I had just visited my oncologist for my three-monthly check-up when I found a small lump in my right breast. It was in the exact same spot I had found my original lump that led to the initial diagnosis of breast cancer.
Continue reading “Another bump in the boob”Tag: breastcancersurvivor
Return of the nipples
As you can read from my previous post, I had a DIEP flap procedure to reconstruct my breast after the bilateral mastectomy. They were not able to save my nipples during the mastectomy so during the DIEP flap procedure the plastic surgeon, in anticipation, added an extra area of skin when he transplanted parts of my belly.
Continue reading “Return of the nipples”Hysterectomy and Anastrozole
One of the reasons my reconstructive surgery took a long time, was because we actually did two surgeries in one.
The plastic surgeon would manage the reconstruction using the DIEP flap process and my gynecologist oncologist would perform a total hysterectomy.
Continue reading “Hysterectomy and Anastrozole”Potions and lotions
Radiation can be pretty hard on your skin. After about ten sessions you will start to notice your skin changing.
In my case, it started with lots of little dots, that looked like moles. My skin started to gradually darken, it looked like I had been sunbathing, I got a tan. It would progressively get darker and darker.
Continue reading “Potions and lotions”Taxol takes a toll
After four rounds of AC chemotherapy and a break for the holidays, it was time to resume my treatment.
Next on the schedule was 12 rounds of Taxol.
Continue reading “Taxol takes a toll”High on Steroids
Steroids, they are the necessary drug during chemotherapy, but boy did they give me a hard time.
From the very first chemo session, they gave me a headache-like feeling mainly in my forehead and behind my eyes. A feeling I can still recall a little over a year since my last chemo session.
Continue reading “High on Steroids”Meeting the Red Devil
I really didn’t know what to expect from chemotherapy. I had seen some images of people getting chemo but had never been to the infusion area of the hospital until my first round.
I choose to have my sessions on Friday afternoon. Mainly, out of practicality to not have the chemo interfere with work too much and the advantage of going straight into the weekend after infusion so I could recover. I had arranged to also have the Monday following chemo off, if I needed extra time.
Continue reading “Meeting the Red Devil”