Tag Archives: oahu

January 14, 2017 · 12:03 am

46: Spirit of Aloha

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The past three days have been spent on the island of Oahu. I had my Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan and a Chest CT on Wednesday. This morning my Oncologist, Dr. Clayton Chong gave me the great news that my Bone Scan was Negative for Malignant Neoplasms! The chest CT was done for that nodule that they have been keeping an eye on, it has not changed since the last scan!!! My office visit went well with my Oncologist, I told him I was moving back to California, it was sad saying good-bye to such an amazing team. Doctor had one of the nurses flush my portacath, and instructed the nurse to give me copies of all my medical records for me to give to my new doctor. I also got copies of all my post treatment scans from medical imaging……three CD’s! I am ready to transfer my care. By me hand carrying my medical history, it will make the transition a lot smoother…..I hope.

The picture above, was at a restaurant we ate at  Thursday morning. I asked my daughter to take a picture of it because it depicts the true meaning of the Spirit of Aloha. Living and working here on Maui since July 2014, I have met so many wonderful people. I love the way the keiki (children) refer to me as “auntie”. I am going to go thru some serious ocean withdrawals, and will miss the patients that I have imaged working at MDI. I was at Safeway the other day and ran into three people who I have done their mammograms, one lady heard that I was leaving from a friend…..word is spreading.

I also wanted to mention about my colonoscopy that I had done on December 8th. Well, it turns out that I did have two new polyps, they were both removed and both of them came back to be “tubular adenomas”. Yes, if you have read my previous blogs, those are the ones that can turn into a cancer (considered pre-cancerous). So, with that being said, when I establish with my new medical team in California this will be one topic that will be discussed. The G.I. doctor here says that I could wait to  have another exam in 2 to 3 years, which concerns me. Not sure I want to put it off that long.

Well it is 9:57 pm here on Maui, and I want to go to bed, I plan on paddling out with the Maui Canoe Club in the morning.

Mahalo for reading my blog….Happy New Year!!!

 

 

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August 15, 2016 · 8:03 am

37:Coming up on One Year!

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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!

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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.

 

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April 24, 2016 · 5:36 am

31: Appointments

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The past couple of weeks have been riddled with appointments. I can see why I was required to stay on this island after my surgery. I had an appointment with Honolulu Orthopedics to be measured for a compression sleeve. I will be required to wear the sleeve when I fly and when going on long walks to help avoid Lymphedema. My compression sleeve should arrive sometime this week. I have also continued to go to my physical therapy appointments (twice weekly) and I do my P.T. three times daily when our schedules permit. My range of motion has improved immensely, my therapist is really impressed with my progress. I have the advantage of  knowing first hand what happens when you do not do the recommended exercises.

Surgeon appointment:

Dr. Nakashizuka was really happy with my progress. The mastectomy site is healing just fine. I have avoided fluid build up (Seroma), probably due to my Physical Therapist. She does a Lymphatic Massage, and has taught me how to do it, which I do nightly. I went to this appointment with three questions in mind.

1: When can I drive?

2: When can I get in the ocean?

3: When would she recommend the Profolactic  Mastectomy (Right breast) and the    reconstruction?

Driving? I am cleared to drive because I am not taking any of the pain meds that were prescribed. Ocean?……..wasn’t expecting this answer! She would prefer I stay out of the ocean at least till July! When we talked about me paddling out with the canoe club she would prefer that I wait till at least September to do that! And as far as my next surgery, not till this time next year! Because I will still be going through Radiation Therapy, and continue to have my Herceptin infusions every three weeks till September, she would prefer that I wait six months after I am completely done with my treatments before going thru with the right mastectomy and the reconstruction of both breast. It is what it is, I can be patient. I just have to tell myself that “this time next year, I will be all done with this”.

Pulmonogist appointment:

My appointment with Dr. Roger Yim, went well. The lesion on the right lower lobe of the lung that showed up in my initial scan from August 2015, which measured 5mm. Then again, post chemo, only now measuring 7mm……..did not excite him! I told him I was excited the he was not excited!…..we laughed. He went over my complete medical history with me and told me his plan for me. He ordered another CT, which will be done when I have my May infusion. This will make it three months from the one done in February. So long as the lesion has not increased in size, then he will ask for another CT six months from May. Just need to pray that this lesion doesn’t grow!!! If it does grow……that’s another blog!

Our time here on Oahu is coming to an end. This past week my son made it out here to visit. We went to Pearl Harbor, however due to the wind we could not go visit the USS Arizona Memorial. The featured picture was taken at the Ala Moana Center, which is the mall of all malls!! It is the largest open concept mall in the world!!!   A true shoppers paradise. I features many ponds and sitting areas to regroup and rest. I was actually focusing on the Lily Pad flower not realizing that there was Koi fish in the water!! We also ventured to the North Shore again, this island has so many beautiful beaches, I would love to come back when I can actually get in the water!! Next week will be our final week here, Friday I will get another Herceptin infusion. Get to fly back to Maui on Saturday April 30th!!

Aloha, much mahalo for reading!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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April 4, 2016 · 8:07 am

28: Pathology Results

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Friday evening I received a phone call from the office of Dr. Nakashizuka. Her office assistant called to inform me that the pathology came back on my breast that was removed and the lymph nodes……..no residual cancer cells post chemo!!!!!

Tomorrow (4/4) I have my first post op appointment with Dr. Nakashizuka and she will go over the details of pathology with me and change the dressing over the surgical site. I have read many articles and books, in which they say that it is pretty traumatic for the patient the first time that she sees herself with out her breast. I don’t feel that I will break down, being a Mammographer and my time working at The Cancer Center in Palm Springs has prepared me for this. I have been extremely compliant as far as post op instructions go. I know far to well what happens to the surgical site if you over do it!!!! No seroma for me if I can help it!!!

I have two drains on the mastectomy site that have been draining well. My daughter has been emptying and measuring the fluid daily. The surgeons office gave us a log to track the fluid. I am sure she will be pleased with my daughters diligent entries.

The Little Things:

You don’t realize how important good range of motion of your shoulders is for getting dressed. Due to the ” Lymph node dissection” my left arm has limited mobility. I had planned ahead and purchased  tops with buttons up front. I had to do a little retail therapy today and purchase a couple more tops and easy pull on bottoms. I attempted to put my favorite pair of shorts on today, but pulling the zipper up and buttoning the button was too much! So, shopping one must go!!!

It is getting late here in Oahu (well late for me) so I’m going to sign off. Thank you for reading, will keep you updated on upcoming appointments. Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers.

Much Aloha, Pina

 

 

 

 

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