National Mammography Day (乳房X線検査の日)
Today is National Mammography Day! Check your to-do list now and make an appointment for your annual check up. (or ask your wife or girlfriend to do it) About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2014, an estimated 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. (data source from BreastCancer.org) Mammograms can save your life. It reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 25-30% or more! Don't be afraid. It is fast procedure (20 minutes). Get the best quality you can. If you have dense breast or are under age 50, try to get a digital mammogram. Mammography is our most powerful breast cancer detection. An unusual result does not always mean you have breast cancer. (I could not find the online version of the advertising I found on my local paper, I typed up some of the highlight!) Where can you get a mammography? National Cancer Institute (1-800-4-CANCER) American Cancer Society (1-800-ACS-2345) I never had my mammography until the time I discovered my cancer. I was 36 years old. I felt a lump on my breast and checked myself in for the very first mammography, "just to be safe." It was unfortunate that I had cancer, but I am glad I did it then because it was caught early. It can be scary, but with today's research and treatments, it is truly worth catching it early.
Read More
TV: NBC Today Show at 10:30AM(EST) on Tue. 10/14
I will be on TV tomorrow! I am a part of interviews for NBC Today Show. They were looking for voices how people around cancer patients can be their help. Stay tuned for me!
Read More
Day20: Teaching Tuesday
I gave a midterm to my Tuesday class today. One student stayed after the class to talk to me. She disclosed to me that she had gone through chemo treatments for two years when she was younger. She shared me some of activities or things that she tried. One thing was clear to me that I should be open to anything to try. I am thankful that she shared her experience with me. I am not the only one. She is brave, thoughtful and bright lady now. Thank you.
Read More
Day15: Chelsea
While I can move around in this precious short time in-between chemo therapies, I wanted to visit Chelsea area in NYC. There was my favorite tea store and having variety in teas might help me drinking more liquid after each chemo sessions. (Unfortunately, the store was not there any more.) I also wanted to give some tour to my parents from Japan who are helping us out during my treatments. Under our circumstances, they tend to stay home and I wanted to share what I find great about the city to them. We did not have the whole day to be there, but there was full of interesting things to see, High Line walk path and Chelsea Market. It is a nice opportunity to dress nice and feel good.
Read More
A boutique for breast cancer patients (Day8)
I did not expect to see this, but this is a boutique for breast cancer patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC.
Read More
Day 19: Dr. Visit and Teaching
Oncologist's appointment was in the morning and everything seems to be good. 98.6F temperature for my vital check-up. In US, it is considered normal, but not in Japan. Anyway, I was considered normal.
Read More
Day 16: Visiting a Support Group -SHARE
My first time, I visited a breast and ovarian cancer support group. The organization, SHARE, is a New York City based breast and ovarian cancer support group, but open to nationwide. It offers hotline help, educational programs and topic based support group meetings. The picture is with Aiko, who runs the Japanese SHARE organization. （日本語は 英語の後に記述。） (click for the link) TOLL FREE HELPLINE 844-ASK-SHARE Breast, Ovarian, Latina, Caregiver
Read More