Super clean margins

My surgeon called today with some pretty incredible news. Not only are my lymph nodes cancer-free, the tissue she removed from my breast also had no signs of cancer. Apparently the biopsy removed all of it. This means that there's a pretty good chance that I'm cancer free, but we still need to do some other things to make sure of that and prevent it from coming back.

So what's next?

To take care of any random rogue cells in my breast, I'll have radiation, which is the standard of care when receiving a lumpectomy. I'm being referred to Dr. Veeral Patel, a radiation oncologist at the hospital. This is generally done after chemo, so when I have it depends on whether I have chemo.

We also need to do what we can to prevent the cancer from returning. I will take tamoxifen, a drug that works to prevent estrogen-positive cancers from returning, and reduces that risk by 50%. This is a pill I'll have to take for 5 years, assuming I tolerate it - side effects can be difficult to deal with for some.

In addition, my cancer will be tested to learn more about its particular genetic characteristics. This will give me information on what the chances are it could return, and how much chemo would reduce those chances. One possible glitch is that we don't have a good sample of my cancer - all we have is what was in the biopsy. The surgeon has to find out if there's enough tissue in the biopsy to do this analysis. If not, other characteristics of my cancer, my health, age, and family history will be used to estimate the chance of recurrence, which isn't as accurate. I am being referred to a medical oncologist, Dr. Nilesh Patel, who will discuss these chances with me, and then I will need to decide if the harm of chemo is worth the decrease in risk. I have received positive feedback about Dr. Patel from multiple sources, including my surgeon, so feel good about taking his guidance. Ultimately, though, I'll need to make the decision on what is best for me with the information I have.

So, referrals are being sent, the genetic testing on the cancer should be done in a week (if done at all), and I'm heading back to work tomorrow.

I have to say this week has been quite relaxing, and I've been thoroughly spoiled. I have had lots of great meals, and have started a nice collection of frozen leftovers to help me through radiation and chemo. I am feeling extremely fortunate and blessed.

One more thing - my cancer was caught using a 3D mammogram, which is pretty new technology. If you or someone you know has dense breasts, request a 3D mammogram. I really doubt it would have been caught this early with a traditional mammogram.