Slowing Down

 Many of you have already heard the news from our oncology consult. No one wants to be diagnosed with breast cancer (or cancer of any kind), but we now know that the news seems to be about as positive as it can be at this point. So let me just start by saying PRAISE THE LORD!!

I spent two weeks waiting for this appointment and all we had been told was that I had lobular breast cancer. I did research a little bit about what was likely to be the course of treatment. I was nervous going into the appointment to hear the details, but actually felt ready for the battle that was ahead. The oncologist was great and spent over an hour with us. He explained everything they know for sure, and it really is best case scenario:

• I actually don't have true lobular breast cancer, but it is a mixed cancer, meaning it is invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features. This means the cancer is easier to treat, and I will not need a mastectomy.
• He said that the cancer is only in the left breast, and that the changes in the right breast are more "cells that are behaving badly" and pre-cancerous changes, which the meds below will help take clear up before it becomes cancer.
• It is grade 1 which means it is not a fast growing cancer.
• The portion they found in the surgery was small, and although at this point we do not know if they got all the cancer in the first surgery, the doctor said chemotherapy would not be warranted in this case.
• The tumor is estrogen+, progesterone+ and HER2- which is all good news. An anti-estrogen medication for the next 5-10 years will be very effective at "starving" the cancer and help stop it from returning. These factors all indicate that treatment will be more effective. (including a low Ki-67 index which also indicated slow cancer growth)
  

Unfortunately, having had the surgery is a mixed bag. On the one hand, thank God I had the surgery and found this cancer so early! On the other hand, because of the surgery I am coming into the cancer diagnosis sort of backwards. The surgery is going to make testing and treament more difficult initially, and we will have to wait several weeks for full healing to happen in order to complete some next steps: 

• I have an ultrasound scheduled in two weeks to hopefully see any remaining areas of cancer in the left breast and to look at the lymph nodes.
• I have a consultation that same day with a surgeon to discuss how we can biopsy the lymph nodes. Normally they map the lymph nodes where the cancer is likely to spread, but the surgery has impacted the lymph system, and they can't do mapping any time soon. So, we will likely have to do anxillary lymph node dissection which is a bit more difficult and invasive as has some more risk.
• Next steps will be an MRI in mid-March to hopefully confirm if there is any cancer in either breast. I follow up with the oncologist about a week after that MRI.
• In the meantime, once I have had the ultrasound and surgical consult, the doctors will discuss my case and set me up with a radiation consultation. We are not sure I will need radiation, but because of the area of cancer and my age, the doctor thinks he would suggest we consider it for a better long term outcome.

I am so incredibly grateful for a community of people who have made us feel very loved. Your texts, cards, meals and more have been overwhelming in a very difficult season. Thank you all!

Until Next Time

~Shari

P.S. Grandbaby is due any day now, and we are over the moon excited!