Tag Archives: nomorebadhairdays

December 18, 2015 · 9:02 am

21: Chemo #5!!!

Tomorrow I fly to Oahu for Chemo #5!!!! It feels like just this Monday I was feeling much better from the effects of chemo #4! This last round was really rough. The nausea subsided, however the stomach bowel issues continued. My bones aches and I get really tired. I just ignore the ache and work through it, working through this has been really good in keeping me busy and just having something to do instead of being on medical leave. My Oncologist wanted to put me out on Medical leave, but I opted to work through the Chemotherapy instead. Really thankful to MDI (My employer) that they have worked with me with my limited availability.

Patients have been so sweet, I get lots of hugs from them. Since I have been working here for over one year, I am doing mammograms on patients that I attended in 2014. They recognize me and ask what happened, I share my story with them. I get lots of hugs, some patients have asked me if they can say a prayer with me before the leave. I have had patients tell me that I have a positive aura and they feel that I will be just fine. I get lots of compliments on my complexion, and the way I use scarves to wrap my head. And then of coarse there is always some people that are not so nice. I have been asked if I am Muslim twice! One patient asked me if I was Middle Eastern? I have been asked if I was Jewish? I am to the point where my response is “no, I have Cancer and I have no hair, that is why I have this on my head!” One on the patients that asked me if I was Muslim, asked that in a very harsh tone in here voice. I wonder if I would have said “yes”…..would she of let me do her mammogram? Those questions are just not appropriate! This past week and a half at work has been interesting. I don’ let those people get to me, they are a small percentage compared to all the well wishers! Several patients tell me that they will look forward to seeing me for next years mammogram! Yay, they are looking forward to next years mammogram!!!!!! Mission accomplished!

I am not looking forward to the next few days as the effects of Chemo #5 set in. However I am looking forward to having my whole family together here on Maui for Christmas!!! I know that the weather in southern California has been cold, today here in Kihei the temperature reached 91 degrees!!!! Warmest Aloha to all reading this, and please feel free to share my blog if you like.

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Tagged as believe, breastcancer, breastcancerjouney, hope, MDI, nomorebadhairdays, queensmedicalcenter

October 16, 2015 · 9:00 am

18: Chemo #2,

The week after taking my hair, on my terms I was able to work. I got lots of hugs from patients that recognized me from last year, some would just ask. I am more than happy to share my story, especially is if patients will realize how important Breast Self Exam are. I can’t tell how many women will tell me that they don’t know how to do them…..kills me! I had one patient tell me that she wasn’t sure why I obviously did not have hair, but she said that the way I wore the scarf on my head looked really beautiful, she told me I was beautiful……….made me a little emotional.

You don’t realize how much your fur (hair) keeps you warm at night! I wear a beanie to bed. The rest of my hair is falling, I have lots of little hairs on the bar soap when I shower. Oh, it was really weird showering the first time after buzzing it. I also see that some of my eyelashes are coming off! They somehow always end up in my eye, so irritating. This past weekend Jax and I went to the beach for some much needed beach chair therapy…..felt good to get in the ocean!

Today, October 15th , Jax and I flew to Oahu. I had my appointment with the Genetic Counselor. Received the wonderful news that I am negative for the mutated gene! My girls will not need to be tested. However, with having a primary risk factor, meaning me (mother) they have a 20% increase risk factor for getting Breast Cancer.

My Chemo treatment today went well. The Oncology Nurse offered me an injection of lidocaine on the port site before placing the catheter. I declined, yea, not sure that was the right choice……it hurt! But it was fast, just felt like a shot, and so it started. One of the bags is a Benadryl, which helps with the side effects of the Taxotere drug. I am getting TCH + Pertuzumab. That is Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, plus Perjeta (Pertuzumab) I got sleepy due to the Benedryl, I took a book for continuing education, when I kept reading the same question over and over I new it was time for my “chemo-siesta”!

The above picture is a device that was placed on my tummy. It’s a little machine that tomorrow will inject a medication called Neulasta. Neulasta helps reduce risk of infection by boosting my white blood cell count to strengthen my immune system. One thing for sure is I can not be around sick people!!!!

It is 10:46 pm here on Maui, but I just wanted to share today with you as I know a lot of you want to stay informed. I also want to say that I truly appreciate all the text, private messages, voice mails etc. I do read/listen to each and every message. I had one friend send me a religious inspirational message that I saved and read it frequently. I am working tomorrow, I Have a light schedule done intentionally for me……MDI is really accommodating my work schedule needs, words can’t explain how much I appreciate them.

Warmest Aloha Pina (josefina)

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October 5, 2015 · 7:42 am

17: On My Terms

With aggressive Chemo Therapy comes hair loss. There are a lot of things happening to my body due to the treatment that are out of my control. I have always loved my curly hair, especially with all the new products for people with naturally curly hair. Living here on Maui I have learned to “embrace the curl” , I would no longer straighten my bangs because in no time at all the moisture in the air would curl them! Well I wanted my hair to come off on my terms, and not the side effects from the Chemo! I was told that it would start coming off as soon as 10-14 after the first infusion………today marked day ten! I know this is temporary and that eventually it will grow back. Right now having hair is the least of my priorities, I need to get through the next five treatments, I need to stay healthy, I need to stay strong, I need to fight!!!!!