Phase 4 and On...

Here I am, 15 days after my surgery. My drain was removed yesterday, I got my first fill on my expander, and today I had my first oncology appointment. 

Now I am moving on to phase four of my cancer path. (at least according to this chart)

Screening and biopsy...done Sept.-Oct.

Diagnosis...done Nov.

Surgery...done Feb.

Treatment...starting Mar.

In two weeks, I will start treatment with Letrozole to block my body from making Estrogen. Apparently, that is what those little cancer cells feed on, so we want to starve them.

Prior to that, I will see my plastic surgeon again to add more fill to the expander in preparation for reconstruction with an implant. I will see my breast surgeon to confirm everything under her purview is progressing as planned. And, I will have a bone density test.

My Oncologist informs me that 50% of his patients do fine on this medication with no side effects. Of the remaining group, 30% will have manageable side effects, and 20% will have severe ones. I'm hoping to make the first team of 50 percenters. With the medication, my odds of recurrence are about 5%; without, it is about 10%.

After getting established with the hormone therapy, I will probably have reconstructive surgery in late April, early May. Hopefully to be healed before our planned cruise to Alaska with my mom. If the surgery can't happen at least three weeks before our trip, then it will happen in late June.

I am still praising God for His care and love for me. I have had very little pain and no signs of complications. I feel good and need to hold myself back from overdoing. As far as breast cancers go, I feel I got the "Breast Cancer Lite" version. It is still an ugly little beast, but I have a beautifully big God.