FOUR months without an entry.
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: Tests and Results

Still no more signs of recurrence. Can't claim I'm cured and I have more side effects than I want to think about, but at least the people who love me are happy.

TGFM!

They're getting CLOSER!
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Tests and Results
My upcoming cancer screening tests (Oct. 6 and Oct. 13) are making me so anxious that I wish I'd been a bit less "macho" at my last Dr's appointment and asked for a new anti-anxiety Rx. So far, my escalating exercise program and sleep meds are enough that I'm able to sleep, but . . .

Phone Reminder
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Tests and Results
I got a phone call yesterday, reminding me of an MRI that was scheduled at the local imaging center for today. I'd forgotten all about it. Because the local radiologists were too nebulous about their results, neither Steve nor I trust them much. AND I have an MRI at the UVA imaging center scheduled in October.  My first instinct was to have both of the tests, but I'm sure my insurance would refuse to pay if we did that. Soooo, I cancelled the local appointment. Hopefully, I don't pay for that choice with decreased lifespan.

Follow-up Tests
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Tests and Results
Since the metal in my tissue expander would get stuck to an MRI machine, and I have to wait until after my final reconstruction surgery to have an MRI, I had a one-sided mammogram this AM. Ugh! The technician was very nice and took the images to the radiologist while I waited. She came back in and took a couple more views and then took those images to the radiologist. After he had looked at those he sent her back to get me for an ultrasound. So I had an untrasound imaging too. As he was doing the ultrasound the radiologist told me that the test was normal but that he just wanted to be sure. And I told him that a little over a year ago I had been told the same thing and it had turned out that there was stage 2-3 cancer in spite of my "normal" mammogram and ultrasound. I said, "I hope you won't interpret this that I don't think you're a good Dr., but I am quite hesitant to trust these results." Anyway, I can't have an MRI until after the expander is out, so today's imaging will have to do until then.

Testing
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Tests and Results
I also saw the surgeon yesterday and he told me that I DID have to have a mammogram. UGH! Since I had a NORMAL mammogram and still had cancer so advanced that I couldn't have any of the more modern treatments, I thought that I wouldn't EVER have to have another one of those horrible tests again. I can't fathom ANY reason to trust the results, that's for sure. And now I don't even have two sides to compare for physical differences. According to this protocol, I'll have to wait clear until OCTOBER for an MRI. The only good thing about it is that the surgeon thinks I'm cured enough not to need it.

The OTHER appointment
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Tests and Results
After the plastics expansion appointment, we went to have a consultation with the UVA oncologist. He seconded the local decision to have my chemo port removed and also the choice of meds  . The surprise was that he wasn't totally sure that I didn't need radiation treatments. (That's usually about 20 minutes every weekday for about 6 weeks.)  So he got on the phone and was able to get me worked in for a radiation oncology appointment -- TODAY.  So we stayed an extra day and spent a couple hours going over all my FLIP FLOP imaging studies. When we left their office 2 1/2 hours later, the decision to radiate--or not--was still "iffy."  We told them that it would be good if they could go over my case in their multi-discipline tumor board again. I guess they had already gotten together by this afternoon, and one of them was on the phone this PM saying that they'd talked with my surgeon and decided the benefits didn't really outweigh the risks.  Whew!

Surgery Pathology back.
Mood:  happy
Topic: Tests and Results
Steve was taking a nap so I answered the phone; it's my surgeon with the post-surgical path results. My remaining lymph nodes and the area around the breast tissue that he removed are all NEGATIVE for cancer!!  This is another time when negative is positive. In other words, "NO cancer" and "clean edges" are a good thing and mean I don't have to have radiation after all.  Of course the Dr. also asked how I was doing. I told him that I was having trouble following his post-op instructions,  especially the "don't lift over ten pounds" part--since I seem to still have to lift MYSELF and I've weighed over 10 pounds  ever since I was about a month old. Anyway, Steve was still muttering about being wakened from his nap when I told him the good news. He did an about face and said that he wouldn't mind being awakened for news like that any day.

Biopsy Report
Mood:  down
Topic: Tests and Results
What a way to wake up this morning. It was my surgeon calling to tell me that last week's biopsy showed up positive for cancer.   That means that tomorrow's surgery will be the more radical one and I'll probably have to have radiation too.  It also means that whatever reconstruction I have will be a long, drawn-out, and complex process.  

MRI of Liver
Mood:  happy
Topic: Tests and Results
The UVA Oncologist's nurse called today (!--on Sunday) and even though we've not finalized on which oncologist will be in charge post-surgically, home or UVA, she was kind enough to give Steve the results of the MRI. The MRI report says "well-encapsullated lesion consistant with benign hemangioma."   SO, that keeps the lower classification of how invasive this is, and hopefully all will be well--eventually.

Topic: Tests and Results

Yet ANOTHER Dr. appointment today---Just routine post-chemo. CBC is normal. Of course, the flu shot is recommended, so I got one. Hope it works.

TGFM