The last couple of weeks it has been really nice to not be juggling so many doctor appointments. It has been 6 weeks ago today that they removed the cancer. I feel great, and each day brings me closer to the finish line! Many have asked me if it feels "weird" to have no breasts, but to be honest, I haven't missed them a bit! Those that know me well know it was no secret that I considered not being large chested anymore a benefit. After enduring all of other "fun stuff" that treating breast cancer brings, this was definitely a positive thing. The expanders definitely feel different, and ultimately when the implants are in they will feel different as well. This has not been a painful part of the procedure, so I am grateful for that and the opportunity to get a "fresh" look. :)
Since the first of the year, I have been going in once a week to see Dr. Burgess so she can "pump up" my tissue expanders. The first week, she only added 50cc to each breast, but since that didn't bring about any discomfort, she has started putting in 100cc to each during every visit in an effort to sort of speed up this part of the process as much as possible to get prepared for radiation. The process is only what I would consider mildly uncomfortable for a couple of days. I am in no pain, and I am happy to just be living life as normal as possible. She had a roundtable with many professionals at Meridian Park a few days ago about my case (as well as a few other patients.) The specialists there all were in agreement in recommending radiation for me due to my age and based on the size of the original tumor. That pretty much echoed what the doctors discussed at a roundtable a few months back here in McMinnville, so it is nice to have everyone on the same page. She said it was surprising how many patients that had their cases presented by doctors that day had a tumor as large as mine. She said however that I was the only one with a tumor that size that had not had my cancer spread to the lymph nodes. Praise God!
I also had my 6 week follow up with Dr. O'Brien yesterday. She was happy to see me feeling so good, and everything is on course for a full recovery. I have lost close to 20 pounds overall, which is exciting! (and for those that haven't read earlier posts, my double mastectomy only accounted for about 7-8 pounds of that loss.) She also talked about that I would be starting my Tamoxifen hormone therapy treatment soon. That will be for 5 years. Basically this small daily pill acts as a blocker to the estrogen receptors, which in my case was the primary feeding source for my tumor. My tumor was 98% estrogen based. The main side effects of this drug could be hot flashes and possible irregular periods (since I don't know if I have officially gone into menopause yet or am just in "chemopause"). I have also read of patients who have continued thinning or loss of hair, so will just have to see what is in store for me. We will come up with a plan of exactly when I will start that at my next appointment with her in February. I will be meeting with the radiation oncologist next week to come up with a game plan for that portion of treatment.
While I was in the office, I stopped in to see some of the oncology nurses that did my chemo treatments. It was great to see them and they were happy to see my progress since the last time I saw them right before surgery. Those women will always be very special people in my life!
Thanks for taking the time to stay updated. As always, your support is appreciated!
