I am the Jive Bunny, and I have breast cancer since I was diagnosed on March 27th, 2017 from a mammogram on March 14th, 2017. When I think back to that day, I was really not surprised. I was told I had breast cancer 17 years ago and I remember having a cyst drained by an older woman doctor at Woman's College Hospital, and that seemed to do the trick.
In 2014, I was bleeding and was told by a young Chinese doctor that I had endometrial cancer; so I had a D and C in January 2015 and that was that. The Chinese Doctor told me that they took out a large tumour, but it was not tested for cancer like my breast biopsy that I had on March 27, 2017. It was now or never.
The women doctors I had were fabulous starting with the biopsy on the same day as the diagnosis.
A series of tests were performed in April at Woman's College Hospital, Brac1 and Brac2 test because I was newly diagnosed with breast cancer and I had Jewish genes from my father Abe Joseph.
My lumpectomy operation was on April 26th at WCH; at that time lying on a stretcher waiting for my operation, I was called and told I was normal for the Brac1 and Brac2 test. What a relief that was!
My sister Linda told me to ask for medication and I did. When I was all hooked up I had to go pee,
and the bedpan did the trick. All I remember is saying to the nurse I wanted to be in Scotland, and I woke up with my lovely son beside me. WCH is only open till 6:00pm and I was the last patient to leave that day. By the way, I had turned 65 on April 9th, so I made it to 65 and now had cancer.
May was a blur and my first visit to Princess Margaret Hospital. I could not believe how crowded it was when I walked in to visit my oncologist on the 2nd floor. I was talked into a new form of chemotherapy and my tumours were sent away to Redwood, California to see if I qualified with 500 others with the same cancer and this would cost $10,000.00. I had never travelled to California and my tumours did. I was lucky I applied for the Ontario Drug Benefits so my drugs would be covered.
It was like buying a car or taking a vacation that I could not afford when I found out the cost for cancer treatments, I guess I was lucky I qualified for the new drugs and I started chemotherapy June14th on the 4th floor of PMH; four chemo daycare sessions three weeks apart.
The Grastofil (is a man-made protein called granulocyte colony - stimulating factor (G-CSF), which is made using the bacteria E. Coli. ) injections for seven days after each chemo were the worse, with side-effects like bone, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, diarrhea, cough, sore throat, elevation of liver enzymes and reduction of platelets( cells involved in clotting) which increases the risk of bleeding or bruising.
I did go to the hospital by ambulance once when I injected myself in my side which could have caused spleen rupture, serious allergic reactions and ARDS ( a serious lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome). I was told to take two Tylenol and to go home.
I still owe $50.00 for the ambulance. I lost all the hair on my body and bought a wig for $500.00 with money I had won at Fallsview Casino in May. I won 20 jackpots there in May and June to help pay for my cancer. Momma needed a new wig!
I think I know every cure for every side-effect using drugs and I have all of them because I had every side-effect that there was! With the blood tests I knew every abnormal red and white blood cell and I had no immune system. Thanks to the breast site group website for UHN Princess Margaret Cancer Centre I was able to track all my results; I was able to call the nursing supervisor and I did on a few scary occasions.
I rang that bell on August 27th for my last chemotherapy daycare treatment and then I started radiation for 16 days till October 23rd. Chemo daycare started again in November 4th, 2017 and the next chemo daycare is May 5th, 2018 every 6 months.
I am taking a pill called letrozole (Femara) for treating hormone sensitive breast cancer in women after menopause because I am 100% estrogen. These pills have side-effects as well, but they are supposed to help my type of breast cancer.
So that has been my year living with breast cancer. I am tired all the time and am collecting wigs now with the retirement money I have from OAS and CPP. I have a roof over my head and a few good friends and sisters for support and of course my wonderful son Josh who is my best supporter through all this. My treatments will continue until I can( kick this breast cancer to the curb) as my Great-Nephew Jake Sullivan says with good nutrition and plenty of exercise. A positive attitude helps and knowing that you have support when needed helps too. My 65th year has been one I will never forget. Remember to listen to your body and visit your doctor for regular check-ups...we have all lost relatives and friends to cancer and cancer can be cured if caught early enough. Love your friends and relatives because we don't know how long we have!
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