We met with the surgeon yesterday. Dr. Bartley Weiss. I like him. He has a strong, deep, caring voice, and he knows his stuff.
My diagnosis is high grade invasive carcinoma of the breast with focal perineural tumor invasion with indefinite lymphovascular tumor invasion. In English? I have a fast growing, multiple tumor breast cancer, but it is just within my right breast. No tests show that it has spread to my lymphnodes. (This indicates a stage 2 cancer) We won't know for sure until they opperate and do one more look to be sure.
There is a bright side to all this. There are 3 things they test for to help determine how my body will respond to treatment. Estrogen receptor assasy, progesterone receptor assay, and HER2 assay by herceptest. Testing positive in this case is a good thing. Most patients are positive for one or two. I am positive for all the three. The last one, herceptest, specificly is a new development. Following treatment, I will be on one med (don't have the name yet) for one year. It will cut my chances of a reacurrance by 50%. The positive herceptest indicates my body is set well to respond to this med. Dr. Weiss hinted that I was one of few, if not the only one he has seen test positive for all three. He is very optimistic.
Now for what we are going to do about it. This gets heavier, but it's what we already felt would be the case. I will have to have a mastectomy and chemotherapy. But after it all, I will live, and it will be worth it.
I like the name of your blog... it was a good reminder and made me smile. Who knew stubborn would turn out to be such a great quality. = )
ReplyDelete~Love & Hugs~
I also like the blog address. It makes me smile. I did notice that you left out the words "mule" and "ox." I guess, leave that to your sister who is so good with words, right? Next time I do an entry about you on my blog, I'll try not to call you names! I sure love you. Although I wish you didn't have to have a blog like this. I do think you are amazing to be so open about it, and willing to share it with the rest of us. Just know that we are all here to support you and that we've got your back... and your front! ;)
ReplyDeleteAll our love,
TEAM SAVE THE TAA TAAS! ;)
Justin, Mandy & Gentry
I also like your name! When we first met with Leslie's cancer surgeon, he said that kids that go through cancer transform and become sanctified and strong. They start out wonderful, but the process refines them. I'm excited to see the blessings that come to you through this experience. I'm so sorry you have to go through it, but I'm confident that you'll feel the arms of the Lord around you as we have.
ReplyDeleteLove the website!! Remember I will always be here to help in any way I can. You and your family will always be in my prayers FOREVER. I understand what you and your family are going through.
ReplyDeleteLove,
The Samuelsens