Syd and I headed out to meet with Dr. Sneed....my final visit with him prior to the last treatment this Friday. I had a list of questions prepared for him and he eased many of my worries.
When we arrived, I immediately went back for labs. After giving them my blood, came back out into the lobby and there was Sydney's "Miss Jonna" (She was an aid for her last year in the Counselor's Office at the Middle School) was there with her sweet mom. I've hoped this whole time to run into her and we finally did.....Such a precious lady and an inspiration to me!
They were having a "bake sale" in the lobby to raise funds for something "race related" I think, and Syd conned me out of a few bucks and hit the "sweet tooth buffet" and came back with some goodies. No wonder I'm gettin fat again.....geesh. Yummy! :)
So this is what's going on...
Today, I had a slight fever but that is usually normal for a week out of treatment. Normal for me anyway. Not enough to be alarmed but enough to make ya feel bad. My counts were "good"...well "chemo good" and on track for treatment Friday. Graduation Day. "No Mo Chemo" Day.
Dr. Sneed reviewed my initial pathology report, and everything we have done since. Stage 2A, Grade 3 Breast Cancer. Triple Negative. Double Masectomy, 8 rounds of Dose Dense Chemotherapy, 4 of Adriacytoxin (aka "the blood of Jesus":)), and 4 of the Taxol. Path report showed lymph nodes to be clear and a really small "Suspicious" spot on the breast bone and some sort of "calcification" on my lung. Hearing that last part sent my head spinning. I had never heard about those places before. He quickly assured that I didn't NEED to worry about those, but it gives us a reason for another set of scans. So I'm trying not to worry until given a reason to. (ha!)
Following Friday's treatment, I will go back weekly for labs for four weeks. On Oct. 15, I will have the scans to make sure that everything still looks clean. In the blook work, they look at tumor markers, and from that they can tell plenty.
If the scans are clean.....here is where we are:
- checkups every 3 months. (Eventually going to every 6....annually, etc. assuming the good news continues)
- I can have my port removed if I choose to following the scans. I will probably keep it for a while but its painfully uncomfortable. So we will just see....
- I am a candidate for reconstruction...."as soon as I feel" like it. Again, I'm tired. In no hurry. I may never.....I don't have to decide today. We will see....
- Since I'm "triple negative", there isn't any kind of hormone therapy that I can practice that will prevent the cancer from returning. That said, he was adament that he didn't EVER want me to take any type of hormone replacement therapy or estrogen producers. Just steer clear of them. His gut tells him that. This will cause me some issues down the road. But not cancer issues. So just gotta deal with those.
- Wasn't a fan of me immediately dieting to get this weight off....but felt certain that just being off the chemo I would lose it anyway. We are butting heads on this one.....
- I told him that I would never ever put medicine of ANY kind into my mouth without consulting him first. He calls the shots.
- We talked about some other issues and medications that I will continue taking. I got my answers.
I'm celebrating the fact that Friday is the last one. And holding my breath for the scans Oct 15. And most likely, every checkup thereafter. Dr. Sneed said that "we would be friends for a long time"......I just have to pay attention to my body and communicate with him ANY thing that doesn't seem just right.
He told me that he and his staff were amazed at my progress and proud of how I've done. They don't do this "dose dense" therapy on a regular basis. I had to tell him how special each and every one of his staff members were to me. I wanted him to know how special they made me feel every time I was there. I will miss each and every one of them terribly and plan to visit! :)
He hugged my neck and for the first time in a LONG time....I exhaled. My prognosis probably couldn't get any better. I still have one more. And while its no "walk in the park".....I can begin to heal in other ways. To continue my journey of faith. To get my life back. To be a better person.
I've had SOOOOO many love me through this. As I was typing this blog, the CMA music festival is on TV. I'm now typing through tears as I've rewinded the DVR a dozen times to see Martina sing one of the most beautiful songs ever written. And she points to those in the audience, bald, crying, wearing pink, holding up survivor signs. Wow. I am beside myself with emotion tonight so, I'm gonna end this post here. It's too soon to find her perfomance online....but here is the official video:
I can relate to each story told. What a beautiful tribute to not only survivors.....but to the caregivers as well. Another moment in God's perfect timing. While I've heard this song a million times before. Hearing her sing it again.....in this moment today. Again, SOOOOO many have loved me through this. Maybe WE really DID survive????
To HIM I give ALL the glory,
Terri
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