I just came across it today in the Pink-Link e-mail and liked it a lot.
Nicole Johnson's Invisible Woman sketch
http://www.freshbrewedlife.com/
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
It's Benign!
Or as the ladies who way are too familiar with biopsies say, B9!!!! Dr. E called me this afternoon and told me he had good news. I couldn't believe it! I asked if this was a preliminary result or the final. He said he wouldn't have called if it was preliminary. So I had to ask what it looked like, any abnormal cells that were dead or just all normal. He read from the report that there were "lobular atrophy" (dead cells) and calcifications. I'll have to talk with Dr. Z, my radiation oncologist, and others to explain it, but thank God I can still say that I'm cancer-free!
I then ran around the lab telling everyone that I had a biopsy that was benign! =>
I then ran around the lab telling everyone that I had a biopsy that was benign! =>
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Photos from the lab
All those late nights have altered my eyes!
My mad scientist look.
This one reminds me of those perfume bottles that look like a doll.
Yay! No surgery needed!
I woke up this morning thinking that I'll be having a surgical biopsy. I grabbed my box of oral drugs and made sure that I didn't eat anything since midnight last night. I drove with Sam in the car since the surgery room is right next to where I work. We arrived pretty much on time at 9:15 am.
I had already changed into hospital gowns and had the iv put in Old Faithful when I was wheeled up to the 4th floor Outpatient Center for the wire localization. Jo, the gentle mammographer from before, told me that Dr. E was doing the wire localization, but I became slightly alarmed since the last time he did it, I felt he didn't use enough lidocaine. Sam requested that perhaps another radiologist could do it so Jo talked to Dr. M (the one who found the new calcifications) about it. Surprisingly, as I waited, Dr. E came to me and asked that perhaps he can do a stereotactic biopsy instead. I was confused since I thought that the stereotactic machine did not have the capability of seeing the calcifications. It was up to me, and fortunately, Dr. M passed by at the time. She was surprised as well that Dr. E wanted to try the stereotactic when she had tried 2 weeks ago without success. The lure of not going into surgery was too great to pass up, and I agreed to the stereotactic. Jo said that she would be there, and if I felt uncomfortable, I could let her know. Once Dr. E found the area to biopsy, I asked that Dr. M see the area too and agree on the biopsy.
Dr. E had my left arm and chest go through the hole in the middle of the table. Missy was the volunteer who talked me through the whole procedure. She had been diagnosed 12 years ago. The compression wasn't too bad, and whatever Dr. E did, he found the area! Dr. M came into the room and agreed that he had found it. So finally a stereotactic biopsy worked after the 3rd attempt! I was pumped with lidocaine locally, a prick and then a burning sensation. This time Dr. E was generous. Jo said he put in 2 5ml syringes. Missy said that Dr. E made an incision, and then there's this loud pop. 12 samples were initally taken and x-rayed to check for the calcifications. Dr. E took 4 more for good measure. The whole process took over an hour so my neck got a little stiff, and Jo said that my arm started to turn blue. After the lidocaine, I was OK. I talked to Missy about the Columbia area and the Avon foundation. It was funny that she mentioned Dr. Ben Park because I had just e-mailed him the night before asking if there was a position open in his lab.
So someone called Dr. Jacobs to let her know that I won't have the surgery. I should have the results most likely on Monday. Once I straightened my neck and arm out, Jo took a few more mammograms. Dr. E had put in a clip at the biopsy site. To Jo, it looks like a frog. It's then that I realized that the clip is in another location of the breast. So it's not in the same quadrant as the original one. That's worrisome, but I will have to wait for the results.
I'm just taking Tylenol and putting on cold compresses. I'll give further updates soon!
I had already changed into hospital gowns and had the iv put in Old Faithful when I was wheeled up to the 4th floor Outpatient Center for the wire localization. Jo, the gentle mammographer from before, told me that Dr. E was doing the wire localization, but I became slightly alarmed since the last time he did it, I felt he didn't use enough lidocaine. Sam requested that perhaps another radiologist could do it so Jo talked to Dr. M (the one who found the new calcifications) about it. Surprisingly, as I waited, Dr. E came to me and asked that perhaps he can do a stereotactic biopsy instead. I was confused since I thought that the stereotactic machine did not have the capability of seeing the calcifications. It was up to me, and fortunately, Dr. M passed by at the time. She was surprised as well that Dr. E wanted to try the stereotactic when she had tried 2 weeks ago without success. The lure of not going into surgery was too great to pass up, and I agreed to the stereotactic. Jo said that she would be there, and if I felt uncomfortable, I could let her know. Once Dr. E found the area to biopsy, I asked that Dr. M see the area too and agree on the biopsy.
Dr. E had my left arm and chest go through the hole in the middle of the table. Missy was the volunteer who talked me through the whole procedure. She had been diagnosed 12 years ago. The compression wasn't too bad, and whatever Dr. E did, he found the area! Dr. M came into the room and agreed that he had found it. So finally a stereotactic biopsy worked after the 3rd attempt! I was pumped with lidocaine locally, a prick and then a burning sensation. This time Dr. E was generous. Jo said he put in 2 5ml syringes. Missy said that Dr. E made an incision, and then there's this loud pop. 12 samples were initally taken and x-rayed to check for the calcifications. Dr. E took 4 more for good measure. The whole process took over an hour so my neck got a little stiff, and Jo said that my arm started to turn blue. After the lidocaine, I was OK. I talked to Missy about the Columbia area and the Avon foundation. It was funny that she mentioned Dr. Ben Park because I had just e-mailed him the night before asking if there was a position open in his lab.
So someone called Dr. Jacobs to let her know that I won't have the surgery. I should have the results most likely on Monday. Once I straightened my neck and arm out, Jo took a few more mammograms. Dr. E had put in a clip at the biopsy site. To Jo, it looks like a frog. It's then that I realized that the clip is in another location of the breast. So it's not in the same quadrant as the original one. That's worrisome, but I will have to wait for the results.
I'm just taking Tylenol and putting on cold compresses. I'll give further updates soon!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Hopefully I won't have to start up again
I had my 6-month follow-up bi-lateral mammogram today. A new tech, Jo, took my pictures, and it wasn't too bad at all until she had to do the magnifications on the left side. The magnification views are standard for me, but when the new radiologist took a look at my films on her computer, she saw some calcifications very clearly. When compared to the ones from 6 months ago, the older films had more dense white areas where the calcifications were so they were hard to see. So the new radiologist suggested that I talk with my surgeon for possible treatment, which may be surgery or something else. Fortunately, I was able to be squeezed in for next Tues. to see my surgeon.
I saw Dr. Khouri (my first radiologist who diagnosed me) when I was with the new radiologist. He actually remembered about me getting married, and I'm glad that he was there to at least take a look at my films before he took a call. I trust what he sees. I was quite dismayed that I may have to have surgery again so I kept asking what the differences were this time and the other films. The new radiologist said that she analyzed it a bit differently, making the calcifications clearer. So she agreed with me that it doesn't mean necessarily that new ones had formed. I think maybe just a biopsy is needed. I'm thinking that these calcifications were from the first round that got missed, but then that's what radiation and chemo should have helped to control. If there aren't any more oddly growing cells, I'm happy with just continually monitoring the calcifications until it looks like more pop up.
I'm very preoccupied with moving into our new house this weekend. Last week we had the house painted. Today, we had the carpets "deep-scrubbed", and the air ducts cleaned out. Now I should take the boxes from the lab and pack up some tonight and tomorrow. Plenty of things to do.
Last week I saw my medical oncologist in a very short visit. He didn't think that I needed to take aspirin since the studies out there stating that perhaps aspirin can reduce recurrence are not very solid. Basically, more work needs to be done, but interestingly, several of the women I know are taking it now, even recommended by their oncologists. I think that it's up to me. I haven't had time to buy any baby ones, but I'll think about it.
Wish I had better news to report, but the house really is very nice!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What can I say? I'm living life.
OK. So it's been months since I've posted. The last doctor's appointment was with my surgeon in Oct! I'm going to post an excerpt to my chemo group on 11/06/09.
...You would think that I would avoid doctors like the plague, but I've seen my primary care, a dermatologist, and opthamologist in the past 2 weeks. My primary care doctor did a whole spectrum of bloodwork since I still haven't gotten my period. Apparently, everything is normal hormone-wise (thyroid, prolactin, FSH, LH, DHEAS, testosterone), and so is my blood count. My vitamin D though is really low at 14. =< So I will be taking a pill once a week for 12 weeks, but I don't feel any effects from the deficiency. I have to lower my LDL, too, not doing so well here on food control.
I went to the dermatologist to check out a mole I've had on my back for more than 10 years, but it was OK. I just wanted to play it safe because I worried I may be at an increased risk for melanoma, but the doctor didn't think that there was a significant correlation between breast cancer and melanoma. I just wanted some peace of mind!As for the opthamologist, I have to go back to check out my left retina. Hopefully, nothing to be concerned about. I see fine...
I've finished taking all the vitamin D, but I want to get some more. I need to make an appointment with my next doctor, the medical oncologist. I don't know if the vitamin has helped with hair growth or it's just time for it to come in, but my hair and eyebrows are filled in quite nicely now. For months, they looked pretty sparse. I can even see my hair on the pillow when I'm laying down. I haven't had that luxury in over a year!
I'm going to the Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer conference again this year. It'll be in Atlanta next week. I didn't sign up for a scholarship this time because Atlanta's pretty close, and I know so many people who really, really need it to go.
Dylan is 17 lbs now! He's been doing a lot of growing in the past four months!
Beth sent me this interesting article today on aspirin decreasing the recurrence of breast cancer in young women. I'm going to pick some people's heads about that at the conference.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35426947/ns/health-cancer/
Holmes and her team studied 4,164 female registered nurses taking part in the Nurses' Health Study, an ongoing analysis of a wide range of health issues.
They started in 1976, looking at who took aspirin, watching for breast cancer and all causes of death until 2006.
Over this time, 341 of the nurses died of breast cancer.
Women who took aspirin two to five days a week had a 60 percent reduced risk of their cancer spreading and a 71 percent lower risk of breast cancer death. Six to seven aspirins a week lowered the risk of spread by 43 percent and the risk of breast cancer death by 64 percent.
Most of the women were taking low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attacks and stroke.
...You would think that I would avoid doctors like the plague, but I've seen my primary care, a dermatologist, and opthamologist in the past 2 weeks. My primary care doctor did a whole spectrum of bloodwork since I still haven't gotten my period. Apparently, everything is normal hormone-wise (thyroid, prolactin, FSH, LH, DHEAS, testosterone), and so is my blood count. My vitamin D though is really low at 14. =< So I will be taking a pill once a week for 12 weeks, but I don't feel any effects from the deficiency. I have to lower my LDL, too, not doing so well here on food control.
I went to the dermatologist to check out a mole I've had on my back for more than 10 years, but it was OK. I just wanted to play it safe because I worried I may be at an increased risk for melanoma, but the doctor didn't think that there was a significant correlation between breast cancer and melanoma. I just wanted some peace of mind!As for the opthamologist, I have to go back to check out my left retina. Hopefully, nothing to be concerned about. I see fine...
I've finished taking all the vitamin D, but I want to get some more. I need to make an appointment with my next doctor, the medical oncologist. I don't know if the vitamin has helped with hair growth or it's just time for it to come in, but my hair and eyebrows are filled in quite nicely now. For months, they looked pretty sparse. I can even see my hair on the pillow when I'm laying down. I haven't had that luxury in over a year!
I'm going to the Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer conference again this year. It'll be in Atlanta next week. I didn't sign up for a scholarship this time because Atlanta's pretty close, and I know so many people who really, really need it to go.
Dylan is 17 lbs now! He's been doing a lot of growing in the past four months!
Beth sent me this interesting article today on aspirin decreasing the recurrence of breast cancer in young women. I'm going to pick some people's heads about that at the conference.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35426947/ns/health-cancer/
Holmes and her team studied 4,164 female registered nurses taking part in the Nurses' Health Study, an ongoing analysis of a wide range of health issues.
They started in 1976, looking at who took aspirin, watching for breast cancer and all causes of death until 2006.
Over this time, 341 of the nurses died of breast cancer.
Women who took aspirin two to five days a week had a 60 percent reduced risk of their cancer spreading and a 71 percent lower risk of breast cancer death. Six to seven aspirins a week lowered the risk of spread by 43 percent and the risk of breast cancer death by 64 percent.
Most of the women were taking low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attacks and stroke.
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