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BiographyMy name is Yuyu, and I am 34 yrs old. I live in Los Angeles Area. I don’t have any kids although I would love to someday. I work as a child psychotherapist. I live alone with a cat, Mercedes, whom I’ve been with for more 12 years. Until my diagonsis, I considered myself living my life freely and independently ever since I came to this country when I was 16. I am an outdoor kind a gal, I love camping, fishing, going to a beach, picnics, basically anything to do with nature. I also have big love for food and music. I have been fairly healthy until now although I do eat a lot of crappy junk food, drink tons of diet sodas, and used to be a smoker (for over 10 years). I recently got divorced and was just starting to enjoy my single life again when I received cancer diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma on August 12, 2008. It was later discovered that I have Inflammatory Breast Cancer, which is a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer that counts for 1-5% of all breast cancer cases. This type of cancer automatically puts me in Stage 3B category. My life is never the same since then. Cancer SymptomsA large mass in right breast found during self-exam. Swelling, itching, and pain in breast. The mass continued to grow, and right breast become enlarged to almost double the size in two-month period. CT Scan later found out that the mass was about 5cm x 4cm x 2cm. I was finally diagonsed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Surgery Description, Dates & Side EffectsDouble Mastectomy planned in early 2009 after 5 months of Chemotherapy. Breast reconstruction in future (immediate reconstruction was discouraged due to high possibility of reccurence being IBC). Radiation Description, Dates & Side EffectsRadiation after surgery Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side EffectsStarted Chemotherapy on September 5, 2008; Taxotere, Carboplatin, and Herceptin – originally planned for 6 rounds (every three weeks). I completed 2 rounds and then my doctor stopped(my mass grew back). Side Effects – Nausea, diahrea, extreme fatigue, bone/joint pain, hot flashes, numbing, weird taste in mouth, loss of appetite I then did weekly Taxol and Herceptin started 10/17/08 for 6 weeks. Side effects included nausea, occasional diahea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, neuropathy, hot flashes. I will start 5FU, Cytoxan, & Epirubicin on 12/02/08 for 4 rounds every three week while continuing with weekly Herceptin for 12 weeks. I will continue with Herceptin for at least 7 more months after surgery. Fundraising DescriptionPlease visit http://yuyucancerfund.chipin.com/yuyus-cancer-fund |
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