Playing Catch-up

What all of the previous post was leading up to was, I received a letter telling me that I was to have my first Chemo at 10:15 AM on the 9th.  I was not consulted about anything... I was informed.  Of  course this time was at roughly the same time as the Genetics appointment so genetics got rescheduled.

The operation went without a hitch... home by 9 pm or so and the doc left the port accessed so I wouldn't have to be poked on the sore spot. 

First Chemo went well... Laurie and Karen came with me and we had a great time eating black-market girl scout cookies and looking at the ads.  Something really nice happened right before my appointment.  The girls and I had stopped a McDonalds for something to eat and were talking when a young man came up and said " I apologize for eavesdropping but good luck and this is for you"  He handed me an origami crane.

So  the day after chemo it is necessary to go get a shot (Neulasta).  This shot is to promote the building of 'good colonies' ( I don't understand it either, I just do it).  I am allergic to this shot.  It is in an egg serum and I am allergic to eggs.   I decided the benefits out-weighed the risks and took the shot anyway.  My friend Laurie again came to my rescue an kept an eye on my breathing and complexion for the next few hours to make sure I was okay...  Reaction was minimal, I took zyrtec and benedryl and retail therapy ;)

So far I  am just a bit more tired than usual, Thankfully. 
Will keep you posted on anything new.

So here we are

So here we are sitting in pre-op.  So much has happened in the last few days.  Shortly after my last post I got a message from my doctor that the port for chemo would be put in on Wednesday and told me when/where to check in, what time surgery would be and what time I might expect to be home (4, 6 and 8 respectivally).  I happened to mention to the nurse/scheduler that the genetics consultant that I was asked to see told me not to rush on the info because they were really busy, the beginning of the new year would be fine...  I received a call with an appt time within 15 min.

Yesterday was a very long day.  Up early to get Kira ready for school, Iris to the neighbors, gas up the car and make it to Good Sam before 8:15 to check-in.  I got another radioactive isotope injected.  Feels like I should be glowing soon.  The MUGA scan went great.  I dropped off the genetics questionnaire and the went to a Look Great Feel Better class.  This is a great class that teaches women going through cancer and chemo how to put on eyebrows and apply make-up the best way.  They gave me a makeup kit and a wig.  We were just getting to the scarves and headwraps when I had to leave to get to Kira's school to volunteer for an art project.  I have to say while sometimes exhausting, I really enjoy doing Art Smart with Kira's class.
Finish at school, rush home, get ready for work and get messages, off to meet Mike on the way to work. 

Current

So now we're all caught up.  I have the MUGA scan in the morning.  I am lucky enough that our neighbors are willing to watch Iris, our puppy. 

The Process

So now that we have our diagnosis it's time to get started and boy do we start out running.  The surgeon wants a CAT scan and a full body bone scan to see if the cancer has spread anywhere.  Within 2 days I have had both scans and met my medical oncologist.  I have also completed the genetic questionnaire. 

Now on a side note.  During the CAT scan the tech mentioned that one of the medications injected into my veins would cause a flush.  First in my chest and then in my pelvic area.  He warned me that many people insists that if feels as if they have wet themselves.  Now I did feel a flush in my chest and when it moved to the pelvic area I also felt a flush and did feel a bit wet... but not in the sense that the technician suggested.  It was more of an arousal flush...   Bring on those type of tests right?   Might as well enjoy!

My medical oncologist set me up for at MUGA scan to make sure my heart can handle chemo.  He wants to start chemo within 1 week.

Results

Stage 2, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  There were 2 tumors, one was 2.1 cm, one was 3mm.  The most common type of Breast Cancer.  Since the doctor believed she had gotten most, if not all, of the cancer surgery is on the back burner.  Chemotherapy first, along with genetic testing.  Mike got me motivated to fight.  He said if I die he's going to go out and get a 20 year old blond to take my place.  Jealous bitch that I am my response was 'no fucking way! You're not getting away from me that easy'.  So the fight is on.  I will not give up!  I will not give in!  I will be here!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

How it all began... part 2

So after a tense week of waiting I was told that the biopsy was negative, that the lump was a fibroid with metabolic changes, however the Doctor had observed some abnormalities and wanted me to see an oncology surgeon.  My family doctor referred me to a wonderful surgeon.  I thought it would be a consult about IF I needed to have surgery.  This was not the case.  The question was WHEN.  The doctor also sent me back to the imaging lab to get a BSGI (Breast Specific Gamma Imaging).  Again I thought I would finally get a definitive answer.  Not so. The technician said that anything with a high metabolic rate would react. So the only thing this test told us was that there was a lump...  I did get a big kick out of being radioactive on Halloween.

Surgery to remove the lump was scheduled on the 22nd of November, two days before Thanksgiving.  Three days before my birthday.  Everything went smoothly.  Mike, my husband, was able to be there with me and was my anchor as I went through the emotional storm of surgery.

The doctor ended up taking out an egg-sized lump. We were told that the pathology would be back the Monday following the long weekend.

Around noon on Wednesday, November 23rd I got a call from my surgeon.  Cancer.  I was numb from shock.  I called Mike.  I called my friend Karen and went on getting ready for Thanksgiving.

For the first time in my life we were hosting Thanksgiving.  My sister and her family were coming up from southern Oregon.  Mike's mom and grandma were coming up from Salem.  I waited until after dinner on Thanksgiving to break the news. The day after we got more news.  Chemotherapy.

How it all began

Two months before my 44th birthday the doctor discovered an lump in my left breast during my annual check-up.

Needless to say this was a shock.  It hadn't been even a full year since my last clean mammogram.  When I called for an appointment to schedule for a new mammogram I had to ask for it to be moved forward because the doctor had found a lump.  The mammogram seemed to be clear at first.  I was told that because we had found a lump and the mammogram was inconclusive I needed to have an ultrasound done on the lump.  No big deal.  People have cysts all the time, right? So off to a new room for a different kind of test. 

There is something very foreboding in the silence that ensues as the tech captures image after image of 'the lump'.  She must have realized how scared I was getting.  She told me that it wasn't a cyst but a solid mass and that she needed to have a doctor look at the images.  More waiting.  Now I actually see a Doctor.  We need an ultrasound guided biopsy of the lump.  No problem, off to a third exam room.  The Doctor numbs the area and tried to take a biopsy.  Tried because she couldn't get the needle through the dense fibrous tissue of my breast.  After the second needle is finally forced through the tissue she takes 7 samples to send to the lab.  Normally this would now be the time to place a titanium marker to pinpoint the biopsy site, but the pathway was lost and after bending the needle the doctor decided we could skip this step.