Feeling pretty good again today --- My doctors  must be great mixologists.  I just sent a text that said I am in for the Sacred Heart Home Tour -- I know it doesn't seem like that big of a deal,but it is part  of my holiday traditions and  I have been trying to keep my life and my families life as closeto normal as possible so I am very happy to be able to go and get this years Christmas ideas.

I have felt pretty good again today.  Had to go back to the CC (Cancer Center) because I am in a clinical trial for Lympodemia, it is a 2 year study to see if I get swelling in my arm - so far - no.  Ron and I also did a little shopping while we were out.  My worst symptom is heartburn and a little headache -  both being normal.   Saw a little girl about 4 outstide the CC while waiting for our car -- she was smiling and happy in all pink but when her hat came off there was the tell tale bald head -- to me, that would  be soo much worse.   I am lucky with the family and friends I have and my wonderful out of work side-kick....this is just a process.

One down, seven to go! It was a long session this time (4+ hours) because there was a lot of information to go over regarding the treatment I was about to receive and the anti nausea meds I have to take at home. Ron was with me the entire time.  I had a minor meltdown - but it was very brief - just felt overwhelmed - snapped out of it and the rest of the time was kind of boring.  I think I will definitely be glad to have my ipad.  Have felt fine tonight.  We will see what tomorrow brings.  Thank you all for the prayers, positive thoughts and support -- it means a lot!

The countdown has really begun - tomorrow is the first day of treatment.  I have to admit I am nervous but I  have really felt an outpouring of love, caring and support this week through social media, in person visits and good ol' fashioned mail, so a big THANK YOU,  I really appreciate all the support.   I went to the Jesuit Fashion Show today and it did not disappoint. I started going when my now 40 year old brother was a Freshman and it has been a traditional to the Christmas season for 29 years now.   I am so glad I was able to keep the tradition going.

The date has been set.  My first Chemo treatment will be on Wednesday, November 28th, so I still get to go to the Jesuit Fashion Show, but I guess the home tour(s) will be a wait and see.  Oh well, I think this timing will also put me in a good place for Christmas and I am glad to start the process...the sooner I start, the sooner I am done.

Thursday, November 15th,  I met with Dr. Christensen again to go over what treatment route I decided to do (for someone who doesn't like to make decisions this process has been a true test for me).  I opted for the 24 week treatment which is a treatment of Adriamycin and Cytoxan every three weeks for 4 doses, then a treatment of either Taxol or Taxotere every 3 weeks for 4 doses. When I complete the AC doses, I begin getting the Herceptin, which I will get for a year.  I also am getting a Echocardiogram to get a baseline for my hear, since some of this medicine may cause heart damage.
I left the doctor and Ron took me to the airport to catch up with my Mom for a long weekend in San Diego.  We went to see Cavalia which was created by some of the same people who created Cirque de Soleil.  Came home from the show and there were 3 raccoons at the neighbors house.  Maybe I have a connection with raccoons (?) It was a wonderful show, and I highly recommend it.  The weather was beautiful and it was a very relaxing weekend.
Now I wait for the call to schedule my first Chemo visit.  Hopefully I can schedule it and be able to continue the annual tradition of the Jesuit Fashion Show, the Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour and time it right to be feeling pretty good at Christmas.....fingers crossed.

Yesterday I met with my Medical Oncologist, Scott Christensen for probably over an hour.  It was a long, informative, a little overwhelming, interesting conversation full of questions, answers, and "what-ifs".  He was very thorough in explaining what type of breast cancer I have and the treatment options.  I will not be as thorough because I can't find the piece of paper the doctor wrote and drew everything on.....darn it!

Anyway the ductal carninoma I have is classified as a T1C N1 M0 (Tumor 1-tumor is 2cm or less C-tumor is more than 1cm and less than 2cm  N-cancer cells in lymph nodes 1 - in < 9 lymphnodes (I think) M -for mastastified or spread to other places 0-mine hasn't.  In addition to this, mine is high grade - which means it is a fast spreading cancer (there are margins for low med and high grade but I don't remember the numbers....mine was well into high grade)

There is basically 3 types of treatment for breast cancer (at least with the UCD system)  

Chemotherapy

Hormonal Therapy 

Biological treatments (Herceptin)

What treatment you get depends on the type of cancer (the link above for Herceptin, will also tell you the 2 types of treatment I can have).  In the cancer cell there are receptors.  If you test positive for "ostrogen receptors" - (which I think the doc said are Estrogen and Progesterone) you can do the hormonal therapy - I am negative for these, so I don't get any Hormonal therapy 

If you test positive for the Her 2 protein you get a biological treatment which in this case is Herceptin - which goes after only cancer cells - I did test positive for this.

So basically, and this is where I might be a little off on the numbers, I was told that with regular breast cancer of my type, if I did no further treatment as of right now there is a 30% reoccurance rate. Because I tested negative for the Ostrogen receptors I get a slightly higher rate of reoccurance and since I tested positive for the Her 2 protein I have a slightly higher rate of reoccurance.  My final percentage of reoccurance was 40%....If I did nothing else.
With treatment and I have some choices as to what that will be the number decreases.  With any of the 3 plans laid out to me the reoccurance rate drops to <20%, it varies somewhat with the frequency, and choice of treatment.  I have a week to stew on all of this, my next appointment in a week is to make the decision as to my path and to open our calendars and "book it"

You have now completed Mary's cancer 101 --- don't worry there's not a test....for you!

Post op appointment went well today.  I was able to give back the "drain pipe and bag" - YAY- that was a little annoying and icky, besides, I can now shower, shave, and generally feel like a regular person again.  I thought I was meeting with a Medical Oncologist resident on the 21st because the three attending physicians I asked about couldn't see me until December 4th,  but when I got home and played my answering machine, my appointment has been changed to November 6th (!) with Scott Christensen, an attending physician and breast cancer specialist - referred to me by 2 different people and my first choice so....Yikes that's soon!!! - but YAY again!!

I did go get a haircut - so I am halfway there (about 4 inches off and layered)....think Lisa Renna and hopefully you aren't like the stylist who said "who?"

Onward...