Grace’s Breast Cancer Journey

Celebrating One Year Mark

Looking back, it seems like it was a long time ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 23, 2017 followed by a double mastectomy on May 10, 2017. The following four sessions of chemo in July and August went about as well as they could. (Read previous posts for the specifics.) I managed twenty-eight daily sessions of radiation in October-November without getting burned or having excessive fatigue. However, I’m sure that many of these memories are fading, which is a good thing.

Since my cancer type was Estrogen Responsive Positive (ER+), and all the other types negative, I need to take an anti-estrogen medication for 5-10 years. The Aromatase Inhibitor I have started is Letrozole. It is one of three types in this class of drugs, and so far I have not experienced any adverse side effects other than HOT FLASHES. Wow, I thought I was done with them long ago. Fortunately, they don’t come too often or last too long.

I am also happy to report that in February-March I was back teaching classes at the Green Valley Camera Club. When we returned to Portland, I took advantage of some photo opportunities that included tulip fields and a walking iPhone class offered by Apple. We also attended a Timbers soccer game when the Providence Cancer Institute provided me and fellow survivors with four tickets. We enjoyed the company of our friends Alberto and Shannon.

I have now passed the one year mark, and have seen all my appropriate doctors. They have all given me a good report. I see my oncologist, Dr. Acheson, in six months and the others in a year.

To celebrate, I plan to do the Komen “Walk” for the Cure here in Portland on September 16, 2018, and am hoping some of my friends will join me.

We will also be back to doing some traveling this summer, so watch for posts about eastern Canada on my Travel Blog.

Thanks go to my many friends who have been so supportive through this whole experience.

That is all for now as I am back to a normal life and hoping that my motto of “No Regrets,” where I did everything recommended, will pay off.

Grace