You might ask why I have a calendar page of my personal appointments on this website. Simply because when I began this journey in October of 2013, every person told me the same thing... this is going to be a lengthy process, so get yourself a folder, a notebook, a calendar, and get organized because the road ahead is a long one. I had so many questions that no one could answer, such as if I would be able to work or continue my regular routine of activities. All they could tell me is that each person is different and everyone handles the treatments differently, so there is no way to know. I honestly thought that kicking cancer's ass would be an easy-peasy piece of cake... little did I know that it would consume not only my physical and emotional state but also, all my time. Below is a calendar of the facts with photos of what happened to me-- something I wish I had seen before I started this process. Not that it would change anything but so I could be better prepared for the journey.
2016 - 3 years after diagnosis
Feb 2016
Feb 29 - Follow up w/ recon dr again
Mar 2016
Mar 23 - Skin biopsy again
Mar 31 - Full skin checkup May 2016May 16 - Pre-Op Visit
May 19 - Surgery - Capsular Contracture - implant replacement |
May 2016 - Komen CNY Race for the Cure. Shelly and Michelle, survivors.
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Nov 2015
Nov 18 - Radiation Oncol follow up
Sept 2015
Sep 1 - Skin cancer check up
July 2015
Jul 29 - Radiation Oncol follow up
June 2015
Jun 4 - Oncology follow up
June 4 - Group therapy June 25 - Group therapy |
2015 - 2 years after diagnosis
MAY 2015
May 5 - Psychiatry appt
May 12 - Skin Cancer biopsy May 14 - Psychiatry appt May 19 - Pap smear/ovaries checked May 21 - Group therapy appt May 28 - Group therapy appt |
APR 2015
Apr 7 - Psychiatry appointment
Apr 14 - Psychiatry appointment Apr 15 - Radiation follow up dr appt Apr 30 - Psychiatry appt |
Mar 2015
Mar 2 - Psychiatry appointment
Mar 9 - Psychiatry appointment Mar 17 - Psychiatry appointment Mar 19 - Physical Therapy for arm Mar 31 - Psychiatry appointment |
Feb 2015
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Jan 2015
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Dec 2014
Me and my brother, Christmas shopping
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Feb 2 - Physical therapy for lymphedema
Feb 6 - Physical Therapy Feb 9 - Physical therapy Feb 12 - Follow up oncology appt Feb 13 - Physical therapy Feb 16 - Psychiatry appointment Feb 23 - Physical therapy appointment Feb 23 - Psychiatry appointment |
Jan 16 - Follow up appointment with mastectomy surgeon
Jan 16 - Follow up appointment with reconstruction surgeon |
Dec 10 - Follow up appointment with radiation doctor
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2014 - the year of treatment
Nov 2014
NOT A SINGLE APPOINTMENT!!!
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Oct 2014
Oct 9, 2014 - Oncology appt to discuss hormone therapy
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Sept 2014
Sep 12, 2014 - Radiation follow up
Sep 16, 2014 - Brain MRI Sep 18, 2014 - Oncology follow up Sep 23, 2014 - Stopped Tamoxifen |
Aug 2014
Aug 1 2014 - My girlfriend and me
Aug 1, 2014 - Radiation #16
Aug 4, 2014 - Radiation #17 Aug 5, 2014 - Radiation #18 Aug 6, 2014 - Radiation #19 Aug 7, 2014 - Radiation #20 Aug 8, 2014 - Radiation #21 Aug 11, 2014 - Radiation #22 Aug 12, 2014 - Radiation #23 Aug 13, 2014 - Radiation #24 Aug 14, 2014 - Radiation #25 Aug 15, 2014 - Radiation #26 Aug 18, 2014 - Radiation #27 Aug 19, 2014 - LAST Radiation Aug 20, 2014 - Start Tamoxifen |
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June 2014
June 2014 - It can only be uphill from this!
June 6, 2014 - Exchange surgery
June 12, 2014 - Reconstruction follow up June 17, 2014 - Follow up dr appt with oncologist |
May 2014
May 8 2014 - My last chemo!
May 6, 2014 - Dr Appt -reconstruction follow up
May 8, 2014 - LAST CHEMO!!! May 13, 2014 - Reconstruction Dr Appt May 19, 2014 - Radiologist dr appt |
April 2014
April 2014
April 10, 2014 - 2nd Taxol chemo
April 24, 2014 - 3rd Taxol chemo April 25, 2014 - Ultrasound for lymphedema arm pain |
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January 2014
42 days after mastectomy
January 2, 2014 - Lymphedema dr.
January 2, 2014 - Petscan January 3, 2014 - Oncology follow up January 14, 2014 - Reconstructive dr appt January 30, 2014 - 1st A/C Chemo January 31, 2014 - WBC injection |
2013 - the year of diagnosis
December 2013
Photo taken just before mastectomy
December 9, 2013 - 1st Surgery - Double mastectomy and reconstruction with expanders
December 17, 2013 - Follow up after surgery dr appt December 20, 2013 - Dr. Appointment - Meet and greet with oncologist and radiologist December 26, 2013 - Repair drain tubes December 30, 2013 - Echocardiogram to check the heart before chemo December 31, 2013 - Remove last 2 drain tubes December 31, 2013 - Surgery for port installation |
November 2013
Photos taken before I go under the knife
November 6, 2013 - Dr Appt with the surgeon to discuss biopsy results and options
November 11, 2013 - Dr Appt with the reconstructive surgeon to discuss options |
October 2013
Pre-diagnosis and happy!
October 17, 2013 - Felt a lump in right breast
October 24, 2013 - First Dr. visit, mammogram & ultrasound October 31, 2013 - MRI October 31, 2013 - Biopsy |