Penny's Garden: Finally, some good news!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Finally, some good news!

The MRI showed only the one cluster of cancer cells in my right breast! This means that we are going to go back to plan A which is to remove that section only and not the whole breast. The lymph nodes will be checked at the same time. The surgery currently is scheduled for the 12th.

I will need radiation treatment for sure. I am meeting with the radiation oncologist on Monday and have a second opinion on Wednesday morning. If the lymph nodes are positive then I may need chemo but we won't know that until later.

2 comments:

AnonymousJune 2, 2009 at 7:26 AM
Thanks for sharing the good news Penny. Huge relief! Fingers crossed that the positive path continues. Linda
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AnonymousJune 3, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Hi Penny! I came in for an appointment today and found out about all of your recent struggles. I'm so sorry to hear all of this that is going on but hopefully the good news will continue. I'm glad that you started this blog and I'll continue to follow it and keep you in my thoughts. Feel better, and stay strong. Jamina
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My Book List - The top book is what I am currently reading

How to Marry a Marquis - Julia Quinn**** Needed some romance this week!
The Body in the Record Room - Joe Barone *** This is an incredible first novel about patients in a mental institution.
Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Stephanie Plum
A Royal Pain - Rhys Bowen
Her Royal Spyness - Rhys Bowen
Leadership Theory & Practice - Peter G. Northouse
Hasty Death - Marion Chesney
Snobbery with Violence - Marion Chesney
Fearless Fourteen - Stephanie Plum
Lean Mean Thirteen - Stephanie Plum
Plum Lucky - Stephanie Plum (In Between the Numbers)
Twelve Sharp - Stephanie Plum
Plum Lovin' - Stephanie Plum (In Between the Numbers)
Eleven On Top - Stephanie Plum
Ten Big Ones - Stephanie Plum # 10
The Survivors Club - Ben Sherwood
To The Nines - Stephanie Plum # 9
Visions of Sugar Plums - Stephanie Plum (In Between the Numbers)
Hard Eight - Stephanie Plum #8
Dead Until Dark - By Charlaine Harris - Sookie # 1
Seven Up - Stephanie Plum #7
Hot Six - Stephanie Plum #6
Cash McCall by Cameron Hawley - This is a reread but one of my favorite books.
High Five - Stephanie Plum #5
Four to Score - Stephanie Plum # 4 ( I can't decide if I like Joe or Ranger best.)
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Three to Get Deadly - Stephanie Plum # 3
Two for the Dough - Stephanie Plum # 2
One for the Money - Stephanie Plum Series # 1 by Janet Evanovich
Baudelaire - Selected Poems
Dead & Gone - Sookie Stackhouse Series Book 9

Breast Cancer Primer -

Arizona Institute for Breast Health (AIBH), which is a non-profit organization that provides education and support to newly diagnosed patients about their treatment options, completely free of charge. These second opinions are offered through a multi-disciplinary panel of Breast Cancer Specialists and each patient that is seen through the program is guided and supported by a patient advocate, a breast cancer survivor herself. Contact AIBH through their website http://www.aibh.org/ or by calling 480-860-4200.
Axillary Lymph Nodes: These are the lymph nodes under the arm.
Brachytherapy Description & Pictures - See entry July 15th, 2009
Brachytherapy Radiation: See partial breast radiation.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for Breast Cancer Susceptibility gene 1 and 2. These are human genes that help supress tumors when they are normal. If the genes have changed or mutated they can increase the chances that breast or ovarian cancer will develop. Mutations are also linked with other types of cancers as well.
Breasts: My friend Shirley calls these "the girls".
Cancer: Cancer cells are cells in the body that divide and grow without control or order. They often spread into other cells in the tissue nearby and can travel through the blood and lymph node systems to other areas in the body.
Chemotherapy: Drugs which kill cancer cells and normal cells as well. They are usually given by mouth or through an IV. Some drugs kill certain types of cancer cells better than others. Chemo drugs usually have side effects because they effect both the normal cells as well as the cancer cells.
Estrogen Receptor Positive: Means that the cancer cells contain a protein that allows estrogen molecules to attach to them.
Guide Wire Placement - A guide wire that leads to a titanium clip is placed before surgery to help make sure the surgeon takes out the right spot. See description of placement on entry dated 06-15-2009.
Helpful Hints for Radiation - See entry dated July 17th, 2009
High grade: Describes cancer cells that are rapidly growing. This is based on the amount of mitochondria in the cancer cells that are tested.
In situ: this is a term that means that the cancer has not invaded the surrounding tissue.
Low grade: Describes cancer cells that are slowly growing. This is based on the amount of mitochondria in the cancer cells that are tested.
Mastectomy: Surgery to remove part or all of a breast.
Partial Breast Radiation: Also called brachytherapy. This is the delivery of radiation to the specific area of the breast that had cancer rather than using radiation to the whole breast. Radiation kills any stray cancer cells near the site of the cancer removed.
Progesterone Receptor Positive: Means that the cancer cells contain a protein that allows progesterone molecules to attach to them.
Radiation Therapy: Research shows radiation therapy after removal of cancer decreases the chances of the cancer recurring.
Sister Study - Breast Cancer Research: This landmark study of how environment & genes may affect the chances of getting breast cancer enrolled 50,000 women whose sister had breast cancer. Follow the progress at www.sisterstudy.org
Stage 0: This is cancer that has not spread to surrounding tissue or outside of the breast where they started.
Stage 1: The tumor is up to 2 centimeters (cm) and has invaded nearby cells
Stage 2A: Cancer cells are found in axillary lymph node and the tumor is up to 2 cm. or the tumor is between 2 cm and 5 cm but not found in the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage 2B: The tumor is between 2 cm and 5 cm and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, or the tumor is larger than 5 cms but is not in the lymph nodes.
Stage 3A: Cancer or tumor is any size and aggressively invading the axillary lymph nodes.
Stage 3B: Cancer or tumor is any size and aggressively invading the axillary lymph nodes and is found in the chest wall and/or skin of the breast.
Stage 3C: Cancer or tumor is any size and aggressively invading the axillary lymph nodes and the lymph nodes above the breastbone and is found in the chest wall and/or skin of the breast.
Stage 4: This is breast cancer which has already spread to other organs upon diagnosis usually because it was not found or treated while still in the breast.
Stage: Breast cancer is ranked in stages o, 1,2, 3 and 4. The use of a standardized ranking helps describe the extent of the cancer based on size, involvement of the lymph nodes, spread to surrounding breast tissues and spread to other parts of the body. It can also help identify which treatment will be needed.
www.armyofwomen.org: The army of women site listed recruits healthy women with no history of breast cancer, breast cancer survivors and those at high risk for breast cancer to register through the site to become potential clinical trial participants.

Penny's Garden

No Flowers Please!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Finally, some good news!

2 comments:

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Breast Cancer Primer -

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