Tag Archives: winning

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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December 8, 2016 · 12:28 am

44:Leaving da Island

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It is hard to believe that one year has past already. This time last year I had just finished my 4th chemo treatment, which for me chemo number 4 thru 6 were the worst. With the love and support of my family I managed to get thru a very aggressive chemo cocktail that in the words of my Medical Oncologist was going to “knock me off my ass”, yes those were his words exactly! Bar none he wanted me to understand how important it was to receive all 6 treatments and not quit on him. ” For this to be successful you need all 6 treatments, this is going to knock you off your ass, you are going to want to quit, number 5 and 6 will be the worst” “Are you ready?” I was ready, and I continue to be ready for anything that is thrown my way!

With that being said, I am home early today from work to prepare for a follow-up Colonoscopy. In February 2015, six months before my Breast Cancer diagnosis I had my baseline Colonoscopy. The results came back that they found and removed Tubular Adenoma Polyps. Because those are the kind that can turn into a cancer, I get to repeat my exam. I was supposed to have it done in February, I was given a pre-op appointment in November 2015 for a Colonoscopy in February 2016! The problem was that I was too ill from chemo #4 to leave my home to keep the pre-op appointment. I then asked my primary doctor if I can just wait till I was thru with chemo, surgery and radiation treatment before revisiting the whole repeat colonoscopy exam! Not exactly my favorite exam, the prep is the worst. Hence my appointment is tomorrow morning.

Leaving da island

For those of you who know me personally, you know that my husband works all over the map. However since May of this year his job has kept him on the mainland. After the expense of staying on the island of Oahu, post mastectomy in March, I have been contemplating  going back to the mainland for the next phase of my surgery. However, now that my husband is indefinitely working near our home in California it is no longer practical for me to remain on paradise without my husband. My prophylactic mastectomy and reconstruction will be done in Palm Springs where I used to work. I will not be returning to Maui to work after being released.

I have given my employer notice, my last day working at MDI will sadly be on January 27th. I will keep my Oahu appointments in early January. January 11th, 12th, 13th I will have multiple appointments which include Chest CT and Bone Scan, Medical Oncologist and a follow-up Dr. Nakashizuka.

Today is the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan. Living and working here on Maui, I have met people who remember that day, or have been told stories by their aunties and uncles of that “infamous day”.  Prayers to the people of Hawaii and descendants of people lost on December 7, 1941. Mahalo to all military personnel over the generations. Today also marks my fathers birthday, if he were alive he would have turned 88 today.

Mahalo for reading my blog

Pina

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November 7, 2016 · 7:13 am

43: Mammogram Appointment

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Breast Cancer awareness month has come and gone. However for me, as a Mammography Technologist it is everyday of the year. And now as a Breast Cancer survivor, bringing awareness is just that much more important.

I had intended to blog about how to prepare for your Mammogram Appointment prior to the month of October, but it just did not happen. Preparing for the Voyage to Lana’i , paddle for life took precedence over everything.

So here it goes:

Be on time

You are given a check in time and an appointment time. There is a reason for this. We are only given a certain time slot per patient. At my work we are given 15 minute time slots per patient for a routine screening, 30 minutes for a diagnostic appointment and/or a patient with an augmentation.  And please, IF you have an augmentation (implants) please mention it when making the appointment if you are not asked that question by the scheduler. Some patients register, then proceed to talk on the phone or just be on their smart phones instead of doing the questionnaire given to them. So, the purpose of you check in time is to complete all necessary paperwork prior to you appointment time.

No lotion, powder or deodorant. 

You are probably wondering about the picture above., I will explain that in a bit.

Deodorant, deodorant  mimics micro calcifications. Some micro calcs get worked up, meaning additional images and after the additional images IF they are deemed “indeterminate” by the radiologists they are either followed up in six months or he/she gives a recommendation to biopsy them! Lotion or powder can come out in the image, especially if it has some type of shimmer to it. Also with lotions and or body oil, it makes the breast slippery making it easy to move when in compression, causing motion. An image with motion will be rejected and repeated. I had a patient that had coconut oil all over her body, her breast were small, there was no friction between her skin and my paddle. I was using my small half paddle for her but her breast kept popping out from the compression paddle. She agreed to go into our bathroom to wash her breast off with soap/water and we proceeded. And of course by now we were well into her 15 minute time slot for her mammogram.

When I bring a patient in the room I will ask I they have product on. If they did come in with deodorant on we offer baby wipes to wipe it off. I document it in my paperwork when a patient comes in with deodorant on. I have had a patient get called back for possible “residual deodorant vs micro calcs” therefore, I do not recommend coming into your appointment with deodorant on.

Sand

Here on Maui I have come across sand artifact on a mammogram. I did one view on a patient, then when I did the oblique view (side view) I noticed that on my image there was artifact where there was no breast tissue. My image receptor had all these sparkly things on it. I remembered that when she came in she had on a beach cover-up with a swim suit top on. I asked her if by any chance she was swimming in the ocean this morning? The answer; “Yes, but I rinsed off at the park before coming here”.   Well there was enough sand in her suit that clung on. Solution, my schedule fortunately was pretty open that day, this was the patients baseline mammogram (first one) she lived literally in the neighborhood of our clinic so she went home and took a proper shower then came back and I worked her in!

The Picture

I begin to position my patients first view, and I can feel that there is some kind of product on my patients breast. I continue to compress the breast, my positioning light is on, and with the compression this white stuff seeps from my patients breast tissue!!! I lift my paddle off of my patients breast and ask her, again if she has product on?

Me: I thought you said you did not have lotion on?

Patient: I don’t

Me: oh, what’s this…..as I point to my paddle

Patient: It’s sunscreen

Me: (with a puzzled look on my face) were you not asked NOT to wear  any lotion, powder or deodorant?

Patient: YES, they didn’t say I couldn’t put SUNSCREEN on! ( in a very harsh tone)

SERIOUSLY!!!!! OMG I COULD NOT BELIEVE HER RESPONSE TO ME AND HER TONE.

Me: I walked over to the baby wipes, asked her to please wipe, said that I would take one image, if I saw artifact on my view I would delete it and cancel the appointment. I then grabbed my cell phone and told her that I was going to snap a photo of my paddle to show the scheduler how these products interfere with the imaging. I tilted the unit at an angle for the image.

Wiping this sunscreen off of the unit made a mess. I managed to get it all cleaned up and we were able to complete the exam……of coarse this exceeded her 15 minute time slot!

Prior Mammograms

If it is your first mammogram at a facility and you have had priors elsewhere, please arrange for you priors to be sent to the imaging facility. I we receive them ahead of time the images are imported and prior reports are scanned, we have everything for our radiologists to make a comparison when he looks at the current study. IF, you don’t make those arrangements, we get you to sign a release for priors, we look up the location of your priors, and it helps if you know where your last mammogram was at. Last week, I spent 22 minutes with a patient on the computer looking for a facility on the mainland. She knew the state and city and part of the name of the facility (her prior was a 2015 study, how can you not remember)  We managed to find it. Release signed, we got started at 825 am, by then my 815, 830 and 845 patients were registered…….THEN….she had implants and was not double booked!!! My morning snowballed after that. You can not rush through a mammogram to get caught up, it was not until a patient called to reschedule an appointment that I was able to get caught up from my morning fiasco.

Clothes

Make every attempt to wear two piece clothing and not a dress. We only require you to change from the waist up, when a dress is worn to the appointment the patient is standing in her underwear with a long paper gown on (my clinic uses paper disposable gowns). I have had patients not have under clothes on,  which made it pretty awkward. In this case I got creative and taped a gown creating a skirt like cover-up, then a half gown on top. I do not understand why someone would not wear under clothes to a medical appointment!

Time to sign off, Mahalo for taking the time to read my blog, was not my intention to make it this long.

Pina

 

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October 11, 2016 · 4:08 pm

41: Maui to Lana’i and Back !

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When I signed up for this voyage I was a little apprehensive about it…to say the least. But I really wanted to do something significant to celebrate my successful feat in conquering each obstacle this past year. Chemo therapy was no joke, with each treatment I was sicker and sicker, then came surgery . With the help of amazing Physical Therapist, and my personal daughter nurse Mo with me, I recovered seamlessly. Then came Radiation Therapy, again by following doctors instructions on skin care to a tee in addition to  Physical Therapy, the Myofascial release, followed by Lymphatic massage has been a god send. One full year of Herceptin infusion completed……..I am officially done with treatment! How do I say farewell to this past year? I signed up to take part in The Pacific Cancer Foundations “Paddle for Life” “Voyage to Lana’i” fundraiser!

First and foremost, much mahalo to those who contributed to my cause, I am beyond appreciative. Love and support is not just monetary contribution to my cause. The past year I have received many cards (via mail), text messages of support, voicemails left on my cell phone, family coming to Maui, patients that I have imaged inquiring about me. I could go on and on. I truly feel so much love and support from everyone….I am blessed.

The Voyage :

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My day started with a 330am alarm. By 445am I was at our bus pick up location at Maalea Harbor, which took us to the West side of the island. I was not launching off, so therefor I was at the boat ramp. We were taken to our support boat via a zodiac boat. One the first six man exchange I was put in. You transfer in the open ocean from you support boat to the zodiac then to the canoe. I was really out of comfort zone but with the help and encouragement of my team and the boat support team I managed to transfer….no fear! (It’s not like I can say “God, please make the waves stop so I can transfer without the ocean moving”) I did it I am so proud of myself! Kept telling myself “I beat cancer I can do this”. Being in that canoe in the open ocean was intense on the way to Lana’i, the waves were intense, it was beyond exhilarating !!!! After a couple of exchanges I was put in to be part the landing crew. Paddlers in the launch and landing are survivors. Since I didn’t get to launch I got to land. Coming just past that rock that I never thought we would reach was so emotional. Our captain Linda T.A. had us stop just before coming in and said some encouraging words to each one of us, we were the last canoe in. All the other paddlers were lined up at the beach, I could just see and hear the cheer coming from everyone one the beach as we landed. To follow Hawaiian tradition when you land on another island, permission is granted, then you present gifts after Hawaiian chants and prayers. Each paddler presented gifts to the people of Lana’i. We were given Taro plants, and roots to present to them one by one……all 300 plus paddlers!!  It was a beautiful ceremony.

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We were provided lunch, by Hard Rock Cafe. After eating those of us that were camping needed to set up camp before the sunset. We were provided tents to pitch….pink tents!! I don’t remember the last time I camped in a tent! Some paddlers opted to stay at the Four Seasons or the Lana’i Hotel, I believe those were you only options. I opted to camp.img_3700

I pitched my tent and then went a little hike up to “sweetheart rock” with a fellow paddler and friend Flora.

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This is the rock that when paddling into Hulopoe Beach at Manele Bay I thought we would never reach! The view was so beautiful! Dinner was provided by Nalus , I believe they also provided our breakfast Sunday morning as well. A small group of us wanted to ride to visit Lana’i city. We piled into my team captains car and she took us to visit some sites on the island before going into the very small “Lana’i city”. Here is a picture of us by “Jax” which are large concrete barriers in the shape of jax. They create an ocean break where the barges  come in for deliveries of containers. img_3668

Sunday morning come oh so fast, sleeping on the ground was not very comfortable, especially being sore from paddling. By 630am our tents had to be down and packed, our bags with our belongs with our team had to be taken to our specific support boat. We had breakfast, 10 minute yoga stretch , morning prayers and chants in Hawaiian, songs were sang it was truly beautiful. I again did not get to be part of the launching crew, but we did get to see the launch before going to the boat harbor to our designated support boat. img_3698

A total of twenty-four canoes entered the water…and they were off. On the first six man exchange I was put in. Again transferring was a bit intimidating for me but I did it! It was blazing hot, the ocean was calm and our support boat captain turned the motor off and said we could jump in the ocean if we wanted. I jumped!!!! We had a rope to hold onto so we would not drift far, you bet I held onto that rope. It was so refreshing to jump in for that moment. There was going to be a couple of exchanges before I went back in so I grabbed my camera and took some photos. dscn0847

This is a picture of the zodiac coming toward our support boat to pick us up for another exchange. I was put in, and from what I understand the distance was another 3.8 miles away from Maui. Once in the canoe, you are paddling with strength that you did not know you had. No more exchanges, we were taking this canoe in!! Our steersman Buck was very encouraging, telling us that we were survivors and we could do this!! “Stroke, stroke, stroke” he shouted periodically, “timing people”, “stay focused, you can do this”, “stoke, stroke, stroke my matees! Our support zodiac came over to us to make sure that we were all ok to “ironman” in, we were given small water bottles in case there was not any at the beach waiting for us.

To describe the beauty of Maui from the ocean is impossible. We were so far out that you could not even see the beaches of the West side or the high rise resort hotels of Ka anapali. It was blue ocean, the verdant westside of Maui topped off with blue skies and scattered clouds that looked like a halo over an angel. Purely breath taking. As we got closer to Maui, we could see the resorts, with each stroke we got closer, but it seemed to take forever. The end was near as we got closer and closer, we could see that the rest of our team was in the water waiting  to help us bring this canoe in. We landed!!!

This voyage was beyond amazing, never did I imagine that one day I would be part of a team to paddle from one island to another. Doing this was physically and mentally challenging. It was both spiritual and emotional for me sometimes bringing tears to my eyes thinking of the past year….. but that is exactly what it is now…in the past. Time to focus on the the next phase.

Much Mahalo and love to the Pink Paddlers for being so welcoming, you are an exceptional group. I can not believe that this much anticipated event is over, I am so glad I did this.

Much Mahalo and love for taking the time to read my blog.     Pina

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October 4, 2016 · 6:36 am

40: Huli Practise

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The photo above was taken at a regatta competition, the canoe flipped over, other wise known as “Huli”.

I have been practicing for The Voyage to Lana’i , which is a major fundraiser here on Maui benefitting The Pacific Cancer Foundation. We will voyage from the island of Maui, to the island of Lana’i. There are over 300 hundred paddlers going across!

Saturday morning was huli practice , all voyagers that have never been in an actual huli were  highly encouraged to attend.  So there I went! I will be the first to admit I was not comfortable with it,  but knew I needed to experience it……..no fear!

Kimokeo, one of the organizers and spiritual leaders was with a canoe just off the shore. I was called over, I was honest and told him I was just a little frightened. (In my head I’m thinking, I am about to embark on a journey across the island….seriously) Kimokeo, (fully aware of my situation) asked my what side my surgery was on? I told him left. At this point he is in the ocean, he instructs me that when the canoe flips, come up next to him and hold on to the canoe with my right hand only. We flipped, I surfaced, I survived. But what happened next was totally unexpected.

I mentioned that Kimokeo is a spiritual leader. He does blessing through out the island. As I was coming out of the water he called me back into the ocean and placed his hands on my head and started praying in Hawaiian over me. He had me repeat the prayer with him, three to five words at a time, all in Hawaiian (pigeon). It was so beautiful and spiritual, I am literally getting chills as I am trying to describe this event. We went under water together three times together. I have been blessed and Baptized by Kimokeo. I truly feel that he sensed a fear in me, I no longer have that fear, I am ready for this voyage.

Mahalo for reading my blog

Pina

 

 

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September 2, 2016 · 7:41 am

38: The Hair is Growing!!

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I do not recall ever having short hair! The texture is soft and it is curly in the back and wavy up on top. I had to break down and by a hair product, using Tea Tree Shaping Cream by Paul Mitchell. When some patients  see me and remember me from last year, they say “oh , you cute your hair….that looks really cute” My response : “actually this is new hair growth after Chemotherapy”!  Their jaw drops, patients have teared up, hugged me and have just been so kind with well wishes and prayers.

I do the Bone Densities for MDI, twice a month. One of the x-ray technologists does them on Saturdays. My last Dexa day (as I call it) told me she refused a Saturday appointment because she wanted me to do her exam so she can see how I was doing. Apparently I did her mammogram when I was in the middle of Chemo, she was so sweet.

It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed already. The journey has not been an easy one (especially the chemo part of it) but I did it!!!!!!

TOMORROW IS MY LAST HERCEPTIN INFUSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  After tomorrow I will officially be finished with my treatment! Except for the Anastrozole that I have to take for the next five years (possibly ten) And of course the ongoing test to make sure the cancer does not decide to pop up somewhere else!!!…..one day at a time!!!

Matrixectomy

Well,  besides having a Primary Physician, Oncologist, Radiation Oncologist, Pulmonologist, Breast Surgeon, Plastic Surgeon…..I can now add a Podiatrist to the list! Since Chemo treatment number four and five I have had problems with ingrown toenails. (There has been no coorilation between ingrowns and chemo.) I have experienced and continue to have slight neoropathy of the toes and fingers (not so much on fingers) So the infections seem to creep up on me! I don’t feel them till it’s infected. The past three months have been riddled with frequent trips to the Podiatrist. Literally it seems like I have been to see him every two to three weeks. He has in the past mentioned a procedure to eliminate the growth of the nail going down, causing the ingrown. The procudure is call a Matrixectomy. I had this produre done yesterday, initially went in for the ingrowns, agian. After he (Dr. Lee) numbed both great toes, he offered the procedure. It required more numbing, which was super painful…I mean SUPER painful.  After the side of the nail is removed, acid is placed to kill future growth of the nail. So, once agian I am on ocean restriction…no ocean for two weeks!!! Today was challenging to work, the toes hurt but I managed to work the whole day!!! fyi: the pain was when the injection of lidocaine is administed, after that I didn’t feel a thing… and Dr. Lee continuously kept asking if I felt anything. He wanted to make sure i was completely numbed up.

Hopefully tomorrow mornings flight to Oahu is uneventful. The Hawaiin islands are on huricane watch, so far Maui has been unscathed from this threat (knock on wood), I dont like turbulance on the flights!

It’s getting late and I have to get up early to fly out….good night and much Mahalo for reading…

Pina

oh, one more thing…. I wore mascara the other day for the first time!!! the little things!

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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 31, 2016 · 8:06 am

34: Memorial Day

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While most people here on Maui probably spent the day at the beach, my daughter and I went to a small town in upcountry called Makawao. We stopped at the Veterans Cemetery, where every single plot was adorned with a flag and a floral lei. Thousands of plumeria flowers were scattered throughout, with the slight breeze in the air the fragrant flowers were obvious. Because of my ongoing radiation treatment, a day at the beach was not a good choice for me….and besides, the beaches were really crowded. And it’s not like a can get in the water yet….August can’t come fast enough !!

On May 20th, I had my Herceptin infusion, along with a short term follow-up CT of my lungs for that lesion on my right lower lobe. The day was jam-packed, we flew to Oahu, went straight to Queens Medical Center. The radiology department was right on time with my scheduled appointment, after which we headed to Dr. Chongs for my appointment with him. As soon as the infusion was done we headed back to the airport. I needed to be back on Maui for my 3:15 radiation treatment appointment. The day went smooth, the TSA line had me worried there for a bit but we made it!

I received the results of the CT, “stable right lower lobe pulmonary nodule”…HAPPY DANCE!!!!! So what’s next? The nodule has not grown since the last CT done in February, it remained 7mm in size. Back in August 2015, when it was discovered it was 5mm, now the plan is to repeat with another CT in six months to confirm its stability.

Radiation Treatment: So far I have had 13 treatments. My last scheduled treatment is June 29th. I can do this!!!! After chemo this is a breeze!!! At work I have many patients wishing me well. I had one patient that we were doing a six month follow-up from her November 2015 mammogram. She told me she was hoping that she would get me, as she wanted to see how I was doing. Patients will sometimes ask me if they can hug me, this is the rewarding part of my job….hugs are good. My next infusion is June 17th.

My husband bought me a new camera for our wedding anniversary in April. He said that since I can’t get in the water or paddle out with the canoe club I can take photos, I am having fun with my new camera, it’s a Nikon coolpix900. One of the coolest features of this beauty is that it has its own wi-fi. I have an app on my iPhone , I can transfer the picture from the camera to my phone anywhere! Oh my the possibilities…..83 optical zoom!!

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I took this picture when we were leaving the cemetery today. I was probably a good city block away from this horse!!!!

Mahalo for reading my blog, have an amazing day!!!!……..life is good 🙂

 

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April 6, 2016 · 8:53 am

29: Post op

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To quote my breast surgeon Dr. Nakashizuka,

“ The chemotherapy worked, these are the results we want to have”. “The breast tissue showed no evidence of aggressive cancer cells.” “The Lymph nodes also did not show evidence of aggressive cancer cells!” “There was only signs of non invasive cancer cells.”

Doctor spoke these words in a joyful voice with such excitement. She talked about the size of the original cancer and the lymph node and that there was no longer any signs of the tumor and that the Chemotherapy treatment recommended worked. She mentioned that my medical Oncologist would again talk to me about the need for Radiation Treatment.

Doctor removed the dressing over the mastectomy site. While examining the surgery site, Dr. Nakashizuka was asking Monique about the amount of fluid discharge. Monique was rattling off numbers as fast as doctor was asking for them. Doctor then says, “the drains are ready to be removed”! I immediately ask, “is it going to hurt?” Doctor smiled and said I have been through much worse and tapped my shoulder. Ummmm, that didn’t answer my question! Well, no I didn’t feel pain when she pulled them out.

It was a good visit. I have a busy week of appointments. I am being referred to Physical Therapy, to help avoid Lymphedema. My first appointment is tomorrow at 730 am! No sleeping in for me!! After that I will get my monthly blood draw, and on Friday I get my Herceptin infusion after seeing my Medical Oncologist.

It’s going on 11pm here on Oahu, time to call it a night……good night.

Much Mahalo for reading

Pina (Josefina Wallace)

 

 

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April 2, 2016 · 12:36 am

27: Post Mastectomy

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Aloha Friday! Happy April fools day 🙂

Sunday evening I prepared the clothes I would wear to the hospital the next day. I  had been NPO (without food/water) since Sunday 7pm. I had a lite dinner as instructed, which we enjoyed at Monkey Pod here in Ko Olina. We chose Monkey Pod because we were familiar with the menu, now was not the time to try something new.

Getting up at 345 am on Monday March 28th was easy for me. I did sleep well,  however I was anxious to get it done. We pulled up to the valet attendant in front of the Outpatient Surgery attached to Queens Medical Center. Yes “Outpatient”! Lots of people were surprised to learn that this surgery would be done as outpatient! We arrived at about 520am, I was asked to be there by 530am. I signed in, and was attended right away by registration. Shortly after registering I was taken back to the pre-op holding. Everyone who has had any type of surgery knows the drill, you change, vitals are taken, you verify name, date of birth numerous times and confirm what it is you are having done. I had a clear view of the dry erase board that had the surgery schedule on it. All my Rad-tech family knows what board I’m talking about. I was the first surgery scheduled for Dr. Nakashizuka. Patient names were not on the board, the list was separated by surgeon then listed by type of surgery. Each surgeon was color coded, my surgeons schedule  was written in green.

I was her first case, Left Modified Radical Mastectomy Skin Sparing…….715am. Followed by two Lumpectomies and one subcutaneous mediport placement. Today was an observed holiday so the schedule was lite! All vitals were taken, I was ready! The anesthesiologist came to talk to me, he asked if I had a problem waking up from general anesthesia? I let him know that I usually wake up vomiting. With that being said he would give me something for that.

Just before they took me back I was listening to my “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten……it was on repeat!!!!! They Gurney I was on was put side by side the operating table, the room was cold. My gown was untied in the back and I scooted over. I laid with both my arms spread out. I remember Dr. Nakazhizuka coming over and placing warm roll under my left shoulder. Music was playing in the room, but I don’t remember the type.

Surgery was done by 945am.

I woke up fine, with out they usual projectile vomiting. Shortly after I was given a dry piece of toast and a small cup of juice. I didn’t take long after consuming it that the nausea set in. My daughter Monique told me I’m a “clean thrower upper”, cause I managed to get it all in that small emesis basin they give you. I’m a pro at vomiting, after chemotherapy!

The picture above was taken before the 12:00 hour. I was discharged before noon. Yup, up and walking!!!!! Monique went over to the Women’s Health Center at Queens and purchased this robe for me. Patients who get a Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy are taken from the Mammography department after their Needle Localization to the Out Patient Surgery Center via wheelchair. They are given this spa like robe to cover them up versus a blanket over them. When one of the Lumpectomy patients was wheeled over she noticed the robe and asked about it. She surprised me with one! I love it!

The past days have been spent relaxing here in this house we are renting till April 30th. My son found it thru VRBO. We are staying in the Ko Olina area of Oahu right down the road from Aulani Resort by Disney, my daughter Monique is in heaven……she loves all things Disney!!!

Right now I feel fine, shoulder feels a little numb but other than that I’m fine. I will continue to blog periodically throughout this month…….tired of typing.

Aloha Friday

 

 

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