Quest is over

Waiting is hard, isn't it?  Welcome to my world!

And, the wait is not over.

The good news is the latest biopsy showed no cancer in the medial area.

Yay!

The bad news is it did show Lobular Carcinoma in Situ in that area.  Despite the scary name, LCIS is not cancer - it's a tumor marker.  That means there is a  slightly higher chance of developing cancer in that area, but normal treatment for this is to watch it and see what happens.  And, most often, nothing does.

The good news is I may still be able to have a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy.

Yay!

The bad news is the word "may."  That means more discussion.  And, more waiting.

Dr. Raja is going to bring my case to a tumor board.   Apparently, a tumor board consists of oncologists,  radiation oncologists, and surgeons, all of whom have differing favorite treatments and who like to argue about difficult or intriguing cases.  (Finally, something about me is called intriguing - and it's a tumor.  Just my luck.)

I don't think I'm invited.  I bet they won't even let me take the minutes.

I hate it when people talk behind my back.  Especially when it's about my front.

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4:59 pm.  I just finished typing the above, and the phone rang.  It was Dr. Raja.  Apparently, the tumor board meeting was this morning.  (See, I told you I wouldn't be invited.  I make great coffee too!)

All of the doctors agreed that I would need a mastectomy, and not only that, as soon as possible.  All 8 doctors agreed unanimously that it can't wait, that my cancer was too aggressive.   And, Dr Raja mentioned to me that I was HER2+ and would need to start chemotherapy sooner rather than later, so he is going to try to find a plastic surgeon who will fit me in quickly.

There was an urgency in his voice I hadn't heard before.  "as soon as possible"  "we have to move quickly."  "I'll find a plastic surgeon to fit you in immediately." "Call me first thing in the morning and we'll set it up."   "Chemo as soon as possible." He's always been so soothing and comforting, assuring me I'd be fine. 

His tone had changed.  Seems strange to go from "you have plenty of time" to "it has to happen NOW" in one day.

Maybe he's tired.  He did say it was a very active meeting.

Well, I have had plenty of time to adjust, so I'm okay.  I've been expecting a fake boob and no hair and a year of chemo and infusions.  (Sometimes 15 months with herception - ouch!)

But, I really want those meeting notes.   I'd love to know what really happened in there.  Did they fight about me?  Did they think something was overlooked?  Did they call me nuts for even trying to save my cancer soup girl?

Oh, to be a fly on the wall.