Hi, it's been a long time...I didn't think too many of you were still reading the blog until I had a gap in the posts. Thank you for wanting to read more. The picture you see is me a little over a year ago, drumming at the Komen Race for the Cure. So much can happen in a year. I have a lot to tell you (duh) so let me begin with the facts.I left off shortly after the second cancer was discovered in my left breast (the "just in case" mastectomy...). Among the tests that were done on the tissue was an Oncotype Dx which is relatively new and used to predict recurrence and to assess the benefits of chemo. Since this was a new primary we couldn't generalize from the other cancer. With the other cancer we didn't have to do this test because chemo was indicated by its size (8.5 cm) and staging (Stage 3). Anyway, good news! I scored low for the recurrence of the second cancer so we are not doing chemo right now and we will proceed with the hormonal therapy. Yippee!! SO SO happy - you have no idea!
So, I was on Tamoxifen for about a month and when I saw Dr. Kennedy she was satisfied that I was in menopause so she gave me a break from Tamoxifen while I got a bone density scan. Then I began Femara. I did not have any side effects from the Tamoxifen that I knew of (I always have hot flashes that turn me bright red and drench me...) but the possibilities included blood clots, DVT, etc. and I am happy to be moving on. The Femara seems to be ok and the big risk with this drug is bone loss, osteoporosis, and possibly "bone, joint, muscle pain". Dr. Kennedy says that sometimes this gets bad and folks have to be changed to another med but so far so good. Maybe this is because I have a high pain tolerance or maybe it's because I have just gotten a little used to having pain in my shoulders and knees, or getting out of bed or standing up slowly, or not being able to carry heavy objects, etc. Healing takes time and sometimes compromise. So now I am taking Levoyxl, Zocor, Zettia, Femara, a multivitamin, Co-Q10, Calcium and Vitamin D3, Glucosamine, and whatever other analgesics, etc are needed in a day.
Moving right along, let me just say one thing about the "expansion" process....it is not pretty...I explained this process in the last post so I am not going to go through it again here. Let me just say that the side with just the expander is fine...you go through the expansion, some minor discomfort and then you can have the expander surgically removed and the silicone implant inserted (which hopefully is softer than the expander which I can only describe as .....do you remember the hard plastic cosmetic bags that you can get at the dollor store? or Newberrys if you are my age...) Now, the other side....is another story. My right side has the Dorsi flap from my back..remember the muscle, blood supply, etc. being pulled under the skin under my right arm to create a flap where the radiated skin was removed? That was fun. Anyway, the expander on that side is under muscle which doesn't like to stretch and expand...neither does the muscle under my arm or on my back. The expansion process on this side was more difficult for me because it was painful - usually for a day or two after expansion but the last expansion was very painful for about a week. Today is two weeks since the last expansion and I can say that I am feeling okay but not great. Because of the pain I don't move my arm as much and I have to force myself to do this or my shoulder has more pain. Knowing what I know now, if I had to do it over again, I would have to think long and hard before I would consider reconstruction with a flap. I am sure they will look fine in the end...but who cares? I am much more than my boobs. I just didn't want to deal with prostheses...but who said I'd have to? Every woman has the right to make whatever choices are right for her. I guess I just don't have strong feelings one way or another. I just want the pain to go away and my mobility to increase. Little by little.
The big day is next Tuesday, December 1st. Out with the "hot pockets" in with the silicone. I'll let you know when I have a time. Today I have to go get my port flushed and pre-op bloodwork drawn. Then I have to go to see Dr. Gottlieb for my pre-op visit. With all of this going on I thought it was funny that I experienced a little dread at going to the eye doctor last week...I was actually whining (!) "I don't want to have my pupils dialated..." I am looking forward to some peace in the weeks following this surgery.
That is what has been happening here. If I've left anything out I will insert it in some awkward place in a future post. I'm going to end this post here and I will continue with further reflections in my next one....coming soon....maybe even by this evening! Thanks again for asking me to continue with the blog.
