October 2nd, 2024

 So... where are we now?

I started my appointments last week. Here is who I have seen.

9/23-Nutritionist: Walked me through what I should and should not be eating to prepare for any treatment, to prepare for surgery, and what I will need afterward. It was many things I already knew, but also things I had never thought of. I was glad I took the time to meet with her. 

9/24-Geneticist: Before this meeting, I had to fill out a ten-page questionnaire and then when we met she asked me so many questions, mostly about my family history. News flash, I don't know my family history well- especially my dad's side. But the little I do know shows quite a bit of cancer on my dad's side. Which led her to question if my family carries the BRCA gene mutation. If I do carry it, then it would be recommended for me to get a double mastectomy because it makes it much more likely that the cancer would return. I scheduled bloodwork with her for Thursday 9/26.

9/25: No appointments, but Jen came to town to be here to help with the kids. I am so thankful to her and her family and friends for sharing her with me at this time. I am so blessed to have so many people willing to drop everything to be here for me. 

9/26- PT/OT and Bloodwork: I was so nervous these appointments would get canceled Hurricane Helene was approaching and schools were closed. But thankfully they still were able to happen. The physical therapist I met with was also a cancer survivor and she gave me great perspective on the recovery process and what my limitations will be especially when recovering with a one-year-old. Bloodwork was interesting, to say the least. The phlebotomist seemed like it was her first day. She kept saying, "I doubt this is going to work." "I knew it was going to run from me." "I doubt I can even get it in this hand." Like ma'am, please keep these negative thoughts in your head!!! Anyway, despite her negativity we got the blood to send off for genetic testing. 

9/27- Plastic Surgery/Reconstruction and Radiation: Friday was a lot mentally. I started the day thinking I would be able to get some kind of breast reconstruction surgery at the time of my double mastectomy and thinking that the first step in my treatment plan would be surgery. After these appointments, the plan was completely different. The plastic surgeon basically made it clear that my best option is to go to a completely flat chest after surgery to ensure the best treatment options. And, although vanity is not my typical issue, it was a tough pill to swallow. I don't want to scare my children. Braydon will never remember me with breasts? There is definitely a mental health aspect to that news, but I had to remind myself- I want Braydon TO KNOW ME so I have to do what I have to do. Then, when I went to radiology, she explained that it would not be best to start with surgery and she would recommend that I start with chemotherapy, then have the surgery, and then do radiation every day for a certain amount of time. I had been preparing myself to be having surgery in the upcoming weeks, not to start chemotherapy, so that required a shift, as well. She scheduled me to receive a PET scan which I was hoping someone would order for me just to have a greater peace of mind as no one could see the initial site of the cancer. 

9/30 Medical Oncology: I finally met with my oncologist who came highly recommended. When he walked in he told me he and the radiologist from Friday had already discussed my treatment plan and wanted to know my thoughts. The plan is, I will do two months of chemotherapy bi-weekly, three months of chemotherapy every week, then take a month off. Then, I will have surgery in some capacity (single or double mastectomy or lumpectomy- I'm pretty sure I will do the double). Then, after healing, I would begin radiation daily. Whew! I told them I wanted to be as aggressive as possible. He scheduled me to take an Echo to check on my heart before the start of chemotherapy. 

10/1 MRI: I haven't mentioned this, but the most emotional part of this journey for me was preparing for this MRI. You see, the surgeon oncologist told me that I needed to stop breastfeeding to have the clearest view of my breasts. Braydon is seventeen months, so old enough to not be breastfeeding, but he has struggled with eating- we did several months of food therapy so I was told to continue to breastfeed to make sure he was getting enough calories. And although we were already weening and nursing less, having to stop COLD TURKEY. Well, it still makes me emotional. It was physically excruciating with the engorgement and mentally taxing. He cried and signed for milk for days. He's doing great now. He even randomly started feeding himself in the past week like he's an old pro. I'm doing okay, too.

Yesterday, I had an MRI of my breasts that gave them a closer look at the entire thoracic region. The MRI was with and without contrast. It took about twenty minutes from start to finish. It wasn't fun, but I got through it. And the results were posted that afternoon. My surgeon's office called me and said they did find a lump in my right breast that wasn't found in any physical examination, ultrasound, or mammogram. They want me to get a biopsy on that lump as they believe it is the original cancer site. In order to have that biopsy, I will need to have another MRI so they can see where it is while they take the biopsy. 

10/2: No appointments today. As of right now, I have two appointments scheduled for next week- the echo and the PET scan. My goal for today is to schedule the placement of the port and the MRI guided biopsy. Hopefully, I can do both of them next week. 

And now for my thoughts, I started this blog because my memory is awful and in this short amount of time I have already forgotten information. I also want to make sure I am sharing information with anyone who is interested. So, I hope to have this as my primary mode of relaying information through this process. I am so grateful for my support system. My family and friends have all offered to drop everything to help me in any way possible. I appreciate the texts- trust me they have come in right when I have needed them. I am strong and I am positive. I know I will get through this and have a better story on the other side. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I love you.