Anxious to hear the results of your Taxol series. I am still very optimistic that the results will be amazing.
Sounds like you will have a full day today with all of the tests and reports of the results. Hopefully, everything will look as it should and you can proceed with the treatment. Scary about the Red Devil stuff, how it can turn everything red like that. Hopefully you will not have to have any red tears, and everything will go well. Sending hugs and prayers for a good day and good reports from the doctors.
Well, we're home and it was a pretty good day. First the ultrasound showed that the chemo is working; the tumor is much smaller (they had trouble finding it) and the lymph node has also shrunk, so yippee. The doppler on my neck showed no problem with the port or the tube in my jugular vein; everything is working as it should. The meeting with the surgeon was pleasant and informative. She told me that "standard practice" for IBC is to remove 2 groups of lymph nodes under the arm as well as the breast. I'm kind of bummed about the lymph nodes as I dread the possibility of lymphedema. So we agreed that a plastic surgeon will close the surgery to get the best "tidy" scar, and he will also do a new micro-surgical technique that will attach lymph system channels to local blood vessels. This should allow lymph to flow into the bloodstream and not become trapped in the extremities... in this case my right arm. The lymph surgery is fairly new technology using a microscope and will add 3 hours or more to my breast surgery. I am hopeful that this will be worth the effort if I can avoid lymphedema. I will meet with the plastic surgeon sometime soon to discuss the procedures. All systems are "go" to begin AC chemo next Tuesday. I will have blood work and meet with my medical oncologist before I have the treatment.
Good news, Beth ! Glad to hear that the tumor is shrinking and that all of the treatment is helping you. You will be out for the breast surgery anyway, so you won’t even know the difference if it is 3 hours longer.
That sounds like overall good news. I pray that the chemo doesn't make you very sick. I will keep praying for your full recovery.
Great news indeed!!! So excited that the tumor was hard to see. I love that you educate yourself and know what questions to ask and what procedures you feel best for you.
My surgeon actually said something similar to me today. When I told her about the type of closure I want and no "dog ears" to have revisions on, she brought up the plastic surgeon without my mentioning it.
I learned about optimism as it relates to cancer from my cancer surgeon. He said to me it is our job, you the patient and me the surgeon to both be optimists and the nurses and cancer specialists, and my assistant to point out complications, risk, statistics, etc. Keep up the optimism Beth. It can be contagious.
Such great news Beth! There has been such enormous progress, scientifically, with cancer. Years ago, we would have been dead. Painful as your treatment is, and I know it's no fun, it's Working! YAY for you and your outstanding news. Happy Mother's day, you mother you!