Moving to Phase Three of Active Treatment
In support of
The Gonzalez Family
View Support Registry
The Gonzalez Family
Hi Everyone,
As we head into Christmas time, I am humbled by all of the love, prayers, meals, and help you have provided our family. Without a doubt, I am ready to put 2025 behind me. It was a year full of so much sadness, anxiety, and fear. But it was also the year I realized just how special our village is. It also proved to me that I can (and will) do anything for my kids.
Surgery Update:
As of Tuesday 12/16 I have officially been released from my surgery restrictions! I am allowed to do anything and everything, so long as it doesn't cause me any pain or discomfort. Of course, I will ease into things but I am so excited!
I will meet with my surgeons in February and April to see how my continued healing is progressing. Once everything settles, we'll have a better idea if any revision surgeries are needed. Also, swelling can take up to a full year to go away completely and mine is causing me nerve pain so I'm hoping the swelling goes down sooner than later.
What's Next:
Even though I've already completed 6 months of chemo and a successful surgery, I'm not done with active treatment since I drew the very unlucky triple-negative straw. Right after Christmas I start phase three of my treatment which includes:
- 9 rounds of immunotherapy
- 8 rounds of the chemo pill
- 6 weeks of physical therapy to improve my post-surgery range of motion
Luckily, the side effects of immunotherapy and the chemo pill are minimal compared to what I've already been through. They don't cause hair loss or anything like that. They might make me fatigued but it shouldn't be too bad. Phase three of treatment will take me into the April/May timeframe.
Monitoring:
Because triple-negative breast cancer has the highest risk of recurrence for the first 2 years, monitoring will be crucial. After a double-mastectomy, women no longer get mammograms since there is no remaining breast tissue so mammograms will no longer be a part of my regular screening. Instead, I will have regular physical exams and will do my own self-exams at home. I will also get yearly MRIs to check for recurrence, but to also check the integrity of my implants. And finally, Stanford is running a clinical trial that uses blood samples to check if the DNA of my tumor is still in my system. This clinical trial is awesome because it doesn't affect any of the medication I will get - no experimental drugs associated with it.
In addition to all the above, I can start reclaiming my life back! We've already started to travel by taking the family to San Diego last weekend and visited the zoo. I am allowed to get massages again and already have one booked for next week. On January 6th, I return to Adobe - I've never been so excited to go to work, LOL. And on Jan 9th I have my first hair appointment since April.
I am excited that my family and I will start to ease back into our normal; the normal we had before cancer entered the chat.
We love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year. 2025, you've been a real piece of shit. 2026, bring it on!
As we head into Christmas time, I am humbled by all of the love, prayers, meals, and help you have provided our family. Without a doubt, I am ready to put 2025 behind me. It was a year full of so much sadness, anxiety, and fear. But it was also the year I realized just how special our village is. It also proved to me that I can (and will) do anything for my kids.
Surgery Update:
As of Tuesday 12/16 I have officially been released from my surgery restrictions! I am allowed to do anything and everything, so long as it doesn't cause me any pain or discomfort. Of course, I will ease into things but I am so excited!
I will meet with my surgeons in February and April to see how my continued healing is progressing. Once everything settles, we'll have a better idea if any revision surgeries are needed. Also, swelling can take up to a full year to go away completely and mine is causing me nerve pain so I'm hoping the swelling goes down sooner than later.
What's Next:
Even though I've already completed 6 months of chemo and a successful surgery, I'm not done with active treatment since I drew the very unlucky triple-negative straw. Right after Christmas I start phase three of my treatment which includes:
- 9 rounds of immunotherapy
- 8 rounds of the chemo pill
- 6 weeks of physical therapy to improve my post-surgery range of motion
Luckily, the side effects of immunotherapy and the chemo pill are minimal compared to what I've already been through. They don't cause hair loss or anything like that. They might make me fatigued but it shouldn't be too bad. Phase three of treatment will take me into the April/May timeframe.
Monitoring:
Because triple-negative breast cancer has the highest risk of recurrence for the first 2 years, monitoring will be crucial. After a double-mastectomy, women no longer get mammograms since there is no remaining breast tissue so mammograms will no longer be a part of my regular screening. Instead, I will have regular physical exams and will do my own self-exams at home. I will also get yearly MRIs to check for recurrence, but to also check the integrity of my implants. And finally, Stanford is running a clinical trial that uses blood samples to check if the DNA of my tumor is still in my system. This clinical trial is awesome because it doesn't affect any of the medication I will get - no experimental drugs associated with it.
In addition to all the above, I can start reclaiming my life back! We've already started to travel by taking the family to San Diego last weekend and visited the zoo. I am allowed to get massages again and already have one booked for next week. On January 6th, I return to Adobe - I've never been so excited to go to work, LOL. And on Jan 9th I have my first hair appointment since April.
I am excited that my family and I will start to ease back into our normal; the normal we had before cancer entered the chat.
We love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year. 2025, you've been a real piece of shit. 2026, bring it on!
Comments
Cory.barnard
Sue Pearring
Tamarabarnard
Monica Swain