June 6, 2023
Nick and I learned a LOT this morning. I’m feeling a combination of relief of having a firm journey map and nervousness of how Chemo may treat me. Here’s what I know, first the great news, no cancer found in my bones, liver or any other organ! Sweet, that means the cancer is stage 3 and NOT stage 4. Praise God!
I have a path to cure but it’ll be a long one. This Friday I have a little surgery to put a Port in my chest (common for cancer patients as it makes access easier and safer on veins). Next week I have “chemo training” and a heart test to make sure my heart is ready for what’s coming (routine and I have no concerns about this).
Chemo starts the next week, week of June 19. There will be 2 stages of chemo. Stage 1: Because of large size of the mass and how quickly it grew and spread to the lymph nodes they are putting me on the strongest combination of chemo drugs given to breast cancer patients. Lucky me. That we be every 2 weeks, 4 sessions, for a total of 8 weeks. They are warning me now that those weeks will be hard. I will be sick. I will lose my hair. I will sleep a lot. I will have IV fluids. Yikes. Stage 2: will be 1 chemo drug given every week for 12 weeks. My understanding is that this one has less side effects.
After both chemo stages are done, I’ll have surgery on my lymph nodes. Once I’m healed from that (4 weeks) I’ll do radiation. I don’t know yet the intensity or length of radiation yet as that may depend on what they find during surgery.
After radiation I’ll start a series of 3 hormone type treatments. (What I did not know at this stage was that I’d be put on 2 years of a chemo pill, more to come).
Six months after healing from radiation I’ll have reconstructive surgery. It sounds like an 8-12 month journey. I have a 75% chance of curing the cancer. I got this!
Port Surgery
June 9, 2023
Today’s big task was to get the port placed in my chest. Nick and I just got home and it went really smoothly. It looks ugly as all heck but it will heal quickly and then make chemo, blood tests, scans and all else coming down the road easier. I look forward to resting this afternoon.
My first chemotherapy appointment is June 20 at 2 pm. So this next week is prep. Healing from procedure, wig fitting, chemo training class, an EKG, cancer support group orientation and a doctor appointment that connects all treatments and services. Next week should be pretty easy smooth sailing.
One other big decision was made, based on the recommendation from my Oncologist I’m going to be on leave from work during the intense chemo stage. Knowing that for the next few months I just need to focus on my treatments, appointments and my family is a relief and blessing. A big thank you to my co-workers for picking up the pieces and covering!
Thanks for reading my little update. Time for rest. 🙂
My Journey 