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]
Read More
Normal Nails Again (21 Months after Breast Cancer Chemo) 爪がやっと元に戻ってくる（抗がん剤終了から21か月）
After 1 year and 9 months from my last breast cancer chemotherapy treatments (ended in November 2014), I finally feel that my nails gained again the strength I used to had. Up to this summer, my nails had been chipping, cracking, and coming into multiple separated layers all the time. I could not grow them at all. But now I can!
Read More
No more fussy hair after chemo, finally やっと抗がん剤後のボワボワ髪が無くなる
Since my last chemotherapy about 18 months ago, I kept cutting my hair because it came out so unevenly strong wavy. I used to have straight hair in natural, but it came out very very wavy. Finally, it looks like much more of the hair I used to have today! (This picture is just before cutting for the final time to say good-bye to my wavy hair.)
Read More
Together, we are strong. 共に戦うから強くあれる
A dinner with two of my friends was a great time. Especially, when I did not have to worry about cancer nor dissertation! I am a super happy person!!!
Read More
Feel Like "Normal" Breast ごくごく普通だと感じる再建後の胸
I was digging snow this past weekend and suddenly, I felt like "wow, it is really normal" about my breast, which had been mastectomy and reconstructed. I had no pain, and no pulling while shoveling the snow. I talked about the look of my breast in my last post. This time, I would like to talk about feel of the breast.
Read More
My last injection treatment is over! 最後の点滴治療終了！
I long waited for this day to come: my last injection treatment for my breast cancer is all done today! No more "chemo unit" visit every three weeks. I did it! (I did the chemotherapy from August to November, 2014. I had been on "targeted therapy" since then. The targeted therapy, the side effects are very minor. What I finish today is the targeted therapy.)
Read More
Regaining Senses on My Reconstructed Breast 再建乳房に感覚が出てくる。Pose #489
Teaching has been over awhile ago, but my treatments go on. I visited my plastic surgeon today, 3 weeks after the nipple reconstruction procedure. (I visited him last week, too.)
Read More
YES, finally! I fulfilled my appetite! やっと食欲が満ち渡る！
It has been 6 months since my last chemotherapy. I have been craving food like crazy since then. Constantly fulfilling my appetite as much as I could. I am ... finally content.
Read More
15th Targeted Cancer Therapy 15回目分子標的癌治療 pose#61
I came back from my 15th targeted cancer therapy. I visited a new chemotherapy treatment building. I normally go to NYC to do the treatment, but the hospital opened up the new building in my area recently.
Read More
Teaching Wednesday 水曜日授業の日
I was feeling a little nauseous after yesterday's cancer treatment. But at least I styled myself, inspired by this great spring weather in New York, and I felt good about it.
Read More
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.
Read More
Many 1st Anniversaries to Follow 多くの一年記念日が続く頃 Pose #449
From today on, many 1 year anniversaries are coming up for me. Exactly a year ago was the day I visited my family doctor requesting a mammography prescription for "just a check up." WOW, so many, I mean, so many things happened to me for this 1 year. Thank you so much for all of your supports to me from near to far. Knowing that I am not alone gave me the strength to be here standing strong today. Thank you!
Read More
Wig Shopping ウィッグショッピング Study of Pose #572
Two of my colleagues took me out for a wig shopping today with them, after my regular Tuesday teaching. One of them started to come to the office with different wigs recently; what a nice surprise! I was surprised to see her with a new hair style the other day. I did not know until she told me that it was a wig. She totally nailed it!
Read More
Attending Meetings ミーティングな一日 Pose #735
"TPO": Time, Place and Occasion. This is a made up acronym by the Japanese society and a widely used term today in Japan. It is used as TPO, as is in alphabets, in the Japanese language. That means people has to dress and behave according to a "TPO". It is used as "She was not considering the TPO for today's meeting." Either she dressed inappropriate for the meeting or used inappropriate tone of the language in the meeting. Some fashion magazines' editorials in Japan show a set of appropriate attires for a certain TPO, such as an office party TPO dresses, or weekend trip with a boyfriend TPO outfits.
Read More
Teaching Tuesday 火曜日授業の日 Pose #569
Killer heels. I love these heels, but I cannot walk too long with them. If wearing some very casual piece on your clothing such as sweat pants, also wear something very feminine together. This makes a look interesting and fashionable.
Read More
Teaching Tuesday 火曜日授業の日 Pose #323
"I like that one," a student was saying while pointing out my wig at the beginning of my class. What is wrong with changing wigs. Make a total styling, why not include wigs (or turbans) as an option while people changes bags and shoes as a part of fashion.
Read More