I met with my Oncologist

I met with my Oncologist last week. Just like my other doctors my appointment was running late and we were seen 45 minutes later. I guess thats how it is when I see the best doctors!

We reviewed all my medical history and what treatment would be best for me at this time. The explanation about my cancer tests was referred as molecules/atoms related back to a science class. It was a lot of information but was also confusing.

He explained to my husband and I there will always be a concern for cancer in my body. We will pray and hope there is no recurrence but there is no guarantee for the cancer. My lymph nodes were negative but we don't know if any cells traveled outside my lymph nodes before I was tested. He believes a pet-scan will not benefit me at this time. There is a lot of false positive results which will lead me into a panic mode. If the test was positive then they would test the area which is performed by surgery and 98% of the cases are okay. The MRI did not detect the cancer in my margins before the radiation so performing another MRI would not be wise. He doesn't want to expose me to any extra radiation then I need to have. I will have several tests perform in the future and have many years ahead of me so less radiation at this time is good. He informed me if I have any part of my body that aches or feels abnormal that I need to contact him. He gave an example: if a person who doesn't have cancer might have a back ache and the doctor might advise them to perform some exercise and to check back in 6 weeks. If I have an ache and it doesn't go away in 6 days, he will request a test to verify nothing is wrong.

He asked if I would like to know the prediction about my cancer in the next ten years via a software program he uses. He had to ask because some people don't like to know the future. I would like to be prepared as much as possible so I wanted the results. This graph will be able to pre-dict in 10 years if my cancer would come back with or without using different hormone therapies. The software wasn't working while we were at the office so I received the results in the mail a few days later. The results were the following: if I did not take any medications my risk for relapse will be 13%. If I take Tamoxifen, then my risk would be 7%. This graph is based on my cancer findings which are inputted into this program for example my tumor grade, tumor size, my age and some other factors.

I had to get some blood work so he compare the levels within my body to the near future. I had the blood drawn a few days ago but I don't know the results.
I did received the results back (since I haven't post this blog). My blood count was good, test markers for breast cancer C27 & C29 both were good (nothing showed up at this time but doesn't mean it can't in the future), blood and liver salt good ( I am not sure what this test was, I will have to ask him the next time we speak), my metabolism was verified in an active form which was good (this will allow my blood to absorb the medication well), my vitamin D was low. It was 25 insufficient, 30 is normal so I will be taking a prescription for 6 months and then will be re-tested. Vitamin D has been recently found to help several functions of the body. I will be taking 2,000 mg a day, I believe an individual should have 1,000 a day. (check with your doctor male or female)

We discussed at this time I will take Tamoxifen for five years (will start next week,) and see how I feel. The side effects for the Tamoxifen will start right away. I hope I don't have to many of them! If I am have some side effects like hot flashes that I need to try to cope with them instead of opting out to take the medication. He gave me his cell phone and to call him when I have any questions.
He left it up to me if I would like to remove my ovaries and said that isn't urgent and I can decide with in 3-6 months. He feels that it is good to have a transvagial ultrasound but having this test twice a year may not be enough. Since breast cancer is strongly connected with the ovaries that I might want to consider to have them removed. Estrogen feeds the cancer so if I remove them there is a less of a chance for the cancer to return. When I decide to remove them, I will explain the change in medication at that time.

I have an appointment to see him again in September unless something changes.

Sorry so late for the updates, take care :>

misc info

I want to thank everybody for your continued support. I am grateful to have so many of you concerned about my health. The major surgery and radiation is behind me now. I will continue to see my cancer doctor and my plastic surgeon over the next few months before my next surgery. (which probably won't be until November) I am seeing my Oncologist on Monday May 16. I am feeling good. My rash is slowly diminishing and I am not peeling anymore. I will continue to apply the lotions to my skin to help the healing.

I have been so busy with updating about my medical condition that I forget to mention in my blog that I have been attending a support group twice a month since February. My emotions always felt good and strong and I was comfortable talking about my cancer but I enjoyed going to the meetings. I met several nice women who all had a different stories why they were there. It was helpful to attend these classes because the women shared their cancer stories on how they are feeling at their point of their treatment. It was nice to hear from someone else who has been through the situation that you might be coming up too. The best thing I would get from these individuals were suggestions who been through the same situation that I am about to experience.
The support group is on Monday evening every two weeks except for last month it was a 3 week span. I had missed the last two sessions about six weeks and when I went back last week everybody was surprised that I finished my radiation. It didn't seem fast for me but when I haven't seen these individuals they didn't get the latest updates.
The group has one more class left and then will only meet twice this summer. If the same women continue to go, I will continue because you feel a connection to them and want to make sure everybody is healing in a positive direction.
I am going to participate in a Breast Cancer walk in October and will give everybody the information as it gets sooner.
Hope everybody is doing well and feeling great!

Updates

I had my ovaries checked and everything was good. I still need to speak with my OBGYN to verify how often I will be getting them checked.

My skin is a little better, the redness went away. I still have my rash but its slowly going away. I did get a lot of peeling in two areas (top of the breast into my arm pit area and under my breast)that has become sensitive. I continue to apply the creams and hope it gets better soon!

I have an appointment with my Oncologist on May 18. At this time we will have a consultation and I will get my prescription for Tamoxifen.

Thank you for all your support!!!

Radiation week six

My last week for radiation has been completed, 28 treatments done. YEA!!! Monday and Tuesday went as usual but as Wednesday came I started not sleeping well at night because of my skin. Its red all over and the skin was getting more sensitive especially under my armpit and on my side. I still have the rash which is a red color with several dots within the rash. The doctor said the rash will take a few weeks to go away. By Friday, the skin on my side and under my arm had turned a brown color. It feels like a real bad sunburn. When I stretch my arm especially when I sleep it hurts because it stretches the skin and is real sensitive. I will continue to apply both creams onto the entire area for the next few weeks. This will help keep the area moist. I have a little peeling under the breast and on my side. It has been uncomfortable all weekend. I hope each day it gets little better. I am so happy that my treatment is over! I can't imagine if I had to continue. The doctor mentioned if my bra rubs on the area to not wear it and let the area heal.

I spoke with my Oncologist and he said I can make an appointment with in the next few weeks. It wasn't urgent to go on the Tamoxifen right away. He will review what I need to be concerned about going into the future. I will also have some blood work done.

On Monday May 4, I am going to my OBGYN office to make sure my ovaries are okay. I am seeing the doctor who performs the ultrasounds. I will be having a procedure called trans vaginal ultrasound. I will also inquire about getting blood work done to check the level for ovarian cancer within the blood. I will have both procedures done to help rule out ovarian cancer.

Radiation week five

This week was better than last week. The usual treatments occurred. I was a little tired but nothing like the previous week. I did take a short nap twice this week to make sure my body didn't get run down.
On Friday evening, I started to get a rash. The rash isn't too bad, looks like a bunch of red marks. It doesn't itch or bother me. The rash didn't go away through-out the weekend.
I have one more week left and I will be done with radiation on May 1 Yea!!!

I saw my plastic surgeon for a follow up check up. She said my skin looked good and to see her in two months. She mentioned that I need to wait 6 months before I do any more surgery. The side effects happened after the treatment for example rash, hardness or tightness of the implant. This happens to only 40%. I am going to be positive and hope I am under the 60% category.

A surprise

I had a great surprise in the middle of last week. Some of the guys from the hockey team at Quinnipiac University (a private, coeducational university is about 25 minutes from our house) would come out and help at some of my son's hockey practices as well as other ages/levels in our hockey league. It was special for these kids to learn and share the ice with them. This lasted for a few months and was a great experience. My husband was friendly with one of the players from the Quinnipiac team and kept in contact with him. We would go to the University and watch their hockey games during the winter.
This gentleman had called my husband and asked if they can come by the house because his classmate and him had something for me. I was shocked because I knew him but not that well. They had a college class until 7:45 pm and my kids were thrilled to have him at our house so I let the kids stay up that night past their bed time.
When they arrived at my house they greeted me with two giant bouquet of mixed flowers. They informed me that they have chosen me as a part of their class project. The course they were taking was an Entrenepeur class and their assignment was to raise money and donate to an organization/ individual and their family which has an illness/disease. They picked me since I am going through breast cancer. This was extra special to me because the other guy never met me and went along with his friend's decision to select me. He wasn't on the hockey team, he is on the golf team. They did such a terrific job surprising me and coming up with the gifts.
As my daughter and I went into the kitchen to get vases for the flowers, they said they had to go out to the car to get some additional stuff. The flowers filled three big vases and we spread them around the house. The faces on both of my kids when they came back in was great! They bought my son a plush baseball Easter basket and my daughter a plush bunny Easter basket. Inside each basket was amazing amount of candy! They put 3-4 full bags of candy inside each basket of different chocolates, 2 packages of peeps, 2 boxes of Cadbury creme eggs, and a 2 foot chocolate bunny. They also gave Gene and I a basket full of candy. They presented us with a tray of cookies they bought as well. I told my kids that the Easter bunny didn't have to come to our house, but they didn't agree! They also gave me a lovely card and inside the card was four $100 gift cards to Stop and Shop (grocery store). That was a great idea since we do shop there and the gift cards will be used for our grocery shopping.
They had a poker night with all their friends to help raise the money. They had my website on their computer to show everybody about the fund they would be contributing too. We took a few photos so they could take them back to their teacher.
This was thoughtful gift and I was touched that I was chosen by them.

Radiation week four

More than half way done, 18 days down and ten more to go! The beginning of the week went well. I had the usual routine on M,T,W. On these days, I will have one/two of the following done during my treatment time: weight checked, blood pressure checked, temperature checked, pulse checked, x-ray taken every five days, and a visit with my radiation doctor.

On Wednesday in the early evening I was extremely tired. I wanted to go to bed real early. I had no energy to do anything. I also had a bad headache. I am not sure if this is part of the radiation or my busy schedule. On Thursday evening, I felt the same way. This was very frustrating to get my energy taken away from me.

On Friday, I was leaving with my family to Massachusetts for a hockey tournament weekend. I went for my treatment at 6:30 am. My energy was better this day but I took a nap in the afternoon to be safe. I still had the bad headaches. I will check with my doctor to see if this is a side effect. I will go next week M-F

Since I am writing this blog after the weekend, I will inform everybody my energy was back to normal Saturday and Sunday. I am still having a little headache some times and will be asking the doctor about them. Lets say a pray that my energy is not going to drain me again, that was painful not to do anything!