To you guys, all of you, my collective "ROCK" of strength and support....I couldn't have done this without you.
Hubby and I just got back from the consult with the surgeon, and I wanted to share what happened. The caveat is that everything discussed is based on my MRI on Monday conclusively confirming what their mammo, biopsy, palpations, and ultrasounds are showing. (And of course, the lumpectomy).
I'm still a little numb in the brain, and thankful Hubby was with me to remember all the stuff I forgot/forget.
Here's the path results of the biopsy:
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, well to moderately differentiated
- microcalicifications identified
- ductal carcinoma in situ
- tumor cells are estrogen receptor positive (yay! 97% strong), progesterone receptor positive (71% strong), and HER2/neu negative.
FIVE core biopsies of up to 2.5cm -- yes, cm's -- in length -- EACH -- were sent out, some results are still pending.
Based on what's in, & his own exam, he feels I may not need chemotherapy since it appears we caught this early enough. It looks like I'll need a lumpectomy to remove the tumor (I've named the tumor,- more on that later)* and other masses, and then 6-8 weeks of radiation, 5 days per week.
There are different types of radiation (I'm still learning), I may experience skin/tissue burning, and depending on what the oncologists determine, sometimes, even if chemo isn't administered along the traditional routes in conjunction,.... some form of chemo can still be carried out AFTER surgery and radiation as a pre-emptive strike.
He discussed bilateral breast reconstruction (there are masses in the other breast, detection of precancerous cells), and is bring a plastic/reconstructive surgeon onto the team for the procedure.
I mentioned to him that at this point, I just want to be healthy, I want the cancer out of my body. He told me that while that's the plan, they don't want me to feel I have to ignore the physical aspects,...that "in this day and age" with the right team, they can do all the surgery (the whole team) at one time, vs. repeat surgeries. It's up to me.
He said to me, "You're still young, and there's no reason you need to forego feeling and looking like you want to."
They still have to do some sort of test where they inject radioactive dye to check the lymph nodes out and see if any, or which, nodes are affected, and they even select "suspicious" ones, even if non-cancerous, to sample so they can follow-up and monitor changes.
I also still need some blood work. He said with my MRI on Monday night, he should be in touch with me by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week (he's coordinating all the doctors himself to get them in together!!)...he'll have more definitive news for me and can then set up my actual surgery date and get a schedule for radiation.
If my surgeon, oncologist, the reconstructive surgeon, and the doctor who administers the radiation, can all get coordinated (and my doctor today said he'll make sure they are, he'll find a way), I may be looking at surgery by early December.
I'm looking at this as a GREAT Christmas present to give myself.
I'm thankful to God. I'm thankful for my Husband. I'm thankful we have the insurance we do. I'm thankful I have had, and continue to have, such remarkable friends at HW who have held my hand, let me melt down, bolster me up, encourage me, pray for me,....someone they've never met or even spoken to,....you've all done so much and given so much of your time and support, I am so thankful to God to have every single one of you by my side. I am blessed to have all of you!
With so much love and so many hugs, and,...with an incredible amount of healthy respect,
M.