A lot of learning to do

First thing I need to do is learn more about creating a blog. So, we'll see if this works or not. Well, I checked it, and it seems to be working. First mission accomplished!

I wish that all the upcoming events would be so easy! Unfortunately, I know enough to know better. I never thought I would create a blog, or that I really had anything to say. But things change quickly sometimes, so now I do have things to say....and hopefully writing this will help others facing the same challenges...and for me to come to terms with what lies ahead.


I've been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, right breast. Due to a history of abnormal mammograms, cone compression mammograms, and stereotactic breast biopsies, I have opted to have a bilateral mastectomy. I meet with the plastic surgeon on July 7th, 2010...so I will know more about that phase soon enough.

My reasoning for opting for the more extensive surgery, rather than a lumpectomy is pretty simple. I won't have to worry about future cone compression mammograms and biopsies. Due to very dense fibrocystic tissue, my mammograms tend to be harder to read, and therefore easier for things to be missed. I have to undergo surgery, so I might as well take care of things now before I get any older, and the surgery becomes even harder to recover from. The second reason is due to my personal history of skin cancer. When a lumpectomy is performed, it will definitely be followed with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is known to accelerate any possible skin cancer. I had Squamous Cell Carcinoma just below my lower lip...mid-line over to left corner. Since I would like to keep the rest of my face for as long as I can, I'll go with losing both breasts now. Also, because I am adopted, I have no knowledge of my birth~family history. So, all this combined, I did not make this decision lightly, but it is a decision I am comfortable with....terrified....but it's something I've come to terms with and trying to stay positive.

I have read so many articles on the subject of breast cancer, and about all the procedures that may need to be done, and some of the descriptions want to make me run away to live on a deserted island, and others make a procedure seem like a walk in the park....only to find out first hand that they had to have been lying thru their teeth when they wrote the article!

My next post will be after I see the plastic surgeon........


July 6th 11:12 PM Not sleeping much these days. Sleep about three hours, then WIDE awake with everything running through my mind. The one thing I keep thinking:

I am absolutely terrified of what lies ahead....what Stage this cancer is........


7/7/10 Appointment with Dr. Gawley www.gawleyplasticsurgeon.com went about the way I thought it would. His office is very nice, the staff are efficient and friendly, and he was too :) I had thought I might be a candiate for the nipple saving procedure, but unfortunately gravity hit even more than I had thought! The plan is: tissue expanders go in after mastectomy is done. Over time, saline solution will be added to the extenders. Eventually a new nipple will be created and then they will tattoo them :) It will be my first tattoo! How thrilling!!! Depending on what OTHER issues arise, like Chemo or the medications that zap every bit of Estrogen out of my system, and those issues could possibly delay my "expansion".... Dr. Gawley's assistant said to plan to be their patient for about a year! Maybe in that amount of time, I'll think of a few other things that need to be lifted....hmmmmmmmmmmm :)

Now that this appointment has been taken care of, I find that I now have MORE appointments. I go to the hospital, (it's called The Piper Center, in Scottsdale, AZ) on July 15th for all my pre-op labs and EKG. After that appointment I get to go to Tina's Treasures at the Piper Cancer Center to be fitted for a Mastectomy Bra and a Post-Operative Garment....whatever that is! I was given a prescription for the items! I was told Dr. Gawley is very specific about what he wants his patients to use post-operatively. THEN on July 16th, I go back to Dr. Gawley's office for a "Pre-op Visit" to go over all my labs, etc...... Maybe I can have the week of July 19th to actually devote to working at the office and just do the usual mundane things! My surgery date is now carved in stone...Monday July 26th. Don't have a time, altho' it should be early. They will do the thrilling sentinel node marking and biopsy. I'll be awake for the marking part....that's where my nipple will be injected with radioactive dye. Then about two hours later, after the dye has had time to find the primary (sentinel) node, I'll be taken to surgery for the biopsy and then mastectomy. While the mastectomy is being performed, the lab will be processing those lymph nodes to see if there are any cancer cells. THAT'S when my cancer will be staged...probably a week or so later, I will have to go back to Dr. Walker (my breast surgeon) for those results. Then it will be decided what chemical treatment I may need...but I won't worry about that today...............I'll worry about that tomorrow.....ot possibly later today! :)


7/9/10 A day of downs and ups.......

Since I had not heard from my surgeon, I decided to be pro-active and see what time I should be at the hospital on July 26th. I was told my surgery would be at 1 PM, and that of course, I would have to be NPO (nothing by mouth) after midnight the night before. Not the best news I've heard...but then I was told that I would need to be at the hospital early because of the sentinel node marking. This is when I start having my first melt~down at work.......LESSON LEARNED.....NOT ALL NUCLEAR MED DEPARTMENTS ARE THE SAME! The Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale, AZ will inject the radioactive dye WITHOUT ANY NUMBING MED, will either inject into the areola of the breast OR possibly close to the cancer nodule (not a good scenario for me, since my lesion is deep in the breast behind the nipple) and then wait FOUR HOURS before doing the scan so that the sentinel node can be marked. Not all Nuclear Departments do it this way.....this is from the Dr. Mengele School of Medicine! All this news was a little much to bear.....so, that was the down (meltdown) part of my day.

When I got home from work, not in the best of moods.....my son and granddaughter came for a visit. Can't be moody when my 3 1/2 granddaughter says "Here Gamma, I have a present for youuuuuuuu" and gives me a Dora the Explorer sticker :) Then the mailman came and I received the most wonderful box of presents from Susie..my very best friend :) Thanks, Susie......your timing was impeccable :) A few of the items, since I'm sure you'd say...well, what the heck was in the box?....a lovely white night gown with a lace insert on the bodice and a light bed jacket in black and white. TWO Moody Blues t-shirts (one for hubby and one for me), a very fancy notepad, some things to eat and somethings to drink, and to top it off, Flexible Straws...because no one ever thinks of them and you need them for the hospital. By the way, each item had an explanation of it's importance :) LOVED that part, too! Hubby got his own little bag of goodies to take to the hospital, so that he won't be too bored waiting on me to get to a hospital room around 5 PM ........
So, again.....thank you Susie from the bottom of my heart :)


7/15/10 Getting closer!

This morning I go in for my pre-op lab work and EKG. Then to "Tina's Treasures" to get my post-mastectomy bra and camisole. I thought I should have two bras, so I ordered one on line. Probably a mistake...best to go and get sized first...THEN get a second one. Another lesson learned. Because I think the one I ordered on line is too big...it sure doesn't fit right! I'll see what size I'm fitted for today... then send the other one back. At least the on-line company is fine about returns! I did think to check that out before I ordered :)

I was told yesterday that Piper Cancer Center will work with me on pain management for the sentinel node marking. That they will give me numbing med... "but it doesn't always work". Dr. Walker's assistant said that if the anesthesiologist came in early enough to start the IV and to talk to me, maybe he/she could give me something. Guess I'll be asking to speak to the anesthesiologist when I check in at the hospital :) Tomorrow is another busy day....go back to Dr. Gawley's office. If I learn anything at that visit.......I'll pass it along!