The Road so far...
I'm so sorry that I hadn't written until now, I just needed a little time to come to terms with everything after I met with my surgeon, Dr. Saving, on Thursday. She seems like she's a really great doc. Lee and I both liked her. I actually have a treatment team now, surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, which will meet on Tuesday to discuss my case and make my next plan of care.
Lee came with me for my doc visit which was a huge help. It's ultimately my body, my decision but we're a team. What affects one of us, affects us both. I've decided I want to go with a full Mastectomy on the left, as opposed to a Lumpectomy because with one I have to have a full round of radiation, with the other I don't. Plus, she said that the tumor is so large that my breast would probably be deformed after its removal. I definitely want to go with the option that'll introduce less destructive forces to my body.
I'll have to go home postop with a drain in place. She said she'll probably implant my medicine port at the same time as my surgery. I know I'm looking at Immunotherapy meds for sure with probably at least some targeted chemotherapy for Her2 positive cells. A lot of it depends on whether there's any microscopic involvement of my Lymph glands. I don't know which drugs yet. I'll know more after she presents my case to her group on Tuesday.
I haven't decided about whether I'll want reconstruction. It's hard to want to have more surgery just for cosmetic reasons. Especially with the way I know my Lupus will attack after the fact. Dr. Saving says my insurance will cover a prosthesis for me, They even make a cami you can buy which has a prosthesis pocket. It's expensive, like everything else, but at least I know I have options.
Right now I'm just trying to make the best decisions I can and not freak out too much about the cost of everything. I promise to do better about keeping you posted as I find out more. Thanks again, so much, for listening, the support, all the love. I sure couldn't make it without all of you in my life.
*hugs*
PS: For anyone whos interested, here's my final diagnosis from the biopsy:
Malignant Neoplasm Of the Upper-inner Quadrant Of Left Female Breast, Unspecified Estrogen Receptor Status (cms/hcc), Her2-positive Carcinoma Of Left Breast (cms/hcc) You can also read this entry on Dreamwidth (
comments)
Lee came with me for my doc visit which was a huge help. It's ultimately my body, my decision but we're a team. What affects one of us, affects us both. I've decided I want to go with a full Mastectomy on the left, as opposed to a Lumpectomy because with one I have to have a full round of radiation, with the other I don't. Plus, she said that the tumor is so large that my breast would probably be deformed after its removal. I definitely want to go with the option that'll introduce less destructive forces to my body.
I'll have to go home postop with a drain in place. She said she'll probably implant my medicine port at the same time as my surgery. I know I'm looking at Immunotherapy meds for sure with probably at least some targeted chemotherapy for Her2 positive cells. A lot of it depends on whether there's any microscopic involvement of my Lymph glands. I don't know which drugs yet. I'll know more after she presents my case to her group on Tuesday.
I haven't decided about whether I'll want reconstruction. It's hard to want to have more surgery just for cosmetic reasons. Especially with the way I know my Lupus will attack after the fact. Dr. Saving says my insurance will cover a prosthesis for me, They even make a cami you can buy which has a prosthesis pocket. It's expensive, like everything else, but at least I know I have options.
Right now I'm just trying to make the best decisions I can and not freak out too much about the cost of everything. I promise to do better about keeping you posted as I find out more. Thanks again, so much, for listening, the support, all the love. I sure couldn't make it without all of you in my life.
*hugs*
PS: For anyone whos interested, here's my final diagnosis from the biopsy:
Malignant Neoplasm Of the Upper-inner Quadrant Of Left Female Breast, Unspecified Estrogen Receptor Status (cms/hcc), Her2-positive Carcinoma Of Left Breast (cms/hcc) You can also read this entry on Dreamwidth (
comments)