Sorry I don't have any photos for you.
It's been three and a bit weeks since my mastectomy and I'm happy to say that I'm healing very well!
I finally had my long, awaited, appointment at the Victoria Cancer Clinic on Wednesday. It's three hours from home, but is one of the best places in the world to go for any kind of treatment.
Because I have an aggressive cancer (stage 2, High Grade Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) that tried to spread, I will be going through the maximum chemo therapy treatments: six. The treatments are three weeks apart and my first one is on October 2nd.
I have an appointment on October 6th with a Radiation Oncologist. This is because a month after I've finished my last chemotherapy appointment, I'll start radiation treatments.
I have tried to explain to my daughter what I'm going through is a six-year-old way. At first, I told her that I have a sore inside my body and the doctor's have to take it out. Then, when I went in for my 2nd operation, I told her the doctor's didn't get it all and they had to operate again. Then, on my third operation, I had to tell her that it was still there and to get it all the doctor's were going to have to remove my breast. I said it matter-of-fact so she didn't worry. She didn't. That was a relief.
Right after my third operation (in five weeks), my daughter asked me when my next surgery will be. -Out of the mouths of babes! LOL!
I told her that I was going to get a fake boob. She laughed and asked if it was going to be on the inside or the outside! I was very proud of this question, it was a good one!
A week and a half ago, I had an appointment with the Canadian Cancer Society to get fitted for a mastectomy bra and prostheses. I left with three bras and two prostheses. When I got home, I could not believe the price tag on the prostheses (which were donated to me) of $340- and $350-!!! I feel so fortunate!
Tomorrow, Sunday, my husband and I leave for a cruise, before my treatments start. It leaves out of San Diego and it's for five days with two stops: one in Encenada and the other in Cabo San Lucas. The reason for going on the trip is to try and forget about this cancer thing for a bit and also we had our 10 year wedding anniversary on July 31st. (Next month, we will have been together for 17 years!)
I'll update with more when we get back from our cruise.
Showing posts with label high grade ductal carcinoma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label high grade ductal carcinoma. Show all posts
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Breast Cancer
I have always wondered in the back of my mind if it will be me or my sister. I wondered because we have an aunt, our Dad's sister pass away 20 years ago from it and my Mom's sister beat it five years ago.
My sister at 38, was diagnosed with Osteopenia (the beginning stages of Osteoperosis), so I guess it had to happen to me. I have High Grade Ductal Carcinoma. It is an aggressive breast cancer. But most breast cancer's are aggressive for "younger" women. I am 38. I found the lump while getting hot and heavy with my husband . He takes care of our family very well and he is devastated that he is not able to "fix" this.
Here is my "Cancer Calendar" to date:
- 14 June, found the lump
- 16 June, first Dr's appointment with GP
- 18 June, Mammogram (that showed nothing and my Dr. sat on the results for a week!)
- 03 July, had ultrasound and unscheduled biopsy before I left the hospital
- 09 July, Dr informed me of cancer
- 13 July, appointment with the surgeon
- 20 July, operation to have Sentinal nodes & lump removed
- 27 July, appointment with the surgeon at 2:45 to find out what kind of cancer and the stage (rescheduled)
- 28 July, appointment with the surgeon at the hospital, amid his rounds, for the above info. He told me it spread and he has to go back in. Later this day, the hospital called with 05-Aug as my next surgery date.
- 04 Aug, 9:45 appointment at the hospital for a C.T. scan of my internal organs.
- 04 Aug, 2:00 appointment at the hospital for a radiation injection. Back at 2:00 for a bone scan
- 05 Aug, 9:50, be at the hospital for my operation @ 11:50
- 06 Aug, went home from the hospital after the physiotherapist visited
- 07 Aug, went to the hospital to visit the Outreach nurse to have bandages changed as I leaked from the drain site
-08 Aug, Outreach nurse (Sandy) visited my home to change bandages (gave a waterproof one, so I would feel better about showering), checked my drain and checked incisions – all was good.
- 09 Aug, Outreach nurse (Sandy) visited my home to change bandages again (no waterproof ones, this time), had to shower without bandage, checked the flow of the drain and checked my incisions.
- 10 Aug, Outreach nurse (Sandy) came to my home and removed the drain and checked my incisions.
- 18 Aug, Appointment with the surgeon. He said that my bones are clean, my internal organ scan came out clean and the remaining lymph nodes that he took were clean. BUT, the breast tissue wasn’t and was told that my right breast has to go. He also said that I could be tested to see if I carry a certain gene. If I am a carrier, I have an 85% chance of contracting cancer in my other breast. If I’m not a carrier, my chances are 10%. I am going to try and ask if he can remove both, so I can get free implants!
- 19 Aug, received notification from the hospital that my surgery will be on the 27th of August.
- 24 Aug, Saw the surgeon to ask if he could remove also remove my left breast in my next surgery. It was decided to wait and explore my options.
So, there you have it. I have cancer and my new favorite saying is, "I fight like a girl!"
My sister at 38, was diagnosed with Osteopenia (the beginning stages of Osteoperosis), so I guess it had to happen to me. I have High Grade Ductal Carcinoma. It is an aggressive breast cancer. But most breast cancer's are aggressive for "younger" women. I am 38. I found the lump while getting hot and heavy with my husband . He takes care of our family very well and he is devastated that he is not able to "fix" this.
Here is my "Cancer Calendar" to date:
- 14 June, found the lump
- 16 June, first Dr's appointment with GP
- 18 June, Mammogram (that showed nothing and my Dr. sat on the results for a week!)
- 03 July, had ultrasound and unscheduled biopsy before I left the hospital
- 09 July, Dr informed me of cancer
- 13 July, appointment with the surgeon
- 20 July, operation to have Sentinal nodes & lump removed
- 27 July, appointment with the surgeon at 2:45 to find out what kind of cancer and the stage (rescheduled)
- 28 July, appointment with the surgeon at the hospital, amid his rounds, for the above info. He told me it spread and he has to go back in. Later this day, the hospital called with 05-Aug as my next surgery date.
- 04 Aug, 9:45 appointment at the hospital for a C.T. scan of my internal organs.
- 04 Aug, 2:00 appointment at the hospital for a radiation injection. Back at 2:00 for a bone scan
- 05 Aug, 9:50, be at the hospital for my operation @ 11:50
- 06 Aug, went home from the hospital after the physiotherapist visited
- 07 Aug, went to the hospital to visit the Outreach nurse to have bandages changed as I leaked from the drain site
-08 Aug, Outreach nurse (Sandy) visited my home to change bandages (gave a waterproof one, so I would feel better about showering), checked my drain and checked incisions – all was good.
- 09 Aug, Outreach nurse (Sandy) visited my home to change bandages again (no waterproof ones, this time), had to shower without bandage, checked the flow of the drain and checked my incisions.
- 10 Aug, Outreach nurse (Sandy) came to my home and removed the drain and checked my incisions.
- 18 Aug, Appointment with the surgeon. He said that my bones are clean, my internal organ scan came out clean and the remaining lymph nodes that he took were clean. BUT, the breast tissue wasn’t and was told that my right breast has to go. He also said that I could be tested to see if I carry a certain gene. If I am a carrier, I have an 85% chance of contracting cancer in my other breast. If I’m not a carrier, my chances are 10%. I am going to try and ask if he can remove both, so I can get free implants!
- 19 Aug, received notification from the hospital that my surgery will be on the 27th of August.
- 24 Aug, Saw the surgeon to ask if he could remove also remove my left breast in my next surgery. It was decided to wait and explore my options.
So, there you have it. I have cancer and my new favorite saying is, "I fight like a girl!"
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