Well yesterday I went to see Dr. Reaves, the oncologist. Who is also the same doctor that my mother used when she had cancer. My appointment was for 1:30 pm. So we drive to the hospital where his office is located and it looks as if the building had been evacuated. It was a fire drill! First of all, they had about 15 chemo patients standing outside attached to their IV's and it hit me. I will be one of them soon. Several looked really good and actually healthy and others looked like death warmed over. It was such a shock to see this for me. I got a little "teary". My hubby said that it also affected him this way. His thinking was "We don't belong here!" The closest person to my age group was a woman that was approximately 50 years old or so. That's over 13 years older than me! What am I doing here? Anyway, the fire drill ended and we went upstairs to the doctor's office and waited. I didn't get in to see the doctor until 3pm and then the appointment lasted a bit over an hour. I liked Dr. Reaves! He explained things in a way that was understandable instead of all the doctor terms and he made me feel comfortable. He also explained that my cancer is completely different than the type my mom had and told me not to worry about outcome or side effects being anything like what mom went through. He also explained more about "my cancer" and then explained the chemo and hormone therapy that I will be going through. OK, I'll try to explain it a bit for you now....................................................
I have DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) Breast Cancer. Which became invasive and turned into (IDC) Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. They removed about 3cm of DCIS and another 3cm of IDC. The lymph node biopsy came back negative, which Dr. Reaves said is an excellent thing. My estrogen receptors were at about 46% which is the reason for the hormone therapy. The HER-2 test came back negative which he says makes things even better. And basically the way he explained it is that the chemo will lessen my chances of the Breast Cancer coming back and the hormone therapy also lessens the chances even more. He did say that there is no way of knowing if the cancer will return, but by doing all of these therapies it lessens the chances considerably and also helps if the cancer does come back, makes it treatable. I have to be released from my surgeon before chemo can begin because they don't want the chemo to slow down my healing process. I go see the surgeon on Thursday and then after that appointment I go in for a CAT scan of my chest and abdomen and a bone scan and then on the 6th I go in for a heart scan. I also have to have an outpatient surgery to put the port in my chest for the administration of the chemo. Once started, the chemo treatments will go on for approximately 4 months. With treatments once a week, every other week. One phase of the chemo lasts 1 hour per treatment and the next phase takes 3 hours per treatment. I should not be sick at all they said. If I have any nausea they want to know because the medications they will put me on should make it where I don't have any at all. That's a relief right there! I was so worried about being sick. Not just for me, but for my son and husband. I hated the thought of them having to see me so sick!! I will lose my hair for sure, but this part didn't phase me as much as being sick did. They said that about 6 months after treatment that I should have a "pixie" hair style that will more than likely come back in a different color and probably curly. There are side effects to all of the chemo and the counteracting medicines that they will be giving me, but I am strong and believe that I can do this. Basically, without the chemo he said that it's higher chances of it coming back and not being treatable. So, let's get this show on the road! I want to be well again! I WILL BEAT THIS THING! Well I think I've mentioned everything and will try to keep you all updated as appointments happen, etc. Sorry for the long post! Have a GREAT day! Happy Halloween!