Nove 24-25 2009

Monday, November 24, 2008 2:16 PM, EST
Well now, that was fun. No better way to start the week than to watch your boob/armpit being poked at in the ultrasound screen. Good thing I'm a discovery channel freak. In case you wanted to know when it comes to biopsies, size does matter...needles that is, smaller is better. Today's procedure was better than the first really, now it is just tic toc...tic toc...I'll know which way the fork in the road turns around 2p tomorrow. For the googlers out there wanting details, there are few so far, a 2.5 cm tumor and two swollen nodes, pathology should clear some things out tomorrow. Leener - don't google - you are not allowed, if I found out you did, I'll call your boss and tell her you are goofing off at work. :) I'll update tomorrow when I get the results. I'm not sure what I'm hoping for out of this stage of the game...oddly enough...I just want the path to be whatever gets it out of me, all of it. The details are quickly becoming irrelevant, I just want it gone.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 3:29 PM, EST
I never knew how loudly the clock in my office ticks. It is REALLY loud. Or at least that's how it sounded waiting for the call back from my doc about the results. Deep inside I knew the results, but I'm not going to say it doesn't absolutely suck to get it confirmed. The nodes came up positive, so it is on to an Oncology appt tomorrow [thank God, as waiting is not my strong point] and we will know more from there. Looks like a chemo christmas for me [I know that sounds so sick, but I swear I giggled as I wrote it - bad humor is how I deal]...gather up your scarves ladies, I just don't see myself dealing with wigs. I'll update tomorrow after the oncology appt, I actually am relieved I get to go tomorrow, time to "get 'er done" [threw that in for you Chris!] and get this crap out of me. Cancer's a bitch. I'm a bigger bitch.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 2:19 PM, EST
Game on. OK - so today went well, I feel much more solid about what is going to happen and about what needs to happen. More details about the cancer: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma [we knew this], tumor size 2.7cm [we knew this], Lymph Node + [yesterdays news], ER+ [a good thing, cutting the supply to estrogen in the future decreases recurrance], HER2 neg [a clarifyer]. The plan: next week I will have a CT and bone scan, standard stuff so there is a baseline since cancer is now in my medical history, and a heart strength test to be sure the ticker can hold with the onslought of chemicals it is about to get. I will also get a mediport put in next Wednesday [a good thing, so I don't have to get stuck at every appt and deal with IV's] that will come out when this whole deal is over. I start chemo next Friday, 12/5/08. [A 6 hour process, I so do not have the patience to be hooked up to IV's for 6 hours!] The med regimin is a definite "hair loser", odds are I'll be bald before Christmas - so bring on the hats & scarves! Surgery will follow the entire chemo tx, and we will wait to make that exact decision following the results of genetic testing to give even more clarity to the type of cancer, and the odds of recurrance. If the gene test is positive, the ovaries may need to go too, as ovarian cancer would be related here. I can't imagine someone dealing with this who isn't done having kids, the decisions would be daunting, as killing female cancer reaks havoc on all things female!!
I think that is about everything from today - though I have a bit of a headache from taking it all in, I am just glad to have a plan. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving - craziness like this certainly reminds us there is much to be thankful for.