| Sara Gilles | 5:25 PM (35 minutes ago) |  | |
| “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to proper you and not to harm you, Plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.” |
Today I had a second opinion with the breast surgeon at a different hospital. This is the doctor that my triathlon breast-cancer friend referred me to. We discussed at length the different options of lumpectomy with radiation Vs Mastectomy. My cancer is small and the slowest growing cancer that there is. Luminal A. Mastectomy comes with an overnight stay in the hospital, multiple drains, and reconstruction surgery that brings more complications. Mastectomy is not indicated for the type, size and stage of my cancer. Still they would do it if I choose this option. Then I would also have to choose R side or Bilateral mastectomy. More choices!
I am choosing to have intra operative radiation which takes 8 minutes in the OR! Vs 3-6 weeks of 5 times per week of external beam after surgery. It has a 2-3%recurrence rate Vs 1% with external beam but since my cancer is not aggressive I think I am on the safe side of that range. Life is about managing risk as there are no guarantees. There is also a possibility that insurance won’t cover this type of radiation. Or they find something in surgery that shows that there is cancer in my lymph nodes. In that case I would do external beam radiation 5 times per week per protocol. I find it interesting that the total amount of radiation is the same in external beam over 3 weeks as over 6 weeks but the dose per treatment is different. They do a smaller dose per treatment for whole breast Vs larger per dose for partial breast.
I have mult appointments pending and anyone of them could change my choice but I hope it doesn’t. That would mean that my situation has a worse prognosis.
Thank you Lord for an answer to prayer and helping me to see a clear choice. Thank you that my cancer is treatable and that the medical community knows how to treat it specifically. Thank you that my cancer is not aggressive and they will know even more about it after my surgery. Thank you for a 90% chance that my lymph nodes are not involved.
Feeling grateful and blessed.
PS: Just heard from the genetic counselor that all my genetic cancer markers are great! No increased chance of cancer based on genetics. This fits into my plan. She said that most women have a 12% risk of developing cancer in their lifetime, but because of my age and since i already have it, I have a 20% risk. Seams high but I cant change it. I just need to be very careful with my screenings and follow up with my oncologist.
Pending appointments:
GI doctor regarding my liver lesion on August 26
Radiology oncologist for the new hospital September 2
Oncologist for original hospital and Plastic surgery doctor for the new hospital on September 8.
Placement of marker for lumpectomy and surgery date TBD.
I don’t like that I am starting over at a different hospital for the surgery from where I started but the original hospital does not offer intraoperative radiation (radiation during surgery). I will still do all my follow up at the original hospital.
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