Gmail Update 2

From the time that I had sent the last update out to "My People" I had met with Dr. M my plastic surgeon. He was a God send along with his physician's assistant Sarah. They set me up with a surgeon that they knew would work with them on a mastectomy if I chose that, an oncologist and a gynocologist since I wasn't happy with mine.

Within the course of a week I had met with all of the doctors that would form my team. Dr. M told me I had Invasive Ductile Carcinoma. He informed me I would have 3 surgical choices. One lumpectomy, two single mastectomy or three double mastectomy. The three choices would most likely be accompanied with chemotherapy and if I chose a lumpectomy I would most likely get radiation. I asked what he would recommend for his wife. He said given the family history I had he recommended genetic testing to see if I was brac1 positive. If I carried the brac1 gene that increases my chances of reoccurence significantly for breast as well as ovarian he would want his wife to do a double mastectomy and consider a hystorectomy. I looked at him in tears with what I'm sure was a crazy desperate expression and said, "What's the other choice?" I didn't like any of those as it meant cutting my beautiful perfect breasts that I had only 3 years before decided to augment for fun. I loved them and didn't want them touched. Not to mention I knew what was to come. I had watched my mom do this 3 times. Twice for breast and once for ovarian cancer. It changed her, it aged her and it caused fear.

I also saw Dr. G the surgeon that would work with Dr. M. He was the best, answered many questions for me and felt this tumor had beeen all removed looking at an ultrasound. He listened to my vanity issues about being relatively young (39)and not wanting to be all hacked up. Yes only my husband sees my breasts, but that's the most important person not to mention me! He said we may be able to do a rare mastectomy that saves my nipples.

I also saw the oncologist who confirmed my three choices gave me some statistics and was ver factual...

The following is the next Update I emailed out.

Gmail Update 2


Here we go ...I went to Dr. M (plastic surgeon) again on Tuesday. They took out the stitches from the biopsy and were concerned by the amount of bruising and are just checking to make sure that it is normal for me and not a problem. It's normal for me I've always been a bruiser and a swelller!!! I got some great news from him as far as the mastectomy goes. If all goes well I will come out of the surgery with new implants already in place that will make me the same size as I am now and no follow up surgery will be necessary. I dont' want to go into more detail on that because I'm trying to keep some class here it was good news though they will be taking away almost no skin so I should end up with a thin white scar on the outside of my breasts (well the scars will fade to white over a year.) I went to the oncologist Dr G. today. I was all nervous and worked up and made myself sick and angry! He is much more factual although still nice abd I felt he was really good. He will consult with the other two surgeons but he wants this to happen a little more stepwise. He wants me to do the masectomy on the 14th. While I am healing over the next 6 weeks he is setting up genetic testing to know for sure whether I carry the BRCA1 gene and gather all the info from the lymphnodes and tests after the surgery about my exact cancer. He said I will have either chemo or a hormone therapy called tamoxifene or both but he can't determine that yet so why put the port in if I won't need it. It is just an outpatient procedure if I do. If the genetic testing and all the results support doing the ovaries he said great but he thinks it is better done later after we deal with the breast cancer and if I do hormone therapy I may be able to delay it for 5 years. He also said that yes I may go into menopause from chemo or tamoxifen but I may not, I may need chemo I may not, but let's do it one step at a time. I felt like he was a logical voice of reason even though I was all set to just do it all and be done with it. There is no harm in taking it step by step and maybe the transition will be easier.

I admit I am at this point right now on the couch mentally overwhelmed with choices about things it takes 6 years to learn about in medical school. I did feel a tad bit overwhelmed and down today, but mostly from exhaustion as my mind is going 24 hours a day right now. I finally gave up, got in the tub and drank a glass of wine and I'm about to watch American Idol which is taped!

My girlfriends in Ohio are getting together and sending my dear friend Krista out for a weekend on the 28th to entertain me and I am so thankful! She is already lookin forward to giving me a hard time! I told her even if I look bad tell me I look good!!!

So now I guess we are back to just getting my third set of boobs.

****Dad and Sheree I don't think I need you just yet. Stay on stand by for April in case chemo is the prognosis and I need you later. I am still trying to keep the house relatively normal for the kids and me. Until there is some more wonderful exciting cancer news to send out....luv t