My breast cancer journey - a timeline of events
What follows is a timeline of defining moments in my journey to date. Updated on 9 April 2024.
2019
8 July 2019: Routine mammogram
9 July 2019: Second opinion mammogram
11 July 2019: Fine needle aspiration
23 July 2019: The family doctor tells me that I have breast cancer
1-3 August 2019: Hospitalised for a surgical biopsy
30 Aug-1 Sep 2019: Hospitalised for bilateral mastectomy and direct-to-implant reconstruction
27-29 September 2019: Hospitalised for debridement of the wounds
25 October 2019: Start with chemotherapy (Taxol once a week - 18 treatment cycles)
13-14 November 2019: Hospitalised to remove the right implant
22 November 2019: Start with Herceptin injections (once every three weeks - 15 treatment cycles)
2020
6 March 2020: Last chemotherapy session!
27 March 2020: COVID-19 lockdown
9 April 2020: Start Tamoxifen hormone-blocking therapy
6-8 May 2020: Hospitalised to insert a tissue expander in the right breast
20 November 2020: Last Herceptin injection! & start Zoladex injections (hormone-blocking therapy once every three months for 5-10 years)
30 Nov-1 Dec 2020: Hospitalised to remove the tissue expander and insert a new implant
24 December 2020: I start taking Menograine to treat the hot flashes
2021
19 February 2021: The oncologist told me that I am in complete remission
15-16 May 2021: Hospitalised for nipple reconstruction
15 June 2021: Appointment with a psychiatrist - I start taking Venlor for severe depression
6 August 2021: I test positive for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
22 November 2021: The psychiatrist increases the dosage of my anti-depressant
2022
18 February 2022: The oncologist takes me off Tamoxifen and replaces it with Anastrozole
14 March 2022: I finally get my nipples tattooed
8 April 2022: The psychiatrist increases my anti-depressant dosage (again!)
20 May 2022: I get my 6th Zoladex injection after starting hormone-blocking treatment 19 months ago
27 May 2022: I decided to stop taking the hormone-blocking oral medication (Anastrozole)
31 May 2022: I had a fall-out with my oncologist because she could not give me a satisfactory answer on why my blood pressure and cholesterol keep increasing
15 June 2022: I meet a new oncologist (Prof Paul Ruff), and he explains the increase in blood pressure and cholesterol
28 June 2022: The new oncologist recommends that I continue the oral hormone-blocking medication.
30 June 2022: I start taking blood pressure and cholesterol medication.
8 July 2022: I feel overwhelmed and reach out to my mental wellness practitioners
13 July to 18 August 2022: The psychiatrist declares me unfit to work, and I take some time off
19 August 2022: I start taking Neucon to help me concentrate
6 September 2022: The oncologist explains that my bone density scan shows I have advanced osteoporosis. I will start treatment with Zometa in December 2022. I must also go for an MRI of the brain to rule out physiological reasons for my cognitive decline.
5 October 2022: Things get too much and I take an overdose of Schedule 5 pain medication, resulting in the sleep of all sleeps followed by 24 hours of vomiting.
11 November 2022: I go for an MRI of my brain.
6 December 2022: The oncologist informs me that the MRI is normal. I reported increased pain and numbness in my right hand. Following the consultation I received my first Zometa infusion.
13 December 2022: My psychiatrist confirmed that the MRI was normal and instructed me to continue speaking to the psychologist weekly.
2023
10 January 2023: I see my GP about my right hand. He suspects it is arthritis and gave me some exercises to do. I also have a session with my psychologist.
1 February 2023: After having a fall-out with my husband, I decided to stop talking about the side effects of my treatment.
5 March 2023: I started bleeding and called my oncologist. He said I needed to see a gynae followed by a consultation at the oncology practice.
6 March 2023: According to the gynae and my oncologist my hormone levels are normal and I remain in menopause. They cannot explain the bleeding, and it stops a few days later.
29 May 2023: I started bleeding again and decided to look for a new oncologist and gynae.
6 June 2023: I meet my new oncologist (Dr Prinitha Pillay) and she hospitalises me for vaginal bleeding. While in the hospital I meet my new gynae, Dr Moleleki Moroeng. He specialises in female reproductive system oncology. He took a sample of my vaginal wall and the histology is clear of any malignant cells. He suggested that I get a total hysterectomy due to my hormone-positive breast cancer.
19 July 2023: I am hospitalised for a radical abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (the total removal of my womb, cervix, and both ovaries).
27 July 2023: The gynae is happy with my recovery process and said that I no longer need to schedule any annual gynaecological screenings. He confirmed that the tissue samples were negative for malignancy.
30 August 2023: The gynae checked my recovery process and reminded me to take things slow for the next six weeks.
8 September 2023: I consulted with my psychiatrist and she is happy that I seem in a much better space than the previous time we spoke.
29 September 2023: I love my new oncologist! She started the Zometa infusion in her room and we had an intimate chat about where I'm at with my treatment and their side effects while the drip ran slowly. For the first time since my diagnosis, I felt like a person and not just a number on a file.
7 December 2023: I consulted with my optometrist and decided to make a significant upgrade to my eyeglasses. She is concerned about the possibility of me developing glaucoma and asked me to come back for a follow-up screening in March 2024.
12 December 2023: I met a local medical practitioner who specialises in pain management (Dr Walter Bell). He diagnosed me with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a side effect of taking Anastrozole. He further diagnosed a problem with my right shoulder, something I forgot about because I became so used to the pain that it became part of my life. I first mentioned the shoulder pain to my oncologist in May 2022. He started my treatment with injections and referred me to a physiotherapist.
20 December 2023: I met with the physiotherapist (Stephanie Heathcote). She started physical treatment and sent me home with exercises for the Carpel Tunnel and Cervical radiculopathy.
2024
3 January 2024: The physiotherapist is concerned that there is no improvement after two physical treatments and home exercises. She will speak to my referring doctor but believes that surgery to release the Carpal Tunnel nerve is the next step.
4 March 2024: After my six-monthly scans (breast ultrasound, chest x-ray, abdomen ultrasound, bone density scan, cardiac examination, glaucoma screening, and blood tests), my oncologist confirmed that there is still no evidence of disease. I received my third Zometa infusion, and thankfully the side effects weren't as bad as the previous two. The radiologist confirmed that the discomfort I feel under my right arm is the prosthesis that herniated laterally, meaning it moved from the original placement. I have an appointment with my surgeon to discuss my options in April. I will ask him to refer me to a surgeon for the Carpel Tunnel release surgery. The optometrist is happy with the results of my glaucoma screening, saying that it shows no deterioration.
Thank you for sharing your journey. I wish I had written notes from start to finish. I stopped taking oral tamoxifen because of the side effects. I’m 68 so I figured I didn’t have much estrogen to feed my cancer. My doctor said ok to take a break but he doesn’t know that I’m never going to take them! My hair grew back after chem and radiation and I was quite pleased. After a few months taking tamoxifen I have male pattern baldness. What next? Lol. Humour is my drug of choice. Please stay strong and soldier on.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and for your encouragement. <3
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