Another update
Therapist -
Not much really happened. First appointments are always intake sessions, who are you?, what brought you to therapy?, etc. But she said that I made a good decision to seek help outside myself. Setup a weekly appointment time of Friday at 4.
Plastic Surgeon -
Went through the reconstruction process. It's a little more involved than one would think. There are a few months with things called expanders in there for a few months before they put in the silicone implants.
Also they explained that I was best for implant reconstruction instead of reusing tissue from other parts of my body.
And took measurements - so that if I choose this path I can remain approximately the same size (a little smaller)
Breast doctor -
Explained my options for treatment
(a) Double mastectomy - which she admits is more drastic than she would normally suggest for the stages of my cancer. But because I am so young, there is a real strong possibility of reoccurrence (and worse cancers) later. Which would be followed by chemo and minimal radiation. (Chemo addresses the breast cancer, radiation for the lymph nodes under the left arm) This option has the lowest chance of reoccurrence. Major downside losing my breasts, and will not be able to breast feed.
(b) Lumpectomies - Targeted only to the spots of cancer, and minimal healthy tissue around the cancers. Left is double the size of the right so much more tissue would be removed. (And it's the smaller breast to begin with) Breast doctor said that would mean more chemo (oncologist said not really) and more radiation (oncologist agreed with that). Upside - breast saving, all goes well my boobs and nipples will still be mine and real, difficult breast feeding viable option. Downside - greater chance of reoccurrence, much more monitoring throughout the rest of my life.
(c) Chemo first then surgery based on the results of the chemo - which would be followed by more chemo and radiation. (See next paragraph)
I am deciding between options A & B. As the worst part of the recovery will be after the surgery and if I postpone that more than to the end of the school year, it will affect my ability to work next school year. As it is I can't work this summer - which will be very hard financially seeing as I have NO savings what so ever. I have been allowed to finish my school year, and also allowed time until June 5th to determine which option is best for me.
Oncologist -
This was more of a "sorry to meet under these circumstances, here is the basic road ahead" appointment. It can't be more than that because his job comes in after the surgery after more pathology reports are run.
Two main courses of treatment - ATCH & TCH. I will mostly likely be getting TCH because that one does not contain Taxol, which has a very common side effect of numbness in the fingers and toes, which can become permanent. And seeing as my livelihood is with my fingers and the viola - that is NOT a good thing. TCH has a cousin of it called Taxotere - works the same as the Taxol without the nasty finger numbness.
Also I am estrogen positive, progesterone positive, and HER2 positive. So I will be getting Herceptin for the next year - which is an antibody against the HER2 proteins. And for the next 5-10 years I will most likely be taking Tamoxifen, which will block my estrogen and progesterone receptors. Because of these I need to go see a fertility specialist.
My doctor's assistant (I don't her actual title) did provide me some humor in all of this. This woman placed the I.V. in my arm for my MRI. Because of my dad, I was already aware of the option of the port, so I knew to ask and my breast doctor also said to ask about it. I started to bring it up, and she interrupted me with, "Yes."
*beat* "Not just because your veins are difficult, but also one of the drugs can be caustic on the veins. But we'll have to get an Electrocardiogram of your heart after your surgery and before you start chemo to make sure it can handle one of the drugs." Extra info slightly concerning, but the port thing still amuses me.
Now I'm sorting through all the info. Will be talking with people I've been given the name of/info for breast cancer survivors/fellow patients this week, to see if their cases help me decide for mine.
Not much really happened. First appointments are always intake sessions, who are you?, what brought you to therapy?, etc. But she said that I made a good decision to seek help outside myself. Setup a weekly appointment time of Friday at 4.
Plastic Surgeon -
Went through the reconstruction process. It's a little more involved than one would think. There are a few months with things called expanders in there for a few months before they put in the silicone implants.
Also they explained that I was best for implant reconstruction instead of reusing tissue from other parts of my body.
And took measurements - so that if I choose this path I can remain approximately the same size (a little smaller)
Breast doctor -
Explained my options for treatment
(a) Double mastectomy - which she admits is more drastic than she would normally suggest for the stages of my cancer. But because I am so young, there is a real strong possibility of reoccurrence (and worse cancers) later. Which would be followed by chemo and minimal radiation. (Chemo addresses the breast cancer, radiation for the lymph nodes under the left arm) This option has the lowest chance of reoccurrence. Major downside losing my breasts, and will not be able to breast feed.
(b) Lumpectomies - Targeted only to the spots of cancer, and minimal healthy tissue around the cancers. Left is double the size of the right so much more tissue would be removed. (And it's the smaller breast to begin with) Breast doctor said that would mean more chemo (oncologist said not really) and more radiation (oncologist agreed with that). Upside - breast saving, all goes well my boobs and nipples will still be mine and real, difficult breast feeding viable option. Downside - greater chance of reoccurrence, much more monitoring throughout the rest of my life.
(c) Chemo first then surgery based on the results of the chemo - which would be followed by more chemo and radiation. (See next paragraph)
I am deciding between options A & B. As the worst part of the recovery will be after the surgery and if I postpone that more than to the end of the school year, it will affect my ability to work next school year. As it is I can't work this summer - which will be very hard financially seeing as I have NO savings what so ever. I have been allowed to finish my school year, and also allowed time until June 5th to determine which option is best for me.
Oncologist -
This was more of a "sorry to meet under these circumstances, here is the basic road ahead" appointment. It can't be more than that because his job comes in after the surgery after more pathology reports are run.
Two main courses of treatment - ATCH & TCH. I will mostly likely be getting TCH because that one does not contain Taxol, which has a very common side effect of numbness in the fingers and toes, which can become permanent. And seeing as my livelihood is with my fingers and the viola - that is NOT a good thing. TCH has a cousin of it called Taxotere - works the same as the Taxol without the nasty finger numbness.
Also I am estrogen positive, progesterone positive, and HER2 positive. So I will be getting Herceptin for the next year - which is an antibody against the HER2 proteins. And for the next 5-10 years I will most likely be taking Tamoxifen, which will block my estrogen and progesterone receptors. Because of these I need to go see a fertility specialist.
My doctor's assistant (I don't her actual title) did provide me some humor in all of this. This woman placed the I.V. in my arm for my MRI. Because of my dad, I was already aware of the option of the port, so I knew to ask and my breast doctor also said to ask about it. I started to bring it up, and she interrupted me with, "Yes."
*beat* "Not just because your veins are difficult, but also one of the drugs can be caustic on the veins. But we'll have to get an Electrocardiogram of your heart after your surgery and before you start chemo to make sure it can handle one of the drugs." Extra info slightly concerning, but the port thing still amuses me.
Now I'm sorting through all the info. Will be talking with people I've been given the name of/info for breast cancer survivors/fellow patients this week, to see if their cases help me decide for mine.