I am going back to my doctor today for my 6-month routine mammosonogram and 3-month routine check up. A lot has happened since my last visit and I have so many questions in mind, I had to write them so I won't forget.
I guess once cancer hits you, the sleepless nights are always going to be there. Going on my 7th month now, I still can't claim I'm cancer-free. Not till I hit my 2nd year mark. There are days when paranoia gets the best of me. I'd stare at Maia and wonder how she'd grow up. I hope she will be fine and will only have happy thoughts of Mommy.
There are days though that I can't help but be surprised of myself too.
Like this morning for instance, I posted an update in Facebook. And in no time, I had people asking how I was doing. I was chatting with a former officemate when I typed this line - "it's a blessing that God sent me the cancer after I had Maia. She gave me so much reason to fight for and keep fighting".
I used to think that Maia was so unlucky to have a Mommy like me. But now, the tone has changed with out me realizing it. Now, I feel so lucky having Maia around.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Breast Cancer Breakthrough
Something that I lifted from rare-cancer.org news. Good news?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Cynthia Demos
Breast cancer caught early can mean the difference between life and death. Now, a breast cancer vaccine may be on the horizon. It's already showing promise in clinical trials.
Dr. Geoffrey Zann, a gynecologist, routinely suggests patients look for the traditional symptoms to detect breast cancer. "You look for things such as a palpable mass, or changes in the skin, dimpling, puckering, buckling, a lump that sticks out, sometimes tenderness," explained Dr. Zann.
But frequently, his patients ask him why a vaccine to prevent breast cancer hasn't been developed, like it was for polio or measles.
"Breast cancer is not one disease, when you hear people tell you, there are different kinds of breast cancer. I had intraductal, I had lobular, I had lobar, I had phyllodes tumor. It's not just one disease so it's hard to develop one vaccine," Dr. Zann explained.
But there is progress being made in the development of vaccines. Susan Kristoff was diagnosed in 2003 with Stage I HER2 positive breast cancer. "In 2003, HER2 was one of the worst diagnoses you could get. It's a very aggressive type of cancer," said Kristoff.
After her initial treatment Susan's cancer returned as Stage IV cancer, sometimes referred to as incurable cancer. She decided to participate in a clinical trial with a new breast cancer treatment Herceptin and her cancer went into complete remission.
"I guess the story is that Stage IV isn't a death sentence for a cancer patient, that many people can live a normal life and manage it like diabetes, and wait on the cure. I'm confident that for many types it will be here shortly," Kristoff said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Cure: Breast Cancer Vaccine On The Way?
by Cynthia Demos
Dr. Geoffrey Zann, a gynecologist, routinely suggests patients look for the traditional symptoms to detect breast cancer. "You look for things such as a palpable mass, or changes in the skin, dimpling, puckering, buckling, a lump that sticks out, sometimes tenderness," explained Dr. Zann.
But frequently, his patients ask him why a vaccine to prevent breast cancer hasn't been developed, like it was for polio or measles.
"Breast cancer is not one disease, when you hear people tell you, there are different kinds of breast cancer. I had intraductal, I had lobular, I had lobar, I had phyllodes tumor. It's not just one disease so it's hard to develop one vaccine," Dr. Zann explained.
But there is progress being made in the development of vaccines. Susan Kristoff was diagnosed in 2003 with Stage I HER2 positive breast cancer. "In 2003, HER2 was one of the worst diagnoses you could get. It's a very aggressive type of cancer," said Kristoff.
After her initial treatment Susan's cancer returned as Stage IV cancer, sometimes referred to as incurable cancer. She decided to participate in a clinical trial with a new breast cancer treatment Herceptin and her cancer went into complete remission.
"I guess the story is that Stage IV isn't a death sentence for a cancer patient, that many people can live a normal life and manage it like diabetes, and wait on the cure. I'm confident that for many types it will be here shortly," Kristoff said.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
De Quervain??? De What?
Today, I was back at my surgeon's clinic because I could not sleep well for the past 2 days since I discovered a tiny bump on my right arm. It was just a little under my elbows. A tiny little lumpy growth that the hubby initially thought was an insect bite. Only that it's been 2 days and it never itched. So today, I decided to skip work and set an early appointment with my surgeon. I was due for my regular check up in 2 weeks anyways.
First thing she asked when she saw me was, "you're back early, may nakapa ka????" Hahaha. I pointed worriedly at the bump on my arm. To which she immediately replied, "oh that...is nothing. If you're thinking it's related to the PT (phyllodes tumor) it's not." (She actually mentioned the term for the tiny cyst...but the term now evades my memory...tsk tsk...old age?)
I asked if I need to have it removed. She told me I can, if that would help me sleep well. But it's still too small. It's not really a cause for worry. I asked her what could have caused it to grow, and she told me they don't know. She added, "sinuwerte ka lang". Then we started laughing, it seems I've been really lucky with the lottery on lumps lately. Too bad really...this is one lottery I never and will never ever dream of joining on.
So since I was there already, she decided to check on how my mastectomy recovery is going. Okay. All's well. I'll come back on September na lang. That's my next sonogram schedule. We're hoping the 4 tiny nodes on my other breast will disappear already. Hay...life. It just keeps throwing me stuff that aren't worth catching. Haha. But I keep on catching them anyway. Ano ba Faye!
So when I was about to leave, I also mentioned I was having this problem with my wrist. Told her my OB (Again???) thought it was probably still related to my mastectomy. I was prescribed some nerve vitamins to make the pain go away. But it's been two weeks and the pain still lingers. She told me, "oh that's not related to the mastectomy. I'm guessing it's decorvein..."
What's that doc??? De-cor?-vein???
No, De-qua-r-vein...
Oh...is that so? What do I need to do then?
Go see an orthopedic surgeon after this. Get it fixed while it's still early. Pag pinatagal mo pa yan, you might need another surgery for that. Hu-whatttt??? Sige, I'll find an ortho pronto! Hahaha.
So after I left my surgeon's clinic...I went looking for an ortho right away. Good thing, there's somebody available to see me. It turns out, I still got the spelling wrong. What I have is called
de Quervain's Tenosynovitis.
The ortho asked me how long have I been experiencing the pain. I told him it's been a month already. He said it's still early and it's still easy to treat. But it's been a month, he might as well inject some medicine into it. He asked me to buy the supplies at the nearly drugstore and when I came back he injected me with cortisone to treat the swelling. It was painful. Haha. But tolerable.
So now, while I type away...I'm trying hard to concentrate on not getting my left thumb worked up. I've been using them too much and now they're complaining.
Lesson learned today. Use the mouse more often. Hehe.
First thing she asked when she saw me was, "you're back early, may nakapa ka????" Hahaha. I pointed worriedly at the bump on my arm. To which she immediately replied, "oh that...is nothing. If you're thinking it's related to the PT (phyllodes tumor) it's not." (She actually mentioned the term for the tiny cyst...but the term now evades my memory...tsk tsk...old age?)
I asked if I need to have it removed. She told me I can, if that would help me sleep well. But it's still too small. It's not really a cause for worry. I asked her what could have caused it to grow, and she told me they don't know. She added, "sinuwerte ka lang". Then we started laughing, it seems I've been really lucky with the lottery on lumps lately. Too bad really...this is one lottery I never and will never ever dream of joining on.
So since I was there already, she decided to check on how my mastectomy recovery is going. Okay. All's well. I'll come back on September na lang. That's my next sonogram schedule. We're hoping the 4 tiny nodes on my other breast will disappear already. Hay...life. It just keeps throwing me stuff that aren't worth catching. Haha. But I keep on catching them anyway. Ano ba Faye!
So when I was about to leave, I also mentioned I was having this problem with my wrist. Told her my OB (Again???) thought it was probably still related to my mastectomy. I was prescribed some nerve vitamins to make the pain go away. But it's been two weeks and the pain still lingers. She told me, "oh that's not related to the mastectomy. I'm guessing it's decorvein..."
What's that doc??? De-cor?-vein???
No, De-qua-r-vein...
Oh...is that so? What do I need to do then?
Go see an orthopedic surgeon after this. Get it fixed while it's still early. Pag pinatagal mo pa yan, you might need another surgery for that. Hu-whatttt??? Sige, I'll find an ortho pronto! Hahaha.
So after I left my surgeon's clinic...I went looking for an ortho right away. Good thing, there's somebody available to see me. It turns out, I still got the spelling wrong. What I have is called
de Quervain's Tenosynovitis.
The ortho asked me how long have I been experiencing the pain. I told him it's been a month already. He said it's still early and it's still easy to treat. But it's been a month, he might as well inject some medicine into it. He asked me to buy the supplies at the nearly drugstore and when I came back he injected me with cortisone to treat the swelling. It was painful. Haha. But tolerable.
So now, while I type away...I'm trying hard to concentrate on not getting my left thumb worked up. I've been using them too much and now they're complaining.
Lesson learned today. Use the mouse more often. Hehe.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Weathering Storms
When one is forced to face storms? Is there an effective way of weathering it through?
In the past 30 years, I have had my share of stormy times already. But I guess, the worst storm that I've ever been through was my stormy battle with cancer. I used to dread saying it. But now, I learned to live with it. It doesn't scare me anymore. I know there's still so much hope out there for me.
What gave me the change of heart?
After my surgery I was scheduled for 6 consecutive weekly visits to my surgeon for follow up check. I went home with my Jackson Pratt drain after all and the surgeon has to monitor that. It was on the 2nd week that I was told my pathology results revealed that my breast tumor was malignant.
Anyways, it was on my last visit that I met this fellow patient named Helen. She had this wonderful aura around her and she was so cheery it felt contagious. Soon I was joining her chat with our surgeon's receptionist.
It wasn't long after when she sad down beside me and asked me what my story is. And I obliged. I just felt an instant connection I had no qualms sharing a personal story with her. She patiently listened. And when I was finished, she immediately share her own cancer story. That's when I learned that she was recenlty diagnosed with breast cancer and have just had bilateral radical mastectomies. When I chanced upon her on the clinic that day, she has gotten through 6 sessions of chemotherapy. She was back at the clinic that day to pick up her bone scan results. She happily shared the results were good. And that she won't be coming back to the clinic anymore for the next 6 months. Such a relief she says. But she adds, there are still days when she wakes up and remembers the hell that she's recently been through and can't help but cry for a bit. But she says she's just glad to put that all behind. Because life is still good after all. And we still have a role to play in the world of the living.
Isn't that so inspiring to hear? This was after all coming from a 39-year old single lady who still had so much coming for her. I may be only 30 but God was good enough to give me Maia before tragedy struck. I felt I have every reason to stay happy and positive. But her...well...she found her purpose by sharing inspiring stories to cancer patients like her. By giving them a boost of positive energy to weather their battle.
Thinking of people like Helen...makes me appreciate life everyday.
In the past 30 years, I have had my share of stormy times already. But I guess, the worst storm that I've ever been through was my stormy battle with cancer. I used to dread saying it. But now, I learned to live with it. It doesn't scare me anymore. I know there's still so much hope out there for me.
What gave me the change of heart?
After my surgery I was scheduled for 6 consecutive weekly visits to my surgeon for follow up check. I went home with my Jackson Pratt drain after all and the surgeon has to monitor that. It was on the 2nd week that I was told my pathology results revealed that my breast tumor was malignant.
Anyways, it was on my last visit that I met this fellow patient named Helen. She had this wonderful aura around her and she was so cheery it felt contagious. Soon I was joining her chat with our surgeon's receptionist.
It wasn't long after when she sad down beside me and asked me what my story is. And I obliged. I just felt an instant connection I had no qualms sharing a personal story with her. She patiently listened. And when I was finished, she immediately share her own cancer story. That's when I learned that she was recenlty diagnosed with breast cancer and have just had bilateral radical mastectomies. When I chanced upon her on the clinic that day, she has gotten through 6 sessions of chemotherapy. She was back at the clinic that day to pick up her bone scan results. She happily shared the results were good. And that she won't be coming back to the clinic anymore for the next 6 months. Such a relief she says. But she adds, there are still days when she wakes up and remembers the hell that she's recently been through and can't help but cry for a bit. But she says she's just glad to put that all behind. Because life is still good after all. And we still have a role to play in the world of the living.
Isn't that so inspiring to hear? This was after all coming from a 39-year old single lady who still had so much coming for her. I may be only 30 but God was good enough to give me Maia before tragedy struck. I felt I have every reason to stay happy and positive. But her...well...she found her purpose by sharing inspiring stories to cancer patients like her. By giving them a boost of positive energy to weather their battle.
Thinking of people like Helen...makes me appreciate life everyday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Coping and Surviving
I was back at my doctor's clinic yesterday for a routine check up and to submit my mammogram and sonogram results. Although 4 more nodules were detected on my left breast, my doctor agreed with the radiologist that they were not a cause for alarm and that I should not let them worry me.
Earlier while I was still waiting for Dra. Cruz to come back from a series of surgeries, I was lucky to meet another cancer survivor and unlike the last encounter I had Helen was the one who showed interest to hear my cancer experience. She showed real concern knowing I'm only 30 and just had a baby. But at the same time, I felt a sudden jolt of inspiration seeing how positive she is. She did not look like she just recently went through 6 sessions of chemotherapy. She just so full of life that I realized I am going to win this battle.
It's been two months since my surgery and I am starting to feel like things are back to normal. The hubby and I are now able to put all the worries behind and genuinely enjoy our moments with Maia.Sometimes, on really good days, I tend to forget the challenges that we went through at the beginning of the year. We're starting to laugh a lot more often - laughter that has more depth.
I can only hope that this situation at home remains like that forever. But of course I will have to be realistic. Thoughts of recurrence and mets will probably linger. One thing I've proven from all these is that with family support, it is easier to face a cancer diagnosis. With that I am very, very grateful.
Earlier while I was still waiting for Dra. Cruz to come back from a series of surgeries, I was lucky to meet another cancer survivor and unlike the last encounter I had Helen was the one who showed interest to hear my cancer experience. She showed real concern knowing I'm only 30 and just had a baby. But at the same time, I felt a sudden jolt of inspiration seeing how positive she is. She did not look like she just recently went through 6 sessions of chemotherapy. She just so full of life that I realized I am going to win this battle.
It's been two months since my surgery and I am starting to feel like things are back to normal. The hubby and I are now able to put all the worries behind and genuinely enjoy our moments with Maia.Sometimes, on really good days, I tend to forget the challenges that we went through at the beginning of the year. We're starting to laugh a lot more often - laughter that has more depth.
I can only hope that this situation at home remains like that forever. But of course I will have to be realistic. Thoughts of recurrence and mets will probably linger. One thing I've proven from all these is that with family support, it is easier to face a cancer diagnosis. With that I am very, very grateful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)