Yuyu's Cancer Diary
August 11, 2009
Hi, everyone!
Tomorrow is August 12, and it will be one year from the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I can’t believe it has been one year already , and I have to say it was a heck of a year.
I am looking back what I was going through last year when I was just diagnosed, how scared and confused I was and how I felt like my world was upside down all the sudden. Thank God (and Jill)for this place, I came here and blogged, and I felt like I was not alone. I want to thank all of you for being such a great support and friends with listening ears. Without you here, I am not sure how I did it. Being away from my family thousands of miles away, many of you have become my family on the internet.
A little updates on me, I finally let my wig go! My hair is still super short but the weather was just getting too hot to wear a wig everyday. I am grateful that my hair is growing. For those of you going through chemo right now and losing hair, they DO grow back!
I have been having shooting pains in my surgical/radiation site. I freaked out thinking that my cancer came back. But, my oncologist and radiation doctor assured me that it is pretty normal to have this kind of pain after radiation. One thing that bothers me is that my oncologist refuses to give me PET/CT scan. I would like to have scan at least every year since my cancer was very aggressive and fast growing. It will give me a piece of mind if I can get scanned every year. But, my oncologist doesn’t think it’s necessary. Do those of you with breast cancer history get regular PET or CT scan?
I hope everyone is doing well. I continue to be thinking many of you a lot.
Yuyu
Hi Yuyu,
I will be out of town for a week starting tomorrow so I wanted to write and say CONGRATULATIONS on 1 year!
When going through it, it seems like forever, then all the sudden you are at the point you are at . . . 1 year . . . WOW!
I’m so glad you are doing well and that the hair is growing back. We need to see pictures! I posted a pic when my hair was just growing back and super short.
If you look around there are so many women that wear their hair really, really short, and I started to feel like I wasn’t “standing out in the crowd” because of my short hair. I actually got tons of compliments on it. So I am glad you’ve ditched the wig . . . . I think it’s a big step and kind of liberating! You go girl!
I don’t understand your oncologist refusing the test, but then I don’t understand a lot about my oncologist. What about your regular doctor? I saw my regular doctor, although I was/am having some pain issues, and he didn’t hesitate to order x-rays and then a bone scan too.
I don’t know, maybe they have to be careful not to go overboard on things, but I totally understand your thinking, especially with the type of cancer you had.
Well, I actually have to get ready to see my oncologist today . . . I’m on 3 month check-ups now, so it’s been a while.
Have a GREAT day tomorrow!
Hugs,
Wendy
Posted on Dear YuYu;
I can’t believe how the time has flown so quickly since your diagnosis. I remember when you joined. It is kind of hard to think back to the beginning but I sure remember when I was told! May 2007. After biopsy, lumpectomy, radiation in Sept/Oct. Pill therapy (Armimidex and Clasteon), then followup CT and Bone scans every 4 months since then. Reason: suspicion of metastatic disease in spine. Present: Stable. Oh yea I sure know how you feel YuYu.
Thank heavens we have our buddies here, cause truly, I try not to talk to my friends about it. They seen uncomfortable, but concerned. If I talk too much I upset myself, so I prefer to go on as if it doesn’t exist. That’s my way of coping, but I know I’m fooling myself. It feels good to just live, cause there will come a a time when I will be holding on for dear life and I just don’t want to rush that feeling if you know what I mean. Maybe by that time, the cure will have come and I will be well on my way to saying CURED!. I can dream can’t I?
Congratulations on your 1 year mark. As you can see, I am 2 years, 2 months and holding my breath. You are one brave young lady, and I’m sure you would have rather it had never happened. Well we only get one go around here on earth so we might as well make the best of a situation that we didn’t create ourselves.
About your having a ct or bone scan. I agree with the last writer. If you Oncologist refuses, I would take it higher up in the hospital and ask WHY NOT? It could be they have been given a mandate to not spend the dollars, but having said that, I’m sure your GP will recommend one, atleast once a year! Good grief, how are they to follow your progess without the tests. Sometimes I complain because I’m always going through them, but maybe it is better off to do so? Not sure but if you are anxious, you need someone to talk to about this and if not your Oncologist, get on up the ladder. Do you not have 2 Oncologists. I have a Radiation Onco. and a Medical Oncol. I see both separately. Rad Oncol. once a year, Medical Oncol. every 4 months. I also have bloodwork done (1/2 hour) before I see the Med. Oncol. That’s how fast the results are. Pretty great hospital. I know your country is in a great uproar about your medical coverage and its’ changes. I’m just too glad to be a Canadian right now. I have the best care a person could ask for. I am one lucky gal.
Take care YuYu and let us know how you made out on the scan requests.
Posted on Yuyu—
Congrats on getting to the one year mark! That’s great news and a big milestone. I sincerely wish you continued good news and hope that with some coaxing and pleading (if necessary), you can get one of your docs to order a PET scan for you. As Weezie said, I don’t know how else they would evaluate your current status. Keep working on them until you get what you want! Take care and keep us posted on how things are going for you.
Hugs—Martha
Posted on My doctor does not beleive in scans unless there is an issue. She thinks it is unnecessary to scan when there are no symptoms present, the dye in the scan is really not so great for you. Her mode of thinking is if it is not broken don’t fix it. She also tells me that if you end up with mets it really doesn’t matter when it is found it is not curable only treatable like a cronic disease.
Not sure if this is the best way but for now this is the route I am taking. Actually today she ordered an xray of my shoulder for constant pain and weakness but said she will only order a scan if nothing showes on xray and pain does not subside.
Posted on By the way congrats on the one year mark.
Congratulations on the one year mark. You have done and been through so much this last year! And you have gotten through all of it well. Good for you. I’m coming up on my one year Sept. 15 and don’t know to celebrate or cry about it. It’s been so life changing.
Take care and keep pushing for the scan…I’m with you on that….
Hugs
Teresa
Posted on Congrats! It is so hard to believe that you’ve already hit the one year mark. Especially when treatment time seems like forever, and you have no idea how you’re going to get through once treatment is over…then poof! One year! And counting! I also remember when you joined. I’m glad to be part of your family!
XOXOLisa
Posted on Dear Yuyu,
Happy Survivor Day! I’m so happy to say that to you! You’ve survived quite a year and you’re still going strong.
What’s really amazing is how well you’ll be doing from now on. I love this band called Eddie From Ohio. Their singer had BC a few years ago and went through the whole shebang. I saw her perform less than a year after she finished chemo and I thought, oh no, this has really stolen her energy and made it difficult for her to be who she was. Well, three years later, I saw her (just a few months ago) and her hair is down to her shoulders and shiny, her weight is back to normal, her energy is high, and one would never know by looking at her what she’s been through.
I hope that you feel better every day until you realize one day that it’s been a while since you even thought about the fact that you had BC. One year down, 100 to go!
Peace,
Kathy
Posted on Yuyu – I have still yet to have a PET scan. My insurance won’t cover it, but I do have a breast MRI and mammogram every year. Stay on top of those scans you just never know. Mine cancer came back. But thanks to staying on top of my check ups we caught it early. Congrats on your one year anniversary! Post some new photos of your short hair.
Posted on YuYu,
Seems like yesterday you walked in here and pulled up a chair. I am so happy to see you here today a strong and fierce light for all those who came after to follow. You have warmed many hearts with your spirit (mine is only one of them).
I pray the best for you in the years to come.
Hugs
mac
Posted on So good to hear from you. I have been thinking about you and praying for you. Hope this is a better year for you and you can put all of this behind you! :)
Posted on Congrats on the one year. My mom celebrated hers in June. Glad you are doing so well and leaving your wig behind :) Have fun and enjoy life.
Hugs,
Sarah
Posted on Congratulations on your one year anniversary!. Glad to hear that you have ditched the wig, short hair is cool. About your oncologist not wanting to give you a scan once a year, I would make him justify his position, ask what other means there are of catching a recourrance realy and If you don’t like his answers find another oncologist ot get your primary Dr to order the tests for you. Keep up the good work.
Tami
Posted on 
Thanks for your support - 
