Finally. Surgery.

They called today. My lumpectomy is scheduled for Wednesday, September 5 at 10:45 AM. Exactly one month from the day I found the lump. They are going to do a lumpectomy and remove a lymph node from my armpit for testing. It will be outpatient surgery, so I won't have to stay all night! Thank God! He told me to expect to be off work for a week. As soon as I get home from surgery that day, I need to call the surgeons office and schedule my stitch removal for the next Tuesday. I will be so glad to get this over with. But, I thank God that it didn't spread or get as bad as it could. It is only because of Amy encouraging me to do self exams and ultimately the prayers of everyone that made it go so smooth. Thank you all.

RESULTS!!!!

The cancer has not spread!!! It is centrally located in my right breast. They are going to call me to set up surgery sometime this week! What a relief!

Still waiting...

Ok. I'm still waiting for my results, but in the meantime a good friend of mine is having surgery tomorrow for her breast cancer. Amy has already been through her chemo. Now, she is undergoing a mastectomy. For those of you who read my blog, but don't know Amy, please keep her in your prayers. It's going to be a long surgery for her tomorrow. She is one of the greatest, sweetest souls I know. I know that God will be with her. She is one of the greatest testimonies and miracles that I have seen.

I should get my test results in the morning. My and Amy's surgeon isn't doing surgery on Amy til noon, so maybe she'll call with my test results before she goes onto Amy. If so, I will post as soon as I get home tomorrow, unless I can access the blog from work.

Hurry up and wait!

We rushed me through all of the doctor appointments and testing and now I have to wait until next week to get my results. They were ready Friday, but my surgeon was in Texas at a breast cancer conference/seminar or something so I'll have to wait til she's back to call me. However, she's doing surgery on my friend Monday morning so I don't know when she'll get to my test results.

I did receive a notice that my LEFT breast is cancer free. Woo hoo! However, I knew that anyway. The surgeon has already gotten authorization from my insurance company to do a lumpectomy. So, if that's what the PETscan shows, then we'll be doing surgery within a week or so. Call me crazy, but I'm kinda hoping for the "or so." This is our last year for Moore War and this whole coming week is spirit week. Not to mention, next Friday IS Moore War. My last time to officially wear my camo. I really don't want to miss it. Especially since this is my first year as a teacher.

Oh, and a side note, I got my teacher certificate today! I'm a full fledged teacher now. I will get my first paycheck this week.

Anyway, back to cancer. I'm wondering if Dr. Carter would flip out if I asked her to postpone surgery until the first of September? I think my husband would. So, I told him, if they do surgery early next week and I'm out of the hospital by Friday, I'm hooking up T.J.'s electric chair and Tim is taking me to the Moore War assembly Friday morning! He kind of rolled his eyes at me. But, we'll see who wins this one. I'll keep ya posted!

More tests

I have been set up for a PETscan Thursday morning at 6am. The PETscan will show whether or not my lump is malignant or benign. It will also tell if there is lymph node involvement. It scans my whole body to see if cancer is present anywhere besides the breast. Then I will go at 2:30pm Thursday to have my breast MRI. This will determine if the cancer has spread further into my breast or into the chest wall. After I get my results back, the doctor will call to set up a time for surgery. Provided, of course, that the cancer has not spread. If it has, we will have to make an appointment with her to set up a new game plan.

Tomorrow is going to be a very long day. I'm going to work as soon as the PETscan is complete, then leaving work early to have the mri. I have a feeling we will have Chez Bueno for dinner. I can't wait til this is all over. My whole body hurts from stress. But, I still have the peace of God with me.

I told my students what I'm going through because I thought they had a right to know. Someone asked me how I could laugh at a time like this. I told him that I knew everything was going to be fine. Another student asked if I could guarantee her that I would be okay. Once again, I said I knew everything was going to be fine. I would be back in no time to make their life miserable with english. Little do they realize they are part of the reason I can smile and laugh. I'm loving life right now. I have everything I ever wanted. Except for a grandbaby and that's on the way. What more could I ask for? This is a just a bump (no pun intended) in the road.

Away we go...

Tim and I had our first appointment with the surgeon my pcp referred me to. We went in with every intention of letting her know we would be going for a second opinion. However, once we met her, we realized this lady knows her stuff. She is a very knowledgeable and confident doctor. She's a general surgeon but she said breast cancer is what she does. She wants to eventually have her own breast care center. So, we were sold.

She went over my test results and pretty much told us exactly what we already knew. The size of my tumor is about 3cm x 2cm. She is setting up a PETscan and breast MRI to be done within the next week. The PETscan will view my whole body and let her know if there is cancer anywhere else or if it has spread to my nodes. If I'm lucky and it's nowhere else, she is hopeful to do breast-conserving surgery. Which is basically a lumpectomy. They will remove the lump and any breast tissue surrounding the lump. I was a little unsure if any reconstruction would be involved in this surgery. This is what I get for not writing down my questions. If there is reconstruction, it will be done at the same time. Then I will follow up with radiation therapy and possibly chemotherapy. That is the call of the oncologist.

Now, if the monster has spread, there is the possibility of a mastectomy. Nasty business that one. They have to remove EVERYTHING and then you have to be reconstructed. Then chemo for sure. I'm not fond of that idea. I know, I know, my life is more important. I agree. However, the thought of losing my breast and hair is worrisome. My wonderful husband has informed me that we will do whatever is necessary to repair anything to my liking and, of course, my hair will grow back. Mind you, I WILL do whatever is necessary. I will just gripe in the process.

I'm not crying and moping around depressed over this. I've been through many challenges in my life. Some people know about, some don't. I've learned to be a fighter. I will fight this with every fiber of my being and win.

I hope I've answered all questions. If not, send me a post and I'll post again. Otherwise, I will let you know when my PETscan and MRI will be. She said that the tests and surgery will all take place in the next 2 weeks. I'm cool with that. I'm ready to get this beast out of my breast.

Test Results

On August 5, I found a lump in my breast. I called the doctor first thing Monday morning, August 6 to schedule an appointment. I went in Tuesday, August 7. He wasn't sure what the lump was, but set me up for a mammogram and ultrasound for Friday, August 10. The doctor stated the lump was "worrisome." It was a solid mass, but small. He felt an immediate biopsy was necessary. I was kind of thrown, but I didn't break down. My first thought was for my family. My beautiful daughter is pregnant with her first baby, my son is disabled and won't completely understand what's going on and my husband...well, he's the best husband in the world. I was most scared of his reaction. I didn't want to upset him. But, I digress.

They, in turn, set me up for a biopsy on Monday August 13. I was scared to death. I don't like needles in the first place. My husband, Tim, took off work to go with me. Did I mention he's the best husband in the world? Total workaholic. But, apparently, I'm more important than work. Pretty darn amazing. Anyway, I digress again. I had teachers meetings and needed to set up my room or "cart" to be ready for my students the next day. So, the wonderful people at the Breast Care Center set up my appointment for my lunch hour on Monday so I wouldn't miss so much.

They gave me a valium to take at the center but after discussing it with Tim, I realized I had to go back to work and meetings. I didn't want to be loopy, so we decided against the valium. Wish I had taken the valium. Biopsies are awful. He deadened me, then made a small 1/4" incision so he could insert the needle. Did I say needle? I meant jack hammer. Or it seemed like one. He inserted it 5 times. 4 samples and once to place a tiny piece of metal on my lump so the surgeon would know where to go at the time of surgery. They had already determined that surgery would be needed whether it was cancer or not. They ended up having to place cold compresses on my neck and forehead so I wouldn't pass out and they raised my legs up. It was awful.

But that was nothing compared to the phone call the next day, telling me the biopsy showed aggressive Invasive Ductal Carcenoma. Sounds bad, huh? Well, it basically means that I do have cancer, it's agressive, it started in the duct and has broken out and invaded the surrounding cells. Now, I heard aggressive and wanted to puke. Lucky for me, but unlucky for her, I have a friend who just went through this mess. She told me aggressive is good. It's better treatable. Whew! I love that girl. She also gave me her copy of Breast Cancer for Dummies. I've read quite a bit of it already. Very informative.

Unfortunately, at this time, that's all I know. I'm going to meet with a surgeon Tuesday, August 21. It is the same surgeon who is doing the mastectomy for my friend. I'm positive I'll have to have surgery. If for nothing else than to remove the lump. Hopefully it hasn't spread to my nodes.

God has led me to Westmoore High School to teach. He has plans for my life and they don't include cancer or dieing. He didn't give me cancer, but he sent many to pray for me and someone to help me through it. He always provides a way. I'm scared and a little worried. But with God and the support system I have, I can scale mountains. I'll come through this mess and I'll be a better person in the end. In the immortal words of my good friend who had breast cancer (but NOT NOW!) cancer sucks.