Ever since May 11th I have been going to The Pacific Cancer Institute here on Maui. My employer Maui Diagnostic Imaging has been allowing me to work until 2:30 Monday thru Friday so that I can go for my Radiation Treatment at 3:15 everyday. When I arrive, the team of therapist immediately call me back, that blue thing you see on that picture (partially covered with a pillow case) is the mold of my upper body. I place my head, shoulders, arm in there, it positions me in the exact same position daily. Sometimes I close my eyes, other times I watch the beam was it moves around me. My mind wonders at times, I think about the past year and the coming year or just listen to the music that they playing. The session is really fast, I am usually walking out of there by 3:3ish. I drive home and prepare for the next day…..one day at a time.
The side effect from the Radiation treatment is primarily fatigue. Also, the skin changes of the area being irradiated. Prior to starting my sessions, the Cancer Centers Nurse Practitioner, Anna sat with me and went over skin care. A cream was prescribed to me, for me to gently apply to the area being irradiated after each session. I have only been using dove sensitive skin soap (as recommended). The Cancer Center is also having me see a Physical Therapist for Myofascial Release massage. I go to Kihei Physical Therapy twice a week. My therapist Christine specializes in working with cancer patients. I have appointments scheduled twice weekly till mid July.
I am really grateful that I have been able to work thru radiation, yes I am tired but I am glad that I have been able to work. Last week I called off on Monday, when my alarm went off to get up I was beyond exhausted like nothing I have ever felt before. I knew that I would not be able to drive myself to work, much less keep up with the work flow of the day. I put my phone on airplane mode and slept till 10:30! However I still had to drive myself to my radiation appointment later that day!
Friday the 17th consisted of flying to Oahu in the morning, straight to Queens Medical Center. Dr Chong, again really impressed on how well I am doing. I went to the infusion area for my Herceptin drip. Next month I will be having another Echo Cardiogram and a baseline Bone Density along with my Herceptin. Purpose of the Echo is because one of the side effects of the chemo I was given was damage to the heart valve. So far so good! I am taking Arimidex, which helps fight breast cancer by lowering the amount of the hormone estrogen in the body. With this med comes a slew of side effects one affecting bone density, hence a baseline Dexa (bone density) scan.
We made it back to the airport for our flight back to Maui. I made a mistake when selecting the flight times. I thought we would be landing back on Maui at 244pm, when actually our flight didn’t leave Oahu till 244pm landing on Maui at 326pm!!!! I immediately called the direct line I was given to the therapist area at the Pacific Cancer Center on Maui. Tim called me with in minutes of me leaving a voicemail and told me not to worry that he would wait for me!!!! When we were done he says “Monday will be you last treatment” I questioned him because I thought that June 29th was my last treatment. Tim reminded me that, that was the date if a “boost” was necessary. Since my mastectomy pathology came back negative for aggressive cancer cells no boost was necessary! He said “this is Twenty-eight of Twenty-nine, Monday is your last day my dear”…..made my day!!!!!
Mahalo for reading my blog!
Whoever thought to do this to the ceiling was genius!!!!
My Breast Cancer Journey 