Category: Breast Cancer
My Breast Cancer Journey, a.k.a. The Adventures of Doreen the Pig (breast cancer mascot)
15. After the First Chemotherapy Session
June 1, 2022 Update for days 1 and 2 after first chemotherapy session. So far I have enough energy to do stuff at a leisurely pace – read a little, cleaned out a drawer (it wasn’t much), listened to a webinar, did some light cardio exercise from The Lazy Dancer Tips youtube channel. I choose […]
14. Chemotherapy, Session 1 of 4
May 30, 2022 Update. Well here we are for the first outpatient chemotherapy session. Checked in at reception, sat a bit in the waiting room with mom before going into one of 11 private infusion rooms. The patient is allowed one (human) companion in the room. Doreen does not count as “companion” . She tried […]
13. Gender as Performance
May 28, 2022 Today’s lesson: gender as performance, a concept popularized by American philosopher Judith Butler. It is the idea that gender is ”something inscribed in daily practices, learned and performed based on cultural norms of femininity and masculinity”. Examples: fake boobs (foobs) to insert into the mastectomy bra, a lovely eyebrow pencil to experiment […]
12. Wigged Out
May 24, 2022 Update. Visited the oncologist today to hammer out a breast cancer treatment plan for the next few months. Chemotherapy starts Monday morning, May 30. Four cycles, three weeks apart, for a total of 12 weeks of treatment. Then radiation after that. After a lovely lunch, I reluctantly went wig shopping with mom. […]
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 […]
