Category Archives: Health Issues

Health Issues

Radiation planning March 7 2010

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Today I went to the Fraser Valley Cancer Clinic (FVCC) and I saw the gals in radiology who did some Scans and marking of the breast area that is to be hit with radiation. I think the procedure was an hour or so. The first thing was I watched a video of what would happen, and that took about 15 min to watch. Then I had to get in a gown and get on the table of the machine, and they put me in a certain position.. the same position I have to be in for each radiation treatment. They did a mold of my body shape and how I had my arms over my head, and they did an exact mold so each time I use that to “assume the position”.  Then after they did many different scans in different directions, took pictures with the camera’s… I was then injected with some dye, just a pinprick x 3 so they marked the boundaries of where I would be zapped. Tattooed x 3, it is a small dot.

I have to now wait for the “planning” part of it to be done.. where the radiology gals and the DR decide on the strength of zapping, and the length of each treatment. I know I have to do mon-fri x 5 weeks. The specialist told me that, but I still don’t know  the start date for that.

I have to go for a bone scan tomorrow, and a liver ultrasound ?? no date yet. I imagine they are just looking to see if the cancer might have spread. I’m not sure. Maybe they are looking at baselines before the radiation happens.

I also got a call from Surrey Memorial Hospital  Rehab. I need to go on the 9th for physio. They see breast surgery patients 1 month post to assess how they are doing, and measure post op to assess for lymphedema.

I see my family Dr on Thursday. I still have to do fasting blood work but it’s been to nuts with having to travel to Calgary the day after I saw my Dr, and now having appointments or tests each day. I’m just tired of all of the running.

I got sick when I went to Calgary. Mum had a wicked sore throat, and coughing ++ and I managed to get it (no surprise there). Anyways I’m now in the midst of a sore throat and hacking ++, fever. I tried to get in to see my family Dr tomorrow but she’s already double booked so it was a no go. I feel a bit better today, not coughing up as much gunk so that’s good. 🙂

That is all of my news thus far. I’ve been taking the letrozole, and I do think I am feeling some extra joint pain, more sweats (yahoo!) and definately noticing more PACs.  The pharmacy was closed while I was there at cancer clinic today, but I will ask them about the side effects of letrozole. I imagine, even though I am post menopausal, that the letrozole is driving my estrogen levels down further, thereby increasing my menopausal side effects. That’s my theory anyways and I’m going with it until I hear differently. heheh

…Pam…

Health Issues, Something About Us

Pam's father, Vernon J. Amero

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Vern AmeroLast night we got a phone call just shortly after nine pm. It was from Pam’s brother. Their father had passed away just minutes earlier. He was 85 years old.

He had been having some health related issues recently, so it was not a total shock, but still unexpected at this time. He did not suffer, and the hospital stay was mercifully short.

Pam and her fatherVern was a great guy. Simple, loving and lovable. He took great pride in his children. He loved to send letters, and his letters were homey, interesting and sweet. He wasn’t afraid to express his emotions, and it was nice to know that he cared so much for the people around him. He spoke often of the love for his wife, for his son who provided so much comfort to him, and he was happy that his daughters had found love in their lives too.

Vern in uniformAs a young man Vern lied about his age so he could join the military. He served in the medical corp for much of his career, and retired to Calgary, where he lived quietly. He loved to make doll houses, complete with miniature furniture.

I remember when Pam and I first moved in together, before we were married, he was the first person who knocked on our door. He brought with him a stool he had made, (our first piece of furniture!) and then we sat around on the floor while he regaled us with jokes and card tricks. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and his ability to turn a card trick was amazing.

He had a long life, and was blessed with good health throughout much of it.  We will miss him very much.

Pam has flown home to be with her family at this difficult time.

Health Issues

Cancer Agency Visit Feb 16th 2011

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Today we met with my Oncologist Dr Oja. He was great. I really liked his manner, the tone he set, he took so much time with us, he answered a ton of questions, gave his opinion on issues and he was a wealth of knowledge. I was impressed.  I’m not easily impressed. He answered Maurice’s questions and included him in the visit. There was not one thing I could complain about.

So, to the nitty gritty…  he looked at the size of original tumor 1.1cm , grade of tumor (2) and my age and general health etc. He said they know % rates for  relapses,  risks of death…  with just doing nothing except the radiation which I will need to have for sure from 4-6 weeks of it. The % of risk of relapse if they add 5 yrs of hormone therapy (which for me was strongly recommended), and what the % risk of death is with hormone therapy….  then they added in what the risks would be with chemotherapy added for relapse and death. So I’ll just write it out as succinctly as I can (a chore for me as anyone who knows me knows..)

As things are, with doing nothing but Radiation = 25-35% of risk of relapse, 8-12 % risk of death from breast cancer.

Adding Hormone therapy (which was strongly recommended I do, and have done) = 5 yrs of Letrozole prevents a further 12-18% of relapses  (puts me about 13% chance or relapse) plus prevents  2-5 % risk of death from breast cancer  (puts me down to 6-7% chance death)

PLUS adding Chemotherapy = 6 treatments each 3 weeks apart (possible to do, but not strongly recommended) prevents extra 6 % of relapses  (would put me at 7%) plus prevents  2-4 % of deaths.   (would put me 4-6%)

The chemo is harsh on the body and there are potentially serious side effects/complications that didn’t seem worth the risk to do it considering that my cancer was caught so early and only one lymph node involved.  Dr Oja went over all of the risks and complications with us and did not strongly recommend I do chemo as well, but that choice is up to me. I have made the decision that I am not going to do the chemo.  I walked in there thinking I would throw everything I was offered at it, but after looking at the stats and the risks and the percentages, I feel like I’m making the right decision, and at the end of the day, that is what is important.. is that I’m comfortable with the decision that I have to live with. 🙂

I also asked about clinical trials that were going on, so we will see if I am to be a part of them, they have done some blood work today, and I also had a chest xray today, got my first 3 months of Letrozole  and met with the clinical trials nurse.

I’m still having some nerve pain from the surgery, and areas of numbness. I am meeting with my family Dr on Feb 22nd, and I’ll let her see the data and let her know what I’ve decided, and we will take a snapshot as to how I’m feeling and see if I feel ready to go back to work. Today I don’t, but the 22nd is 6 days away so I’m hoping that things will feel better by then! 🙂

I will post things as they happen 🙂 I’m grateful Maurice was with me.

…Pam…

Health Issues

Friends visit

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I had 2 of my co-workers, (but I will call them friends, for that is what they are)  visit today for a while. They spent some time with me sitting in the living room just gabbing about things going on, telling me stories and made me laugh. It was a nice visit, and they brought a big bristle board with stickies on it and notes from so many people at work wishing me a happy valentines and get well wishes, and they brought food as well, so Bonus!

Helen brought some home made red pepper/tomato soup and some buns, and Laila brought some Naan and some Chicken Methi and an eggplant dish. Maurice and I just enjoyed half of the soup, and will have the rest for tomorrow for lunch (thanks Helen!) and we will have the east Indian dishes tonight for dinner (thanks Laila!). The soup was really swell, and we wolfed it down. I know Laila is a great cook so I’m looking forward to having the dinner tonight to taste the flavours.

So far I’ve had visits from several friends at work including  Maggie, Gen, Jeanette, Sue, Gloria L, Donna S, Cheryl W, Deb C, Emely and Helen R and Laila. Plus I have had emails from so many people, it’s really swell to have such support around us. Thank you everyone who has come over, who has emailed, who has phoned, who chipped in for the gifts from both sites, and who has cooked for us. You all have been just awesome and I’m in awe of how great everyone has been. Like I say, I may have breast cancer, but I can’t help but think I’m a lucky woman. I’ve a man who loves me, a furbaby who loves me, family who love me, and great friends and co-workers, a job I love…  a home I love, .. life is good.

…Pam…

Health Issues

Cancer Clinic appointment

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I got a call from surgeon’s office today, and she had a date for the cancer clinic appointment. I am to go on Feb 16th @ 12:40. So now at least I have a date. Maurice is coming with me 🙂 Once we meet with the oncologist we should be able to find out when the radiation treatments will start, and discuss options as to hormonal and chemo options. Hopefully we’ll find out when that will start as well. I imagine I’ll have to have some baseline blood work for kidney and liver function done, but I’m not 1000% sure. 🙂

It is probably nuts to be excited to have a day for the cancer clinic, but I can’t help but feel optimistic that things are moving along at a good speed. At least things are happening. They might not be good things, but I feel like I’m wading through this process one heavy step at a time. Two surgeries done, now on to the cancer agency for the next hoop!

Today I am having a visit from a couple of co workers – Helen R and Laila  so that will be a swell visit. 🙂 It’s very cheering to me to have friends come by and I so appreciate all of the emails and calls etc. I’m looking forward to seeing them.

I continue to do the physio exercises but they are hard to do to get arm extensions done as it hurts ++ in axilla and at surgical site, but the surgeon assured me that I should push through it, that the surgical site is not going to pull apart, and to try to do them as best I can to keep myself limber and prevent getting a frozen shoulder.  The neck is still bothering me today, but I’m trying my level best to just keep it in good alignment and hope that it doesn’t flare further.

…Pam…

Health Issues

Surgeon's update

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We got good news at the surgeons. I have a copy of the pathology report from the remaining lymph nodes (she took out 6 more on Feb 1st). It shows there is no further cancer in remaining 6 nodes they took out. I told Dr Janzen  about the numbness and the nerve pain I was having. She said costal nerve was not cut so thinks it will improve when swelling healing happens.. says nerves get manipulated etc, so hopefully it will improve, it’s numb in parts and hypersensitive in others. She said she felt the incisions were healing well.

I saw family Dr today and I go back and see her again on 22nd, to see if I feel ok enough to go back to work. Told her right now I’m not, that nerve pain and extensive numbness etc was gross right now… plus my neck C6-7 pain has been exacerbated (not as severe as before, but it’s not right either, and is causing me some bother).  So I’ll hear from and see cancer clinic  hopefully in the next couple weeks.  I am feeling good that there was no remaining cancer, but still could be cells in breast along track where biopsy was… so hopefully the radiation will blast any remaining cells.

The worst part right now is this unrelenting pain and numbness that is there all the time. I wasn’t expecting any nerve pain. I had read that there might be numbness,  but this pain is weird. I want it to fade away with the swelling and I hope that it does.

So the short version is, I think I got good news today. I still have to see Cancer clinic and talk to them, and I know I will need 4-6 weeks of radiation, but what I don’t know, is if I will also need chemo along with the tamoxifin or other hormone receptive med I will be put on. Both of my drs told me they think I will also need to have chemo as the cancer spread to a lymph node…  but I will talk to the cancer clinic. This is their specialty and it’s a new road I’m on, so i’ll listen carefully to all options ahead.

I’m resting up for the next hoop to jump through to get me through this. I thank everyone who’s emailed me and or called/visited. It’s swell to have friends and feel supported.

…Pam…

Health Issues

Davol Drain is out! Progress is made.

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Feb 6th  Sunday:

At 08:45 the home care nurse called to say she was coming shortly for a visit. We were ready when she got here. The dog was safely tucked away in a room while she came to take the drain out. Home care have certain safety stipulations and one is, that if you have a dog/pet that they be locked away while they visit, so no risk of getting bitten or scratched. They also keep their shoes on, WCB regulations, so they don’t accidentally step on a pin or puncture or cut themselves in any way. Also they want to know how many people are in the home when they visit.  Anyways, she came and I pulled the dressing off while she got her dressing tray ready for the big event! 🙂

Pam's IncisionThe drainage has been getting less and less each day, so for the last 24 hrs it has been about 15 cc’s only. Well under the Dr’s order of if the drainage is less than 24 cc’s in 24 hrs.. the drain can come out.  🙂 So with a cut of the suture holding it in place, and a pull, it was OUT. Now, all I have there is the breast incision (still has some green dye on it) and a small dressing in armpit where they took the lymph nodes out and where the drain was in. That fresh incision and drain site is covered with a small mepore dressing. I’ve asked M to take a picture of it so you can see what it looks like (I didn’t take a picture while the drain was in but I guess I should have).

I was hoping the feeling of a big lump under my arm would go away. I had thought the big Abdominal pad they had folded in place was what I was feeling, but it wasn’t. It’s numb under my arm still, and when my arm is down by my side, it’s numb under my arm too, so it’s 2 numb things touching each other (weird feeling, let me tell you) that I am feeling. There is something going on with my nerves in the area, because sometimes if I move my arm or shoulder a certain way, it’s like I get a burning electric shock in my shoulder/axilla area. It’s hard to explain, but I am hoping as healing starts now that the drain is out, that it will get better slowly. fingers crossed!

The next thing that is going to happen is that home care will call in a couple of days to see how things are looking, and if no signs of infection in surgical sites, then I’ll be officially discharged from the home care program. I see family Dr and Surgeon on Feb 10th and I’m expecting to get news of the rest of the lymph nodes taken out Feb 1st.

Still no word from the cancer agency, but I think they wait until the breast and axilla heal up (about 4 weeks I think surgeon said) before they start me on radiation. I expect I’ll need chemo, but I will have to talk to them and see what they suggest.