Crazy small cancer world.

Quick update - had a call from Tom Baker Monday to let me know my appointment date of Dec 22...so a bit longer wait than I expected but at least it will be done before the holiday break.  Other positives are that the breast oncologist I will see is actually also a hematologist and bone marrow doctor...I know him well from my leukemia journey and he knows my history very well.  Perfect scenario I think.  He also sits on the core committee of the Strategic Clinical Network that I volunteer on as a patient advisor.  Crazy small cancer world.

The other thing I am interpretting (maybe incorrectly) from the appointment date is that it is not super urgent that I get started on the treatment.  I know from my 17 year experience that nothing happens over the holidays, so I am guessing the earliest they would have me start chemo is early January.  I am hopeful that if it's okay to wait 2 weeks for the consult then it may be equally as okay to wait 2 weeks more from the earliest start time to fit Maui in.  Fingers crossed.

Still making progress on the healing front...3 weeks since surgery so I think I am on target.  Incisions are still covered in steri strips so hard to really know what it looks like but I see Dr. Graham in a week and will do a further assessment and take the strips off then.

Otherwise, I'm doing more and more normal things every day...even had a yummy breakfast after my early morning doctor appointment today (thx to Shelley for the idea)...thanks again for all your kindness.

T

Pathology in

Had a call yesterday that I could come in this morning to see Dr. Graham to discuss pathology results.  So the summary is Stage II invasive breast cancer - Grade III tumour,  no evidence of cancer in nodes removed.  This combined with some other pathologic details suggests chemo will likely be a next step and that I will be a candidate for herceptin treatment which would follow or go along side chemo for about a year.  Tom Baker breast oncology team will contact me with an appointment to discuss a treatment plan.  Likely hear from them within a week and hopefully the appointment will be before the holidays.  Incisions seem to be healing too. I'll see Dr. Graham in 2 weeks as well to check the incisions again.

I tried driving Tuesday night with success and yesterday drove myself to an appointment as well as to my "new" condo (ready in summer) mid-construction walkthrough.  That was pretty cool...seeing my place all framed and roughed in made it real so it gives me something wonderful to look forward to next summer once I'm done all this crap ;)  Last night I drove to my monthly documentary movie screening and enjoyed a normal night with friends.  That was a treat for sure.

Maui is still a maybe - Dr. Graham thinks it's quite possible it will work - maybe no surfing he said.  The bigger factor in that decision will be what the oncologist team's plan will look like and how that timing factors in.  It's unlikely I would start chemo until the new year, but I'm not sure if delaying it a couple of weeks will be appropriate...as usual, have to wait and see.

So for now, I have the go ahead to move more, get that range of motion back in my arms and chest, wait of course for another phone call and appointement date, and have some more normal days.  Perhaps a gingerbread latte will also be required.  Cheers.