ablomquist's Journey:
Patient: Breast Cancer
Patient Info: Currently in active treatment (initial surgery, receiving chemo rounds/radiation), Female, Age: 60, Stage I, HER2 Positive: No, ER Positive: Yes, PR Positive: Yes
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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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Diagnosed
Oh No
I always get my yearly mammogram. I have had multiple lumpectomies. Always negative. Until 8/24/12. I work in healthcare. I saw the images and knew. A few days later, the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. I have a great support system at the hospital. The people there take the time to comfort and encourage me.
Lumpectomy
Procedure or Surgery
Prior to the surgery, I had a needle localization. While it wasn't painful, I have a number of them, It wasn't a walk in the park. I then went for the sentinel node mapping, laid there for 2 hours. Then to the OR for the lumpectomy. My surgeon is amazing. She took the time to make sure that the nodes that were "screaming" were removed (3). She also made sure that the tumor was on the specimen. There was a question regarding that, so, she took a second scoop. Lots of bruising after surgery, even with the ice packs. Some kind of phantom pain... but not too bad. I have a sensitivity to the adhesive on the tapes so that was kind of uncomfortable.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
Procedure or Surgery
The Nuclear Medicine mapping was excruciating!!!!! There was no time to numb the area before the procedure. Lucky for me, I worked in the department for a number of years so I had plenty of hand holders.
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
Everything seems to be changing.... I have nausea most of the day.... I feel like I am on fire....I can't seem to finish the day with out some sort of fatigue. After the steroids It will improve, I am told. I hope so!
Power Port Placement
Procedure or Surgery
What a blessing!!!!!!! Anyone with a Chronic Disease that requires multiple injections, please consider a port!
Insomina
Side Effects
I can't sleep more than an hour at a time. I am getting so tired. I called the Dr today.. was told to try Benadryl.
Nausea/Vomiting
Side Effects
I forgot to eat before the Chemo on Wednesday... big mistake.... nausea and light headed...I wll not forgot again.
My mind/Sense of Humor
Loss
I can't seem to remember things without writing them down. Also, I am very short tempered.... I hate that!