Next Steps

I had my week of fun, now back to business.

Last week I met with four different doctors to hear my options for moving forward: my surgeon, oncologist, radiology oncologist, and plastic surgeon. I was absolutely inundated with information, not only from them but from my own research, too (the "Bible" for breast care, and a handful of women who were kind enough to share their own experiences - thank you!).

I'll spare you the gory details (the science around mastectomies & reconstruction is quite fascinating if it's not in fact happening to you) and cut to the chase: I've elected to try a re-excision in an attempt to get clear margins. Basically, the doctors were really pleased with how my body responded to the lumpectomy (healed beautifully...you wouldn't even know I had surgery!) and presented this less invasive option to me last week.

So I go in again on Wednesday, when my surgeon will open up the existing site and remove another layer of cells in hope of getting a clear margin (2mm or more of cancer-free cells around the border of the specimen removed). There is a 50:50 chance that this will work; if it doesn't then I will proceed with a single-stage mastectomy next month. But the re-excision should be relatively easy - a one week recovery and no surgical drains! In either case, I still need to proceed with 6 weeks of radiation and 5 years of Tomoxifen once surgery is complete.

I'm hopeful that the re-excision will work, as I'm ready to get on with life!! I'm feeling well these days - my appetite is back in full force (although I'm definitely more mindful of what I eat, and I am the lightest I've been since College) and my hair/eyebrows/lashes are slowly coming back. I still tire easily, and my fingernails and toenails are a mess (apparently the worst of it hits them one month after chemo ends) but nothing a little polish can't hide.  

I got outside for a bit today and walked the new pedestrian bridge connecting Charlestown's Paul Revere Park  to Cambridge's North Point Park. Here are a few pics:

Heading into Paul Revere Park

Crossing under the Zakim Bridge into Cambridge

Arriving at North Point Park

Enjoying the scenery

A happy local

Comments

[Karen]

You are going to do great and come out the winner! Thank you for sharing the update...and the nice pictures! Especially the one with the beautiful "happy local"! That is a great picture of you! I am always thinking of you, sending good thoughts & prayers! (((hugs)))