Good News, Great Story

Great news today! There appears to be NO NODE INVOLVEMENT!

The biopsy of the supraclavicular node was negative for disease. The biopsy from the left breast was BENIGN! I have a completely healthy left breast, an unhealthy right one, but no evidence that the canser has spread to nodes or other areas. 

I had to laugh at the language in the pathology report. They have to describe the samples they receive in some detail. This is what my left breast specimen inspired them to write: "Specimen 1 is received in formalin blah blah blah and consists of an approximate 1.6 cm aggregate of shredded, rubbery, glistening, yellow-tan tissue." Say it with me . . . EW! I thought it was a great use of adjectives! Perhaps I could use it in some future vocabulary lesson! Ha!

Dr. Mazj's office "pulled some strings" and got that authorization for the PET/CT in a three day miracle, and I will be having it TOMORROW! That should tell us everything we need to know and (hopefully) confirm that there has been no spread to other organs.

As it stands now, my clinical stage is STAGE 1 BABY!

The BRCA gene test results are not in yet, but it turns out that if I do have the gene, the only change to treatment will be an OOPHORECTOMY (removal of the ovaries) at the same time as mastectomy and reconstruction early next Fall.

This coming week I will meet with Dr. Mazj to see results of the PET/CT and set an appointment for the placement of my chemo port. The start of chemo therapy is now just a week or two away.

I know I said that if there was no node involvement we would do surgery first, but Dr. Schrader noted that it takes a good few weeks to schedule an operating room with two surgeons, and while we did hear good news today, I still have an aggressive canser that needs to be treated right away. So, chemo first it is! I'm actually happy about this. 

And although it is good news that my left breast is canser free, I am still electing bi-lateral (both sides) mastectomy. Since my surgery won't be until Fall, my boob voyage party can be postponed for a while. But what about a hair voyage party? We could call it Toodle-oo to the Do, or Hair Wiedersehen, or So Long Hairwell! I'll take further suggestions in the comments below!

Funny story: My niece Jill was explaining to her 3 year old daughter Bryn why they have been praying for Aunt Dawnie. She told her that Aunt Dawnie's breast is sick and that she has to take strong medicines "that make your hair fall out."

Bryn welled up with tears and started to sob. Jill thought it was so sweet that Bryn would be so moved by this news about her great-aunt. Then Bryn wailed, "Why will it make my hair fall out?" HA! Poor little Bryn thought my chemo medicine was so strong that it would make her hair fall out! Jill had some 'splainin to do, and I'm sure Bryn was very relieved to know it was only my hair that will fall out.

Anyway, bald and beautiful (and bad-@ss) HERE I COME!