Tag Archives: MDI

November 29, 2015 · 4:22 am

20: Chemo #4

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With Thanksgiving on Thursday my Chemo treatment was on Friday instead of Thursday. Which of coarse meant that I was able to enjoy dinner. My cousin was visiting me from San Diego, so she organized a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday the 22nd. On Thanksgiving I prepared an Italian dinner, it was delisioso!!!(Spanish for delicious)

Jack, Jacquelyn and myself flew from Maui to Oahu early Friday morning, it’s a mere 25 minute flight! We have a routine, once we get to the Hospital we go directly to the cafeteria for breakfast, which is pretty delish and inexpensive! Then we go to Dr. Chong’s office for my 10:15 check in time. With in minutes I am taken back. You get examined by the doctor before your treatment. My labs, vitals were good he told me that my heart beat, beats like one of an athlete! (thank you Pilates and walking) We talked about what happens after the Chemo treatments are finished and he gave me slip for an Echocardiogram. One of the side effects of the Perjeta affects your heart. I had an Echocardiogram prior to starting the Chemo, now that I am half way through my treatment, time to repeat that test. My Chemo lounge chair is waiting for me with my pole for all my bags that will be flowing through my body. The nurse, using a sterile technique cleans my medi-port area, flushes it first then starts the drips…..one by one. I am soon off to what I call my “chemo siesta” (nap). When I wake up I am almost done with my treatment, it is approaching 4 pm. Before leaving the nurse attaches that self injector to my tummy, that in 27 hrs will inject Neulasta medication into me.

Today is Saturday, right now I feel a little nauseous and stating to feel tired. Tomorrow the full side effects will kick in…..I am ready. I have two me treatments. My next treatment is on Friday the 18th, which means I will be good for when my two eldest kids come to visit for Christmas! Can’t wait to see them!

Thank you for all the well wishes via text, FB etc..Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thankful for

Family, friends, all my past co-workers and current ones. The company I work for MDI, for accomodating my availability through out my journey. The Doctors and staff of Dr. Chongs office. And all the staff at the Palm Springs Comprehensive Cancer Center! And for social media that allows us to stay connected!!!

 

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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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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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