Month: February 2023
11. Mammaprint
May 20, 2022 Update. Well, the results from Amsterdam’s test arrived Tuesday night and Doreen will be taking on the role of emotional support pig for chemotherapy. The tumor is close to the border of “high risk of recurrence if you don’t undergo chemotherapy” and “low risk of recurrence, therefore whether or not you have […]
10. Colonoscopy
May 17, 2022 TRIGGER WARNING: discussing Today’s adventure with Doreen actually started yesterday afternoon with laxatives and a clear liquid diet, in preparation for this morning’s colonoscopy. Doreen wasn’t sure what to make of this trip to the hospital as she sat in my bag today. Of course I had to change into one of […]
9. Exercising my Biological Citizenship
May 12, 2022 Update from me and breast cancer mascot Doreen, six weeks post-surgery. Thank you everyone for continued prayers and support. Yesterday I felt I was finally physically well enough to restart exercising using mom’s rebounder trampoline – tacking on aerobic exercises to the upper body stretching and strengthening post-mastectomy rehabilitation program. Adding the […]
8. My Tumor Specimen Goes to Amsterdam… Can I Go Too?
May 7, 2022 Update: Friday with Doreen, breast cancer mascot. Doreen and I decided it was time to add 2 lb weights to my post-mastectomy rehabilitation (I am a little over 5 weeks post-op and the incisions are healed). Ice/cold packs and the occasional naproxen help with muscular pain. Then a trip to the medical […]
7. Exercise: Range of Motion, No Weights
April 27, 2022 Doreen watches me exercise with the guidance of Youtube channel Lazy Dancer Tips. While I am unable to do any exercises with weights post-operatively, I have to work on the range of motion of my upper limbs… therefore a ballet-inspired arms workout (with bonus core strengthening) would be the way to go. […]
6. Drain-free, hooray!
April 19, 2022 Update, post-op day 19. Doreen packed an entire day of patience. First – picked up pathology specimens. Next – visited the surgeon to get the drain out, hooray! (Edited to add: first drain was removed last week, this is the second – and last – drain… so now I am drain-free) Waited […]
5. A Pink-Themed Wednesday
April 6, 2022 A pink-themed Wednesday. Doreen posing with some of my get well gifts. Giant bougainvillea somewhere in New Manila, spotted on the way to the convent of the Pink Sisters (a contemplative order of Roman Catholic religious women who are formally known as the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters). Mom and I stopped by […]
4. Post-Operative Day 1
April 1, 2022 Post-op day one is nearing its end. Thankful for controlled pain, and that nausea and lightheadedness are gone. Also thankful for a portable wireless keyboard that made it easier to update everyone – typing on the phone screen’s keyboard would have been terrible for my thumbs. Doreen is doing a good job […]
3. Meet Doreen
March 30, 2022 Meet Doreen. She is the wife of Dave the Travel Pig. Doreen was gifted to me in 2010 by my coworker and good friend Lori. Fast forward to 2022 and Doreen is now my personal breast cancer mascot. We are headed to the hospital tonight for surgery tomorrow – mine, not hers! […]
2. The Breast Cancer Experience: Frequently Asked Questions
How was it discovered? Screening mammogram and ultrasound. Did you feel a lump? No. Did you do self-breast exams regularly? Yes. Which side? Left breast. Right breast was normal, no cancer there. What stage was it? Based on imaging – 1A. Based on final pathology – 2A. The mass was actually bigger than what was […]
