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.

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!

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!

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!

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!