Determining a plan of attack...Get ready cancer we're coming for you!

March 4, 2015

Today we got to meet with the oncologist, she is wonderful and well informed!  She helped create a sense of calm and confidence about moving forward....as she put it "You will look back on this time and understand it to be just a another chapter in your life!"

So here's the down and dirty.....THE PLAN TO KILL CANCER!

A couple fun facts about my cancer for those of you that love the details and technical jargon:

• The current classification of the cancer is Stage IIA
• Tumor size still believed to be less than 1cm but still not completely known until after surgery
• Isolated to left breast and currently the information shows only 1 lymph node involved
• Surgery along with path will help give definitive information if it's only that 1 lymph node (prayers for just 1 lymph node with cancer!)
• Grade of the tumor is a Grade 2 (scale 1-3)
• Progesterone and Estrogen Receptors - POSITIVE (Good thing)
• This allows for hormone blocking treatments.....yay!
• HER/2New - Negative (Good Thing)
• This means its a less aggressive cancer
• Growth rate - 17% (this is from 1-100%)
• So relative slow growth rate, ideal range between 1-10% but under 20% is still good

So moving forward, we meet with the cosmetic plastic surgeon on Monday to discuss the reconstructive surgery that they will be involved in after the surgeon completely removes the tissue from the left breast....yes I will get new boobs!

We have made a decision to go with a double mastectomy and take both breasts at this time, essentially having a 98% assurance that there will not be a reoccurrence in my breast tissue.  Plus it certainly helps with peace of mind!  And the boobs will match and be symmetric :)

Surgery will be first and the date of the surgery will depend on when the plastic surgeon and general surgeon can provide treatment simultaneously.  We are hoping here in about 3 weeks.....just get that stuff out of my body!!

There is still question on whether I will definitively need chemo because of the uncertainly of the true size of the tumor and how many lymph nodes have cancer present....we have decided even if there is any question about chemo that I will move forward with chemo just to be certain.  If I do need chemo it will consist of 4 separate treatments 3 weeks apart starting sometime between 4-6 weeks after surgery...so much for dying my really blonde for the summer months!  Bummer....Keep in mind that in some situations chemo statistically does provide advanced results because of the low factor of spreading, hence the surgical part first to see if the cancer has spread into the more than (1) lymph node.  This also applies to radiation therapy...again all depending on the findings from the pathology of the tissue after surgery....the oncologist just wants as much information as possible to make a good recommendation for the therapy moving forward!

Overall today has been a good day and we appear to be on the right track and God is pointing us in the right direction.  After Monday hopefully we will have surgery date soon and get ready to rock n' roll!

I would like to take a moment to THANK everyone for their support, donations and words of encouragement.  Mac and I are truly blessed to have all of you in our lives and to care so much about me and what we're going through.  There are not enough words to express our gratitude and appreciation.

We have made a decision to also tell Michael tonight about what is going on with his mommy so that he can ask many questions as possible and understand what's going on.  We don't want him to be afraid or fear what I'm going through.  Obviously there is no easy way to tell someone that you have cancer especially your little boy but we want to give him as much time as possible before I undergo surgery.  Wish us luck!

As mentioned before if any of you would like to provide financial support for the medical expenses coming down the road please got to: http://www.gofundme.com/nlv6tk

We have decided to donate any overage amount of donation money that exceeds my medical expenses once everything is said and done to a Breast Cancer Awareness Charity (Susan G. Komen, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, etc) so please keep in mind that ultimately the money will go toward my medical costs and to advancing cancer research and supporting other cancer patients!  We appreciate everyone's kind donations!

Well that's about all for today...ODAAT "One Day At A Time"....overall we are in a good place today and feeling good about the plan and moving forward...

We will keep you guys posted after Monday!