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”On November 13th, 2018 it was time to rebuild my breast. After more than a year of expanders, it was time to create my new permanent boobies.
I had chosen for the DIEP flap procedure. During this surgery, the plastic surgeon will use tissue from your belly to rebuild your breast. The expanders had sufficiently stretched my skin and would allow for a nice D cup.
Continue reading “Reconstructive Surgery”Upon completion of my chemotherapy my medical oncologist prescribed Tamoxifen.
I had heard lots of mixed messages about this medication. Going from extreme side effects and hot flushes to hardly any side effects.
Continue reading “Tamoxifen and Zoladex”After having healed from my implant/expander surgery I was ready for the next phase in my treatment. Radiation.
Before you can get started, there is a process that needs to be followed to make sure that the radiation machine is entirely programmed for you, your body and to ensure the radiation goes to specifically measured areas in your body.
Continue reading “Bring on those rays”After completing four rounds of AC treatments and 11 rounds for Taxol, radiation was next on my treatment plan.
During my mastectomy, the plastic surgeon had implanted the latest version of breast tissue expanders: AirXpanders. The technology was still very new at that time.
Continue reading “I am not your guinea pig”After meeting with my medical oncologist, it was clear that I was going to get chemotherapy. One of the side effects of the AC chemo is that you will lose your hair.
I had long, thick, curly hair and I have had a life-long love-hate relationship with my hair. I tried short hair, straighten it, leave it curly. Most of the time I had my hair in a messy bun. At the time of my diagnosis my hair was pretty long, probably hitting the middle of my back.
Continue reading “Boldly Bald”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”Only two weeks after my mastectomy I was back in the operating room. This time a small, relatively easy, procedure after which I was able to go home the same day.
My surgical oncologist installed a chemo port. A chemo port is a small device that is implanted right underneath the skin. The silicone tube is then attached to the jugular vein. Having a port allows the administration of the chemo drugs directly into the vein.
Continue reading “I feel like alien with my chemo port”August 30th, 2017 was the day my boobies had to go. I was scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy.
I had received a call from the hospital the night before to inform me I would be first on the schedule at 8am and had to check in at the hospital at 6am.
Continue reading “The day my boobies went”Immediately following your diagnosis, you need to start thinking about your care team. After my first appointment with my Surgical Oncologist, I learned a lot and had a better understanding what doctors I needed in my care team.
The surgical oncologist is the person who will remove the cancer from your body. In my case, he did the mastectomy and lymph node dissection. In preparation for the surgery, I had to do a battery of test. More about this in the next post.
Continue reading “Assembling your care team”
Bump In The Boob 