Tag Archives: pacificcancerinstitute

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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June 20, 2016 · 8:47 am

35: Twenty-eight of Twenty-nine!!!

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!

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Whoever thought to do this to the ceiling was genius!!!!

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May 16, 2016 · 12:49 am

33: Back to Work

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Last week I started my Radiation treatment. As mentioned previously my treatment will consist of  Monday thru Friday for six weeks. If you notice in this picture, the ceiling is made to look like you are looking up at the sky. It is actually quite mesmerizing. Walking into this room the “True Beam” can look really intimidating. The therapist that work under Dr. Baker are truly compassionate and make my feel comfortable. My appointment time slot for this journey is 3:15, when I arrive they are literally ready for me, I am in and out. That mold of my upper body that was made at the simulation appointment is on the table and those two little tattoos enable the therapist to target the area that was configured by the Medical Oncologist.

I have been on medical leave since my surgery March 28th. Tomorrow I go back to work, again,  I am super grateful to Maui Diagnostic Imaging for being flexible with me. My work schedule will permit me to go daily for my radiation treatments. I continue to also get my Herceptin infusions in Oahu. On Tuesday I will get my monthly blood draw to check my blood count levels prior to the infusion. On Friday May 20th, I will have a follow-up Lung CT, followed by my Herceptin infusion, then I need to high tail it to the airport to make my flight to be back for my 3:15 RadTx appointment……yikes……wish me well!!!!

It is going on 10pm, I must somehow try to fall asleep so I can get up early. I have been sleeping in, need to get used to waking up early again. I need to do some physical therapy on my arm before going to work daily, my days will be very structured that’s for sure!!!

 

Mahalo for reading my blog

Aloha, Pina

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May 7, 2016 · 7:16 pm

32: Radiation Therapy

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We flew back to Maui one week ago today on April 30th. The picture above is a picture of Sugar Beach in North Kihei, it’s a really nice long walk!!! On Monday I had my simulation appointment with the Radiation Oncology department here at the Pacific Cancer Institute on Maui. I got to meet Dr. Baker (he was off island the last time I was there). Dr. Baker talked with us (my husband and I) and explained again the importance of radiation treatment after chemo for me. It is important to know that not everyone with breast cancer gets both chemo and radiation…..each case is different.

The simulation CT was interesting. My upper body was positioned on a deflated pillow that contained micro beads. These micro beads when heated up stiffened and hardened, forming a mold of my upper body including my head. I laid down on it with my right arm down and my left arm up with my elbow bent. The mold was created, this will be used for all my radiation therapy appointments. The purpose of the simulation CT is so that the Radiation Oncologist can determine the radiation field and create a treatment plan. That is the simplest explanation I can think of without getting too technical!!!

The Radiation Therapist (Radiologic Technologist with a specialty license in Radiation Therapy) was very kind. Part of the process for the simulation appointment is you get marked (tattoo)  where the laser beam is to be positioned for you treatments. I joked with Max when he was about to tattoo me that this was his “side hustle”! I also let him know that these were my first tattoos, we laughed because seriously they are two very small dots!!!

My treatment will be six weeks long, Monday thru Friday my first treatment is Wednesday May 11th!! I am off of work for one more week, I go back on the 16th of this month. Just like with chemo I will work thru the radiation therapy as well. Maui Diagnostic Imaging will work with my appointments for the next six weeks permitting me to work thru this next chapter of my treatment.

Time to sign off, much Mahalo for reading my blog. It is 9:11 am, I need to do my physical therapy and pick up two very special people that will be here with me for the next seven days!!!

Aloha Pina

 

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March 13, 2016 · 8:14 am

25:Surgery Date Set!

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I took the picture above last week end while enjoying some much needed beach chair therapy. The picture speaks for itself…..I love it.

Since my last appointment in Oahu, I have been busy working and getting settled into our condo that we are renting. Every day I feel better and better, my hair is starting to grow, Jacquelyn says a have “peach fuzz”! When working I get to talk to patients, a lot of patients remember me from doing their mammogram last year. I had one patient literally tear up when she saw me. I told her not to cry for me that I would be fine. She was so sweet, we hugged after the exam, and she said she would look forward to her next mammogram so she can see how I am doing! (that’s a first, “look forward to a mammogram”!)

March 9th:

I Had a consultation with the Radiation Oncologist here at The Pacific Cancer Institute on Maui. I will  be having radiation treatment. The Oncologist was very thorough in explaining the process and how it is done post-mastectomy. I will be having treatment Monday thru Friday for 6 weeks. Basically, Radiation treatment is the “clean up crew”. It will annihilate any residual cancer cells left behind. That’s what I want, NO CANCER CELLS LEFT BEHIND. I will be able to work thru this, just like I have been working thru my chemo treatments. Compared to chemo, this should be a breeze!

March 11th:

My appointment with my Medical Oncologist went well. Dr. Chong is really happy with my progress and how I am progressing. After he examined me, I was back in the chair for my Herceptin infusion. We flew out of Maui on the first flight which meant getting up at 4am. So of coarse I managed a little siesta during the infusion! Since it is only one bag it only takes about 1 hour, so it was a short nap!

After my appointment with Dr. Chong, I was off to see Dr. Nakashizuka. Again she examined me, the original tumor can no longer be palpated, however the lymph nodes still feel irregular. We talked about “the Plan”, she wanted to make sure that I was ok with the recommendation of delayed reconstruction vs. immediate. Here is what will happen:

  • Left Breast Modified Radical Mastectomy with skin sparring for delayed reconstruction, on Oahu, at Queens Medical Center. Will be required to stay on Oahu for 1 month post surgery…..the hunt is on for a place to stay post surgery!
  • Radiation Treatment to begin once healed from surgery. Treatment will be for 6 weeks Monday thru Friday, here on Maui at the Pacific Cancer Institute.
  • Herceptin infusions will continue every three weeks till September.
  • Appointment with the Pulmonary doctor on April 21st regarding the nodule on my right lower lobe. Lets pray that a lung resection is not necessary!
  • After my last Herceptin infusion, the prophylactic  mastectomy  on the contra lateral side will be done (Right Breast) with immediate reconstruction. Well it won’t be “immediate”…..its a process! That’s another blog.

Surgery date……………….March 28th …..On Good Friday March 25, I will be 53 years old, Birthdays after a cancer diagnosis will be special!

Aloha, everyone much Mahalo for taking the time to read my blog!

 

 

 

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