Monday, March 28, 2011

More Tests......

Today I thought I would be proactive and call the surgeon's office to see if they had scheduled the second biopsy. It turns out that I need to have an ultrasound done first. The lesion on the left side was detected by way of MRI. The radiologist doesn't know if the ultrasound will be able to pick up said lesion since the MRI picks up more detail. If the ultrasound doesn't pick up this lesion then it will need to be an MRI-guided biopsy rather than an ultrasound-guided biopsy. It makes sense it's just one more stop along the way! As of today I have an appointment for an ultrasound of the left breast on Wednesday afternoon. I'm going to go take care of the bloodwork the oncologist wants as well. Keep in mind that all of these tests are being done at different locations! The ultrasound happens at one location, the bloodwork is the same building but a different floor. The biopsies are all done at a different place. The MRI is done at another place and the bone scan is done at the hospital. Oh, and it's not the hospital where I'll be having surgery. The surgery will be done at Palomar Pomerado Hospital in Poway. At least these are all within reasonable proximity to each other. The surgery has been confirmed for April 12th at 2:30 p.m. Since it's going to be later in the day I'll probably be there overnight.

Keep the well wishes coming. As the date gets nearer I'm growing a little more anxious.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Enough Already!!

All things considered, I've been going through all of the tests and procedures and doing pretty well. On Thursday, I got a call from the general surgeon. He had received the results of my MRI that was done earlier in the week. He said the left breast shows a lesion. All along they've only been looking at the right one because that is where the tumors are. In looking at my mammogram taken in June 2010 the left one didn't show calcifications or lesions. The purpose of doing the MRI was to make sure they were seeing anything suspicious in both breasts. I guess the test was worthwhile. My understanding is that a breast lesion is an  abnormality or alteration in the tissue’s integrity (that is according to my second source of information - the Internet!). The surgeon now wants a biopsy of that area to see exactly what it is. That means more needles. But if there is something going on with the left breast then let's find it now!

The surgeons are trying to get me scheduled for April 12th so getting this biopsy done ASAP is important so they know what they are dealing with. My feeling about all of this - just do a double mastectomy and let's start all over with new ones!

I'm learning a lot about breast cancer through all of this. Did you know that breast cancer is found more frequently in the left breast? Mine started on the right side so I've disproved that theory!

Thank you to all of you for your support and positive feedback. It really does help and goes a long way!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

One More Test.

I think I'm finally reaching the end of testing/doctors and all of the poking and prodding that goes along with it. I had a bone scan this morning. It required another injection of some sort of dye. I'm pretty sure I'm going to start glowing in the dark! The bone scan was a lot like the CAT Scan. Your only job is to lay very still for about 20 minutes while the x-ray machine scans your body. I think I could have had the TSA do the same thing at the airport for a lot less fuss and expense!

I stopped at LabCorp after my bone scan to get the blood work done that the onologist ordered. The waiting area was packed. I looked at the bruises on the inside of both arms and decided I could do the blood work another day. I'm feeling a bit like a pin cushion.

I talked to the surgeon's office to see if they have confirmed a surgery date yet. The week of April 4th apparently only works for me. They are trying to get it set up for either April 1st (I'm not crazy about having surgery on April Fool's Day. I would get some joker who gives me a nose job instead of a b--- job) or April 12th. I really want to get in and get this taken care of. Enough with the testing and sticking of needles!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Did I tell you about the great place I work??

On March 8th I celebrated 10 years with Peregrine Semiconductor. It is hard to belive. I've never stayed at any company that long. Peregrine is a little different. We now have about 250 employees yet many times it feels like a big family!
I work with two breast cancer survivors. They have been very supportive and provided me with lots of advice, recommendations, and deciphered some of the doctor-speak.
Last week, after discussing my diagnosis with two, shall we say "higher-level" co-workers, they immediately offered up their airline travel miles so that Courtney could be here with me during my upcoming surgeries. I would have never thought of that but immediately they were concerned about the financial impact to me. (I am tearing up again just thinking about it.)
My boss, the guy who watches the company money, has refused to talk to me about a company self-funded disability plan. I was trying to tell him that I didn't want the company doing anything special for me. He explained that as a company, we needed to put together a formal disability program and this seemed like a good time to implement it. He's decided to work with Sarah, my person-who-knows-all in the HR department. He draws a hard-line on financial issues but when it comes to people, he has a soft side! He's also caught me a time or two working from home when I'm supposed to be resting. I suddenly get an email from him telling me to get my priorities in order! (i.e. health first, then work)
So, as I was saying, I love that company. Some of the kindest and most generous people work there!!

Meeting The Oncologist

This morning I had the MRI done. If you have never had an MRI done before it's a noisy test. You lay on a table that is moved into a circular tube-type device much like the procedure for a CAT Scan. There is a lot of general noise when the MRI starts with varying noises as the test continues. It takes about 30-45 minutes to complete the test.
In my particular case, without being too graphic, I laid face down on the table. Because this was a "breast MRI" there were special "openings" on the table to accommodate my anatomy (if you get my drift). I was actually very comfortable laying there and it was first thing in the morning so I fell asleep during the test! Suddenly the machine started making a different noise that startled me! I jumped a little but not enough to mess up the test thankfully.
This afternoon I met with the oncologist, Dr. Eisenberg. He is a very personable guy and explained all of the doctor-terms on my lab results from the biopsy.
As he read through the reports he kept giving me a thumbs up! Once again, I feel that the type of cancer I have combined with catching it early gives me a very good long-term prognosis. Nothing at this time indicates that I will need radiation therapy. (Yeah!) When they do the mastectomy they will check the lymph nodes and do a sentinel-node biopsy (you'll have to look that up on the internet). If that biopsy shows cancer or if more cancer cells show up during the surgery then I may need chemotherapy. The chemo would be done one day per week over 4-6 weeks. If everything during the surgery indicates no further cancer cells then I will probably have to do five years of hormone therapy. This therapy would amount to taking an estrogen-blocking pill once a day everyday for 5 years. My type of cancer is hormone sensitive so if the estrogen production in my body is suppressed it won't be able to "feed" any remaining cancer cells. The human body is an amazing thing!
Tomorrow is more blood work for Dr. Eisenberg and a bone scan. The bone scan is more precautionary than anything else. If I should have to need radiation therapy, they want to make sure my bones are strong. I think I have great bones - I'm a Jacobson - we come from good stock!
So far, it looks like the surgery will be April 4 or 5. I need to make some calls tomorrow to see if a date has been confirmed.

Good News!

When you learn you have breast cancer you don't often hear the term "good news". Last week I did actually get some good news. Dr. Sorkhi called to discuss my meeting with the plastic surgeon. First of all, I was taken back because I've never had a doctor call ME! We discussed the meeting and talked about a date for the surgery. He then told me he had received the results of the CAT Scan and it showed the cancer has not spread. It is confined to the right breast. YEAH! It was excellent news. This means that doing a mastectomy will probably be the only treatment, no radiation, and no chemo! There are still more tests to run and the surgery may indicate otherwise but for now it all looks good!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Doctors, Doctors, Doctors!!!

I had NO idea this entire ordeal would become so overwhelming. Do far I have seen my primary care physician, a general surgeon, and two plastic surgeons. I've had biopsies and a CAT Scan. This week I have a breast MRI and a bone scan. I also have to see an oncologist. Just knowing that I have an oncologist is very surreal. Heck, this entire ordeal has been surreal!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

How I Got Here

Most of you are reading this today because you have heard that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Let me give you some background on what got me here.

On February 2nd, 2011, I accidentally brushed my arm against my right breast and felt a lump. Upon further investigation, I realized it was in fact, a lump. It's the thing that you never find when you do those monthly exams which was why I wasn't good about doing them. I was, however, religious about going in for mammograms every year. Every year I would get the "all is clear" letter and know that I was good for another year.

This time was a little different. This time it WAS a lump! I was hurriedly getting ready for work so I didn't think about it too much but knew that I needed to call the doctor when I got to work. Later that morning I made the appointment.

Friday, February 4th I went to see the doctor. My regular doctor was out on maternity leave so I saw a different doctor, Dr. Seruelo who turned out to be a very pleasant doctor. I told her about the lump and started to tell her where it was when she stopped me and told me to let her see if she could find it. She found it - and a second one next to it! Dr. Seruelo was very calm and told me not to freak out. She said these things can often end up being nothing. She did say that on my last mammogram done in June 2010 there were some calcifications but a lot of people have those and they were not a big deal.

She sent me in for another mammogram and an ultrasound. Both were done on February 9th. The mammogram showed very clearly the two lumps and a cluster of small calcifications.

The doctor then ordered an ultrasound-guided needle biopsy and a stereotactic biopsy on the calcifications. Both were done on February 25th. I could write an entire book on the joys of biopsies but unless you've had one you may not understand the strange and uncomfortable positions they put you in for a biopsy! The best part of the biopsy - being told "no physical activity for 48 hours" IT WAS GREAT! It was rainy during the next 48 hours so I had a lot of reading and TV time. Aaahhh yes, it truly was relaxing.

I had a pretty unsettling feeling about the biopsies. The ultrasound technicians said it would take 5-7 business days to get the results. That meant it would the end of the following week. So that I didn't have to wait until Friday for the doctor to call and tell me to schedule an appointment for the following week, I made an appointment for Friday, March 4th. When I called on Wednesday to try to get the results, I was told the doctor would go over them on Friday. Again, that unsettling feeling.

On Friday, my good friend and co-worker, Sarah, who you will no doubt hear more about because she seems to pull me through all of the difficult times, went with me to the doctor. The doctor came into the room where the two of us were nervously waiting. She came into the room and announced "it's not good news". Stunned would be the best way to describe my feelings. I knew the two lumps could more than likely only be one thing. I expected the calcifications to be nothing but I was sadly mistaken. The diagnosis was "invasive ductal carcinoma" or IDC. It's a very common form of breast cancer but it can be very aggressive so the doctor told me to start getting it taken care of right away.

It's hard to describe how you feel when you get that kind of news. Paralzyed might be the best word. I cried and had a hard time leaving the doctor's exam room. I think I really just wanted to go have a good cry. I didn't want to go home, that I knew for sure. I didn't want to be alone. Sarah and I decided to get McDonald's iced coffee (my preference over Starbuck's). We sat and talked for awhile about "it" and how could I have "it". I couldn't bring myself to call it what it is- cancer. In my mind, only other people get cancer. After all, I do the right things. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I go to Jazzercise and do a lot of walking. I really felt that life had let me down.

Sarah and I decided to go over to her parents' home where her mom watches her two boys, Ethan and Adam. They are my adopted grandchildren. They call me Grandma Brenda. Ethan was 3 in January and Adam will be 2 in July. They are entertaining just to watch plus Ethan talks up a storm and you never know what he's going to say. They were just the right medicine for me. They made me laugh and cheered me up. About an hour later I went home where I had three glasses of red wine (because it's supposed to prevent cancer), took a bath and had a good cry in the bathtub. Somewhere in there I watched a Dr. Oz episode and had to yell at him for saying that Greek yogurt helps to prevent cancer - ha - I eat Greek yogurt everyday! No more Dr. Oz for me!

Saturday, March 5th, I spent most of the day being angry. I wasn't angry "at" anyone I was just angry that I had "it" (I was still not calling it by it's name.) The only way I could keep sane was to stay active. I mowed the grass (while crying), trimmed the rose bushes and cut back vines. I ended up being very productive. I did a lot of searching on the internet as well. Most of my searching was to understand the words on the lab report the doctor gave me. The more I read the better it sounded. The main thing was that it didn't sound as if "it" had spread into the lymph nodes. The two tumors are on either side of a lymph node. Because the lymph node wasn't biopsied, they couldn't definitively determine if it was in the lymph nodes. That biopsy will happen during surgery.

On Sunday, March 6th I was finally able to start telling people without falling apart. I also started calling "it" by it's name - cancer. I have to say, I have a LOT of really supportive friends and family out there. I may need to make a list of who has offered to drive me places, take a phone call anytime night or day, bring me food, or watch my dog! It truly has been overwhelming.

The doctor referred me to a surgeon, Dr. Sorkhi, and an oncologist, Dr. Eisenberg. I have made appointments with both. Dr. Sorkhi on March 11th and Dr. Eisenberg on March 21st.

Courtney came home on March 10th so she was able to go with me to see the surgeon. Courtney's job was to make sure we ask all of the questions on our list. My friend Jessie at work is a 5-year breast cancer survivor and is our resident expert on breast cancer. She has been an excellent resource and she's pretty level-headed so she can talk me off the ledge when it all gets overwhelming. She actually composed the list of questions and told me to take the list with me and write down anything else I can think of so that I don't leave the doctor's office with any questions.

March 11th - Dr. Sorkhi - Surgeon
Dr. Sorkhi seemed like a very knowledgeable doctor and spent a lot of time with me answering all of my questions. I had to go into his office the day before to watch a one-hour video. The video was very informative and lays out all of your options when it comes to breast cancer treatment. (i.e. lumpectomy vs. mastectomy, radiation vs. chemotherapy, vs hormone therapy) It was all a bit overwhelming. As Dr. Sorkhi examined me and talked about my lab results, it turned out that I really didn't have all of those options. Because of the tumors on the outside of the right breast and the calcifications on the left side of the right breast, there wasn't going to be much left after a lumpectomy. Therefore, he said he couldn't offer me the option of a lumpectomy it would have to be a complete mastectomy.

I can't say I was too surprised and had already decided I wanted to have a mastectomy just to reduce the chance of reccurance. I was a little surprised when he started expressing concerns about my left breast having the same calcifications and running more tests to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of my body. I'm sure this is all routine but it was still a little overwhelming. I was still getting used to the idea of cancer in one breast and he's wondering where else it might be!

The next step is bloodwork, CAT Scan, and MRI. Dr. Sorkhi wants to do surgery within the coming month.
Before he does surgery, I need to talk to a plastic surgeon about breast re-construction using my own muscle tissue or breast implants. I'm trying to look on the bright side and appreciate that I'm going to get new boobs out of this!!

To deal with this the best way I can, Courtney and I have had some really crazy conversations. 1) We are planning a trip to Victoria's Secret to buy new bras for my new breasts; 2) I can now play the "cancer card" whenever someone is causing grief in my life (I have already used it once on my boss; 3) I can look forward to time off work and lots of time to watch movies.