Hair update #3

Right now I have an old mans receeding hairline style going on hence I will still show only the back. Things are moving along!

My eyebrows and lashes are coming in too :)

I am 8 weeks past my last chemo. I did think I would be a bit farther along by now but I am still happy.

 

 

Radiation tattoos and other updates

Yesterday I had my appointment for the radiation tattoos and it all went well and fairly easily.  I got there and they took some measurements, then did the CT scan to check placement, and did 4 little dot tattoos to mark the area for radiation.   They are very small and not that noticeable so I am happy! there is one sort of in my cleavage area but I don't think it will impact me wearing a bathing suit or certain types of clothing. 

They said I will be called in 3-5 days and I will be told when my radiation starts, usually a week to two weeks later.  I am thinking it will start the week of December 12th, which means I will end closer to late January.  The radiation oncologist had said I shouldn't be out in the sun for 4 weeks after the end of treatment, so Jeff and I are thinking of planning our trip to Jamaica (which I can't wait for!) probably in early March.

Tomorrow I go to see my medical oncologist to review the pathology report (my surgeon said he probably just wants to gloat that the chemo worked so well!).  She told me he may be leaving, so I want to ask who will take over for him, and if I do regular follow ups with him or not.  I also want to ask about the chemo brain.  This is the most worrying residual side effect from chemo for me right now.  Chemo affects your cognitive ability.  My short term memory is crap right now.  I think of something I need to do, and if I don't write it down right away or put it on a list, I have trouble recalling even 10 minutes later sometimes.  This would be a major problem at work.  I have heard that it doesn't last forever but I do want to ask about it and mention my concerns.  I also have trouble sometimes thinking of words in the moment.   Given before my diagnosis, I was a word warrior, and a strong multi-tasker, I do feel somewhat incompetent in those areas right now.

When we saw the radiation oncologist last week, we asked about end of treatment and returning to work.  Jeff expressed concern about me going back right after treatment is over and how the insurance company is already calling us for updates etc.  Dr. Conrad said that she recommends patients stay off work for at least 3 months after treatment is over, and that she spends a lot of time dealing with insurance companies so if they are harassing me, to send them her way.   She also said that when you return to work, the expectation is you are 100 percent, and that is another great reason not to rush back.    I was so relieved to hear her support.   It is not like this has been a fucking vacation!  My body and my mind have gone through the wringer, and I need time to recover, and feel more like myself again.  

Family celebration

I was in Ottawa last weekend and we had a family celebration dinner,

Here are some pics. So much to be grateful for!

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 things I learned when I got breast cancer

https://www.buzzfeed.com/alicepurkiss/7-things-i-learned-when-i-got-breast-cancer?utm_term=.rgq5nB9Yn#.nlD5kGoYk

Surgery results and radiation planning

Yesterday Jeff and I met with the surgeon to hear about my pathology report. I am so relieved and grateful that she said there was no evidence of cancer left in what they removed! I got my pathological complete response! Woohoo!   This is the best possible outcome and means I have a better chance of avoiding recurrence.   She said that for triple negative cancer survivors if you go 5 years without a recurrence you are considered cured.   I will be seeing her again in April for my first follow up. Sounds like she will be tracking me and will be monitoring me going forward.

After the meeting with the surgeon we went over to princess Margaret for the appointment with the radiation oncologist.  We went over the plan for radiation, which will be 6 weeks in total. She said the side effects are mostly topical, and I will likely end up with burnt skin by the end of treatment and potentially some peeling too. I have to apply unscented lotion to the area regularly.   The other side effect is fatigue.

It shouldn't be as bad as chemo fatigue though. There also isn't an infection risk while on radiation so I am glad about that.

Next week I will go for a ct scan where they determine the area of radiation (right breast and lymph nodes) and do very small dot tattoos to mark it.  Radiation will start a couple of weeks after this appointment.

The journey continues, but I would say I was officially cancer free on November 8th!

 

Hair update #2

So I thought I would do a little hair update although progression is still a bit slow. Here is a comparison of November 10th and 19th. Things are starting to happen! Hopefully it will just grow faster and thicker from here :)

Also my eyelashes and brows are starting to grow! So happy about that. Still early days but I am hopeful I will soon be able to stop drawing the eyebrows on and can wear mascara again!

 

Post surgery update

It's been about a week and a half since my surgery and physically I am recovering quite well. I am much less sore. I still have the steri strips on so I haven't seen the incisions yet but hopefully they are healing ok. I've been doing the arm exercises and I have full mobility in my arm and shoulder which is great.  I see the doctor next Wednesday. 

Jeff has gone back to work and Mimi and I miss him a lot. Sometimes cancer can be pretty lonely. I am trying to keep busy with different things and I am going to start exercising again which I am happy about.

I've finished two major hurdles now, with chemo and surgery.  It's funny because some people are saying to me "you're almost done!"

And yes I am 2/3s done but I still have 6 weeks of radiation coming up Monday to Friday. That is a lot of hospital time!  As much as I would like off this cancer treatment train and have a normal life again, I am not yet done this marathon.  It truly is an emotional and physical marathon.

Someone said to me the other day, "I sometimes forget you have cancer." Well unfortunately I can't forget. Even if I am having a good mental day, I look in the mirror and don't recognize myself - it's an instant reminder of where I am at right now.

I went through something incredibly tragic losing my daughter. It took years to recover and killed part of me.  And I can say this current test is just as goddamn fucking hard, in different ways. It is taking a resilience that is sometimes hard to muster. 

Luckily I have a few more weeks break to regroup before radiation starts -- from a physical and mental perspective it is so important.