MY HOPE FOR THIS BLOG IS TO BRING AWARENESS AND INSIGHT TO PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONALITIES AND BACKGROUNDS!!! THIS IS MY JOURNEY WITH BREAST CANCER, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS BLOG WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS & COWORKERS, WHOM ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE BIG "C".
"I HAVE CANCER, CANCER DON'T HAVE ME"
When I arrived to Palmetto Mammograms I was forwarded to the Financial Representative, whom requested that I pay over $350 which was the remaining balance after my insurance. I utilized my bargaining skills and referenced making a drafting payment plan from my checking account. They declined my offer and stated that they could not render services if the balance was not paid in full. Now at this time, it was around December 2014 and I was preparing for my transition to my new position in Lancaster, South Carolina and moving back to Charlotte, NC; so as you know my pain took a backseat.
Diagnosis
While in Charlotte I attempted to locate an program where I was able to get an mammogram for free.However, I was ineligible for all programs, due to being under 40 years old. So I finally scheduled an appointment at The Levine Cancer Institute (Rock Hill, SC) and met with my surgeon Shirley Scott, whom scheduled an array of appointments: 3D Mammogram, Ultra-Sound, Biopsy, CT Scan, Bone Scan, Heart Scan, Portacath Install, Chemo-therapist and Radiation.
On 5/20/2015 I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductile Carcinoma (IDC) which is the most common type of Breast Cancer. Although, hearing that I have Cancer was one of the most traumatizing events that I ever experienced in my life, I was happy to know that my diagnosis was one of the most common forms Breast Cancer.
The hardest part of this process was accepting that I have Breast Cancer and the getting the Biopsy done. The thought of them digging around in my boob freaked me out literally; but it was not bad at all!!!! The CT & Bone Scans were painless, which involved me drinking a quart of Gatorade that had blue ink in it; this is for the areas of concern to show on the scans. HALLELUJAH, the cancer did not spread throughout my body and my heart was very strong.... NOW, I was preparing for Chemotherapy.
Today, I have an team of Doctors (Surgeon, Chemo-Therapist & Radiologist) at the
Levine Cancer Institute. Together we are a team with a PLAN!!!!
The Master Plan
I have stage 2B Breast Cancer, which is scaled from stages 1-4. A few days prior to starting my Chemo, I had an Portacath installed in my upper chest area; which was an outpatient surgery that took about 20 minutes (see picture below). The twilight sedation used placed me in a light sleeping state, however the procedure was painless. The purpose of the Portacath to reduce the risk of ruining my veins, this is a new wave of technology for Cancer Treatment.
The Game Plan
This is just the beginning of my journey with Breast Cancer, every 3 weeks I will get an Chemo Treatments for 6 sessions. Also, the day after Chemo I'm required to get an immune injection to help boost my immune system. My original impression of Chemo was one medication, but I was wrong; for every Cancer there is an fusion of Chemos that all work together to kill, shrink or get rid of the Cancer.
Here is a video of my first chemo session, which took about 5 to 6 hours.
This video is the follow-up (6.22.15) visit following my first Chemo session. Agian, I have to complete 6 sessions of Chemo every 3 weeks and an injection shot the following day. The purpose of the injection shot is to keep my immune system strong, since Chemo weakens your immune system. Honesty, I was doing great after Chemo, and insisted thay my Mom go home. However, once I recieved the injection shot I felt like I was experiening Flu like symptoms, which is what it is suppose to do.
