I woke up crying to Richard today that I didn't want to go today and I was scared. but ....Off to Vancouver again today to have my port removed. Appt was at at 9:30am. I was in the room and changed into the little hospital gown by 9:35am They connected the cauterizing machine to me again, gave me several - I would say about eight shots to numb the area. The radio was playing and the nurse and Dr.Chung were talking.. I think it was to keep my mind off what was happening. When she used the cauterizing machine, it smoked and smelled really gross. When it go time to take out the part that was connected up the side of my neck, she said I might feel it tug a little, ,, this was my biggest fear. But with Dr.Chung doing it,I didn't feel it all. Once she was done, she sewed me up, put some bandages on it and I was done! I asked how it was connected to my neck so she dug it out of the garbage and showed me. She said by putting pressure on the vein it made it quit bleeding and start to heal. Just like if you have a paper cut on your finger, you most likely will put pressure on it.
I got home, took a nap and some Tylenol and am glad I had the day off. As the evening wore on, I felt good, but only when I was extremely still other wise it throbs.
Mom brought me a beautiful planter for the patio and a congratulations . I am thinking this is the last part of this breast cancer ordeal. I will still meet with Dr.Richert Boe every three months for check ups and my yearly mammogram But as for now....I am done. Its been just at one and half years since I started healing from Stage 3 breast cancer.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Port Removal
Today was the day I was suppose to have my port removed by Dr. Chung in the Millplain Vancouver Kaiser office.
Richard and I got there, I went into the room, (just like a little operating room, table, bright lights etc). Got changed in to the fabulous medical gown, verified info with the nurse, .. then it started.. She asked if I was taking any blood thinners. I said yes 325mg aspirin twice a day. She told Dr. Chung and the decided to hook me up to the cauterizing machine. Which is like being grounded, plugged in. They put a sticky patch thing on my hip and then they could turn on the machine if needed. Then Dr. Chung came in and verified the aspirin dosage. She said she didn't really think it was OK to do surgery since I had been taking the aspirin. So If she didn't feel comfy with it, neither did I . I explained my stand on the blood issue again and felt that re scheduling the surgery would be best. So I got dressed, and rescheduled it for next month. I would rather put it off than have a situation arise in the Dr.s office.
So I left feeling disappointed it didn't happen today but OK with why it didn't. Plus I learned a little more about the actual surgery so next time I wont be as nervous.
Richard and I got there, I went into the room, (just like a little operating room, table, bright lights etc). Got changed in to the fabulous medical gown, verified info with the nurse, .. then it started.. She asked if I was taking any blood thinners. I said yes 325mg aspirin twice a day. She told Dr. Chung and the decided to hook me up to the cauterizing machine. Which is like being grounded, plugged in. They put a sticky patch thing on my hip and then they could turn on the machine if needed. Then Dr. Chung came in and verified the aspirin dosage. She said she didn't really think it was OK to do surgery since I had been taking the aspirin. So If she didn't feel comfy with it, neither did I . I explained my stand on the blood issue again and felt that re scheduling the surgery would be best. So I got dressed, and rescheduled it for next month. I would rather put it off than have a situation arise in the Dr.s office.
So I left feeling disappointed it didn't happen today but OK with why it didn't. Plus I learned a little more about the actual surgery so next time I wont be as nervous.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
LAST KAISER VISIT
Today was my last visit to Kaiser for Herceptin. I AM DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saw Dr. Richert Boe today. As soon as she came in the room she said, "today's your last time, you did it!"
After my exam with her, she hugged me a couple times and sent me to find my chair.
All the nurses at some point during the 2 1/2 hours I was there came by and said congratulations!
When my IV of Herceptin was done, Maria who is the head nurse said, "Well, that's the last couple drops of Herceptin you will be getting from us"
I asked the Dr. about when I can get my port taken out and she said, " is tomorrow to soon?" So I will try to have Dr. Chung take it out in the office. Last time I met with her she said she can do it and I feel very confident and secure with her. She did my surgery.
When I was all done... they gave me a card that they all had signed. I left, went to the car and bawled like baby! I am so happy its over with. I didn't think today would be that emotional. I got back to work and still could hardly keep it together. I emailed a few friends at work to tell them and they such nice things to say!
So I am now on the down side of it. I will see Dr. Richert Boe again in early September for my three month check up. I will have three month check ups for 2 years, then 6 month check ups for 5 years then 1 check up a year for 5 years. Wow that's a lot of check ups! But I want and need a clean bill of health. I don't want to do this again!
Saw Dr. Richert Boe today. As soon as she came in the room she said, "today's your last time, you did it!"
After my exam with her, she hugged me a couple times and sent me to find my chair.
All the nurses at some point during the 2 1/2 hours I was there came by and said congratulations!
When my IV of Herceptin was done, Maria who is the head nurse said, "Well, that's the last couple drops of Herceptin you will be getting from us"
I asked the Dr. about when I can get my port taken out and she said, " is tomorrow to soon?" So I will try to have Dr. Chung take it out in the office. Last time I met with her she said she can do it and I feel very confident and secure with her. She did my surgery.
When I was all done... they gave me a card that they all had signed. I left, went to the car and bawled like baby! I am so happy its over with. I didn't think today would be that emotional. I got back to work and still could hardly keep it together. I emailed a few friends at work to tell them and they such nice things to say!
So I am now on the down side of it. I will see Dr. Richert Boe again in early September for my three month check up. I will have three month check ups for 2 years, then 6 month check ups for 5 years then 1 check up a year for 5 years. Wow that's a lot of check ups! But I want and need a clean bill of health. I don't want to do this again!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Reward
As a reward to myself for making it through the last year, I went with my mom, Deanna Suhrie and Beth to Maui. Beth was there for a week, the rest of us for 10 days.
Mom even sneaked in with surprise party .. balloons, cake, ice cream, congratulations banners around the room!! I had a wonderful time. I had never been there before and now look forward to going back on my 5 year clean bill of health anniversary!
I have one treatment of Herceptin left. On June 9th I have a MUGA Scan scheduled, and then my last IV treatment at Kaiser and already feel very nervous and anxious inside. Can believe I have one treatment left! its been an ongoing but fast treatment.
Hope I don't get so excited I throw up again, like when I did when it was my half way through chemo day! (that was a little embarrassing!)
Mom even sneaked in with surprise party .. balloons, cake, ice cream, congratulations banners around the room!! I had a wonderful time. I had never been there before and now look forward to going back on my 5 year clean bill of health anniversary!
I have one treatment of Herceptin left. On June 9th I have a MUGA Scan scheduled, and then my last IV treatment at Kaiser and already feel very nervous and anxious inside. Can believe I have one treatment left! its been an ongoing but fast treatment.
Hope I don't get so excited I throw up again, like when I did when it was my half way through chemo day! (that was a little embarrassing!)
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Blog to Book
Have re-read my blog and have done some punctuation adjustments and have sent it off via the Internet to be printed into a book.
Any new posts, which should be very few, will be hand written in the back of the book. The book is soft cover 8 1/2 by 11 in size and costed me about $40.00 to print and ship it.
so I guess, this blog is pretty much done.
Thanks for all the support, comments, questions and kindness! It along with help from Jehovah has helped me be a cancer survivor.
Any new posts, which should be very few, will be hand written in the back of the book. The book is soft cover 8 1/2 by 11 in size and costed me about $40.00 to print and ship it.
so I guess, this blog is pretty much done.
Thanks for all the support, comments, questions and kindness! It along with help from Jehovah has helped me be a cancer survivor.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
High Tea
Today mom and I met with Jessica, Lisa Gerhke, Shari, Tawnya, Jan and Virgie for High Tea in celebration that I am well and chemo and radiation is over with, at this little place in Longview called The Britts at 2pm. They had our table all set up, beautiful little plates, cups and saucers, tea pots, glass creamers, water glasses, Sterling silver napkin rings on fabric napkins, Sterling silver sugar bowls with little spoons and a white table cloth. Our table was beautifully set for a tea party.
Then they brought out two trays and two stackable trays that had three plates on each of little sandwiches like slice cucumber with cream cheese on a little round of bread and sprinkled with dill (my favorite!), small rounds of English muffins with chicken, cream cheese and chopped tomatoes, bread with egg salad sprinkled with cayenne, phylo dough wrapped little sausages, little quiches, turkey between rye bread and white bread. Once plate on each tray was dessert, that had marionberry scones, fruit and a chocolate lollipop. The table also had a divided bowl of lemon curd, lime jelly and coddled cream (like butter) to spread on the scones. These were really good.
We had several refills on the tea , visited and had a very very very very nice time. I so appreciate the sisters (and brothers) in our hall who have all be soo very supportive through all of this.
I think back to when a pioneer sister stopped by my house and encouraged me after surgery, " Pray to Jehovah for the wisdom to make the right medical decision for me and my situation" This has played in my mind ever since, and its been a year now. Thank you to her for the wise counsel.
Also had my second hair cut today. Today was more of a shaping than a cut , she blow dried it and used a very small flat iron on it. I have bangs!!! Oh how I have missed my bangs! I feel like I can have a style now. I went and bought a small flat iron and will get up extra early tomorrow to try to do it my self. Today for probably the first time since going without a wig in November, I feel like I like my hair and I have style. The girl who waited on our table today at the Britts said to me, " I like your hair".
Then they brought out two trays and two stackable trays that had three plates on each of little sandwiches like slice cucumber with cream cheese on a little round of bread and sprinkled with dill (my favorite!), small rounds of English muffins with chicken, cream cheese and chopped tomatoes, bread with egg salad sprinkled with cayenne, phylo dough wrapped little sausages, little quiches, turkey between rye bread and white bread. Once plate on each tray was dessert, that had marionberry scones, fruit and a chocolate lollipop. The table also had a divided bowl of lemon curd, lime jelly and coddled cream (like butter) to spread on the scones. These were really good.
We had several refills on the tea , visited and had a very very very very nice time. I so appreciate the sisters (and brothers) in our hall who have all be soo very supportive through all of this.
I think back to when a pioneer sister stopped by my house and encouraged me after surgery, " Pray to Jehovah for the wisdom to make the right medical decision for me and my situation" This has played in my mind ever since, and its been a year now. Thank you to her for the wise counsel.
Also had my second hair cut today. Today was more of a shaping than a cut , she blow dried it and used a very small flat iron on it. I have bangs!!! Oh how I have missed my bangs! I feel like I can have a style now. I went and bought a small flat iron and will get up extra early tomorrow to try to do it my self. Today for probably the first time since going without a wig in November, I feel like I like my hair and I have style. The girl who waited on our table today at the Britts said to me, " I like your hair".
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
1 Year Check Up
Today Richard and I went to Vancouver to meet with Dr. Chung. She's the one who did my surgery. She works at the Mill Plain Kaiser in General Surgery.
She was excited and happy that my mammogram came back clean.
Did a breast exam, asked a few questions like am I having any night sweats (not hot flashes), any soreness in the breast or under arm area or weight loss. She explained that if I had anything like this, they would then do a CAT scan or PET scan, that these are symptoms of it returning. I have none of these symptoms! She said everything was fine up to now and keep on doing what Dr. Richert-Boe suggested and would see me in a year for my two year anniversary. She also looked at my port and said it looks good on the outside, and when I am done with the Herceptin in June or after, I can have it taken out. The good news is that I can have it done in a Kaiser office and I don't have to go back to St. Johns same day surgery to have it taken out ( that saved me about $6,000). She explained that to put it in, it has to be done a hospital, but to take it out, its much easier and can she can do it in the office.That was a huge relief!
Dr. Chung is a very nice doctor and has been very upfront and open about everything with us. She told me in the beginning that it would be about a year of treatment. (turned out so far to be about 1 1/2 years by the time I am done with the Hercptin in June.)
I really cant believe its been one year ..... one year...... a year ago tomorrow, February 10th I was having my surgery to have the lump removed and start this whole process to heal myself of breast cancer.
They say five years without it coming back and then I can say I am cancer free.. I have one year behind me!
She was excited and happy that my mammogram came back clean.
Did a breast exam, asked a few questions like am I having any night sweats (not hot flashes), any soreness in the breast or under arm area or weight loss. She explained that if I had anything like this, they would then do a CAT scan or PET scan, that these are symptoms of it returning. I have none of these symptoms! She said everything was fine up to now and keep on doing what Dr. Richert-Boe suggested and would see me in a year for my two year anniversary. She also looked at my port and said it looks good on the outside, and when I am done with the Herceptin in June or after, I can have it taken out. The good news is that I can have it done in a Kaiser office and I don't have to go back to St. Johns same day surgery to have it taken out ( that saved me about $6,000). She explained that to put it in, it has to be done a hospital, but to take it out, its much easier and can she can do it in the office.That was a huge relief!
Dr. Chung is a very nice doctor and has been very upfront and open about everything with us. She told me in the beginning that it would be about a year of treatment. (turned out so far to be about 1 1/2 years by the time I am done with the Hercptin in June.)
I really cant believe its been one year ..... one year...... a year ago tomorrow, February 10th I was having my surgery to have the lump removed and start this whole process to heal myself of breast cancer.
They say five years without it coming back and then I can say I am cancer free.. I have one year behind me!
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