, however my stomach said overwise. I have been fortunate that the Herceptin side effects have not been that bad for me, however Saturday morning was plagued with many trips to the bathroom, I didn’t think going paddling was in the cards for me.
My next Herceptin treatment will be my last one!!!!! YES!!!! My last one!!!!!! Can I get an “AMEN” My next trip to Oahu is on September 2nd, after this appointment with Dr. Chong I will see him again in January 2017. It was supposed to be in three months, but that would mean coming in December. So, he pushed the follow-up out to January 2017, also because and that time he would like for me to have an appointment with the breast surgeon Dr. Mari Nakashizuka and the plastic surgeon, Dr. Vincent Nip. So, come January 2017 we will start the ball rolling for the next step……..prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction!
The picture included with this blog was taken with a feature on my camera called “color selection”. I selected light purple and i pulled that color out with everything else black and white. This next one I selected pink hues!
Mahalo, thank you for reading and Mahalo for all the patients of MDI that have inquired about me and for all the prayers and well wishes.
Queens Medical Center gave me a post surgical camisole with poly-fil non-weighted breast forms. Although this was truly appreciated it just didn’t work for me. Prior to surgery I did purchase a couple of front closer bras that were soft and I thought would work well. However without having a weighted prostheses the absence of my left breast was obvious. I tried adjusting the size of the non weighted form to properly fill the left side of my bra. Yes, I was able to pull some of the poly-fil out and adjust the size of the form, it was actually quite comical! I put on one of the bras that I purchased prior to surgery and placed the adjusted breast form in the cup on the mastectomy side. Monique and I went to my physical therapy appointment, followed by a trip to TJMaxx. I found a couple of button front tops to try on, went to the dressing room, looked at myself and laughed!!!! I was Lopsided !!! Because the poly-fil breast form is non-weighted, the weight of my right breast was making the left side of my bra ride up! Hilarious!!!!!!
My Breast Cancer Journey 