Isolated Tumor Cells in Sentinel Nodes

Ok. That's what the path report said. I finally got the call from the surgeon after a two week wait. The good news is that all the nasty cancer cells are out. No more surgery! But, why is there always a but! After reviewing the sentinel nodes they found 1 of them had these nasty isolated tumor cells. What that means is a more aggressive approach, meaning chemo along with radiation and hormone treatment.

My first step to take control of this news was to get a haircut yesterday. Since I am going to lose it all anyway why not try a few new cuts along the way? It was nothing dramatic just much shorter layers. Maybe a haircut a week until it all falls out is the way to go?

New Mammography Guidelines

The day before I was going in for my routine mammogram the new guidelines for mammograms was announced. The new guidelines recommended routine mammograms now starting at 50. In a nut shell these are the new recommendations:

* Most women in their 40s should not routinely get mammograms.
* Women 50 to 74 should get a mammogram every other year until they turn 75, after which the risks and benefits are unknown. (The task force's previous guidelines had no upper limit and called for exams every year or two.)
* The value of breast exams by doctors is unknown. And breast self-exams are of no value.

So are we all totally confused now? Breast exams are of no value?

Well, so glad I didn't listen to them! A routine mammogram saved my life.

I know this is a complicated issue as we women are being used as pawns in the money game. Insurance companies don't want to pay for what they consider unneccessary procedures. "They are saying that we should take mammography away from women in their 40s because ... these factors outweigh the value of lives saved," says Dr. David Dershaw at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

And on the other side there are those who would gain for more and more mammograms. Companies like GE and Siemens, makers of mammography equipemnt and MRI scanners.

There are of course many false positives with mammograms. Several years ago I needed a second round of mammograms and an ultasound when something suspicious was found. It did cause me some anxiety but I felt it was well worth it to be given a clean bill of health at the time. It gets even more complicated when those false positives have to go even further and a biopsy is needed. Any procedure, however minor can have negative side effects not to mention the anxiety felt while waiting for the results.

Guidelines should just be that guidelines nothing further. Is should always be up to the patient and her doctor to decide the best course of action. And if you don't agree or you feel uncomfortable with what your doctor is saying, find a new one. You are your primary carer, not your primary care doctor. I encourage you all to do your own research and make your own decision on how to proceed with mammograms.

Crocheting

Well, since I am supposed to be trying to relax more I have been crocheting lots! My Mom taught me how when I was about six and I have been doing it ever since. Granted in all the chaos of raising a young son there were long stretches of time when I had no project in the works. I didn't think I missed it until I picked up the yarn and hook and went at it.

Then the obsession once again overtakes me and I crochet like a mad women. I am really into hats the past few weeks. Since I may need chemo, the thought of head coverings has a real appeal right now. I would love to be able to donate some of my work to others also. I know there are organizations that would love to get homemade hats for chemo patients and preemie babies.

I am on a mission....hats, hats, and more hats!

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

Here is a great link for the risk factors for breast cancer. It is a thorough list with good explanations.

Susan G Komen Site

I always had dense breast tissue and many health professionals commented on it, but never once was I told it was a high risk for developing breast cancer. My other risk at the moderate level was having my first and only child after the age of 35.

A new reality

On January 22, 2010 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After all the testing, a core biopsy, a lumpectomy and waiting for three different pathologists at three different hospitals to examine the specimen I can't say that I was surprised with the results.

It all started when they called me be back in mid December after my routine mammogram I was just a little annoyed but not worried as this has happened before. I went in for another round of pictures and an ultrasound. The Radiologist said he saw something on my right breast that was clearly a cyst but behind it was something he said would need a biopsy.

That was scheduled the following week. The core biopsy was a little intense but all in all not too bad. The Breast Surgeon said she was going away but if she has the results she would call. I got the call on a Friday and she said I had cancer. But actually what happened was that the nurse incorrectly interpreted the results to her over the phone and the path report said Atypical (pre-cancerous cells) not cancer. But I would need it out since it could become cancer.

I had the lumpectomy on December 31st and had my post op the following week. I was shocked when she said now yes, I did have cancer. The margins were not wide enough so I would need to go back for another lumpectomy and a sentinel node biopsy. At my pre-op visit I told my Dr. that I thought I felt a small hard lump on my left breast. She was a little surprised since nothing showed up on the recent mammograms and her exam. She examined me then and yup she felt it. So along with the right side I was going to have an excisional biopsy also on the left.

The second surgery was on January 28th and as of now I am still waiting for pathology results. The waiting is so hard. I do believe that I will feel more powerful and in control once I am doing something about this horrible disease.