Dr. Paneras called. NO CHEMO!!!! WOOO HOOOOO!
My Oncotype DX score is a 13. Any number under 18 is considered a low risk for cancer recurrence and Chemo is not prescribed. Radiation here I come!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Surgery check up
Saw Dr. Cole this morning. He said the incision looked good. There were no cancer cells in the skin that was removed last Friday. It's about time we had some good news around here.
Still awaiting the results of the Oncotype DX test (should be this week or next). Next appointment is Feb 10th with the Radiation Doctor. I expect to start radiation treatment that week pending oncotype.
Still awaiting the results of the Oncotype DX test (should be this week or next). Next appointment is Feb 10th with the Radiation Doctor. I expect to start radiation treatment that week pending oncotype.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Surgery went well
Much better than last time. We did a local anesthesia and a sedative that put me to sleep - much better than general anesthesia. I felt and heard nothing... and I didn't throw up for hours after!
Now the doctor's have all the margin they needed. I am still awaiting the results of the Oncotype test. I will see the surgeon for follow-up on Thursday. I have an appointment with the Radiologist on Tuesday, 2/10.
Ok, I'm back to moving forward. I feel better now.
Now the doctor's have all the margin they needed. I am still awaiting the results of the Oncotype test. I will see the surgeon for follow-up on Thursday. I have an appointment with the Radiologist on Tuesday, 2/10.
Ok, I'm back to moving forward. I feel better now.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
More Cutting
Dr. Cole said that he needs to remove an elliptical piece of skin at the scar site. This is to ensure that enough of the flesh around the tumor is gone. They have specific protocol for the amount of margin they need based on certain pathological information that they don't know until after they examine the tumor. All Dr. Cole could tell me was that the pathologist changed his mind about how aggressive one of my tumors was. Because of this, he now needs to take more margin and the only margin left is the skin. It is still considered a stage 1 cancer. I need more information so I am requesting the pathologist's reports. What made him change his mind and when?
This will be a simple procedure under local anesthesia with a sedative. It is outpatient and will occur at St. Jude Friday, 1/23 at 3:30pm. Terry is taking me. No grafting or drain is needed.
Dr. Dolkar's office said to schedule an appointment in 2 weeks to begin radiation (pending Oncotype). She's not sure she can use the same marks that she made on Monday so I may have to go through that again.
That's it for now.
This will be a simple procedure under local anesthesia with a sedative. It is outpatient and will occur at St. Jude Friday, 1/23 at 3:30pm. Terry is taking me. No grafting or drain is needed.
Dr. Dolkar's office said to schedule an appointment in 2 weeks to begin radiation (pending Oncotype). She's not sure she can use the same marks that she made on Monday so I may have to go through that again.
That's it for now.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Going back to see Dr. Cole
I spoke to Dr. Paneras around 3pm on Tuesday. He has me scheduled to meet Dr. Cole (surgeon) Wednesday-today at 1:45 to talk about removing more skin. Apparently, this cancer board is directing my treatment, not the doctors I am meeting with. The positive twist is that groups tend to make better decisions than individuals. The board is also showing itself to be more conservative than Paneras. I'll check back later today, but don't be surprised when I give you a date and time for the skin removal surgery.
Terry keeps reminding me that this will all be done in a couple of months.
Terry keeps reminding me that this will all be done in a couple of months.
Monday, January 19, 2009
From bad to worse
Appointment with Dr. Dolkar went well this morning. They spent about an hour adjusting, taking pictures and poking at me. She didn't like that the Oncotype test hadn't come back and said that she would be calling Dr. Paneras to discuss. When I left there at 11am I was scheduled to return for a 'dry run' on Wednesday with radiation beginning on Thursday.
Dr. Dolkar called at 6:30 tonight. She told me that my case was presented to 'the cancer board' today (a group of doctors in my medical group specializing in cancer who discuss the group's cancer cases and make recommendations). She said they discussed and decided a few things:
1) One of the 2 tumors was more aggressive than the other, they want to make sure that the Oncotype testing is occurring on THAT tumor.
2) They are concerned about not having taken enough margin (I thought that had been answered) and they want Dr. Paneras to discuss this with Dr. Cole. They may want to remove skin to ensure enough margin.
3) They do not want to begin radiation without the results of the Oncotype test so my appointment Wednesday will not happen.
Dr. Panaras left a message for me to call him in the morning. I will provide an update tomorrow after I speak with him - hopefully he will have spoken to Dr. Cole by then.
How am I? I have been better. I am glad Dr. Dolkar got involved and I am glad my case finally got before the board. I am not happy about much else. I will lose a whole lot of confidence in Dr. Paneras if I need skin removed, and/or if I need chemo. For the last few days, I have really liked knowing my course of action. I am now back in the realm of the unknown and my anxiety is increasing.
Dr. Dolkar called at 6:30 tonight. She told me that my case was presented to 'the cancer board' today (a group of doctors in my medical group specializing in cancer who discuss the group's cancer cases and make recommendations). She said they discussed and decided a few things:
1) One of the 2 tumors was more aggressive than the other, they want to make sure that the Oncotype testing is occurring on THAT tumor.
2) They are concerned about not having taken enough margin (I thought that had been answered) and they want Dr. Paneras to discuss this with Dr. Cole. They may want to remove skin to ensure enough margin.
3) They do not want to begin radiation without the results of the Oncotype test so my appointment Wednesday will not happen.
Dr. Panaras left a message for me to call him in the morning. I will provide an update tomorrow after I speak with him - hopefully he will have spoken to Dr. Cole by then.
How am I? I have been better. I am glad Dr. Dolkar got involved and I am glad my case finally got before the board. I am not happy about much else. I will lose a whole lot of confidence in Dr. Paneras if I need skin removed, and/or if I need chemo. For the last few days, I have really liked knowing my course of action. I am now back in the realm of the unknown and my anxiety is increasing.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Just not going smoothly....
Results not in....in fact they never even got approval from the HMO to run the test. Incompetence that affects my life is a whole new, unpleasant thing. After my fuss, Dr. Paneras and I decided that we should go forward with radiation next week. We will still look at the results of the Oncotype test when it comes in - he will call me. I don't have an appointment with him again for 6 weeks.
He stated today that he really just ordered the test to confirm what he believes to be the case, so he is pretty confident that I won't need chemo. If chemotherapy is indicated, we will now do that after the radiation - not ideal, but better than not starting treatment now.
I will see the radiation doctor again on Monday and will begin treatment on Wednesday. I spoke with the scheduling people today and while they can't schedule my treatments until after my Monday appointment (they won't know which machine I need until after they measure me) they assured me that they will work hard to accommodate my work. Have a great weekend everybody!
He stated today that he really just ordered the test to confirm what he believes to be the case, so he is pretty confident that I won't need chemo. If chemotherapy is indicated, we will now do that after the radiation - not ideal, but better than not starting treatment now.
I will see the radiation doctor again on Monday and will begin treatment on Wednesday. I spoke with the scheduling people today and while they can't schedule my treatments until after my Monday appointment (they won't know which machine I need until after they measure me) they assured me that they will work hard to accommodate my work. Have a great weekend everybody!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Consultation with Radiation Oncologist
I met with Dr. Dolkar today. She explained about my radiation treatment. Because 2 lumps were discovered, the entire left breast must receive radiation - I can't just have the localized treatment. I will need to go for 20 minutes per day, M - F, for 5 1/2 weeks.
Although we are still awaiting the results of the Oncotype test, she agreed to meet me on Mon 1/19 to begin setting up the mechanics of the therapy.....tatoos, programming, imaging (they need to minimize the radiation to my lungs and heart). If the oncotype results indicate the need for chemo, I will cancel this appointment and delay the radiation treatment until after the chemo is completed. If no chemo is needed, I will probably begin radiation treatment on Wed, 1/21.
I will meet with Dr. Paneras, oncologist, on Thursday 1/15.
All is well.
Although we are still awaiting the results of the Oncotype test, she agreed to meet me on Mon 1/19 to begin setting up the mechanics of the therapy.....tatoos, programming, imaging (they need to minimize the radiation to my lungs and heart). If the oncotype results indicate the need for chemo, I will cancel this appointment and delay the radiation treatment until after the chemo is completed. If no chemo is needed, I will probably begin radiation treatment on Wed, 1/21.
I will meet with Dr. Paneras, oncologist, on Thursday 1/15.
All is well.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Next Step
Happy New Year Everybody!
I met with Dr. Paneras, oncologist, yesterday. He was great and spent about an hour explaining things to me. He said I will see him every three months for the next three years! He thinks Dr. Cole took out enough margin so they don't need to go back and take skin.
He wants to perform an Oncotype DX test on the tissue that was removed to determine my propensity for cancer recurrence. This test gives a recurrence score based on genes and proteins and helps determine whether or not I will benefit from chemotherapy. The results will take about 1 to 2 weeks during which time we do nothing. He referred me to a Radiation Doctor although Dr. Paneras doesn't want to begin radiation until after we know about the results of the Oncotype test. If chemo is recommended they prefer to do that before radiation.
Because I am still pre-menopausal, they recommend that I take tamoxifen for the next five years (I will switch to a different med post-menopause). I begin this after the other treatments.
What's next? Consult appointment with the Radiation Doctor on Jan 12th, then next appointment with Dr. Panares on Jan 15th.
How am I? Fine. Physically? normal numbness at the incision sites. Some tenderness radiating down the arm and back from the site - I will call Dr. Cole about this. Emotionally? just dandy. This is just an inconvenient blip in my life. I respect it, but I don't fear it. I will do everything possible to ensure its demise. Here's to 2009. Cheers.
I met with Dr. Paneras, oncologist, yesterday. He was great and spent about an hour explaining things to me. He said I will see him every three months for the next three years! He thinks Dr. Cole took out enough margin so they don't need to go back and take skin.
He wants to perform an Oncotype DX test on the tissue that was removed to determine my propensity for cancer recurrence. This test gives a recurrence score based on genes and proteins and helps determine whether or not I will benefit from chemotherapy. The results will take about 1 to 2 weeks during which time we do nothing. He referred me to a Radiation Doctor although Dr. Paneras doesn't want to begin radiation until after we know about the results of the Oncotype test. If chemo is recommended they prefer to do that before radiation.
Because I am still pre-menopausal, they recommend that I take tamoxifen for the next five years (I will switch to a different med post-menopause). I begin this after the other treatments.
What's next? Consult appointment with the Radiation Doctor on Jan 12th, then next appointment with Dr. Panares on Jan 15th.
How am I? Fine. Physically? normal numbness at the incision sites. Some tenderness radiating down the arm and back from the site - I will call Dr. Cole about this. Emotionally? just dandy. This is just an inconvenient blip in my life. I respect it, but I don't fear it. I will do everything possible to ensure its demise. Here's to 2009. Cheers.
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