Possible Surgery for Fibroid Removal 子宮筋腫を取り除く手術かも
This summer in June, I had my regular oncologist visit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. There is no sign of cancer so far and that was good. But my fibroid is getting so big that the oncologist requested me to test and check with specialists. Over this summer, I have seen some specialists and it looks like I will have a surgery to remove it. My GYN said my fibroid is as big as a grapefruit, or my utrus with the tumor is about 4 month pregnant size. (The top picture, the hat I made, Hats by Yoko Katz, became a matching set to the hospital gown. LOL.)
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Marking the 3rd anniversary of breast cancer diagnosis 乳がん宣告3年目
Three years ago, today, I received a phone call from a radiologist. My husband also pictures exactly where and what position he heard the terrible news when I picked up the phone that day. I still believe that was not done right that I was told "all three were cancer," and I was not informed of the stage of my cancer. How scared I was, you cannot imagine. The internet information only terrified me, telling me in statistics of "5 year survival rate." When I was completely, I thought, healthy 36 years old. My son was only 8 years old, quickly my wild and worse imagination occupied me and confined me in a darkness. It was hard to breath, I cried for days and months. 日本語は英文の後にあり。 [caption id="attachment_2293" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A beret hat by Hats by Yoko Katz, yes, my design![/caption]
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symposium speaker (in Japanese) success! 乳がんシンポジウムの講師
This past Saturday, April 23, 2017, I was one of three guest speakers at a breast cancer awareness conference held by a non-profit organization, Young Japanese Breast Cancer Network, at a residence of Japanese ambassador in New York. Two other speakers were breast surgeons from New York and Japan, both Japanese, and I was a survivor speaker. My title of the presentation was "my breast cancer treatments story: fashion helped me in my healing process." My story + turban wrapping demonstration in 15 minutes. 日本語表記は、英語表記の後にあり。
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Fainted at Oncologist Office 腫瘍内科で気を失う
The first thing first: I am FINE! I just fainted at a blood test. It was rather embarrassing!
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Japanese Fashion Magazine Interview 取材を受けました！
A Japanese fashion magazine editor from Japan flew into New York to write an…
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Breast Cancer Oncologist Appointment: Nothing! 乳がん腫瘍内科定期健診：何もなし
No news is the best news when meeting with my oncologist for semi-annual check-up of my breast cancer. This was my 2nd check-up after completing IV (Herceptin) injection treatment in July 2015. I was thinking "please don't tell me anything" and crossing my fingers when my doctor hand-examined my breasts. I hope to keep "nothing" news in my future. This time, it was nothing, yay!
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PhD Graduation (with My Handmade Gown)! 博士課程 卒業式
I had a PhD graduation ceremony! I am even more officially, well... I had been since February... but, Dr. Yoko! I started the PhD program in 2001, that is 15 years of my work. I am so proud to be able to come this far. Thank you so much for supporting me, my family, friends, colleagues, my blog readers, and my professors. Along the way, I started to teach Economics at US colleges since 2004, got married, had a baby, had been raising my son in bilingual, got breast cancer, completed chemotherapy, finished reconstruction, completed my dissertation and the graduation ceremony was the closing of the PhD program!
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Spring 2016 Semester Started 新学期の始まり
A new semester has started this week. I have full of energy to kick off this semester. (Wednesday was my first day of classes.)
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Dissertation Defense: Pass! 博士論文口頭試験 合格！
I passed my dissertation defense in PhD Economics last week! My husband and son celebrated my achievement with a cake and Champagne on the same day. It was a long, and sometimes rough, journey to come to this day. I still have to make some minor revisions, but the major parts are all done! A big relief! (Yes, this is THE big project I have been referring as a big project in this blog.) In the picture above, I took off my hat while defending it. I tried to look moderately stylish, but hopefully looked smart to defend a serious paper. How do you rate?
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Yes, my lost boob is finally back and complete! おっぱい再現 とうとう完了！
My very last procedure of breast reconstruction: tattooing areola is now completed the reconstruction on the past Friday. I did mastectomy on my left breast on mid June 2014. It became my routine to take a look at my left breast every time I became naked. I almost ignore my original right boob. I always look at my left breast for some moments, I mean, every day for the last 16 months.
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14th Targeted Cancer Therapy & Teaching Tuesday 14回目の分子標的治療 Pose #790
East meets west style. A Cowgirl Japanese.
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Teaching Tues. St. Patrick's Day 火曜日授業の日 聖パトリックの日
If wearing a green wig, today is the day: St. Patrick's Day (finally)!
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Teaching Wednesday 水曜日授業の日
A group of middle school kids were taking a tour on campus. They were following a tour guide in a hallway, where I had to cross to get to my department. As I stepped out from my office, kids were like "wow," and "look at that," by looking back and whispering. Welcome to the fashion world, kiddos!
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wrap up for freezing temperature 極寒対策にマキマキ ターバン
It has been very very cold in New York area, days of single digit temperature with strong wind. Putting a wig itself is not a comfortable thing, but adding an extra knit cap to bundle me up makes wig tighten up with extra pressure. When I take off the cap also makes wig look messy, too.
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Reconstruction in Progress 乳房再建途中経過
It was exactly a month after my reconstruction surgery that I had an appointment at the reconstruction surgeon's office. I don't have any more arm movements restrictions after a month of not be able to lift them no higher than my shoulders. I am set free!
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My Son's Presentation 息子のプレゼンテーション
My son's first Power Point presentation ever and I went to visit his classroom with this outfit. I had to think what I should be wearing for my head.
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