Quick update – first – wow the weather in NC this week is gorgeous!! A respite from the humidity which I’m sure will be back soon.
And now for the medical news. I went to see my medical oncologist today to discuss chemo plans given the neuropathy I’ve experienced and how much of the taxol/carboplatin I’ve gotten. My doctor was happy with the amount of shrinking we’ve seen with the tumor – although she didn’t note much change in the past week so she feels like it’s a good time to switch to the AC chemo. So, I thought I was going to have to make a difficult decision, and it turned out to be easy! Whew! I start next Tuesday every 2 weeks for 4 treatments. That’s assuming my neutrophils (white blood cells) are back up to fighting form – they were actually lower today than last time I had blood work done but that is because Taxol and carboplatin are still in my body doing their thing. Along with AC I’ll get the previously mentioned Nuelasta which will prop up my white blood cells. Here’s more information than anyone but someone getting this needs to know: http://www.lbbc.org/learn/treatments-and-research/chemotherapy/common-chemotherapy-regimens/ac-adriamycin-and I’m most curious to see if my eyebrows and lashes fall out…apparently this is common. Fingers they don’t, but most importantly, fingers and toes crossed that AC continues to kill off any cancer cells that remain.
I have an appointment with my surgeon on July 23rd and my last AC treatment, if everything goes as planned, will be July 24th! This is a month earlier than I had expected. I’m not sure when my surgery date will be but, again if everything goes as planned, it will likely be 4-6 weeks after my last treatment so late August/early September. As far as my surgery goes (stop reading now if you don’t want to know surgery details) I expect to be having a full mastectomy of my left breast. When it is time for reconstruction, I may also opt to have a mastectomy of the right breast at that time. I haven’t decided at this point but the option is there. It sounds like, for me, the best reconstruction option is called “flap” surgery or DIEP – which uses the patients body fat in other areas, usually the stomach or sides of torso, to reconstruct the breast. I’ll spare readers the details but Duke has one of the best surgeons for this procedure. When I first read about it it sounded so Frankenstein-esque my initial reaction was “no, no, nope, no” – it freaked me out a bit. However, after educating myself more both with my own research and talking to some folks I know in the medical field and my surgeon, it seems like the best option for me. One primary reason is because I have to have a 4 weeks of radiation after surgery and that cannot be done successfully over an implant or stretcher for an implant. At any rate, I won’t have that surgery for a long time because after radiation I’ll need a good 6 months for my skin to heal prior to the flap surgery.
Yesterday after my appointments, I was able to connect with a new friend, Carol, who has been an amazing resource to me! She’s gone through TNBC treatment at Duke Cancer Institute over the past few years, and has come out the other side doing great. She was in town from up north for follow up appointments at DCI when I was there – and was going to come to chemo with me but that didn’t work out since I didn’t get chemo after all. However, we got to visit for a while at DCI, and I inherited some of her “cancer wardrobe” including a “shower shirt” that sounds like it will be a lifesaver after surgery.
So…big hard medical decision was unnecessary! Jen and I were both like, wow that was easy, so…onward I go!
yeah for easy!!!