Monday, April 9, 2012

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Below is the CALENDAR OF EVENTS that will be updated as this journey continues.  This gives you an idea of the waiting involved with this production called Breast Cancer.

April 9, 2012 - Monday
Radiation #24
Examined by Radiation Oncologist - all is going well

April 6, 2012 - Friday
Radiation #23

April 5, 2012 - Thursday
Radiation #22
XRays to make sure all looks good.

April 4, 2012 - Wednesday
Radiation #21

April 3, 2012 - Tuesday
Radiation #20

April 2, 2012 - Monday
Radiation #19
Examined by Radiation Oncologist - all is going well

March 30, 2012 - Friday
Radiation #18

March 29, 2012 - Thursday
Radiation #17
XRays to make sure all looks good.

March 28, 2012 - Wednesday
Radiation #16

March 27, 2012 - Tuesday
Radiation #15

March 26, 2012 - Monday
Radiation #14
Examined by Radiation Oncologist - all is going well

March 23, 2012 - Friday
Radiation #13

March 22, 2012 - Thursday
Radiation #12
XRays to make sure that all is good

March 21, 2012 - Wednesday
Radiation #11

March 20, 2012 - Tuesday
Radiation #10

March 19, 2012 - Monday
Radiation #9
Examined by Radiation Oncologist - all is going well

March 16, 2012 - Friday
Radiation #8
Blood work to ensure correct levels

March 15, 2012 - Thursday
Radiation #7
XRays to ensure that all looks good

March 14, 2012 - Wednesday
Radiation #6

March 13, 2012 - Tuesday
Radiation #5

March 12, 2012 - Monday
Radiation #4
Examined by Radiation Oncologist - all is going well

March 9, 2012 - Friday
Radiation #3

March 8, 2012 - Thursday
Radiation #2

March 7, 2012 - Wednesday
Radiation #1

March 2, 2012 - Friday
Medical (chemo) Oncologist Follow Up

February 27, 2012 - Monday
Breast Surgeon follow up prior to radiation

February 24, 2012 - Friday
Radiation Scan Blood Work
Radiation Scan & XRays; Body Mold is made
Reconstruction Surgeon follow up prior to radiation; saline injection into breasts

February 9, 2012 - Thursday
Neulasta Antibiotic injection to boost my immune system.
Medical Oncologist follow up

February 8, 2012 - Wednesday
Chemo Treatment #6 of 6, red blood cells somewhat low

January 26, 2012 - Thursday
Pelvic Ultrasound exam

January 25, 2012 - Wednesday
Radiation Oncologist Consultation

January 19, 2012 - Thursday
Neulasta Antibiotic injection to boost my immune system.
Medical Oncologist follow up
GYN pelvic exam

January 18, 2012 - Wednesday
Chemo Treatment #5 of 6, blood cell counts back to normal

December 29, 2011 - Thursday
Neulasta Antibiotic injection to boost my immune system.
Medical Oncologist follow up

December 28, 2011 - Wednesday
Chemo Treatment #4 of 6, blood cell counts back to normal

December 8, 2011 - Thursday
Neulasta Antibiotic injection to boost my immune system.

December 7, 2011 - Wednesday
Chemo Treatment #3 of 6, blood cell counts back to normal.

November 17, 2011 - Thursday
Neulasta Antibiotic injection to boost my immune system.

November 16, 2011 - Wednesday
Chemo Treatment #2 of 6, blood cell counts back to normal.

November 15, 2011 - Tuesday
Plastic Surgeon check up to make sure all is well.  The left tissue extender is sliding a bit to the left, but will be corrected during the exchange surgery (removal of tissue extenders and insertion of the implants).  Inject 25ccs of saline into each breast in order to stretch the tissue a bit more.  Need to confirm with Radiation Oncologist if the preference is to have the exchange surgery before or after radiation.  If before, can have at any time.  If after, need to wait 3 months - ugh.

November 7, 2011 - Monday
Medical Oncologist check up to make sure all is well.

October 27, 2011 - Thursday
Neulasta Antibiotic injection to boost my immune system.

October 26, 2011 - Wednesday
1. First day of Chemo.  Miscommunication about taking steriods the day prior, so we extend the infusion time.  Instead of 4-5 hours, it's more like 8.
2.  Fill prescriptions for Codine and Steriods.

October 18, 2011 - Tuesday
1. Heart Test with Medical Oncologist - to get a clear idea of the condition of my heart before we start chemotherapy
2.  Plastic Surgeon visit - check-up on my breasts, aspirate any remaining fluid in the right breast before chemo; add the last saline injection to stretch the tissue extenders to my 'final' size (another 25ccs)

October 11, 2011 - Tuesday
Plastic Surgeon visit - on my own; aspiratated the right breast removing 18ccs of fluid; told to come back Friday if the fluid really builds up; if fluid issubEe isn't resolved before start of chemo, I'd need to get a catheter inserted.

October 10, 2011 - Monday
Medical Oncologist Day!
1.  Provide vitals - blood pressure & temperature
2.  Meet Dr. Anu Goel, and decide on Chemo schedule
3.  Gave blood to run tests on Vitamin D and Iron levels.

October 7, 2011 - Friday
Plastic Surgeon visit - with Graham; aspirated the right breast removing about 30ccs of fluid; inserted 50ccs of saline into each tissue extender in order to stretch the skin & tissue

October 4, 2011 - Tuesday
Plastic Surgeon visit - with Mom; aspirated the right breast removing over 50ccs of fluid

October 3, 2011 - Monday
Breast Surgeon visit - confirmation of breasts healing; talked through all of pathology reports; hear the stage of the cancer (3) for the first time; confirm the medical oncologist for the chemo treatment and the radiation oncologist for the radiation treatment.

September 27, 2011 - Tuesday
Plastic Surgeon visit - removal of 3 drainage tubes; confirmation of breasts healing

September 26, 2011 - Monday
Results of Cancer Gene Testing - negative.

September 24, 2011 - Saturday
Dinner Meals are delivered to my family by close friends.  They continue through October 4th, as I heal.

September 23, 2011 - Friday
Go home from the hospital.

September 22, 2011 - Thursday
Enter the hospital, and have a Double Mastectomy.

September 15, 2011 - Wednesday
1.  Get sized for my own wig.
2.  Get my hair chopped off, to be used in my own wig.

September 13, 2011 - Tuesday
Pre-Op Day
1.  Plastic Surgeon visit - talk through all of the pre-surgery items, what will take place during the surgery and then the post-op discussions; get prescriptions for antibiotics for post-op
2.  Breast Surgeon visit - talk through all of the pre-surgery items & what will take place during the surgery; receive a mastectomy shirt
3.  Give Blood in order to confirm vitals.

September 9, 2011 - Friday
Genetic Counselor visit - talk through all of family medical history, back 3 generations; give blood for cancer gene testing

September 2, 2011 - Friday
Confirmation of Lower Back MRI - simple stress on the thoracic and lumbar parts of the spine, similar to that of arthritis.

September 1, 2011 - Thursday
Call Dr. Samsun's office to tell them our reconstruction choice, and a surgery date is set before the end of the day.

August 31, 2011 - Wednesday
Meet Plastic Surgeon, Dr. William Samsun and his team.  Take photos of original breasts.  He measures my breasts, and then, with Graham, we talk through the several different types of reconstruction options.

August 30, 2011 - Tuesday
Lower Back MRI

August 25, 2011 - Thursday
Results of PET CT Scan shows some irregularity on the thoracic and lumbar sections of the spine.  Estabrook suggests a lower back MRI to confirm.

August 24, 2011 - Wednesday
Breast MRIs & PET CT Scan (find out before end of day that Breast MRI is clear for the left breast, and no new activity in the right breast)

August 22, 2011 - Monday
Meet Breast Surgeon, Dr. Alison Estabrook, chief of surgery St. Lukes Roosevelt hospital, for the first time.  She advises single mastectomy, breast MRI to confirm no cancer in left breast, PET CT scan to confirm no cancer in the rest of my body, cancer gene testing because of the amount of cancer in family medical history, and start of TAMOXIFEN, an estrogen blocker to shrink the tumors.  I say I'd rather opt for double mastectomy.  She provides her suggestions for plastic surgeons for reconstruction.

August 16, 2011 - Tuesday
Call from my GYN confirms biopsy results - invasive carcinoma in 3 of the 4 biopsied areas, including the lymph nodes.  Treatment will definitely include chemotheraphy.

August 15, 2011 - Monday
Check up to confirm healing of biopsy incisions.

August 10, 2011- Wednesday
Four biopsies performed

August 1, 2011 - Monday
Mammograms & Ultrasounds confirm several 'suspicious areas'; make appointment for four biopsies

July 27, 2011 - Wednesday
GYN appointment confirms presence of a lump.

early July 2011
Find a lump through self-exam

March 2011
annual exam; feel no signs of a lump present

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