On Wednesday we met with the surgical oncologist, Dr. Easson, who is an awesome woman. She told me a bit more about the breast cancer I have - it is called triple negative, which from what I understand this means the cancer tested negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2. this type of breast cancer does not respond to hormone therapy, however the other main things I need to do are the same - chemotherapy, surgery and radiation - and in this order. The reason why they are suggesting it be in this order is the type of cancer is more aggressive and therefore chemo first will reduce the lump I have and also prevent spreading.
Dr. Easson explained all this and also started a bunch of referrals to other tests and to my medical oncologist, Dr. Amir.
I saw Dr. Amir on Thursday and him and his fellow talked to me in detail about the cancer I have, and then the chemo I will be given. I have to do 8 "sessions" and they are divided by 2 weeks, so 16 weeks total, and I start June 23. The first 4 weeks is a chemo called AC and then the second 4 weeks is a chemo called Taxol. They also wrote me a prescription for 3 different anti nausea drugs and a white blood cells shot that I have to take after each chemo. The shot costs $3000 each time! I was very thankful for my drug plan when I heard this.
In the meantime I have to get a bone scan (Tuesday), Ultrasound to put a clip in my lump in case it shrinks so much they can't find it for surgery, genetics counselling I think to see if I have the BRC-A gene (Wednesday) and I am waiting to get a CT scan and MRI too. lots of tests! Makes me nervous, but as long as they don't find anything else, Dr. Easson said I am at stage 1 and I am very hopeful I can crush this thing!!
I feel immensely better now that I have a plan and after meeting the medical team. It really seems like I have the best support at Mount Sinai and they are moving quickly to help me, so I am thankful.
They told me I will lose my hair - I have heard it is usually 10-14 days after the first chemo - so I got a shorter cut yesterday and also a wig. Well I am trying to decide what wig but I have one or two good options in mind. I also bought a few different head coverings/hats online that I can wear around the house or if I don't feel like wearing a wig out. I know in the grand scheme of things it is just hair but I am sad to lose it. I really like the cut I got and losing my hair doesn't necessarily make me feel very feminine. What can I do though. Gotta go with the flow.
here is my new cut and then blow it are a couple wigs I tried, I think I like the longer one but need to decide!
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