Category: Breast Cancer
My Breast Cancer Journey, a.k.a. The Adventures of Doreen the Pig (breast cancer mascot)
35. Keratin
September 11, 2022 Update. Today’s theme: keratin. Keratin is the body’s main protein for hair and nails. The other day, I noticed my fingernails had stripes – dark stripes that corresponded with chemotherapy cycles. Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cancer cells, and causes collateral damage to hair and nails because those cells are rapidly dividing too. […]
34. Pig Portraits
September 7, 2022 Pig portraits by Lisa, specially delivered by tita Suzette. Muchas, muchas gracias! Dave and Doreen, oil on linen. Also: 7 of 20 done (35%)! Just passed the ⅓ mark for radiation. [The last photo shows me, Lisa, and the pigs when she visited in January 2023]
33. Radiation Therapy, Session 6 of 20 (30%)
September 6, 2022 Update. We (Doreen , mom and I) arrived at Radiation Oncology early today… no other patients yet in the waiting room. 6 of 20 radiation therapy sessions… 30 percent done! At today’s follow up clinic visit, I got to view my CT scan and how the radiation beams are directed at the […]
32. Radiation Therapy, Session 4 of 20 (20%)
September 2, 2022 Update. Radiation therapy session 4 of 20 is done as of this morning (that’s 20 percent!). Here’s my attendance card, digitally edited to show the projected last day. I get to rest for the weekend and then it’s back to therapy on Monday. So far, Rose, there are no radiation-induced superpowers. At […]
31. Radiation Therapy Begins
August 30, 2022 Update. First radiation therapy session is finished. Nineteen more to go. Radiation can be harsh on your skin and cause a sunburn-like condition called radiation dermatitis. Here is Doreen showing off a tube of lotion especially made for people undergoing radiation therapy (it’s called Miaderm) and some green tea solution. The green […]
30. Tamoxifen, Bone Densitometry, Flushing the Port
August 27, 2022 Update. Doreen’s adventures today in healthcare (and modeling). First, a bit of background. The surgically removed cancerous tumor was positive for hormone receptors (hormones come from the ovaries; the tumor had estrogen and progesterone receptors that could make it grow and spread). Two days ago, I started Tamoxifen. This is a medication […]
29. Radiation Therapy Simulation
August 17, 2022 Update. Went for CT simulation today. This is a session in which the radiation oncologist and medical physicist figure out the anatomy and the correct dose for zapping the tumor site. Doreen and I brought with us a lot of patience – which thankfully did not run out, because the appointment went […]
28. Radiation Oncology – Initial Consult
August 9, 2022 Update. It is 8 days post-chemotherapy; nausea is almost gone and fatigue is slowly resolving. Still need to pace myself with eating and drinking but definitely better. This morning we visited the radiation oncologist for an initial consultation. Radiation therapy happens daily, Monday through Friday. The patient gets weekends off. We discussed […]
27. Digestive System Issues (Good and Bad)
August 5, 2022 Update. These last few days have been quite instructive in managing the digestive system… more specifically, nausea and reflux symptoms (gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or GERD). First, ginger tea (salabat) helps a lot with the nausea. But it must be sipped instead of gulped Oops. I was trying to hydrate after my light […]
26. Chemotherapy, Session 4 of 4
August 1, 2022 Update. On the way to chemotherapy session 4 of 4 this morning. Besides the essential chemotherapy medications and cold packs for hands and feet to prevent neuropathy, here are other things I need today (with Doreen, who is also essential and says, “Let’s do this!”). 1. Reading glasses, to help me see […]
