Miriam's Journey:
Patient: Breast Cancer
Patient Info: Currently in active treatment (initial surgery, receiving chemo rounds/radiation), Diagnosed: over 9 years ago, Female, Age: 70
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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I was afraid this would happen.
Oh No
History of Breast Cancer runs in my family. Since it is genetic I always feared I would be a carrier and now this fear has been confirmed.
Breast Reconstruction (Implant)
Procedure or Surgery
I had a right mastectomy and an implant. Unfortunately, the implant had to be removed and I had several surgeries becasue the plastic surgeon left a sponge in my body. It was a long recoverery and I still have to go through an implant. I have a chest that looks like a battlefield and I still have discomfort around the site.
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
The first series left me sick and extremely tired but I tired to keep busy and work as much as I could. The second round (taxal) I lost my hair and was really tired but it was much easier than the first.
Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
Side Effects
Chemo brain is very real!! Although I am better, it was difficult to remember things and to process information. Now I am six months from the last chemo treatment. I still have neuropathy but it is better. My fingernails and toenails that I lost are back, my eye lashes and eye brows are grown back and my brain is working better. I am still tired a good deal of the time but that is better too. The biggest problem now is joint pain and hot flashes from the post chemo meds.
Mastectomy
Procedure or Surgery
I am in the process of scheduling a second mastectomy. Since my cancer was hereditary I want to eliminate any chance of a reoccurance. When I have the surgery I will have two implants also "installed". I debated on this but decided that clothes don't fit well without breasts. I am looking forward to some closer on this whole process.