Second Day Completed

Another good day has gone by. I still need to give you all the details of the 3 hour and 45 minute chemo cocktail party. I will make sure I will do it tomorrow.

I guess I'm not listening to this quote! lol

I survived my first day after chemo

So far so good, I’m just a little tired. I’m hoping that things will stay that way. I’ll probably be asleep in an hour. I’ll update you more tomorrow! I'm sorry I'm so sleepy!

Hot Chick on Chemo

I'm feeling great.. So far so good. I'll give you all the details tomorrow!

Chemo Minus 18 hours

I’m getting ready for tomorrow. I took my first pre-chemo drug today. I guess it helps against allergic reaction. I'll let you know of all my good drugs soon!
I will also bringing my camera tomorrow so I should have some pics to show you.
Don’t laugh to hard. =) Wish me luck!

Time to kick cancer ass!

Chemo starts in 5 days on Wednesday, May 28 @ 3pm. They say it take 3 days until I really feel the yucks and it will take 14 days to start losing my hair. I will have to take lots of pictures of my sexy bald head.

I'd Rather Do Chemo Than ....

As it stands now I am starting chemo next Thursday. The reason it is taking so long is that I need to have a Lupron shot tomorrow. This shot might have side effects. The doctor doesn’t want the side effects to be confused with the Chemo treatment. As for the chemo regiment I will be having it every 3 weeks for 4 sessions. I was told that the injection process will take at least 2 hours. So I have to bring some good movies to watch.

Today I went to my intro to chemo class. I was pretty much familiar with everything that they told me. The one good thing I got out of it was that I can’t clean the litter box. LOL Poor Justin I’m going to milk that as long as possible!!

Tomorrow I have my John Meir tumor board. I really think highly of these people. If they feel my current course of treatment isn’t correct they will let me know. I’ll let you know how that goes!

It was show and tell last night and I brought my new prosthetic boob

Yesterday I went to a birthday celebration for Sharon. We used to work together a few years ago. There were 8 of us hot ladies there including my sister and Karen (my sister from another mother). I really love those ladies they make me laugh!

I picked up my new Prosthetic boob yesterday and I had to whip it out and show everyone at the birthday party. It is so soft and almost feels real. Here is what it looks like

On Thursday I found out my oncotype score was 19. The ranges are low risk of recurrence 17 or lower, intermediate risk 18 to 30, and high risk 31 or higher. So I just made the intermediate rick category. This is great news I think!

I also got my PET scan results back. It looks clear. They don’t think the cancer spread! Yahoo!

Next week is another big week.
Tuesday – Support group & my introduction to chemo class at Kaiser
Wednesday – Tumor board at John Meir (second opinion on chemo) & young woman support group
Thursday - Justin’s and I 4th anniversary
Friday – Chemo???

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ....

Well the answer is chemo. I met my second opinion doctor today. She is pretty straight forward and gave us the fact. I really like her! She told me I will need the cocktail of TC . Here is some info on it!
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy/new_research/20060217.jsp

I'm not sure how i feel about this. I know its a good thing but it scares the shit out of me!

One tuff titty

Today has been a little crazy with the status of my appointments. My Tuesday appt. got changed to Friday at 10am (because my test result are not in).
My Wednesday tumor board got changed to next week (because they didn't have all my labs).
So now I won’t know anything until at least Thursday(That is when I have my appt with the second opinion doctor).
Today I went to a class called look good feel good. It was really fun. I got two wigs just in case I lose my hair. The funny thing is that the wigs are red.. he he I made Justin try them on and he look hot!lol just like me.. lol

I will take picture of me in them.. You will laugh!

Count Down to the chemo answers

Life seems to be back to normal. I’m feeling great. The redness under my arm is almost gone. I’m able to sleep and do normal thing.

I’ve been going to a newly diagnosed support group on Tuesdays. It is really nice to meet with woman going through the same shit I’m dealing with.

I’m still just waiting until next week thats when I should get the answers about chemo. I hope!

Tonight I’m over at my sister’s house watching her kids. She is at a concert tonight. We are watching the golden compass. How normal is that! lol

Love this shirt.. I wonder if this will be me?

Happy Friday!!

It’s been pretty quiet around here. I don’t have another appt until next Friday. That’s when I have a PET scan. I’m feeling almost as well as before my surgery. I only feel a little pain when I reach for something.

Today I’ve been thinking about someone I met in young women’s with breast cancer group. Her name is Elena. She is 36 year old (with 2 kids) and having a double mastectomy today. She has already gone through chemo to shrink her tumor. I know she will do great today and she will end up with a great rack =)

My 2 cents on life:
You always should look at the bright side of life or you will get stuck with the shit! LOL

Does an apple a day keep the oncologist away? No! lol

Justin & I went to see my oncologist. He wants to do a oncotype test on my cancer. Here is what that is

http://www.genomichealth.com/oncotype/faq/pat.aspx

Basically it will tell the doctor if I will benefit from chemotherapy. The thing I don't get is that I don't meet the criteria for the test (I'm not Stage I or II or node-negative) I'm Stage IIIa.

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging.jsp

We also talked about my possible chemo cocktail. There are a lot of different chooses.

So what does this all mean! Well I'm waiting again! It takes 2 weeks to complete the test!

I think I'm going to get a second opinion! I want to make sure I'm getting the right treatment.

Justin's B-day weekend

It was Justin B-day on Friday but we had the family get together yesterday. I hope he liked what we got him. We also went and say Sean’s (my nephew) softball game.
His team is pretty good.
Today we are off to a SF Giants game. The weather should be great!
Tomorrow I should be back on schedule with my treatment.
I know it’s been pretty normal around here.
I think the hardest thing I have had to deal with after the surgery is getting my fake boob to stay in place. It always seems to ride high. LOL

Waiting again!

Not much going on until Monday. They moved my oncology appointment to then.
Today I'm going to go to Lunch with some people from Inovis and I'm going to finish buying Justin's B-Day presents.
Also tonight is the support group for Young women. I hope its good. This will be my first support group.

The Boob Poem

Yes, I did have my mammogram today... Why do you ask?

For years and years they told me,
Be careful of your breasts.
Don't ever squeeze or bruise them.
And give them monthly tests.
So I heeded all their warnings,
And protected them by law.
Guarded them very carefully,
And I always wore my bra.
After 30 years of astute care,
My gyno, Dr. Pruitt,
Said I should get a Mammogram.
"O.K," I said, "let's do it."
"Stand up here real close" she said,
(She got my boob in line),
"And tell me when it hurts, " she said,
"Ah yes! Right there, that's fine. "
She stepped upon a pedal,
I could not believe my eyes!
A plastic plate came slamming down,
My hooter's in a vise!
My skin was stretched and mangled,
From underneath my chin.
My poor boob was being squashed,
To Swedish Pancake thin.
Excruciating pain I felt,
Within it's vise-like grip.
A prisoner in this vicious thing,
My poor defenseless tit!
"Take a deep breath" she said to me,
Who does she think she's kidding?!?
My chest is mashed in her machine,
And woozy I am getting.
"There, that's good, "
I heard her say,
(The room was slowly swaying.)
"Now, let's have a go at the other one. "
Have mercy, I was praying.
It squeezed me from both up and down,
It squeezed me from both sides.
I'll bet SHE'S never had this done,
To HER tender little hide.
Next time that they make me do this,
I will request a blindfold.
I have no wish to see again,
My knockers getting steamrolled.
If I had no problem when I came in,
I surely have one now.
If there had been a cyst in there,
It would have gone "ker-pow!"
This machine was created by a man,
Of this, I have no doubt.
I'd like to stick his balls in there,
And see how THEY come out.

Girls weekend

I’m going to go on a little getaway to Capitola this weekend with 4 other girls. It was something I planned before I was diagnosed. I didn’t think I would be well enough to go but here I am going! We are staying at a place right by the beach. It’s going to be cold but it will be nice to drink coffee on the beach and watch the waves. I’ll be back on Sunday.

I have been having problems sleeping. I woke up at 1 this morning and made a cake for the trip. I hope it tastes ok. =) I can’t wait until its comfortable to sleep again!

I forgot to tell you I get my first fake boob yesterday. Its called a softee. Here is what it looks like:



At least I dont look to lopsided anymore with my clothes on.. lol

Finally some good news comes out of this F’n cancer

I went to see Dr. M today. She told me that only the primary Lymph Node had Cancer. She took out 14 Lymph Nodes. So only 1 out of the 14 nodes have cancer. Finally I have some good news. Now I need to see my oncologist to start chemo!

I'm one hot lopsided chick LOL

It’s been really laid back the last couple of days. My parents went home yesterday. I guess I’m doing too well. Kim came down to hang out last night and today. It was nice to get out of the house.
I meet with Dr. M tomorrow. I will finally know how many lymph nodes were infected with cancer.
I’ve been also trying to call Kaiser and get my oncology appointment. As of this moment it’s scheduled for the 6th but that’s way too far away.
Why does Kaiser take so long!!

Rest and relaxation right!

My recovery has been going good. My parent are here and they keep telling my to sit down. I’m just stubborn and want to help around the house. I haven't been experiencing much pain at all. Although, I take vicodin on an as-needed basis, which wasn't much. The doctor called to check on me today. I guess she will know more about what stage I am on Wednesday. I hate this waiting game..

HOME SWEET HOME

I’m back from surgery. The surgery wasn’t bad, but they did find cancer in my lymph Node. Which isn’t good. Here is some info on it!
http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/lymph_nodes.aspI
Im falling asleep so I better go!

Off I go!

I have to get ready for my big day. Thank you everyone for being so great! I love you all! Call the my house if you want any updates. I'll try and post again soon.

Colleen

Surgery tomorrow

I have to be at Walnut Creek Kaiser tomorrow at 9:30.. Wish me luck... Say good bye to my boobie.. lol

Decision day

and I will be having a mastectomy.

3 days until ????

Tomorrow is the day for answers.
Today I watched a movie called "I wore lipstick to my mastectomy". It was a really good movie about a 28 year old woman with Breast Cancer

http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/why-i-wore-lipstick-my-mastectomy

I also got my toes done with my sister. Nothing major going on today!

4 Days until I give cancer the finger or should I say part of my boob Monday, April 7, 2008

Today I worked on getting all my records to John Meir Cancer center. They are going to do something called a Breast Cancer Second Opinion Panel.
http://www.johnmuirhealth.com/index.php/breast_centers.html

They will give me a recommendation for my course of treatment. Then I will being that information to my appointment with Dr. M. at 4 that day.

Just an FYI I don’t know what time my surgery will be on Friday. I guess they call the night before and tell me. I'll let everyone know!

Something kinda funny happened to me today. I was asked if I was employed. I told her no I wasn’t working. She said “so you’re a homemaker”. I told her no! Kicking breast cancers butt is my full time job.

The calm before the storm!

What a great weekend. I almost could forget that was coming in 5 days. Justin & I went hiking today. I’m really going to miss that! I will have to ask the doctor how long I have to wait until I can exercise again. Here is a picture I took on the hike:




Justin & I also went to the Monsters (that what I call the nieces and nephews) games on Saturday.

Heigh-ho Heigh-ho It's no more work I go Heigh-ho Heigh-ho Friday, April 4, 2008

Well I got my Biopsy results back! It was not good news. This one is cancer too. They said it was high-grade DCIS.
Here is what that means
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/dcis/type_grade.jsp

I'm not sure how this newly found cancer will change the surgery. But its probably not good..
I will be meeting with the surgeon on Wednesday to figure out what they are going to remove.

Here is a list of my upcoming appointments:

Wed, Apr 9, 4:00 pm With Dr M.
Thu, Apr 10, 3:30 pm They inject radioactive liquid, a blue dye in me
Fri, Apr 11, (time unknown)Surgery

Unemployment Here I Come - Thursday, April 3, 2008

It’s my last day of work. I will miss everyone at Mervyn’s but I have so much stuff to do at home. I don’t know were to begin. I finally got the surgery date. It will be on the 11th. I don’t know what type of surgery it will be but I will find out next Wednesday.

MRI Biopsy - Wednesday, April 2, 2008

I got my MRI Biopsy. That was an uncomfortable 2 hours. Luckily Kristen (my sister) bought me a massage. It felt really good. My back was killing me. The only problem is that the incision would stop bleeding. Check out this bruise!
Note: this is on bottom of my breast near to my ribs


I should get the biopsy results on Friday.. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this mass isn't cancer!

I also heard that my surgury might be on the 11th.. Yahoo!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

I am very impatient today. I want to know my surgery date. I did get a call from my surgeons scheduler person yesterday. She told me that my surgery would be on the 16th. I told her to check w/ Dr. M because Dr. M was going to move the date up.. The scheduler person told me that she would call me back. HELLO I'M STILL WAITING ON THE CALL BACK!! Its been 24 hours and my phone hasnt rang.. I want to hunt her down and sit on her until she give me the frak'n date!!

Laughter Cures Cancer!

Monday, March 31, 2008

I'm counting the days I have left at work. My last day should be on Thursday if my boss doesn't beg me to stay again.

Two of my doctors called me today. They wanted to tell me about the MRI biopsy.
Warning the next part might gross you out!
I guess they put the "bad boob" in a clamp. They create a grid of my boob, locate the lump, and stick a needle in the right place. Then they take 4 or 5 1.5 centimeters of tissue samples. All while I'm laying on my stomach in the MRI.. Doesn't it sound like a party!

The Waiting Game! Saturday, March 29, 2008 #3

The doctor just called.. Wow on a Saturday. She is dedicated. She is going to try and move the surgery up. Im hopping to have it the week of the 7th. She told me that the MRI biopsy on Wednesday will help determan the course of surgery. She is still thinking Lumpectomy but I might have to have a Mastectomy. AAHHHH

I saw this shirt! I will have to get it!

Synopsis of How I Found Out I Had Cancer! Saturday, March 29, 2008

Hi,

If you haven't heard already here is my big news. I have Breast cancer. Not everyone jump up in joy at once. J/K
Well I wanted to start this blog to keep everyone up to date on whats going on with my boob ( I call it the bad boob). =)
Let me start with a little background.


3/12 - I found out that I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (Breast Cancer) in my right breast. Grade 2 or 3. I don't know what stage yet.
Here is a link if you want more info http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/idc.jsp

3/20 - I meet with the group of doctor that will be helping me beat this! I think I have 9 people feel me up that day. WOW that brought me back to my single days. lol
They told me that they want to do a lumpectomy & remove my nipple & lymph node dissection. That was a scary day!

3/24 - I had a MRI and it looks like I have 3 lumps in one ductal. Here is a picture what a duct is
http://www.breastcancer.org/illustrations/i0013.html
I did find out great news. My left boob is cancer free..

3/27 - I had an ultrasound to look for a new little lump they found in the MRI. Its only 7 mm. My biggest lump it 1.5 cm. The doctor couldn't see the little lump very good and I guess they want to a biopsy on it. So 4/2 they are going to do a MRI biopsy.

I heard they might do my Surgery on 4/16 but I don't want to wait that long!