Surgery Confirmed
I had my 7th of 8 treatments (my 3rd of 4 Taxol) this past Tuesday. I was also able to visit with my oncologist and my surgeon (Dr. Knox) about my genetic testing results. Surgery was confirmed. Dr. O'Shaughnessy said that I could opt for just having my ovaries removed. That would reduce my chance for recurrance (indicated by the genetic testing to be 64% for a new cancer to develop) by 50%. If I have the double masectomy, it puts it into the 90% range. On a more practical level, she said she has seen only 1 recurrance in 20 years of practice with someone who did the surgery.
I am okay with this, and Mark is as well. I admit that when we start talking "numbers" and when the discussion and focus is on the chance of cancer coming back, some fear creeps in. Kind of ironic, since we are talking about preventing it from coming back, but I guess the discussion also opens the door to some "what if's" to float through my mind.
Dr. Knox said to plan on only one night in the hospital. I argued for 2, but got no where, haha. She said a lot of people who travel in will stay in a hotel the day of discharge, so I guess we will do that, or head a short distance to family. We will see! The reason for one night's stay is that it has been demonstrated that folks do much better, and rest better, once they are up and around and out of the hospital. To be whiny about it, I told her, "But I LIKE the hospital! It feels safe and feels good to be cared for!" I got no where.
So, my surgery is scheduled for September 11th. It will be the double masectomy and beginning of reconstruction. It will last about 6 hours.
My only discouragement is that the removal of the ovaries will be a separate surgery unto itself. I guess I did not realize that because it has always been talked about together with the masectomy. So, that surgery will occur sometime in November. The good news is that my gyn here in Abilene will do it. He is suggesting that we go ahead and do a complete hysterectomy. I trust his judgement, so we will.
All in all, there are some mixed feelings...fear...weariness...anxiety...gratitude. And gratitude is where we will choose to land. We will choose to be thankful for science, for good doctors, for caring friends, and the provision we know will come as we need it. Thanks, God!
I am okay with this, and Mark is as well. I admit that when we start talking "numbers" and when the discussion and focus is on the chance of cancer coming back, some fear creeps in. Kind of ironic, since we are talking about preventing it from coming back, but I guess the discussion also opens the door to some "what if's" to float through my mind.
Dr. Knox said to plan on only one night in the hospital. I argued for 2, but got no where, haha. She said a lot of people who travel in will stay in a hotel the day of discharge, so I guess we will do that, or head a short distance to family. We will see! The reason for one night's stay is that it has been demonstrated that folks do much better, and rest better, once they are up and around and out of the hospital. To be whiny about it, I told her, "But I LIKE the hospital! It feels safe and feels good to be cared for!" I got no where.
So, my surgery is scheduled for September 11th. It will be the double masectomy and beginning of reconstruction. It will last about 6 hours.
My only discouragement is that the removal of the ovaries will be a separate surgery unto itself. I guess I did not realize that because it has always been talked about together with the masectomy. So, that surgery will occur sometime in November. The good news is that my gyn here in Abilene will do it. He is suggesting that we go ahead and do a complete hysterectomy. I trust his judgement, so we will.
All in all, there are some mixed feelings...fear...weariness...anxiety...gratitude. And gratitude is where we will choose to land. We will choose to be thankful for science, for good doctors, for caring friends, and the provision we know will come as we need it. Thanks, God!
posted by Beverly @ 8:13 AM
1 Comments:
At 9:15 PM,
Carisse said…
Bev, I'm glad to know that you can have your next surgery pretty soon. I think the hardest part of any of this is the waiting.
I loved what you said about choosing gratitude. That is SO the way to go. And it really is a choice.
You remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Carisse
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