Volume 15 , Issue 41

NW Okie's Journey

She's Back! And it is good to be back, finally, in the awe inspiring Southwest Colorado Rockies at sunset, 21 December 2013, Saturday! But . . . we still have a few more trips back to Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas for breast reconstruction and visits to my oncologist.

The last you heard from me was that I was going in for breast surgery 15 November. I made it through the Right breast mastectomy and the sentinel node biopsy, which showed no cancer in the lymph nodes. The cancer in the upper-inner quadrant of right breast showed Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) was diagnosed as a Stage1a, which means no cancer spread to the lymph nodes.

The reconstruction surgeon implanted an expander that will eventually get expanded to 400 in next few weeks. They let me come home for Christmas, but I return January 7 thru 22, 2014 for the expansion. Meanwhile, I have had a bone density test done, which showed low density in the femoral necks. Which means walking exercise. I am still waiting on an Oncotype test to determine if I am at high risk for cancer coming back. The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assays provide physicians and their patients with critical information needed to help guide treatment decision making in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive carcinoma. The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay can predict the potential benefit of chemotherapy and likelihood of distant breast cancer recurrence in women with node negative or node positive, ER-positive, HER2-negative invasive breast cancer. The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay for DCIS patients quantifies the 10-year risk of local recurrence (DCIS or invasive carcinoma) in women with ductal carcinoma in situ treated by local excision, with or without tamoxifen. These assays are designed to support treatment planning and can lead to a more personalized treatment approach.

Waiting on tests to come back has been the hardest part of the journey. Right now I am on a hormone treatment, taking an estrogen inhibitor daily and a bone strengthening tablet weekly.

Thank goodness for the "Affordable Care Act," Medicare & Social Security!

Good Night & Good Luck throughout your Life & Merry Christmas!   |  View or Add Comments (1 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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