Today's update
Oct. 8th, 2007 08:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annathepiperDr. 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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 05:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-10 02:03 am (UTC)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.