This week was better than last week. The usual treatments occurred. I was a little tired but nothing like the previous week. I did take a short nap twice this week to make sure my body didn't get run down.
On Friday evening, I started to get a rash. The rash isn't too bad, looks like a bunch of red marks. It doesn't itch or bother me. The rash didn't go away through-out the weekend.
I have one more week left and I will be done with radiation on May 1 Yea!!!
I saw my plastic surgeon for a follow up check up. She said my skin looked good and to see her in two months. She mentioned that I need to wait 6 months before I do any more surgery. The side effects happened after the treatment for example rash, hardness or tightness of the implant. This happens to only 40%. I am going to be positive and hope I am under the 60% category.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
A surprise
I had a great surprise in the middle of last week. Some of the guys from the hockey team at Quinnipiac University (a private, coeducational university is about 25 minutes from our house) would come out and help at some of my son's hockey practices as well as other ages/levels in our hockey league. It was special for these kids to learn and share the ice with them. This lasted for a few months and was a great experience. My husband was friendly with one of the players from the Quinnipiac team and kept in contact with him. We would go to the University and watch their hockey games during the winter.
This gentleman had called my husband and asked if they can come by the house because his classmate and him had something for me. I was shocked because I knew him but not that well. They had a college class until 7:45 pm and my kids were thrilled to have him at our house so I let the kids stay up that night past their bed time.
When they arrived at my house they greeted me with two giant bouquet of mixed flowers. They informed me that they have chosen me as a part of their class project. The course they were taking was an Entrenepeur class and their assignment was to raise money and donate to an organization/ individual and their family which has an illness/disease. They picked me since I am going through breast cancer. This was extra special to me because the other guy never met me and went along with his friend's decision to select me. He wasn't on the hockey team, he is on the golf team. They did such a terrific job surprising me and coming up with the gifts.
As my daughter and I went into the kitchen to get vases for the flowers, they said they had to go out to the car to get some additional stuff. The flowers filled three big vases and we spread them around the house. The faces on both of my kids when they came back in was great! They bought my son a plush baseball Easter basket and my daughter a plush bunny Easter basket. Inside each basket was amazing amount of candy! They put 3-4 full bags of candy inside each basket of different chocolates, 2 packages of peeps, 2 boxes of Cadbury creme eggs, and a 2 foot chocolate bunny. They also gave Gene and I a basket full of candy. They presented us with a tray of cookies they bought as well. I told my kids that the Easter bunny didn't have to come to our house, but they didn't agree! They also gave me a lovely card and inside the card was four $100 gift cards to Stop and Shop (grocery store). That was a great idea since we do shop there and the gift cards will be used for our grocery shopping.
They had a poker night with all their friends to help raise the money. They had my website on their computer to show everybody about the fund they would be contributing too. We took a few photos so they could take them back to their teacher.
This was thoughtful gift and I was touched that I was chosen by them.
This gentleman had called my husband and asked if they can come by the house because his classmate and him had something for me. I was shocked because I knew him but not that well. They had a college class until 7:45 pm and my kids were thrilled to have him at our house so I let the kids stay up that night past their bed time.
When they arrived at my house they greeted me with two giant bouquet of mixed flowers. They informed me that they have chosen me as a part of their class project. The course they were taking was an Entrenepeur class and their assignment was to raise money and donate to an organization/ individual and their family which has an illness/disease. They picked me since I am going through breast cancer. This was extra special to me because the other guy never met me and went along with his friend's decision to select me. He wasn't on the hockey team, he is on the golf team. They did such a terrific job surprising me and coming up with the gifts.
As my daughter and I went into the kitchen to get vases for the flowers, they said they had to go out to the car to get some additional stuff. The flowers filled three big vases and we spread them around the house. The faces on both of my kids when they came back in was great! They bought my son a plush baseball Easter basket and my daughter a plush bunny Easter basket. Inside each basket was amazing amount of candy! They put 3-4 full bags of candy inside each basket of different chocolates, 2 packages of peeps, 2 boxes of Cadbury creme eggs, and a 2 foot chocolate bunny. They also gave Gene and I a basket full of candy. They presented us with a tray of cookies they bought as well. I told my kids that the Easter bunny didn't have to come to our house, but they didn't agree! They also gave me a lovely card and inside the card was four $100 gift cards to Stop and Shop (grocery store). That was a great idea since we do shop there and the gift cards will be used for our grocery shopping.
They had a poker night with all their friends to help raise the money. They had my website on their computer to show everybody about the fund they would be contributing too. We took a few photos so they could take them back to their teacher.
This was thoughtful gift and I was touched that I was chosen by them.
Radiation week four
More than half way done, 18 days down and ten more to go! The beginning of the week went well. I had the usual routine on M,T,W. On these days, I will have one/two of the following done during my treatment time: weight checked, blood pressure checked, temperature checked, pulse checked, x-ray taken every five days, and a visit with my radiation doctor.
On Wednesday in the early evening I was extremely tired. I wanted to go to bed real early. I had no energy to do anything. I also had a bad headache. I am not sure if this is part of the radiation or my busy schedule. On Thursday evening, I felt the same way. This was very frustrating to get my energy taken away from me.
On Friday, I was leaving with my family to Massachusetts for a hockey tournament weekend. I went for my treatment at 6:30 am. My energy was better this day but I took a nap in the afternoon to be safe. I still had the bad headaches. I will check with my doctor to see if this is a side effect. I will go next week M-F
Since I am writing this blog after the weekend, I will inform everybody my energy was back to normal Saturday and Sunday. I am still having a little headache some times and will be asking the doctor about them. Lets say a pray that my energy is not going to drain me again, that was painful not to do anything!
On Wednesday in the early evening I was extremely tired. I wanted to go to bed real early. I had no energy to do anything. I also had a bad headache. I am not sure if this is part of the radiation or my busy schedule. On Thursday evening, I felt the same way. This was very frustrating to get my energy taken away from me.
On Friday, I was leaving with my family to Massachusetts for a hockey tournament weekend. I went for my treatment at 6:30 am. My energy was better this day but I took a nap in the afternoon to be safe. I still had the bad headaches. I will check with my doctor to see if this is a side effect. I will go next week M-F
Since I am writing this blog after the weekend, I will inform everybody my energy was back to normal Saturday and Sunday. I am still having a little headache some times and will be asking the doctor about them. Lets say a pray that my energy is not going to drain me again, that was painful not to do anything!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Radiation week three
Radiation was okay this week, no problems. There is a slight color change in my skin appearance almost like a slight tan.
I wasn't aware that the department was closed for Good Friday so I only went four days this week. I've had 13 treatments, 15 more to go!
My kids are off from school next week so the radiation technician is working with me and letting me change my schedule on several of the days so I don't have to get the kids up to early. Next week I will be going M-F.
I spoke with the genetic counselor from New York and she was able to get additional information about my genetic findings. Through a scientific program which they can't guarantee the accuracy of the findings shows that my BRAC2 is in a category that is harmful. It is difficult to explain the situation but this is what I understand. The gene can be harmless or harmful. When it is harmful like mine is, there is a higher chance that the breast cancer gene can travel to the other breast. In my case, I decided to remove both of the breast so this confirms I made one of the best decisions in my life. As far as other risk that I have to be aware of are the following: chance for ovarian cancer which the gene is linked to breast/ovarian so I will be following up with my OBGYN after radiation is completed, 5% chance for melanoma so I need to be extra caution in the sun, wear sunscreen/ hats and see a Dermatologist once a year for a body scan for unusual moles, and I have a 5% chance for pancreas cancer, which I will speak with my Oncologist about for a possible blood test since there is no pre-caution screening for this one.
She also mentioned to me that the doctor I saw in NY helped discovered the BRAC2 and is involved with all kinds of research. Myriad Genetic Laboratories in Utah where the the testing is patent will continue to compare my gene pattern, history, and age to other families and will inform me of any findings that they may discover in the future. The company compares all of the criteria and reviews other families that may have the same situation that is happening in their DNA. At this time, there are no other families like mine, they don't count my mom since she is art of my direct family. Let's pray in the future that they can help cure or minimize cancer!
I wasn't aware that the department was closed for Good Friday so I only went four days this week. I've had 13 treatments, 15 more to go!
My kids are off from school next week so the radiation technician is working with me and letting me change my schedule on several of the days so I don't have to get the kids up to early. Next week I will be going M-F.
I spoke with the genetic counselor from New York and she was able to get additional information about my genetic findings. Through a scientific program which they can't guarantee the accuracy of the findings shows that my BRAC2 is in a category that is harmful. It is difficult to explain the situation but this is what I understand. The gene can be harmless or harmful. When it is harmful like mine is, there is a higher chance that the breast cancer gene can travel to the other breast. In my case, I decided to remove both of the breast so this confirms I made one of the best decisions in my life. As far as other risk that I have to be aware of are the following: chance for ovarian cancer which the gene is linked to breast/ovarian so I will be following up with my OBGYN after radiation is completed, 5% chance for melanoma so I need to be extra caution in the sun, wear sunscreen/ hats and see a Dermatologist once a year for a body scan for unusual moles, and I have a 5% chance for pancreas cancer, which I will speak with my Oncologist about for a possible blood test since there is no pre-caution screening for this one.
She also mentioned to me that the doctor I saw in NY helped discovered the BRAC2 and is involved with all kinds of research. Myriad Genetic Laboratories in Utah where the the testing is patent will continue to compare my gene pattern, history, and age to other families and will inform me of any findings that they may discover in the future. The company compares all of the criteria and reviews other families that may have the same situation that is happening in their DNA. At this time, there are no other families like mine, they don't count my mom since she is art of my direct family. Let's pray in the future that they can help cure or minimize cancer!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Radiation-week two
The second week of the radiation went pretty good. ( 9 days down, 19 to go) The mornings have been going quicker then the following week. The time slot has not be late and a few days I didn't even have to go into the waiting room. My procedure is not determined by the time I get radiation but is measured by the dosage. On Monday, they took some x-rays to verify that I am in the mold correctly and that the radiation is targeting the correct area. On Tuesday, I saw my radiation doctor and nothing has changed since I just started. She mentioned that late in the week or next week I might see a change in my skin color or feel fatigue The rest of the week went well. I didn't get tired this week. I did have some sharp burning pains on Friday late day. I did get a slight pink/red color today on my breast into my arm pit area. I made sure I applied the cream three times a day. The redness was diminished by Sunday. We will see how next week will look like.
I asked the radiation technician to explain the reason why I can't shave under the right underarm and she mentioned its for irritation especially when the skin is red. The good news is that she mentioned that I can use an electric shaver, so I did!
This week will be a normal schedule Monday - Friday.
I asked the radiation technician to explain the reason why I can't shave under the right underarm and she mentioned its for irritation especially when the skin is red. The good news is that she mentioned that I can use an electric shaver, so I did!
This week will be a normal schedule Monday - Friday.
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