On Friday, January 27th I had surgery again to put in a new tissue expander. The last two attempts haven't been successful. Both times resulted in infection which meant the expander had to come out again. It was really disappointing last time. I really felt like I was moving ahead only to take a big step back. Well, I'm optimistic once again! My plastic surgeon has a game plan in place. Last time when I went in for my follow up visit, everything looked good so they injected saline into the expander to start expanding the tissue. That night the tissue looked quite swollen. I pressed on it and blood came out from the incision site. I called the doctor the next day. Since there was no other redness or pain and the bleeding stopped, he decided it would be alright. A few days later I developed the infection. He thinks now the infection was probably caused by the pooled blood.
So, this time, when I go back for a follow up, he's going to inject a very small amount of saline to slowly expand the tissue. I think this is a good plan. I'm not in a hurry to get the reconstruction done and would rather go slowly in getting it done rather than run into infection again.
So far so good. I'm doing well plan to go back to work tomorrow!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Finishing Treatment!
I'm done with radiation - the last phase of treatment!
It's taken a few days but it's finally sunk in that I'm done with my cancer treatment. Tuesday, January 11th, 2012 was my last radiation treatment. I had to do 33 treatments which went pretty quickly. The side effects were minimal. I had a burn spot on my collarbone near my neck and a burned area under my arm. Both got pretty red and peeled. The area under my arm is mostly numb from surgery otherwise it would have been quite painful.
The last 5 treatments were directed at the scars. Dr. Coleman, the radiation oncologist, said cancer cells like to hide in the scar tissue nearest to the surface so they did extra treatment of that area.
Having been a few days without radiation I have to say that I miss going every day. My appointment was at 8:20. I would get up at my usual time and get ready for work only I would go to the hospital for radiation instead of going to work. When you go everyday you see the same people because you all have appointments at the same time each day. I came to look forward to seeing "my radiation friends". There were no formal introductions. I came to know them as: Marcy who has peacocks but doesn't like them; man with toe fungus (he wore sandals but should have worn socks to hide those toes!); big lady (no explanation needed); short guy; and more recently, Connie who is 61-years-old and has a 3-year-old foster daughter she is trying to adopt.
Connie with the foster daughter, also had breast cancer. Her cancer was detected very early so she had a lumpectomy and needed 25 radiation treatments then she's done. As I heard her tell me her story about cancer I thought "why couldn't I have her breast cancer?". She didn't have to have a mastectomy OR chemotherapy. Then she told me about her 3-year-old foster daughter and how she and her husband were trying to adopt her. It was then that I knew she had "the easy cancer" because there is a bigger mission waiting for her. I got my cancer because I can handle and did handle what was given to me.
On my last day of radiation when I came into the office, I opened my door and there was a big sign that read "You Radiate Pure Awesomeness"! On my desk was a big bouquet of gorgeous pink roses. My co-workers in the HR department, Sarah, Nat, and Sara K had gotten into my office to setup the surprise. As I walked over to Sarah's office (knowing she was behind this) my boss, Jay, was in his office and he was wearing a pink polo shirt. I made a comment that he must have worn pink for me. I looked around and saw that everyone on my side of the building (HR, Finance, Accounting, and IT) were all wearing some form of pink! OK, I was in tears at this point. Later in the afternoon, the same three people from HR came into my office carrying a "Nothing Bundt Cake" (This is a franchise business with locations throughout the city. They sell the best bundt cakes in various sizes and flavors. I think this past year we have kept them in business!). I ended up with a small party in my office of cakes-loving supporters. I've attached some pictures from that day. I also included a picture of me with two of the radiation technicians, Jennifer and George. I think George is easily 6'5". We're standing in front of the radiation machine.
The next step is to finish up the reconstruction. I see the plastic surgeon this week and will get a surgery date to put in the tissue expander again. I'm really looking forward to getting on with it. Hopefully, this time it will work and I won't get another infection.
Next week I have an appointment with my medical oncologist Dr. Eisenberg. He will get me started on the estrogen suppressing drug that I will take for the next five years. The cancer I had was a hormone sensitive type of cancer meaning that he feeds off of hormones. Taking this drug with suppress hormones whereby starving any remaining cancer cells.
I was pretty guarded about my hair and hair loss during the chemo process. I've since gotten over myself now that my hair is starting to come back. I've included a picture of me during the height of my hair loss as well as one with my wig on. I still wear the wigs but mostly to keep my head warm. Once I get a little more hair I'll stop wearing the wigs altogether. I have to get used to my gray look. People at work are surprised at how dark my hair is. I have to explain that it's my normal hair color. They haven't ever seen "the real me"!
It seems somewhat surreal that I'm finally at the end of treatment. I always knew this day would come but it seemed so far away. Suddenly it's here! It's been quite a journey. I've meet a lot of really nice people. The support I've received from family, friends, and neighbors has been unbelievable. I don't know how I would have made it through without everyone. I still believe that I blew through chemo because of the prayers I received during that time. There were some dark days during that process but about that time I would get a card, phone call, or email from someone expressing their support and prayers. Those sentiments often brought me to tears but encouraged me to push forward.
It's taken a few days but it's finally sunk in that I'm done with my cancer treatment. Tuesday, January 11th, 2012 was my last radiation treatment. I had to do 33 treatments which went pretty quickly. The side effects were minimal. I had a burn spot on my collarbone near my neck and a burned area under my arm. Both got pretty red and peeled. The area under my arm is mostly numb from surgery otherwise it would have been quite painful.
The last 5 treatments were directed at the scars. Dr. Coleman, the radiation oncologist, said cancer cells like to hide in the scar tissue nearest to the surface so they did extra treatment of that area.
Having been a few days without radiation I have to say that I miss going every day. My appointment was at 8:20. I would get up at my usual time and get ready for work only I would go to the hospital for radiation instead of going to work. When you go everyday you see the same people because you all have appointments at the same time each day. I came to look forward to seeing "my radiation friends". There were no formal introductions. I came to know them as: Marcy who has peacocks but doesn't like them; man with toe fungus (he wore sandals but should have worn socks to hide those toes!); big lady (no explanation needed); short guy; and more recently, Connie who is 61-years-old and has a 3-year-old foster daughter she is trying to adopt.
Connie with the foster daughter, also had breast cancer. Her cancer was detected very early so she had a lumpectomy and needed 25 radiation treatments then she's done. As I heard her tell me her story about cancer I thought "why couldn't I have her breast cancer?". She didn't have to have a mastectomy OR chemotherapy. Then she told me about her 3-year-old foster daughter and how she and her husband were trying to adopt her. It was then that I knew she had "the easy cancer" because there is a bigger mission waiting for her. I got my cancer because I can handle and did handle what was given to me.
On my last day of radiation when I came into the office, I opened my door and there was a big sign that read "You Radiate Pure Awesomeness"! On my desk was a big bouquet of gorgeous pink roses. My co-workers in the HR department, Sarah, Nat, and Sara K had gotten into my office to setup the surprise. As I walked over to Sarah's office (knowing she was behind this) my boss, Jay, was in his office and he was wearing a pink polo shirt. I made a comment that he must have worn pink for me. I looked around and saw that everyone on my side of the building (HR, Finance, Accounting, and IT) were all wearing some form of pink! OK, I was in tears at this point. Later in the afternoon, the same three people from HR came into my office carrying a "Nothing Bundt Cake" (This is a franchise business with locations throughout the city. They sell the best bundt cakes in various sizes and flavors. I think this past year we have kept them in business!). I ended up with a small party in my office of cakes-loving supporters. I've attached some pictures from that day. I also included a picture of me with two of the radiation technicians, Jennifer and George. I think George is easily 6'5". We're standing in front of the radiation machine.
The next step is to finish up the reconstruction. I see the plastic surgeon this week and will get a surgery date to put in the tissue expander again. I'm really looking forward to getting on with it. Hopefully, this time it will work and I won't get another infection.
Next week I have an appointment with my medical oncologist Dr. Eisenberg. He will get me started on the estrogen suppressing drug that I will take for the next five years. The cancer I had was a hormone sensitive type of cancer meaning that he feeds off of hormones. Taking this drug with suppress hormones whereby starving any remaining cancer cells.
I was pretty guarded about my hair and hair loss during the chemo process. I've since gotten over myself now that my hair is starting to come back. I've included a picture of me during the height of my hair loss as well as one with my wig on. I still wear the wigs but mostly to keep my head warm. Once I get a little more hair I'll stop wearing the wigs altogether. I have to get used to my gray look. People at work are surprised at how dark my hair is. I have to explain that it's my normal hair color. They haven't ever seen "the real me"!
It seems somewhat surreal that I'm finally at the end of treatment. I always knew this day would come but it seemed so far away. Suddenly it's here! It's been quite a journey. I've meet a lot of really nice people. The support I've received from family, friends, and neighbors has been unbelievable. I don't know how I would have made it through without everyone. I still believe that I blew through chemo because of the prayers I received during that time. There were some dark days during that process but about that time I would get a card, phone call, or email from someone expressing their support and prayers. Those sentiments often brought me to tears but encouraged me to push forward.
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