So.....recovering from surgery quite nicely. Still have numbness on the right side but have been told that can take up to 6 months to come back and my right arm continues to improve, I do my arm/shoulder exercises every day so it can't do anything but get better! Energy is finally coming back!!!! Still get tired if I do too much but I'm feeling less and less like I've been hit by a few trucks.
Les and I went to the Cancer Clinic yesterday and found out that yes they would have recommended the surgery I had, should have chemo to ensure that it hasn't gone to other parts of my body and should also have radiation because that will clean my lymph nodes (apparently chemo doesn't do that). So the fun is just beginning!! Here is a list of what was found: The cancer was Stage IIb (this being because of size and because in lymph nodes), a Grade 3 (meaning aggressive the grades only go 1-3), 13 lymph nodes were removed and out of those 3 were cancerous, I had two lumps the largest 2.7 cm's and the other 1.3 cm's it is figured that this one was a sister or daughter to the larger one but they also did find cancer cells accumulating between the two lumps as well as cancer cells through to the lymph nodes. The Oncologist stated that it was good that I had the mastectomy because there was a very high chance that cancer cells were in other parts of the breast due to how the cancer cell growth was. My HER2 Status (gene overexpression) was negative and the cancer was Estrogen/Progesterone negative (meaning hormonal therapy won't work).
The Oncologist is going to speak with the Hereditary department to see if I qualify to have a BRCA test done. This is a genetic testing that can be found in Breast Cancer patients it is an inherited genetic mutation. The reason for this is because there is so much cancer in my family particularly that there is breast cancer and ovarian cancer on my paternal side (not lots but I also don't know the history really well and the paternal side is more of a concern but I can't remember exactly why). Anyway in any reading I have done I've read that it is rare but because of my age there is a higher chance I could have it. In the end it all depends on if the Hereditary department feels I qualify to have this test done.
So the next step........when diagnosed with cancer or at least Breast Cancer there are three reports they always want 1) chest x-ray; 2) bone scan and 3) CT Scan on liver. I've had the first two done already but because there is some question on my bone scan they are wanting to do a CT Scan on my spine so on June 19th at the Royal Columbian Hospital at 7:45 am (have to be there for 7:15 am) they will be doing both a spine and abdomen (to see liver) CT Scan. The Oncologist has then given it a week for her to get results and make sure all is well before going ahead with chemo treatment starting the week of June 25th.
Before any of this starts on June 6th I have to go to a chemo orientation at the Surrey Hospital (this is where the cancer clinic is and where all chemo/radiation treatments will be taking place) for a couple hours in the afternoon then on the 14th I have an appointment to see my surgeon (I think he wants to admire his work!!). Chemo.....this will consist of three different medications (I'm not going to get all technical) being injected 3 times every 3 weeks (1 1/2 hour appointments each time) then they'll replace those medications with a different injected 3 times every 3 weeks so this is a total of 6 sessions (should take about 4 1/2 months). Now because I am a grade 3 and a stage IIb level the chemo is a fairly aggressive one (or should I say high dosage) and one not normally given to estrogen/progesterone negative patients. Radiation.....this will happen after chemo (not sure how long after) and will run for 4 weeks. The only thing with radiation is that it is an every day treatment. So Mon-Fri for four weeks I'll have to go in and get radiation (I believe it's about a 45 minute session except for the first one).
After all that is said and done further discussion will be made on future precautions ie whether medications, etc. will be needed. Are you confused yet?!!! Hopefully I got it all. As I go through each step I'll try and keep you posted. I know I've said this lots but I really want to express my gratitude to family and friends. Everyone has just been amazing and I just can't express enough how much my family and I appreciate all the care that has been given to us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
