Date
Breast Cancer Ribbon

Archive for March 2013

Palm Sunday

posted by:
Unknown

My husband and I got foot and body massage. It was a much needed massage to relieve my muscles from side effects of chemo and radiation. My onco approved massage than taking meds. I hope it releases the strain in my muscles, and improve my blood circulation. My toenails seems to be nearing detachment but i still hope they can still revive. The body massage works only on the back and hands. It works well for me since i still have sore left side so full body massage with oil is not yet possible for me. I will surely have one once my radiation soreness is over and done with. Couldn't wait for that relaxing feeling!

My third daughter will be arriving tonight! It's her short school break and she will have summer classes starting april 15. Tomorrow my second daughter will be coming also. She will have break from her nmat review classes. Then my eldest on april 20.

I am looking forward to being with my daughters. I do miss them a lot especially during my treatments and downtimes. It helps me a lot just having some girls talk. Also girls bonding moments called shopping! I do love all my children very much and would want to still be here for them. Here is my prayer.,,

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My 12th day

posted by:
Unknown

I woke at 1:30 am because of heart burn. At first i got nervous thinking it might be heart attack. I tried to get up to drink water. I felt a little better so i got up and got another glass of water. Tried to relax myself but when i tried to lay down on the bed it acted up again. So i got up to make hot green tea, after drinking i just sat up on the bed searched in the internet until after an hour, was able to catch my sleep again. I woke up again at 6:45am to start the day.

After taking my boys ( 3 including my husband ) to school and work, i drove back home to park the car then rode the bus to Kiang Wu. The radiation was a breeze.

I rode the bus again going home, passed the market to buy fruits. I got banana and papaya and mango to help me prevent heartburn again.

During the time i was awake, i was able to search in the internet about the side effects of my treatments. What i have been feeling was called fatigue, waking up feeling tired and muscles aching. I found out that these can go on until the hormone therapy. Lately i have been feeling little frustration because of these. I just really need to accept these things and fight it out. Acupunture and massage are acceptable remedies to help alleviate the pains. Well, i better go for it soonest!!

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Tenth Radiation Therapy

posted by:
Unknown

Today i had my 10th Radiation Therapy. Everything went well. I think i am getting the rhythm of the therapy. My left hand is still aching and i try to exercise it. Hope my muscles will recover completely from the pain soon!!

I am enjoying communicating with my children even just by imessage. They seem to be just nearby, the world is getting smaller! My sister in law just texted and they are in australia. My classmates in LA and SFO thru viber also communicated. I love receiving messages!



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Busy Monday

posted by:
Unknown

I woke up early for my 9 am appointment with a surgeon at San Teng Hospital. My derma referred me to this surgeon to make excision biopsy on two nodules, one on my right armpit, the other on the middle of my ribs. The surgeon will do it by local anesthesia. He scheduled it on April 15 at 2:30pm.

Then at 10:am i went to Kiang Wu Hospital for my 9th radiation therapy. I rode the bus going to and from the two Hospitals. It was good because the buses i needed to ride all have their terminals at the back of our condo.

Then after fetching my boys at school, we had to go to the Macau Science Center to shoot pictures for my older son's CTS class.

After dinner, we again drove to more places to shoot. It was fun but quite tiring. As advised by my nurse and my daughter, i did stretching of my left arm even with pains and i feel that it is getting better.

When i looked in the mirror, it is official that my eyelashes are now growing back! My eyebrows are 100% back, full grown!

Only my toenails need to recover...



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Sunday

posted by:
Unknown

Yesterday and today, i am relaxed, no radiation. My husband and i had foot massage in Taipa. Then we had early dinner at an italian restaurant.

During the massage, i felt my toes get their sense back. There was pain during the massage but i think my nerves were loosened and blood circulated again in my toes. Today, i feel my feet improved a lot. There is still joint pains but the ankle, sole and toes are much better!

My left hand still acts up with shooting pains every now and then. I did some stretching this morning and tried exercising my hands the whole day. I hope to wake up with lesser pains. I guess anticipating the pains makes my joints become stiff. Have to fight the pains away! Shoooooo!!! Go away !!!

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Thursday

posted by:
Unknown

Today i had my 7th radiation therapy with moral support from my husband. It was good that we were able to park in the hospital parking as it was drizzling. We were able to have snacks and hot drinks from the pacific coffee at the hospital lobby.

My left hand still aches every now and then. My toes are improving slowly.

My youngest son's cough and colds has improved with 4 days medication. He was able to go back to school today. Tomorrow they will have the student led conferences.

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Wednesday

posted by:
Unknown

My left arm is feeling weak and aching every now and then. It is starting to bother me and it is starting to be frustrating. It is like going back to the weeks after surgery. Same feeling minus the soreness of the operated area.

I am thankful it's my left breast. I couldn't imagine how i could cope if it was my right side. I would be completely useless since i am right handed. I could bear not using much my left hand somehow.

Tonite i will try to sleep with pillow on my left hand. I might have slept on my left side and squeezed my left hand. I am feeling improvements on my toes, lesser degree on peripheral neuropathy but still there and still tires easily.

I would not want to be taking painkillers all the time, please aches go away from my body!

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Cool Tuesday

posted by:
Unknown

Today i had to rush back home after taking my older son to school and My husband to work, to give morning medicines to my five year old son. As usual my feet and left arm still feel weak especially since i was not able to sleep well because my youngest son had fever at 2am and had to give him medicine then watched over him until his fever went down. I was so tired from yesterday as i had to do all the driving the whole day. Had to bring my son to the clinic, also fetched my husband at the airport. I hope i am not abusing my remaining strength. I hope i am not taking my pains for granted. These are only side effects and will soon go away!

I am happy as my third daughter will be studying here in the University of Macau for a semester from august to december! We would be able to be together even for just a semester! Surely it will be a great time for her and us here in Macau! Yehey!!

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Sunny Sunday

posted by:
Unknown

Clear blue sky at 20 degrees centigrade now in Macau!

Woke up having a headache. My hands and feet are feeling so tired though i practically did not do much yesterday. It has always been this ache since post chemo. I really miss being just ok. I would like to start exercising but my body isn't that ready yet. Maybe, it is tired from resting?!

I shaved my head to let the tiny shoots catch up in length. About 50% is thick and normal already but 50% is just too tiny thin. I also put coconut milk to give my scalp and hair a boost. I am so excited to have at least 2" of hair so i can already not wear head cover. Spring is in already and it doesn't look well if i still cover my head with bonnets. The wig is just fine but i don't feel that comfortable after because of the marks from the garters and gives me sort of small headaches.

My eyebrows are 90% out and needed to pluck already! Yehey i wouldn't need to use my eyebrow pencils anymore! Maybe i could use them as eyeliners because my eyelashes are still not showing up. I will have eyelash extensions once they are officially out and not thick enough! My daughter will accompany me to where she had her eyelash extensions.

So many plans already! I couldn't wait anymore! Please "Pain, Pain go away, come again no other day, little evelyn wants to be well!!"

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3rd Radiation Therapy

posted by:
Unknown

Today i had to wake up early to go to my 9am schedule 3rd Radiation Therapy. My second treatment yesterday was at 10 am. Again it was all done in about 20 minutes. All the staff were very friendly even those that don't speak english.

After my therapy i had to bring my son to an opthalmologist for an eye check up and we found out that he is near sighted. We had a portuguese doctor who speaks english well. Then had his lenses changed to his eye grade now.

We had a good lunch at yaohan fastfood. Then we went back home after passing by the water reservoir to take pictures for my son's CTS subject ( video and photography ).

My husband is in PI so i do all the driving. I am forced to do everything though my body is still weak. I am hoping that by stretching myself my body will be trained to be stronger again. I look forward to the day when my joints and muscles would be just the way they were post op!!!



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My first radiation therapy

posted by:
Unknown

I woke up early again so i could be ahead of the boys. After taking them to school and dropping my husband to work i parked the car at the condo then rode the bus to Kiang Wu. I was just on time and was called in at 10am and was done by 10:19, so the procedure was less than 20 minutes! It was my first radiation therapy and this will be every weekday until April 10, 2013 ( 25 sessions total )

I got back home by bus then had a sandwich at McDo then rode bus again to the Santeng Hospital for my appointment with the derma at 12 noon. I was called in and checked up and done by 12:40. I then rode the bus back home. It is so good that these buses have their terminal just at the back of our condo. It's a real blessing!

After resting for a few minutes, i had to drive again to fetch my sons from school. We had to drive around so my son can take pictures for his CTS subject, then had an hour rest then fetched my husband. Had dinner at home then took my husband to the airport.

I was able to do so many things though i still feel some pains especially on my legs and left arm. My left arm has the 'ngawit' ache while my legs felt tired especially in the afternoon.

I miss my strength pre - Modified Radical Mastectomy period. Now I get so tired easily and my legs are always so weak. I hope to regain everything soonest, in God's time...

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A Wednesday

posted by:
Unknown

I woke up early to be able to shower ahead of my boys. They have a precise schedule of waking up, taking a bath, eating breakfast and getting ready and going to school. I was even able to have breakfast. I brought them to school then dropped my husband to work then went back home.

I was feeling well enough so i rode the bus to the Kiang Wu hospital for my appointment. I was at the Radiation Therapy Center at 10 am. After only a little while i was called into a room. My body mould was there on the table and i was made to lay down on it. The doctor had to check again the position then did some adjustments and after several on and off moments checking and rechecking she made markings on my skin which will serve as guide for the radiation therapy procedure. It needs to be precise so as not to hit my lungs and heart. With all the adjustments done and their precision i can only hope and pray that the radiation would not harm me in any way but would be able to target and kill any cancer cells still inside my body.

Shoo away all cancer cells!! Farewell to you and never come back again! Ever!

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Cool Tuesday

posted by:
Unknown

I like the weather today, sunny and cool 20 degrees centigrade, perfect spring weather in Macau.

My left arm is better today. I did some stretching in the morning so my muscles won't be sore again. I sometimes feel sudden tiny twitching needle pricks of my left leg. I guess my nerves were somewhat disturbed by the surgery and chemo that they twitch every now and then. Is it only my imagination or it is really happening?

Today i had to pull out / pluck tiny eyebrow hairs! My eyebrows are growing back ( 85%) though they are not yet full grown. I think my eyelashes are 15% back also. My hair are already about 90% but only 30% are about an inch long and 60% are still shoots. I can see that all the pores have shoots already coming out. I think i may need to cut the shoots for them to grow faster. My estimate, according to my research that hair grows about 1/2" a month, i will have good hair length by end of April, maybe by May i will need to go to the Parlor already!

This afternoon, the Radiation Therapy Center called me up to tell me i have appointment tomorrow for radiation at 10:15am. So i will need to sleep early and wake up early so i can eat breakfast then drive my boys to school then go back home to ride the bus to the Hospital. I hope my body will not have bad reactions to the radiation therapy. I need strength of body and mind, as always!!

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Sunny Cold Monday

posted by:
Unknown

My third daughter texted me she ranked 44 on the JTA applicants so she has bigger chance of taking JTA here at the University of Macau. She can be with us from august to december of this year. It means a lot for us all if she takes one term here in Macau. Actually she is a resident card holder here so there wouldn't be any visa problem for her.

I am feeling lesser pains on my feet and hands today. I was able to rest this weekend and enjoyed being with my visitors. My neighbors' family ( 3 generations ) were here to enjoy macau food with us. Actually they were even the ones who introduced a good restaurant ( A Lorcha ) here to us. I enjoyed chatting and touring them around.




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Pink Friday

posted by:
Unknown

Today at my sons' school, everybody is encouraged to wear pink, to support anti bullying drive. It is Pink Shirt day for dress down day. Every month they have a day where you are not required to wear uniform, they can wear casual clothes though usually they have a theme which one can follow.

Yesterday i rode the bus going to the Hospital for my CT Scan. Was there by 3 pm then notified my nurse to check me in. The procedure was done at another department but my nurse was with me all the way, she with another male assistant nurse with my body mold were guiding and assuring me every step.

After the procedure they asked me to stay for a while then i can leave if i don't experience any unusual bad feeling. I was feeling ok so i left to ride the bus. The bus ride home was just fine.

I think i am starting to have running nose and colds. I need to do water therapy which helps me a lot in this situation. My nurse also advised me to drink more water to flush out the radioactive thing they injected before the CT Scan. So its 'hitting two birds with one stone'. A friend told me about alkaline water, but i don't have a source here in Macau.

This morning i woke up with my arms still aching especially my left arm. My legs are still weak but i feel improvements on my toes. The 'peripheral neuropathy' is now lesser, 6 toes out of ten! My fingers are better, my nails starting to show white normal color 9 out of 10. My toe nails improving normal growth 6 out of ten. My pinky toe nails and big toe nails still have dark colors but looking forward to better days ahead!!!

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