Relief and moving forward

Anonymous

Dear all, I had my PET scan yesterday a.m. and my onc called at 715 last night to tell me it was negative. Only my right breast 2 c tumor and the lymph nodes they tested. I am SO relieved.  She's ordered the dose-dense therapy although I forgot to ask her what I'd start with--she told me last week and we forgot to write it down, plus we didn't really know where we were headed until after the PET.  Anyway, depending on when I get this drain out (my biopsy site filled up with fluid about a week after surgery) we'll do a port insertion and then start chemo. Probably port insertion next week with chemo to start in Sedona following. 

Masect (bi) will follow at the end (my choice).I'm a little skeptical of the surgeon who did the biopsy, since when he put in the drain after I'd been really uncomfortable for about a week with the swelling, said "I should have put one of these in during surgery". My question was, well--why didn't you?  Now my tx is delayed because of this...!  I will evaluate surgeons for bi mastectomy and reconstruct through MD Anderson (see below). I don't know what follows chemo--radiation or mastectomy--but I have time to prepare.

 I also have an appt to talk to an oncologist at MD Anderson in Phx 10 days from now.  Will get a flu shot, so will hubby, and have a teeth-cleaning appt this Thursday.  Lining up all my ducks....

I don't know how any of you felt but I felt like she told me I didn't have cancer.  Since the tumor is out along with the lymph nodes, maybe I don't anymore! But to catch those micro-cells and to be able to look back years from now and know that I did everything I could to show this party-crasher the door is critical to me, so I'm going for everything all the way.  

Will soon be bald.  Was interested in using the penguin cold caps for at least the first month of tx since I'll be finishing up the fall semester at the beginning of my chemo and don't want to have to freak my students out, but they are terribly expensive.  I don't know know if they'd even work with my particular dosage of chemo anyway. I wish there was a less expensive way to make one of those even to slow down hair loss. Any ideas? I'm not afraid of hair loss; it would just be better if it happened while I was on medical leave.

I know it's going to be tough but I'm just anxious to get started.  

Thank you all for your positive support. I feel comfortable here and hope that I can soon give encouragement to those with a new dx.  Right now I still feel overwhelmed and like I'm living in an alternative universe.

C

Racy

I share your relief at the PET scan result, claireinaz. Good luck with your upcoming chemo and surgery.



I can't answer about the cold caps but I'm sure someone will.

nanadeb

I am so sorry you have to be a part of our group...

I also had a 2c and 1.7 c tumor in my right breast invasive along with DCIS in both breasts.

I had a BMX done Aug 11th. They also told me they didnt think I had node involvement by MRI and right after the test done in surgery also .But the final path results showed it in one of 3 nodes they took. Lucky it was one isolated cell...They said that was good. But I am having chemo and rads after that. Also more surgery with skin grafts as its still in my skin.

I hope and pray you have better results sweetie.

I am going at 12 today to get my hair shaved....Its coming off in globs 2 weeks out from my first chemo....Debbi cant do the glob thing..better it comes off. I've read good...and I've read bad about those cold caps ...I for one dont want to go thru this chemo with all the bad SE I am having and end up with cancer cells that made it in my head because of a cold cap.

I dont care about being bald (even tho I dont like it) I just want every chance to love

Yay for the good PET scan results !!

(((hugs)))

 DebbiMy blog ~http://atoosassygal.blogspot.com/