Reconstruction surgery scheduled - Aug 22

I'm done with chemo therapy, so what's next?

I had an appt with my plastic surgeon. The next step is to remove the tissue expander in my breast and insert a permanent implant. My doctor will be on vacation from mid July to mid August. My surgery is scheduled on August 22. It would be a plastic type of surgery. I'm not worried about it at all.

I have 2 more months without physical inconvenience. I've been going to gym for workout and I can continue to do that. yay! It's great to feel physical strength that I didn't have for a long time. Human body is just amazing. My body just went through something traumatic but never gives up.

Officially clear!

I had an appt with my oncologist today as first follow-up after last chemo. Blood test is not great but okay. (white cell count is low, but he thinks it should go back to normal naturally.)

I will be taking a hormone medication (Tamoxifen) for next 5 years. My cancer cell was hormone receptor positive. It means hormone feeds cancer cells. In other words, cancer can't grow without receiving hormone. Tamoxifen doesn't stop my body to produce hormones, but it will prevent hormones from feeding cancer cells that might possibly remain in my body.

I will see him every 3 months for 3 years and once a year after that. Mammogram and blood test will be done annually. I asked him if PET scan or CT scan are needed as additional checkups. He said "No." He thinks my chemo treatment and hormone medication are aggressive enough and I should be okay. I was so relieved when he said that!

I drove the streets around the hospital so many times for last 8 months. Today was a different day. I had a clear flashback from the day I was first diagnosed, October 22, 2007 . I was driving the same street today remembering how my doctor told me that I have cancer 8 months ago. I was very calm but confused and scared. Today, I felt not only happy and strong but also proud of myself.

Last chemo done!

Done!!!

My doctor and hospital staff gave me a teddy bear and certificate.

When I first started chemo in February, I thought May is just so far away. Last day finally came.

Chemo drug will be working in my system for 3 to 4 weeks and some side effects may remain longer than 6 months. It was to kill all growing cells, bad ones and good ones. Now good cells will start working again. My body is going to be reborn.