I'm writing this blog for my friends and mostly my family. Many don't know exactly how things roll along when one finds out they have cancer. Come along with me on my venture.
We were living quite happily through the summer doing the usual summer things; him enjoying his new found men friends in the RV park, me working my puzzles and enjoying my female friends when they stopped by the clubhouse to check on my progress on the latest puzzle. I attended as many Zumba fitness classes as I could possibly squeeze in and even was invited to lead routines in various Zumba classes. Which, I might add, is the best thing ever! Since I knew I wasn't going to be teaching my own class till November when we returned south on our annual trek to So. CA, AZ and Texas. This year we had a 5 month reservation made in an RV park in Rockport, TX right on the Aransas Bay and part of the Gulf of Mexico. We were really looking forward to that.
Arrangements had been made for me to teach a Zumba class in the park and we were all excited about that happening. The RV park manager, many of her friends and myself couldn't wait!
Every summer I make my annual doctor appointments but for some reason this year, I did put it off a few months since my tests were always normal. Then it got to be September! One night while laying on the bed watching TV, I had an itch that I had to scratch right on my left boob! I like that word better than breast but you'd be surprised how comfortable you become with the word breast and cancer as time goes on. Time was getting close to when we were to head south I better get my appointments made. The insurance we had in September was $10,000 deductible!!! My insurance that started October 1, was $3400 deductible. Another reason to wait just another week or two.
That scratch led to an "oh no, what's that?" I've had lumps and bumps before that were always nothing but this one seemed really really huge to me. I didn't say anything to Chuck and didn't mention it to anyone but kept checking it and watching it everyday. I kind of thought that if I didn't drink coffee or eat chocolate with so much caffeine, that it would shrink and go away. Didn't happen.
Then because I knew I was going to turn 65 October 8th and would be on Medicare and an advantage plan, I decided to make an appointment and get it checked the first thing in October. It was only a 2 week wait at that point. New insurance, new doctors; what an ordeal and when you turn 65, they think they have to do so many additional tests. My new doctor checked the lump out and decided it wasn't anything to worry about, famous last words, but scheduled a mammogram for me since I was due for one anyway. She was a nice doctor and was very thorough. The insurance I chose turned out to be a real nightmare, though, and not something you need when you're diagnosed with breast cancer. You need all the help you can get not less help.
To make a long story short and since the new doctor didn't care to help me find doctors in my insurance network to do these tests, I was on my own. I found a wonderful doctor that did the mammogram. From the mammogram they decided that they needed more info so did an ultrasound that very day. That was October 11th. He was so kind and gentle and came over to me saying that he really believes he needed to do a biopsy but they didn't have time that day.
The biopsy was October 13th. A little local numbing first and then he showed me the instrument. I believe, if I remember right, a hollow needle was inserted first and then using the monitor he guided this gun-like thing with another hollow needle into the tumor. He let me hear the sound this gun would make and it seemed harmless. BUT, when he actually did the biopsy, the thump of the gun/needle vibrated through every bone in my chest! What a weird feeling. Not too painful but not fun either. He did it 3 times. Somehow what they pull out of the tumor, that's in that hollow needle, tells them if there's cancer cells and also somehow it tells them the size. When he was done, he leaned over me, put his hand on my arm and said he would call with the results on Monday, the 16th (that was a 4 day wait!) and said he thought it really could be the big "C". He didn't want me to hear it for the first time over the phone on Monday.
I didn't have to wait till Monday. I learned I had cancer on October 14, 2011. Almost exactly a month after I found the lump myself. I'd like to add here that this lump was not found in the shower. I actually couldn't feel it standing up. So when you do your self-exams do them both ways.......standing up and laying down. It could make a difference for you, too.
He made a very nice phone call to me and explained what might happen next. The size, which is determined by the largest of the two measurements, was 1.9 cm. They said small and caught early. Then I had another appointment with my primary care doctor on the 24th, it's still October, and she started the ball rolling AND this time was much more helpful finding doctors in my insurance network. I had called the insurance company and complained about her services and that when a person finds out they have cancer, the last thing they want to do is spend time worrying about what doctor is in the network. It worked.......I got wonderful help that appointment.
I was given a surgeon, an oncologist and a radiation oncologist. Bam! All at once. It was time to make appointments and get to know each and every one of them. They are to be my team! My team to fight this thing and get it taken care of in a timely manner.
October 26 was an MRI. What a "thing" that is. Laying on your stomach and everything hanging. It took at least 45 minutes and shows even more detail than the mammogram and ultrasound. The 31st of October I met with my oncologist. Lovely young lady. I really like her. At this point, I had had 8 doctor appointments; a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, many doctor appointments and MRI. Also, I might add, that my primary care doctor was concerned about my fingernails turning black one hot day during a Zumba event outside in the sun. So I also, one of those 8 appointments, had a vascular test done on my arms and fingers. I have a syndrome where my veins spasm in my fingers from extreme temperature. Usually cold temps not hot. But who am I to say they're wrong.
My first appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Wasicek was on November 2, 2011. Very to-the-point doctor that holds no punches. I like that. I like her and she came highly recommended. The same day, I met with the radiology oncologist. Oh a very important thing to mention........Dr. Wasicek gave me a Breast Cancer Navigator that makes all my appointments for me from now on and whom I can call anytime with any questions I might have. Sherry is wonderful and I'm so glad I have her. I was told that day that my surgery was tentatively set for November 7th which turned out to be true.
I was given instructions to be at the hospital by 5:30am. I had to register, I had an appointment for a wire lobe insertion and another appointment for dye injections......this dye was/is radioactive! The wire was not painful at all but it was inserted directly into the tumor through the skin with a hook on the end so it wouldn't come out and then taped down to my body so it was out of the way. Then on to the dye and the nuclear department. I became radioactive in a matter of about 15 minutes! A dye was injected just under the skin of the brown part around the nipple. This dye travels to the lymph nodes. They were looking for the sentinel node and one just beyond that. Then back to the waiting room till it was my turn and they called me into surgery.
Right on time, I was taken into a room and given a gown. Have you seen these gowns lately? They have a lining that can be hooked up to a heater, kind of like the old fashioned hair dryers, and blow you up with really nice warm air. An IV was inserted, I met the surgical nurse, I met the anesthesiologist and Dr. Wasicek, the surgeon came in to talk to me. She put a mark on my skin where she said she saw another spot, NOT cancerous, but it would bug her every visit so wanted to remove it, too.
The anesthesist came in and told me he was giving me a cocktail......Oh boy, who doesn't like a cocktail. He said it would relax me. HA! Chuck left, they wheeled me a quick left and a quick right, I saw double doors and that's the last thing I remember! I came to in recovery with tears flowing down my cheeks. I wasn't crying but the tears were definitely there. I was asked if I was in pain and on a scale of 1-10 what it was. I must have said 10 because she put more "stuff" in my IV. It went down to a 7 and then a 4. She gave me two vicadin and in an hour, I was feeling nothing! I actually felt good and they said I could go home.
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post surgery 11/07/2011
I was told my dressing would be huge! Understatement, wouldn't you say? I became known as Dolly! As in Dolly Parton! It made for fun conversation and I had to wear it for 4 days. The idea was that it put pressure on the surgery site and would keep fluid from building in the tumor space. The tumor plus a lot of margin was taken and the sentinel node and one other one. The nodes were tested and found to be cancer free! I went from a stage 2 to a stage 1 during surgery! WhooHoo! Good news.
That's it for this time. I have things to do, eat lunch, etc. I will come back another day to continue. I still do the laundry and the dryer is calling me................
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