Monika | California
Diagnosis: Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy Regimen: Taxol/Cytoxan
I have always been passionate about health and fitness. I considered myself a very fit and healthy individual; eating right, working out 6 times per week, having twice a year physical exams and taking the right supplements. It took me by surprised when I was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 5th of 2019 after I felt a lump in my left breast.
As an engineer, I said to myself “it is what it is and I have to embrace it”. Little did I know how this cancer journey would impact my life. Two thousand nineteen became a full-time medical journey with mammograms, a biopsy, MRIs, gene test, PET scan, MammaPrint, FISH test, chemotherapy, lumpectomy & lymph nodes removal, mastectomy and radiation completion. The journey still continues after eleven months. Now pending for final reconstruction surgery.
On February 26th, 2019 I was told by Dr. John Link from BreastLink in Orange that I had a fast-growing Lumina B & HER2 Negative, high risk cancer on my left breast with lymph node involvement. The tumor size was 5 cm in diameter. Therefore, it would require chemotherapy. This is when it really sunk on me how serious it was. The word chemo had a more frightening effect than the word cancer. I realized my hair and my whole body was going to have a toll. The scary thought of losing my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes hit me. I was scheduled for 12 weeks of chemo with two drugs, Cytoxan and Taxol, plus an infusion of other drugs (Aloxi, Dexamethasone, Peticid and Benadryl) to support the chemo journey.
Personally, health is a life investment and I was willing to do anything in my power to protect my health. Therefore, two weeks prior to chemo Dr. Ellithorpe from Tustin Longevity Center increased my vitamin/supplement intake dose and I started high dose of IV Vitamin C on Monday’s and Friday’s and Chelation on Wednesday’s to clean my body of metals and toxins. I was schedule for chemo every Tuesday, therefore the other days I was getting the high dose Vitamin C and Chelation.
I learned about DigniCap when I went for the Chemotherapy Training Guide and with no hesitation, I immediately sign up for it. I began chemotherapy infusion on March 12. Unfortunately, I had a horrible experience with the first chemo session. The cocktail infusion of the Taxol got my body out whack/ the nurses and doctor had to stop the process for an hour until my vitals were stabilized. DigniCap was very uncomfortable at first, since your head gets cooled to 32F. Fortunately, I took 2 Tylenol just in case to avoid any headache which helped, but I felt very cold and shivered. The electric blank was a savior.
After the third chemo session I got used to DigniCap, and it felt good to get your scalp cooled. I always took 2 Tylenol for each session I had. The most enduring part of the chemo process was that I spent 7-8 hours at the clinic on Tuesday’s. But it was worth it. I did not go bald.
I count my blessings each day and I was very fortunate to be able to use DigniCap. Thanks to DigniCap I was able to preserved my hair, which was very important to me. My friends are amazed that I still have hair. I followed DigniCap’s instructions. My hair did become very dry and brittle, but I still have hair. People were not be able to tell I was going to through chemo. I lost about 35% of my hair, but I did not go bald and this is something we as women are very afraid off. DigniCap is a great product which I highly recommend. I just hope that eventually this product is covered by the medical insurance industry.
My word of advice for those who are just being told that they require chemotherapy: don’t worry, there is hope. DigniCap does work and you will be able to preserve your hair without going bald.
I completed my last chemo and DigniCap session on May 28th. Woohoo!