Survivor Files: A Few Answers and More Testing

 Ask my kids, I am not good at selfies! The girls know all of the tricks to make your face look slimmer and how to show your best side. Today, I was just getting ready for my appointment after a few days of roller coaster emotions. I did a few facial exercises as I got ready to reduce the stressed look on my face. Not sure it helped...but it did give me something to post that you could laugh about!

On to the appointment. We found out all of the answers we could from our extensive list of 12 that David and I put together last night. Some were not answerable yet at this time and others were. I am not sure that any of the numbers and details will make much sense so I will just summarize it to say that we are relieved to find out that every scenario that could be playing out is TREATABLE. In fact, we were told today that there are a couple of things that can be pinpointed better now than they could even three years ago when I was there for the first time.

For those of you who like details, there is something they look for called HER-2/neu that showed up in one of the lumps and the lymph node. (negative in the other two) We are waiting for what is called a FISH test to come back for more clarity of treatment. I also had a bunch of blood work done today and on Friday will have a PET scan and brain MRI. I will meet next Tuesday to go over the results and then we can make a plan for treatment.

My doctor says this came as a surprise to them too and it is hard to know what caused the recurrence until we get more tests. We went over everything we did last time along with any new "aches and pains" that I may be having. There are no regrets. The decisions that were made then were based on the 97-99% of the cases of DCIS. Someone has to be in that 1-3% and well, here we are.

We know a little bit more than we did. Thankfully I will get to go to the last day of scout camp with the boys tomorrow as long as I don't do anything strenuous and stay on the strict 24 hour PET scan prep diet. (Lots of meat, eggs, and green leafy veggies/no caffeine, sugar or carbs.) If the results get back to the doc before next Tuesday we can meet then. Treatment will probably start the week after the fourth. This means I can still go to overnight camp with our elementary youth at church with the kids!

So, if there were any specific prayers for this week, I would say, (after the total healing of my body from cancer), that 1. the results all come back on time for our appointment, (and come back with the best outcome) and 2. that I get better sleep from now on. I have a new prescription for bedtime to help me rest and I am looking forward to better sleep.

"Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken" - Psalm 55:22