Today's update

[annathepiper]

Dr. Towbin, when I went in to see him this morning, pretty much confirmed what Dr. Kohn and Dr. Taylor said about the MRI: that there's a small area of concern and that one of my lymph nodes was looking a little large but otherwise normal. He also confirmed that yeah, he got most of the big lump out and that all that remains to do with that is to clear out the margins.

However, the big question of the hour is now what that little area is. Towbin was pretty firm about how, if that bit comes through as a problem, that'll pretty much mean a mastectomy since the smaller area is too far away from the where the big lump was. Trying to do just a lumpectomy there would mean significant deformity in the breast. On the other hand, he also said that if the small area is not a problem, he can preserve the breast because I am, quote, "an ample woman," unquote.

I do indeed have tissue to spare. Hell, if it comes to it, I've got plenty of spare tissue around my waist for reconstruction purposes. But I'd really rather not go there if I don't have to.

In the meantime, Towbin also does want to do the sentinel node check, regardless of what goes down with the little area. But the next thing on the queue is definitely that MRI-guided biopsy, which has now been scheduled for the 15th at 2pm. I have sanction to work from home that day, which will make life easier. The rest of the week will be business as usual. I can use some business as usual.

And I am at least marginally comforted by Towbin having said that I have a good solid understanding of the situation at hand. I'm at least absorbing the information I need to know and asking the right questions, so even though the situation is massively annoying, I understand it. I can work with that. Now I just have to wait out the week.

Comments

[agrimony.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[annathepiper]

*hugsaMony!*

[damara.livejournal.com]

*snugs*

[annathepiper]

*snugs back*

[prettyshrub.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

*MOJO*

So glad you can just have a boring life for a bit.

[annathepiper]

*snugs!* Thanks. Yeah, a fairly standard and uneventful week is about my speed right now. I need to get some writing done, for cripes' sake! :)

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Waiting is sucks!

But if you're still up for it, there'll be Gaia Consort on the 13th to make the time go faster... and those guys put out enough energy you could soak some up and ... well, I won't say no one would be the wiser, but I don't think they'd mind...

Do you know where they sell pink ribbon pins? I think it would be doubly appropriate for me to wear one there....

[annathepiper]

Gaia Consort is tempting. However, I do also have other considerations crowding the weekend, not the least of which is that I still need to finish the short story, which has been super difficult with all of the medical issues going down.

Also, I've committed to babysitting for kathrynt and llachglin on Friday evening, and for this same little one there will be a birthday party Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, there will presumably be jamming. :)

So Saturday evening may be... chancy. I'll have to play it by ear. Much will depend on how much I can get done through the rest of this week (she said, now working on editing the second page of the evening).

[awritersweekend.livejournal.com]

listen to a few songs from the boys, that might cheer you up...

hugs from us, too.

[annathepiper]

Oh, I assure you, my B'ys are in heavy rotation on the iPod right now. And over the weekend, there was quite a bit of guitar playing of same--and hopefully technoshaman and cflute will be joining us again this weekend for playing of various and sundry amusing things. :)

Hugs are good, though. Reciprocated! :)

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

The node check is all-important, but with the initial diagnosis, it would be deeply surprising if that was anything but an inflammatory reaction. Good luck with the second biopsy - as a fellow booby person, I can sympathise with the worry there ::hugs::

[annathepiper]

*snugs!* I'm slightly worried here just on the grounds that Dr. Towbin's calling what I have "multi-focal DCIS" now, which makes me wonder, if it's shown up in multiple places in my breast, what's to keep some of it from trying to make a break for it through the lymph nodes?

So I'm thinking, most likely worst case scenario is there's a bit of DCIS trying to sneak out through the lymph nodes. Worst worst case scenario is, something invasive is trying to sneak out... but if there's nothing invasive in the actual breast yet, that doesn't seem at all likely to me. So. We'll see what happens on Monday.

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

You are doing great with understanding your options etc. Love your breasts and love you!

And the kitties will LOVE LOVE LOVE you no matter what you end up doing!!!!!!!!!!!111!!1

[solarbird]

Love your breasts and love you!
Yeah, get in line. -_^

[annathepiper]

Well, thank you. And heh, I'm rather fond of them myself. ;)

As for the kittens, I think they're more interested in playing with my socks.

[ghost-light.livejournal.com]

*joins the line of hugs*

[annathepiper]

*hugs!* Thank you very much.

[poetry-lady.livejournal.com]

     Well, hey, now you have a plan of record and as much information as you can, you can just go about your life and wait for the results. Good to see you're not dithering and whimpering and avoiding the subject, but just taking it head on. I think you'll do much better! :) {{hugs}}

[annathepiper]

Eh, whimpering won't make it go away, so. But yeah, having a reasonably normal week will be a good thing. We'll see how much writing I can get done. *hugs!*

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

*huggahuggahug* I'm glad this is going so swiftly.

[annathepiper]

*huggaKit!* Yeah, me too. Hopefully I'll be past all the required surgery by the end of this month. The longer, more drawn out part will be getting zapped.

Thanks for the updates

[gamera-spinning.livejournal.com]

Just a question: Is this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html/102-8793985-9599301?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=35QYP6EBPUK8Q) current, and is it cool to send along a little good will via amazon?

Re: Thanks for the updates

[annathepiper]

Aw. *^_^* Yes, it's reasonably current, and yes, it'd be cool. Thank you in advance!

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Hm, I keep trying to put together some other words here. Basically, when I was going through treatment, I just kept on doing what the doctors were telling me to do. That's all I could do, really.

[annathepiper]

Well, yeah. Right now we're still in data-gathering mode, and there will be decision points soon depending on the outcome of the MRI-guided biopsy... but I doubt much that I'll be arguing with Dr. Towbin about whatever he recommends, regardless of what the outcome is. ;)

[cafiorello.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Sounds like you've got a good medical team and you know what you need to know, so that's all good. The waiting part sucks, though. Hang in there.

Cathy

[annathepiper]

Yeah, I'm not displeased with the medical personnel involved here.

And as for waiting, kittens help, as do good books and guitar. <3

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

{{{{{{{{{{Anna}}}}}}}}}}}}

Been away from LJ for a bit, but wanted you to know I've been thinking about you constantly. I do get to email more frequently, so feel free to drop me a line anytime if you need anything. Also, whatever you need on the story edits. Just let me know, eh?

::hugs::

[annathepiper]

*snugs!* Thanks! I may indeed need to call upon you this weekend for story edits. Five pages left to go. Hopefully several of them will be knocked out tonight.

[ssha.livejournal.com]

Hugs and prayers coming your way from a generally southerly direction. Here's hoping the lymph node issue is just a bit of irritation working its way through, and not another big nasty.

I wish I could jam with you guys. One of these days I'll have to see about making it up there for a day or something. Gotta meet the kittens, after all!

[annathepiper]

Thanks for the good thoughts, hon, much appreciated. :)

And hey, if we continue to make this habit, who knows? Maybe it'll fall on a date you can make it up.