I have to laugh because they took my height and weight and I have always thought that I am 5’8” tall and they said I’ve been wrong all this time. I’m 5’10”! How funny is that? My first thought was about my BMI - and when the doctor stepped out of the room I checked my BMI with my new height calculation and it puts me in the healthy range! Bonus! š
My main questions were:
- What form of sarcoma do I have?
- Will I need radiation?
- Will I need chemo?
- When can we schedule surgery?
The answers I received today:
- Sarcoma type? We won’t know what form of sarcoma it is until we get the pathology report after the tumor has been removed.
- Radiation? Some people need radiation prior to surgery to shrink the tumor. I don’t need radiation prior to surgery, and I may not need it at all, but we won’t know for sure until after we have the pathology report back. I’m hopeful I won’t need any radiation!
- Chemo? Probably not!
- Surgery? Has been scheduled for Monday, July 30th!
I am so excited that we can get surgery scheduled for Monday! We met with the surgeon this afternoon and he said he believes the surgery will take about 3 hours. It's going to be a little more complex than I'd envisioned it to be. The tumor is located in my vastus intermedialis muscle and he said they'll have to take the entire muscle. The widest part of the tumor is 3 centimeters but there is more area inflamed which makes it about 9 centimeters so they'll take the entire area. It's also located up against my femur so he said he will scrape the periosteum off of the femur to ensure it doesn't spread into the bone. He said that part of the surgery will increase my pain quite a bit but they'll do what they can to manage my pain. I'll be hospitalized a day or two. I'll have drainage tubes for 3-4 days and I'll have to stay in Phoenix a week or two after the surgery. I'll be fitted for a compression legging in the next couple of days and elevate my leg for quite some time following surgery. I'll start physical therapy in Phoenix and continue it when I return to Boise.
The surgeon said the other muscles in my thigh (quad muscles minus one) will take over to compensate for the removal of the vastus intermedialis muscle. I will not need crutches and I will be able to walk stairs - both were concerns of mine. He did say that I won't be able to run in the Onward Shay half-marathon on October 28th. I already knew that would not be possible. I asked if I could walk the 5k that day and he said he wasn't sure but it seemed like it may not be possible. My aunt and uncle said they'll come to Boise to walk it with me if I can give it a shot. I shared with the surgeon that I'm a little Type A. My uncle said I'm "Type A+++." The surgeon did say that I'll be able to run a half-marathon in the future. That made me happy! I now have a personal goal to also run a full marathon!
I'm thrilled that I won't need chemo! It was grueling when I was battling triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). I had significant "chemo brain" and I didn't want to face that again. I also started growing my hair out when I hit the five year cancer-free mark and I have grown fond of it! Of course, if something changes and they indicate it's needed, I would do it, but I hope that their current assessment is correct and that chemo won't be needed. Same with radiation. I hope it's not needed.
They did say that I've had two rare forms of cancer and I'm always going to have to be diligent - especially since I'm BRCA2+. I can deal with that. The first doctor we met with indicated that I'm a very lucky woman. He reviewed all of my medical history for the first cancer diagnosis and treatment. One thing that gave me pause is that the tumor I found wasn't really a tumor at all, it was a "lymph node of metastatic carcinoma." And I had three other lymph nodes that were positive. But, and this is the part that gets me, the original source was never found. I recall wondering seven years ago where the original tumor was located. He indicated that my body may have rid itself of the original tumor. No one put it in those terms before. Both doctors today indicated this sarcoma is in no way associated with my first cancer diagnosis.
I'm grateful for the support network I have across the country! I posted a quick update last night on FB and Instagram and the support I received uplifted me and reduced my anxiety quite a bit. As soon as I woke up this morning I had messages from co-workers, friends, and family. Each one is like a hug and a prayer from afar! Thanks to each and every one of you!
My dad sent me messages every 20 minutes while I was at CTCA asking for updates and letting me know he was praying for me. He's with me in spirit! I had my aunt and uncle by my side all day and they'll be with me at each appointment over the next two days. I'll check out of the hotel on Friday morning and move in with them on Friday afternoon and stay with them after the surgery. They are amazing. They call me "Deanie," a childhood nickname that I adore. We don't know where it originated - but I love it. I am also known as "DC." My sister is "AC." Together we make AC/DC. It's a nickname we received as children by our neighbors (the O'Brien's). It was said we were like two little batteries of non-stop energy. And, on Monday, I received a message from a high school friend who referred to me as "Danger Mouse". I'd forgotten about that nickname. I laughed out loud when I got that message. Danger Mouse was a cartoon we watched in high school. Those are a few little factoids you may not have known about me!
I feel like a weight has been lifted today. I went into today a little anxious, but in "badass mode," ready for the fight! I don't have all of the answers but I do have a good feeling about where things stand right now.
Again, thanks for the support and hugs to everyone! Let's keep up the positive thoughts and prayers - they're working!
The surgeon said the other muscles in my thigh (quad muscles minus one) will take over to compensate for the removal of the vastus intermedialis muscle. I will not need crutches and I will be able to walk stairs - both were concerns of mine. He did say that I won't be able to run in the Onward Shay half-marathon on October 28th. I already knew that would not be possible. I asked if I could walk the 5k that day and he said he wasn't sure but it seemed like it may not be possible. My aunt and uncle said they'll come to Boise to walk it with me if I can give it a shot. I shared with the surgeon that I'm a little Type A. My uncle said I'm "Type A+++." The surgeon did say that I'll be able to run a half-marathon in the future. That made me happy! I now have a personal goal to also run a full marathon!
I'm thrilled that I won't need chemo! It was grueling when I was battling triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). I had significant "chemo brain" and I didn't want to face that again. I also started growing my hair out when I hit the five year cancer-free mark and I have grown fond of it! Of course, if something changes and they indicate it's needed, I would do it, but I hope that their current assessment is correct and that chemo won't be needed. Same with radiation. I hope it's not needed.
They did say that I've had two rare forms of cancer and I'm always going to have to be diligent - especially since I'm BRCA2+. I can deal with that. The first doctor we met with indicated that I'm a very lucky woman. He reviewed all of my medical history for the first cancer diagnosis and treatment. One thing that gave me pause is that the tumor I found wasn't really a tumor at all, it was a "lymph node of metastatic carcinoma." And I had three other lymph nodes that were positive. But, and this is the part that gets me, the original source was never found. I recall wondering seven years ago where the original tumor was located. He indicated that my body may have rid itself of the original tumor. No one put it in those terms before. Both doctors today indicated this sarcoma is in no way associated with my first cancer diagnosis.
I'm grateful for the support network I have across the country! I posted a quick update last night on FB and Instagram and the support I received uplifted me and reduced my anxiety quite a bit. As soon as I woke up this morning I had messages from co-workers, friends, and family. Each one is like a hug and a prayer from afar! Thanks to each and every one of you!
My dad sent me messages every 20 minutes while I was at CTCA asking for updates and letting me know he was praying for me. He's with me in spirit! I had my aunt and uncle by my side all day and they'll be with me at each appointment over the next two days. I'll check out of the hotel on Friday morning and move in with them on Friday afternoon and stay with them after the surgery. They are amazing. They call me "Deanie," a childhood nickname that I adore. We don't know where it originated - but I love it. I am also known as "DC." My sister is "AC." Together we make AC/DC. It's a nickname we received as children by our neighbors (the O'Brien's). It was said we were like two little batteries of non-stop energy. And, on Monday, I received a message from a high school friend who referred to me as "Danger Mouse". I'd forgotten about that nickname. I laughed out loud when I got that message. Danger Mouse was a cartoon we watched in high school. Those are a few little factoids you may not have known about me!
I feel like a weight has been lifted today. I went into today a little anxious, but in "badass mode," ready for the fight! I don't have all of the answers but I do have a good feeling about where things stand right now.
Again, thanks for the support and hugs to everyone! Let's keep up the positive thoughts and prayers - they're working!
No comments:
Post a Comment