The past two days have been quite busy!
BTW, I can know shower and wash my hair myself--and I'm actually OK.
After seeing Dr. Coplin on Tuesday, we went into the meeting with Dr. Beat quite confident that I wouldn't need radiation. Imagine our surprise when he recommended that I have radiation.
Our immediate thinking is that it's overkill. They've taken all of my left breast tissue and I'll do chemo for five months which should kill anything left so I'm not sure what they are trying to radiate. It's not a decision we need to make today or even by next week. After talking to Dr. Coplin again today, she says we can talk more about it and even get a second opinion, but she values Dr. Beat's opinion and thinks I should do it. We'll see. I'd love your opinion.
My mom and I picked up Alexis after school and met my sister at the wig shop. It was great fun trying on the wigs--and yes, I forgot my camera. If I can figure out how to get the pics off of my camera phone, I'll post them. I now know why I don't have dark hair. After trying on a red wig Alexis told me I looked like Velma from Scooby-Doo.
I found two that we all liked. They are holding them for me until I lose my hair. I'll pick one from there and they'll fit it for me. Insurance pays for the wig too (Anthem Blue Cross rocks!). If anyone you know is looking for a wig in the St. Charles area, send them to A+ Wigs (sorry they don't have a website).
This morning my mom and I went to Ann's Bra Shop. After surgery, the hospital gave me this big puff to put in my bra. It ended up making the left bigger than my real one on the right and it wouldn't stay put. I now have a real prosthetic that feels and looks much better! And again, insurance paid for that and two bras. Plus I'll get two new bras paid for every year forever!
I also visited the dentist today as I read you aren't supposed to get your teeth cleaned while doing chemo. Thanks to Dr. Wilmes for fitting me in at the last minute!
I'm sticking my toes back into work too. Michelle gave me a small project and I spent time today updating my other blog, Accountants Round Up. It feels good to have something productive to do.
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Sue Sassmann's fight against breast cancer.
About Me
- Sue Sassmann
- A day after my 38th birthday, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. As a wife and mother of three beautiful daughters, I never imaged my life would take this path.
Behind the Scenes
Background for what's going on now...I was diagnosed on Friday, March 28, 2008 with breast cancer—infiltrating ductal carcinoma (also called invasive ductal carcinoma). Atypical cells–cells that, for an unknown reason, mutated as they grew–have collected in the ducts in the breast. At some point, these atypical cells broke through the duct wall, and started moving into the surrounding tissue. This is when the cancer crossed the line from DCIS–ductal carcinoma in situ–to invasive (infiltrating) ductal carcinoma–IDC. It’s the most common type of breast cancer.
I am ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) positive and HER2 negative. All that basically means is that my prognosis is good and I’ll respond well to treatment. Blood work and chest x-ray are clear!
After the MRI, it was determined that the right side is clear, but they found another spot on the left closer to the breast bone. Because I’m opting for the mastectomy on the left, they don’t have to test it, they’ll just remove it.
Surgery was April 28 and the results of the surgery weren't as good as we had hoped. The surgery and the mastectomy went alright, however they found cancer cells in the lymph gland nearest the cancer. Dr. Radford took out the remaining lymph glands on the left side. We are looking at aggressive chemo in hopes of killing any remaining cancer cells and reconstruction looks like it'll be in three months or so.
I am ER (estrogen receptor) and PR (progesterone receptor) positive and HER2 negative. All that basically means is that my prognosis is good and I’ll respond well to treatment. Blood work and chest x-ray are clear!
After the MRI, it was determined that the right side is clear, but they found another spot on the left closer to the breast bone. Because I’m opting for the mastectomy on the left, they don’t have to test it, they’ll just remove it.
Surgery was April 28 and the results of the surgery weren't as good as we had hoped. The surgery and the mastectomy went alright, however they found cancer cells in the lymph gland nearest the cancer. Dr. Radford took out the remaining lymph glands on the left side. We are looking at aggressive chemo in hopes of killing any remaining cancer cells and reconstruction looks like it'll be in three months or so.
1 comment:
Sue,
Why are they saying you still need radiation if they got everything and you are taking chemo? I would think about it very seriously. Which I know you have. What will the radiation kill that the chemo won't take care of?
Just please don't go to the same one that Grandpa went to. They fried his lungs.
But in the end its your decision on what they do to your body. And you will know how much more you can go thru.
Love you girl!! Just keep being strong. You are in my prayers daily!
Aunt Pat
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