Game plan for BFFN 2

[annathepiper]

So, yeah. Didn't post about this on Friday due to general stress and distraction, but for the sake of getting caught up, here's what's going on.


On Friday, I went in for a rush-job mammogram on the left side, so as to determine whether it was going to be a problem along with the right. They took quite a few shots in the machine at several uncomfortable angles, and then they sent me over to have an ultrasound of that breast for good measure.

Dr. Carlson, the same lady who did my biopsy, informed me that there wasn't anything of immediate concern in there--just a few entirely harmless cysts that she said were completely normal. However, there was this weird shadowing that she saw in places, and she wasn't at all sure what was up with that. Between this and the fact that I'm looking at a potential double mastectomy here, she recommended that I go ahead and have an MRI done on the left just to be sure of what's going on in there.



solarbird and I went in to talk to Dr. Towbin today and basically start laying down a game plan. Biggest question to settle: take off one, or both?

As I told Dr. Towbin, I've been putting a lot of thought into this. And I haven't really budged much off my opinion on the matter, a few days after getting the news: to wit, I'm still feeling like I ought to lose both of them. There are two major reasons for this: 1) I don't trust my system not to throw me another vicious curveball on the left side, and 2) there's the whole question of whether Dara and I can ever have a child.

I'm pushing 40. I'm also on Tamoxifen, and one is not supposed to get pregnant when taking this drug. However, if I go through the entire five-year course of the medication, this means that probably the earliest I could legitimately try to conceive is around age 45. Which is really late in the game.

So yeah, we're looking at a two-fer here.

Dr. Towbin certainly felt that both of my concerns here were very valid, and he was supportive of the pregnancy reason for wanting to back off the Tamoxifen. I would be able to drop it, apparently, with a double. I also will not require either radiation or chemo. So there's that at least.

We also discussed what my options are for breast reconstruction. We touched on this only in very general terms, since Dr. Towbin recommended that I consult with a specialist on Evergreen's staff about this. But on that general level, we did discuss that my two major options here would be either tissue relocation or implants.

I'm kind of inclined towards the former, at the moment. Gods know I have plenty of tissue to spare around my belly, but as soon as we get that consult scheduled, I'll get the appropriate recommendation for this too.

Meanwhile, Dr. Towbin thought that even if I'm going to shoot for a double, it would be appropriate to go ahead and do that MRI on the left, as this may affect technical aspects of the surgery. He also noted that I do have very dense breast tissue and it's certainly possible that some surprises may be lurking in there. So we have scheduled that MRI for Thursday.


Tuesday of next week, I go back to follow up with Dr. Towbin to discuss MRI results and hopefully also the consult mentioned behind the cuts above.

Wednesday of next week is potential Surgery Day. How long I'll be down for the count is going to depend on the MRI and the other forthcoming consult.

Comments

[mdlbear]

Best of luck! The double really does sound like the right call.

I hope it all goes smoothly.

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

What a tough decision to make! But given your reasoning, the double does really sound like the right way to go. Best of luck with all of it, whatever you decide to do.

::big hugs::

[cruisedirector]

I'm thinking good thoughts for you.

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much. Much appreciated. :)

[annathepiper]

*hugs back* Thanks. Yeah, I'm not terribly thrilled with all this, but now that there's a game plan in place, it's at least a tiny bit less intimidating. So.

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much. :)

[redcolumbine.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. Once is chance, twice is "something is seriously skewed here." {hug!} And being able to end this chapter for good and all counts for a lot.

[annathepiper]

Yeah. "Peace of mind" is a big consideration here. After six straight years of medical crap, that's worth a lot to me. *hugs back!*

[angharads-house.livejournal.com]

Peace and clarity, to you and Dara. And pleasance in the experiences to come, however your choice lies.

And very gentle hugs, of course.

Gwyneth
survivor of breast cancer on both sides.

[agrimony.livejournal.com]

Is there any thought that the breast cancer might be related in some way to the thyroid issue?

*hugs a lot* Keeping you in my thoughts.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

i think all your thoughts sound reasonable, but i totally support getting ALL POSSIBLE DATA before surgery. (i work next to mgh's breast-mri research group, and that's the gossip from next door :)

*hugs* and good luck, my thoughts are with you.

[callibr8]

This does sound like the right call. When "nuke the site from orbit" doesn't work, a ground campaign is definitely the next step.

Let us know if there's anything we can do. ***hugs*** from me and pocketnaomi

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Love you both. If there is anything I can do, let me know. I'm hoping for the best for you.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

I really admire the way you're going about this - making a totally informed decision. ***hugs***

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Well, hopefully the MRI will give you more information to take some of the doubt out of your decision, but I think your reasoning is valid on all the issues. If you can avoid lengthy courses of radiation and chemo, I think you're better to do so.

[ghost-light.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you are making the right choice, but I am still sorry you're having to do it. My thoughts are with both of you.

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

Not that my gut gets a vote, but my gut says double. Don't give it a chance to get ahead of you, you know?

and omg this sucks so bad. :-(

[mojave-wolf.livejournal.com]

Damn. I feel so horrible for you about all this. Life always seems to throw some of the nastiest blows at some of the nicest people.

I wish you the best of everything, and hope you two finally start getting some positive breaks going your way to make up for all the not-so-good.

[poetry-lady.livejournal.com]

I think the two-fer option is the wisest course--it's certainly the hardest emotionally/mentally, but quite likely the wisest in the long run for your health and well-being.

I really, really wish you a very speedy, very uncomplicated recovery, and a total respite of these sorts of things for at least the next century. OK? Universe, are you listening?

{{hugs}} Whatever you do, surgery, and post-op, I am totally supportive. It's your body, and you get to love it and care for it in whatever way makes the most sense to you. And I'm glad you have health practitioners who are taking into account many things, and being very supportive.

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

Good luck with all of this, bun, and I can totally see why you would want to go for a double and then reconstruction.

[akadriver.livejournal.com]

I think given the whole situation, the double does sound like it might be the way to go. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and well wishes and general virtual hugs and such.

[kieri.livejournal.com]

SeattleSparks and I both send love and hope and vibes of comfy warm socks and cats in a cuddly mood and the first puff of steam from a cup of hot chocolate and all the best, as always.

Don't forget to take some time to pamper yourself. You've got so much extra stress beating you from all angles, the little things that you can do to rejuvenate mean that much more. Even if that means blankets and chocolate and The Quick & The Dead, or a lazy day with a fan and a reaaallly tall cold drink and a fluffy novel. Sometimes Reality just needs to be given the finger and ignored for a few hours.

[lmarley.livejournal.com]

Dear heart. Such a challenging time. One of my oldest and best friends went through this ten years ago, and has been well and treasuring life ever since. Go and do likewise! Healing blessings to you.

[annathepiper]

Thank you very much, and it is a comfort to hear about your friend successfully weathering this. I am aiming to do the same.

[annathepiper]

That very question occurred to me at the beginning of Round 1, but they told me at the time that they're not likely related. It does seem awfully coincidental to me that I had a pre-cancerous thyroid situation going on as well as DCIS, but I dunno. My best guess is maybe I was sitting in front of big ol' CRT monitors for too long in the late 80's and early 90's or something, and my throat and my breasts both got a big ol' dose of ick off of those, or something.

However, that's entirely ex recto, and I don't think I'll ever really know.

*hugs though* Thank you very much. :)