I'm down to four left. The last one is scheduled on October 2. Finally, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
The start of school and sports have kept me extremely busy. We're also preparing for my nephews and niece to come home shortly!
My hair is starting to grow back (I'll post pictures soon) and I'm starting to get hair back on my legs, which means shaving again. That I didn't miss! I'll feel much better when my eyebrows and eyelashes are back, but that may not be until chemo ends.
I'll have a few weeks "off" before surgery begins again. The first reconstructive surgery is scheduled for October 21. At that time they'll do a lift on the right and put the expander on the left.
For several weeks I'll go in and have the expander filled with saline. Once it's at the size we want (note it will be the size I want and NOT the size Scott is after--sorry honey!) I'll have to wait six weeks before the next surgery. So it looks like sometime in January I'll have the implants put in.
Sometime in November I'll go back to see Dr. Coplin and we'll discuss the side effects of Tamoxifen--the drug I'll have to be on for five years to combat any reoccurance.
So overall, I'm feeling pretty good. I can handle the soreness and tiredness and am looking forward to being done.
Stay tuned for hair pictures. And Donna, be ready with the hair color. I think I'm going to need it!
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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.
2 comments:
So glad to hear you are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am just watching the stand up to cancer special on tv and thinking of you.
hugs,
card angel
crystal joy
www.crystalscards.ca
The girls at work were just asking how you were doing. I am so glad its getting near the end for you, I know it's been rough on you and again I am so proud of you!!! You and Scott and the girls our in our prayers daily. Can't wait to see new pictures.
Love you,
Aunt Pat
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