A Day of Breast Cancer Life
Breast Cancer Life
Two things happened on the day I am recording this episode that make me think about how my life is different because of breast cancer. I was doing so well not thinking about breast cancer today that I forgot to implement the usual precautions for avoiding any bug bites on my left arm. I was bitten by an ant on my left hand at the end of my walk today. Tiny ants biting seems like no big deal, but the general strategy for lymphedema prevention is to avoid impairing the integrity of the skin on the side where a lymph node dissection has been done. This includes avoiding bug bites! I know...
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Natalie Ditri: No fear of a cancer in my other breast
Breast Cancer Life
Once I got my diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma, I was immensely scared of dying. I was shocked and sad about the diagnosis. I was sure I needed a double mastectomy, because I never wanted to get diagnosed with another breast cancer. My doctors did not recommend a double mastectomy. I only had the left mastectomy. I started tamoxifen a few weeks after surgery. Now, two years since the diagnosis, I am confident that I will not be diagnosed with a cancer in my remaining (right) breast. There are two strategies in place for me at this time that lower my fear of another breast cancer...
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Tamoxifen vs aromatase inhibitor to prevent recurrence of my breast cancer
Breast Cancer Life
Because of breast cancer, fear of cancer recurrence is a permanent part of my life. I continue taking tamoxifen to reduce my risk of the cancer coming back. In this episode I share my thoughts on the good quality of life I have while taking tamoxifen. I value my strong body and theimited side-effects I have now. I also value a life with the lowest possible risk of breast cancer recurrence. I look forward to discussing what it might mean to switch to an aromatase inhibitor, in terms of further lowering the risk of recurrence and potentially experiencing more serious side-effects, with my...
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Healing After Mastectomy: Natalie Ditri’s Story of Breast Cancer and Recovery
Breast Cancer Life
Preparing for breast cancer surgery was all-consuming once I found out I had an invasive ductal carcinoma in my left breast. I never stopped to think about what might be part of recovery from the nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomy until I was in the recovery room. Then I learned the skin on my left breast was potentially going to be at risk for impaired healing or tissue death. My plastic surgeon had a solution for mitigating this at-risk situation. In this episode, I am sharing how I spent the hours and days after the mastectomy, leading up to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This is...
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Natalie Ditri Mastectomy vs Lumpectomy to Remove my Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Life
I had a choice in terms of what would be the best option to remove the invasive ductal carcinoma that I had just learned was in my left breast. I had recently had a biopsy in a different part of my left breast. Given that there were 2 places that had the potential or were actually problematic, I opted for a mastectomy. I thought that if there were 2 problem areas, there were likely to be more problem areas in that breast. I did not want to take any chances on having more cancer. I also wanted to avoid needing radiation. By removing my left breast via a mastectomy, I was not likely to...
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Unnecessary surgery on the right breast
Breast Cancer Life
In 2023, when I had my cancer surgery, there was a non-cancerous spot on the right that was recommended for a biopsy. At the time, I did not ask any questions about why take out =NORMAL! breast tissue? Hindsight is 2020. On screening MRIs for the right breast in 2024, the same “non-mass enhancement” that was seen in 2023 (before any breast surgery) keeps showing up in the imaging report. The content of this podcast is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a healthcare professional regarding your healthcare questions and...
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Swimming for Self Love as a Breast Cancer Survivor
Breast Cancer Life
My swimming workout is my ultimate treat each week. I consider it a great escape because it takes me to an alternate place. In the water, my body is horizontal. I glide through the water and work all the muscles in my body, from head to toe. I am on a different plane and weightless in the water. This roughly 45 minute experience restores my mental and physical energy. It helps me to feel better in my skin. When I finish, I take a long (and usually warm) shower. I head right home to finish drying my hair and am ready to start my day. I walk out of the locker room feeling...
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Breast Cancer Survivorship: Reflecting on Milestones and Preparing for Medical Appointments
Breast Cancer Life
I am at a point now where I have follow-up breast imaging. I suspect everything will be normal. I considered rescheduling the upcoming appointments related to my breast cancer until after the holiday season. A few common thoughts that I bring up in this episode: Survivorship can be difficult, even when things are going well Everything has the potential to be something in the body after a history of breast cancer Testing (a breast MRI) in December has the potential to distract me from what is most important at this time of the year Going to doctor appointments is not how I want to...
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Embracing Personal Projects After Breast Cancer Recovery
Breast Cancer Life
In this episode, I talk about being compelled to take on projects that are important to me. This includes a lot of “putting life in order” tasks that seem to be priorities for me now. The year of 2023 was consumed by my health care experience that was centered on the breast cancer screening, diagnosis, recovery and the start of survivorship. Finally, after a year of learning to live as a survivor, I am feeling that I have space in my life to take on extra projects like creating photo albums to tell the story of my family life. Breast cancer brings up a lot of emotions and makes the...
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Facing Uncertainty as a Breast Cancer Survivor
Breast Cancer Life
I have talked often about living in the grey zone of survivorship. I know I am not alone in saying that this stage of breast cancer life is harder than the beginning when I was having additional testing and preparing for surgery. I had never discussed what it means to be a survivor with anyone when I was first diagnosed. No one sat down and talked about survivorship with me in the beginning, either. The focus was on getting all the information to formulate a treatment plan. Then it hit me like a brick wall after I was at a point when all the surgical recovery was essentially complete. I...
info_outlineTwo things happened on the day I am recording this episode that make me think about how my life is different because of breast cancer. I was doing so well not thinking about breast cancer today that I forgot to implement the usual precautions for avoiding any bug bites on my left arm. I was bitten by an ant on my left hand at the end of my walk today. Tiny ants biting seems like no big deal, but the general strategy for lymphedema prevention is to avoid impairing the integrity of the skin on the side where a lymph node dissection has been done. This includes avoiding bug bites! I know the risk of lymphedema developing in my left arm is actually very low, but I do not want to do anything that would potentially allow for breakdown in the skin on my left arm or hand.
As I was standing at the sink washing my hands after the ant incident, a flood of urine ran out of me. It left urine running down over my ankles, with visible streaks of urine on my pant legs and on the footbed of my sandals. I had no intention to sit on the toilet at this moment. What does this have to do with breast cancer life? Typically, with a pause I am able to get control of my bladder. Today was different. I cannot say for certain that I am having increased urinary urgency or incontinence because of my breast cancer treatment, but the symptoms are much worse than before I started tamoxifen in 2023.
This urine flood reaffirms my recent decision to begin taking low-dose vaginal estrogen. I had discussed this option with my medical oncologist and my gynecologist last year. At the time I did not think I needed the estrogen, but after realizing the urinary side-effects I have are not getting better, I decided to get a prescription for vaginal estrogen. Without a cancer history, I would have not hesitated to add in estrogen as part of my peri-menopause or post-menopausal health care. Breast cancer life changes everything!
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