Tag Archives: breastcancerjouney

October 4, 2015 · 7:21 am

16: Breast Cancer Awareness

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On Saturday September 26th, the effects of my first Chemo treatment hit me like a ton of bricks. Words can not describe on how sick I was feeling. The vomiting and diarrhea was like NOTHING  I have EVER experienced. Your body is so weak, your bones ache, you have no desire to eat, drink, or talk. You know you have to eat, but it takes energy to eat, and you just do not have an ounce of energy to spare. I have a new appreciation to all the patients that have passed my path in my Mammography career, they are true survivors, I too will soon be a survivor!

On Monday morning (Sept. 28), my primary doctor took the dressing off of my Portacath. She reached out to my Medical Oncologist to discuss medications to ease the effects. The medications made a huge difference, but I still felt awful. I don’t know what I was thinking when I thought I could go into work on Tuesday!…….I only lasted three hours!!! On Wednesday, my day was going to be split between our Triangle Square clinic (11 miles away) and our Kihei clinic  (.2 miles away) from my home. Was fortunate that MDI was okay with me only working the afternoon in Kihei. I worked on result letters, waited for the Hologic service engineer as our power supply on the unit was going to be replaced. The part was scheduled to arrive on Thursday, so he bypassed the issue so I can do the QC and patients till Thursday. Because of this issue patients were taken off the schedule, I only had two patients to do, even then, when I was done, I was so exhausted. Lee, the front desk receptionist was super helpful. She was going out of her way to help me in any way possible……………….truly blessed to have amazing staff at MDI!

With the new month being October, it brings us the annual “Breast Cancer Awareness” month. The picture above is made from only some of the t-shirts I have accumulated from doing Breast Cancer walks. If there is a walk near you, please consider participating.

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September 20, 2015 · 12:05 am

14: Tsunami Watch

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Great! My first overnight stay on Oahu, and there is a Tsunami watch! In spite of the Tsunami watch everything went well, however I did not start my chemo yet…..getting a little anxious. One of the four drugs that will be used still needs to get authorized! I have to patient. My husband got to meet the Medical Oncologist, Dr. Chong. Dr. Chong went over the treatment plan with my husband, and at one point looked at me and told me that this treatment was going to kick my ass! I believe that was his way of telling me to be prepared! I am fully aware of what is yet to come, #igotthis! Doctor looked at  my veins and said that these latina veins were not going to cut it, I will need a portacath. There is a certain “calmness” about Dr. Chong, I really like him.

I also got to meet the breast surgeon Dr. Nakashizuka. She comes highly recommended and I really liked our first visit, she was very thorough, I will discuss my surgery option in a future blog.

We went to Waikiki Beach, as our hotel was in Waikiki. We only did this because the Tsunami watch was lifted. We walked around The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, which is a PINK hotel! Loved it! The doctor’s office called me and asked if I had time for lab work? Well of course we had time, this was not a pleasure trip! Jacquelyn and I quickly got in the ocean and took some photos, then we went back to Queens Medical Center.

My portacath will be placed early on September 24th, with my first Chemo treatment on that same day……It is going to be a long day at Queens. I’m sure one of many.

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September 11, 2015 · 8:20 am

13: Calm Before the Storm

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This week is fast coming to an end, I am so grateful for my job at Maui Diagnostic Imaging (MDI). My MDI family has been nothing but supportive since the “Unsub” was discovered. Everyone is respecting my privacy, but I do not mind talking to my coworkers about it, the “C” word is not voodoo! I love my job here on Maui, and I am sharing my story with some patients. I have to be careful though as I only have 15 minute time slots with patients. I have been working for MDI for 13 months now, so I am now to the point where I am doing mammograms on patients that I imaged last year. The patients are excited to see that I am still at MDI, they ask me if I have enjoyed my first year on Maui? What am I supposed to say? I share my story, I had one patient get emotional, she asked me if she could give me a hug? I never had someone ask for permission to hug me! When we hugged, she told me that I had good energy and that I would be fine.

I am looking forward to this weekend, I will paddle out Saturday morning with the “Pink Paddlers”. Not sure what I will do the rest of the weekend. Perhaps I will just go play tourist, and walk around the resorts and enjoy the beauty of Maui!

Next week will be a short work week for me as I go to Oahu for two days to meet the whole team that will be involved in my care. Not sure if Chemo will start next week, however I know it will start real soon, this is the “Calm Before the Storm.”

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September 1, 2015 · 8:50 am

10: Christmas tree?

August 24, 2015/Monday

As soon as I walked into the Cancer Center they ushered into the Breast Center. My MRI that was done on Friday showed a new finding besides the area biopsied and the lymph node. The new finding was directly behind the nipple about 11 cm back, just in front of the chest wall, but not attached to the chest wall. Additional Mammo imaging was done with second look ultrasound. When I asked if I would be having another biopsy the answer was no. It was too far back near the chest wall.

Cynthia the PET/CT Technologist started my I.V. Again I saw some familiar faces, it was nice to see people I worked with. Because of the privacy laws a lot of people had no idea why I was there having these test done. I did not hesitate to share with my CCC family, as I needed all the good vibes and support possible. I got lots of HUGS.

The radiopharmaceutical was injected, I then go lay down on this comfortable recliner chair in a small private room with spa music playing. I cannot use the bathroom, I have to hold still and not move around. I also had to drink to cups of water given to me…..which was challenging. The music was nice until the cd finished, which reminds me I forgot to tell them the music is definitely helpful. After the music stopped all I could think about is that I really needed to use the bathroom! I couldn’t hold off anymore, I called for Cynthia, she was so understanding. I only had a little more time to go, she let me go to the bathroom.

For the scan I was supine (face up), I did not know what to expect. The scan started, all I could think was please don’t let it light up! Being face up it was hard to focus on something. I would close my eyes and try to think of other things other than why I was having this test done. At one point I remember closing my eyes, I remember when I opened my eyes I saw a dream catcher! It made me smile. They had taped a dream catcher on the other side of the tube, so when I came out a little bit I saw it. The little things that make a difference. When the contrast was pushed thru the I.V., I had this warm sensation through out my body. I am so glad that my friend Catherina (tech extraordinaire) told me about this feeling. You feel like you are pissing your pants!!!!………..#igotthis

I was told that we could go to lunch then return for the results, also to get results from the Breast MRI, CD’s and reports for me to take back to Maui. The radiologist, Dr. Pearce took the time to explain the new MRI findings to me, my husband and one of my daughters. Dr. Pearce was very open when discussing my MRI, he printed some key images for me, gave me his opinion (which I truly appreciated). Dr. Pearce used to live on Oahu, he talked to me about doctors on the island. I left the Cancer Center armed with copies of all my scans and the reports. I am so grateful my CCC family!!!

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August 31, 2015 · 5:49 am

6: Breast MRI

Walking into the Cancer Center for my appointment, they did not waste anytime. I was immediately taken to one of the patient rooms were nurse Debbie placed the IV needle in my arm for the contrast access. Dr. Lee spoke to me, she managed to get the authorization needed for the PET/CT. My PET/CT was scheduled for Monday. My daughter Monique said that everything was happening #kardashstyle ! She was impressed how efficient this Cancer Center worked. It pays to have an amazing team on your side.

I’m glad I reached out to my supervisor at MDI on Maui. Without hesitation she was okay with me extending my stay on the mainland for the PET/CT.

The Breast MRI was intense. You are laying face down with both breast thru this opening. Your face is on one of those face things like when you get a massage. But this was far from a massage! Your arms are up above your head, kind of like in a flying superman position. Patricia, the MRI technologist was super helpful in getting in the right position, making sure I was comfortable. The exam started, the noise sequences were loud. I had earplugs in my ears but it was still loud. There was different variations of scans, it’s dark, loud, I kept telling myself “I can do this”! The noises went on forever, and I thought this isn’t so bad it should be almost over! And the contrast wasn’t so bad either! Then, Patricia’s voice came on over the speaker, she said she was done with the first half, next half would be with the contrast! Oh my, I was only half way done! I got thru it, the MRI was done!

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August 30, 2015 · 7:49 pm

5: Telling family

On our way to Perris I received a phone call from Dr. Lee, they got the authorization for the Breast MRI, I will have that done tomorrow. She told me, due to the contrast used for the exams that the Breast MRI and PET/CT could not be done on the same day. Asked if I would extend my stay allowing for that exam to be done on Monday pending authorization.

Driving to the city of Perris where my mother and family lives was nauseating. I was by mere coincidence that my eldest brother had flown in on this day to visit our sister. My other sister lives behind my mother, my brother Oscar waiting in her patio, I believe he thought our mom was napping. He knew of my positive results…..we hugged.

While all of this was going on with me, my sister had made the decision not to have treatment. Again, I had not been involved as I was dealing with my own issues.

I believe my mother was wondering why we were all there. To this day my mom did not know that I was in California. She was shocked to see us all walk in,  my mother and sister were sitting at the table. I did not waste time, my mom was a little upset that I had been in Cali, and that I have not been calling her on a regularly. I explained why I came to Cali, I told them I had been diagnosed with  Stage III Breast Cancer. My sister with Stage IV, cried…….I did not cry. I asked my sister to fight this with me, I brought her one of the brochures that was given to me……she said no.

My kids came prepared with food to BBQ. My other sister came home from work, before I know it other nieces and nephews are showing up. I was an unplanned little family gathering.

My sister who also has BRCA has had chronic pain all her life, she is tired of living in pain. She told me that she just wants to fall asleep and not wake up. I have to respect her wishes but deep down I wish she would fight this with me!

I am choosing to fight this full force! Cancer messed with the wrong person!!!!

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