A little more info

To say it was an eventful drive home from the surgeon's appointment would be an understatement, it turns out we were very lucky. It started hailing on us a bit on the north edge of Wichita, so Vicki pulled off the road and parked under the bridge at 125th Street. Here's what happened in the next mile south of us, so it was a wise decision!!!

Dr Osland tells me I'm at Stage 1 (read more about that at the National Cancer Institute's website). That's very good news, and my thought is that since 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses are ductile cell carcinoma, they should know exactly what to do with it. I think that's really the only big detail I left out when I messaged from Cleo's house. I keep thinking there's more to share, but i don't really know much more.

Except that people look at you differently after you tell them your diagnosis. There's this 'puppy dog eye' look, and I vow never to do that again!!!

I have plenty more questions to ask about mastectomy and reconstruction, but that's down the road a bit. Once the BRCA results are in, we'll get the surgery scheduled. If it includes mastectomy and reconstruction, I'll have another appointment with my surgeon AND the plastic surgeon before being scheduled. So if you think of any great question, e-mail me or add them in the comments.

I've been watching a lot of shows on the health and science channels about breast surgery. I don't care who you are, that's gotta hurt!!! I'm wondering if they can suck the fat out of my belly and/or hips to replace in my boobs -- I saw that on one of those shows!!! The best one, though, was from BBC America; a documentary called "My Small Breasts and I". I'm watching this and thinking "How pathetic these women are so focused on this! They're just BOOBS!!!" Then I recognized my own focus. On my boobs. DUH!!!

So I'm just working to keep my energy up and get the garden look as beautiful as possible. Once I whip out this database I'm working on, my closet is the next target.

Speaking of comments, I'm going to change this blog so you can comment without logging in to blogger or GMail. I didn't think of all the people I used to e-mail wanting to comment; guess I'm just so used to my papercrafting pals!!! Please 'sign' your name; I don't always recognize e-mail addresses.

Thanks for your calls, and e-mails, and comments, and cards. It means so much to know you're out there supporting us both!

xoxoxo
Sharon

Saw the Surgeon today

So I finally got to the surgeon, Dr. Jacqueline Osland of Wichita, today. Her first suggestion, since I have an older sister who's beat cancer, was to have my BRCA taken to tell us whether I am positive for the breast cancer gene.

If so, she recommends a double mastectomy with reconstruction, which can fortunately be done in one operation (her and a cosmetic surgeon).

If not, my options are a lumpectomy with radiation or a mastectomy with reconstruction. I'm leaning towards lumpectomy which I also read as her recommendation, because the belief these days is to conserve the breast. I can't imagine reconstruction of only one breast that would 'match' the other!!! I'm sure it could be done, but I'm leaning towards the lumpectomy. Pam sure had a good result with that option. Though, radiation does not appeal to me, either.

I'll add more when we get home; I'm typing this from my SIL Cleo's home before we hit the road. Looks like we're off!!!

A bit of News

Heard from Ferg's office yesterday. They have the detailed lab reports from the biopsy, and there were no surprises found. So that's one potential stumbling block overcome (i.e., inflammatory breast cancer).

They've made an appointment for me with the surgeon in Wichita for Tuesday, July 22. That's when she'll look over all the details, stage my cancer, and present me with my options.

It's weird -- I know they say I have cancer, but I don't feel different. Well, unless you count that NASTY bruise on my boob! It's a bit swollen and a little tender, but otherwise normal.

I'll update you when I know more. Thanks for your support.

xoxoxo
Sharon

All About Me AGAIN

Al's doing well, thanks for wondering. Having some swelling of the lymph nodes in his neck that we're watching closely. He has another CT on Monday and we see Dr. Beck -- hopefully for the last time -- on August 4.

Me, not so good. Cut to the chase -- I have breast cancer. My family's informed, and my dearest best friend; some things should be delivered face-to-face.

Anywho, back to the details (nothing gory, promise). I do a monthly Breast Self Exam about the first of each month (and you should too!). I thought I felt a lump, but got busy with our 3rd of July adventure and weekend activities. Remembered Sunday morning, double checked for myself, and even made Al check both sides to see if he felt something different. I've never seen his face go white so quickly before. THEN he started 'talking me down' -- that it's probably just an enlarged lymph node, I've had fibro-cystic breast issues in the past, yada, yada, yada. But we agreed I'd call my doc first thing in the morning.

I did, and they worked me in over her normal lunch break. She examined me, ordered a mammogram and a sonogram (which is evidently standard operating procedure in their office). They showed me both 'films' and there was a definite ugly black blotch on the sonogram; I couldn't tell jack from the mammogram.

Set up a biopsy for Tuesday morning, wherein they numbed my boob and used a needle to extract 7 samples from the mass to send to the lab. Then they inserted a titanium 'marker' in that spot so that if it were benign they'd know for future mammograms we'd already examined it, etc.. They did another mammogram to ensure the marker was in the right place.

My doctor's office called me Wednesday morning to say I have infectious ductile cell carcinoma; I went back over the lunch break again, and the radiologist had requested an MRI. That was entertaining (I've never had an MRI before). So now we're just waiting for the detailed, final report from the radiologist which will probably take about a week. Then I'll be scheduled with a surgeon in Wichita, probably another week. Evidently the local surgeons still believe total mastectomy is the only answer, so my doc won't refer me to them (thank goodness!). I'll be seeing a breast cancer specialist, who will present me with my options and her recommendation. I'm expecting a lumpectomy in early August, presumably followed by chemo and/or radiation.

I'll be doing updates from here instead of sending out e-mails like I did for Al. I just needed to share a bit, bring you all into the loop early on, and of course remind you to get your mammies grammed.

Nothing's happening any time soon. Or as Al says, "Hurry up and wait".

Thanks for your support. I'll be talking to you.
xoxoxo
tos