2nd Opinion

After a lengthy delay before seeing the surgeon yesterday, I had high hopes for my 7:20a appointment this morning when the doctor actually came out in to the reception area and was happy to see that I was on time, and commented about how it was important to not get behind early on. At 7:47a, I started to lose the love I had already committed to her, and by 8:25 when she showed up, I had to start all over again.

While waiting, I played spider solitaire for awhile, admired the art on the wall of my patient room, and finally helped myself to a blanket. Not to steal...just to keep me warm. Surprising that my blood boiling from the wait didn't do the trick there. Oh, and I seriously contemplated removing the painter's tape from the ceiling. I was really bored.

So when the doctor did show up, with student doctor in tow, I was relieved. The physical exam she gave seemed much more thorough than the previous oncologist and surgeon, and she didn't look at me like I was crazy when I explained my 'no chemo' mantra. I asked her about cryoablation, and she explained that it is not a curative procedure. In the cases where it was used, it did not get all the cancer.

So here's today's plan*: I am going to proceed down the mastectomy path. Once that surgery is completed, then we will know if any of the cancer has spread and what type of follow-on treatment is really required. From what all the doctors have said, I have a slow-growing cancer, it's called "Invasive Ductal" something and is the most common breast cancer.

I am also seeing my acupuncturist - hoping for great things from the body work, too.

The worst news of all: cancer loves sugar. Yes, you read that right. WHAT the WHAT?!



* I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow, or the next day...

p.s.

and I think menopause has set in as well...hot flashes decided to join in the party last night.

It's my turn...unfortunately

Suffice to say I've been meaning to start this for a few weeks now, the cancer diagnosis being the catalyst. Having lost my dad and brother to cancer years ago, mine was pretty much expected.

I'm three weeks in to the diagnosis ("MALIGNANT" and "CANCER" neon signs flashing in my head non-stop). What I found surprising is that on the day my 'nurse navigator' informed me of the diagnosis/bad news, she handed me a piece of paper with three things to do:

1. schedule the MRI
2. schedule appointment with the surgeon
3. schedule appointment with the oncologist

Now, if you don't know much about cancer, you do as told, right?

But this made no sense to me: why would I see a surgeon before talking to the cancer doctor about what is wrong and discussing the treatment options (and especially whether or not surgery is even in the mix)? I booked the oncologist first.

And now I need to research the alternatives - anything I can do to avoid chemo. So far, I'm looking into the Gerson Institute and cryoablation. And in that research found out that my second opinion doctor is an advocate of the latter...halleflippinlujah.