Never thought I’d want to be a breast cancer survivor
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Halfway
Read more: HalfwayI am halfway through my trastuzumab (Herceptin) a type of targeted therapy drug called a monoclonal antibody. This is the magic drug that kills HER2 breast cancer. I am due to take 18 doses, 3-weeks apart. That works out to a full year. Since I just completed 9 of 18, I will be doing this…
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Not growing old
Read more: Not growing oldIf you were here you would notice that I’m constantly doing something. Even when my body is hurting, I find something to do. Until I enter a drug induced sleep at night, my mind and my body are doing something. I feel like I always need to be doing something. It occurred to me today,…
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Then and now
Read more: Then and nowI have been diagnosed with breast cancer twice. In 2014, we had just moved to California. We had no support network. It was just my husband and myself. This time, we live in a cohousing community and have support from my neighbours. In 2014, we lived in the South Bay Area near San Jose. This…
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Physically, I’m doing well – Mentally, not so much
Read more: Physically, I’m doing well – Mentally, not so muchI wasn’t sure what to write about anxiety. It is really difficult to explain. For me, it becomes a compulsion to be doing something, which is why I’ve had a hard time taking a rest. I feel like I need to be doing something all the time, otherwise I’ll spiral down. If I can keep…
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From Fatigue to Fear: The Unseen Battles of Post-Treatment Life
Read more: From Fatigue to Fear: The Unseen Battles of Post-Treatment LifeWith the end of active treatment comes the anxiety and depression that I have been suppressing throughout. The fatigue from radiation has me worried about depression. The nightmares make me concerned about PTSD, and the crying, well, that is the only way I can cope right now. I was reminded of a concept I learned…
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And then there was one
Read more: And then there was oneTomorrow will be my last radiation treatment – yay. So far I’ve managed without too much skin irritation (yay again). The doctor did mention that things could get worse or better over the next couple of weeks, but within a month I should be fully recovered skin wise as well as internally, which affects fatigue.…
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Clearing the brain
Read more: Clearing the brainClearing the brain I got some good news today. The results of the CT scan of my head are clear, meaning there is no sign of cancer in my brain. I’m cancer free – actually, I’ve been cancer free since my surgery back in August (August 23rd – I had to look it up). However,…
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Intentional Living
Read more: Intentional LivingThe routine of radiation involves me getting up and walking to the hospital for my appointment. This week, my appointments have been in the morning. It is a 10-15 minute walk which has reminded me how much I enjoy walking in the morning – even when it is snowy – but especially when the sun…
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Radiation is a mental struggle
Read more: Radiation is a mental struggleRadiation treatment, in theory, is easier than chemo. It is easier on your body – in that the physical side effects are skin issues and fatigue. You don’t need to deal with all the other side effects of chemotherapy. However, for chemo I only had to convince myself to go four times. I had four…
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Radiation and Losing Friends
Read more: Radiation and Losing FriendsRadiation started this week. So far it has only been two treatments. They go pretty fast. Immediately afterwards I find myself wondering if I’m feeling anything. Can I tell that the invisible beam is attacking part of my body? We did have a bit of a misunderstanding, for which the radiation oncologist felt bad. I…
