Some New Results This Week

Hi! I'm Aly, one of Sherri's oldest daughters, and I have offered to help her update the blog when needed.
Today I am honored to take on this task and share with you all some of her latest results. 

MRI

This week's medical agenda included an MRI. Concerning the potential for an allergic reaction during the procedure, Sherri was given Benadryl and some preemptive medication. These seemed to do the job, and Sherri even relaxed enough that she fell asleep during the last part of the MRI. 

There does seem to be some residual allergic reaction from the medications wearing off today that she is treating with more Benadryl and plenty of water to flush the kidneys. But she assures that she is feeling fine and is working today! 

The Results 

Sherri also met with two Oncologists this week, both of whom she liked. In the meeting with the Radiation Oncologist today, he explained the results from her MRI, as well as a tentative course of action going forward with her treatments. There is quite a lot of medical jargon from the results, so I will simplify them as best I can.

MRI Results

In the assessment of a breast tissue MRI, there is a system used to rate the findings, called a BI-RADS , or Breast-Imaging-Reporting-And-Data-System. In simple terms, the results are rated 0-6. 0 means no cancer, no abnormalities; 6 means cancer is present, get it out now. 

The right breast was rated at a 2, which means nothing suspicious and nothing to worry about. The left breast was rated at a 6. 

The good news in all of this is that there was nothing new found with the MRI. There's no lymph node spreading suspicious, the size of the tumor is very small (16 mm), and the cancer is contained. 

Course of Treatments

The Radiation Oncologist is recommending 20 treatments post surgery and chemo. Although, it should be added, that the chemo has not been determined as a definitive plan as of yet. There are still a few unknowns in all of this, and it is quite possible chemo will not be needed. 

Sherri has also requested to go the "breast conservation procedure" route, where only the cancer and minimal surrounding tissue is removed; the rest is left as intact as possible. She will post an update when the date is set for that to take place. 

Radically Optimistic

Sherri remains optimistic, as do I upon hearing these results. She seemingly has been dealt many trials, especially in the last few years with her health; and yet she is steadfastly optimistic in the face of all of it. 

It reminded me of the story of the bison on the plains. A great storm is looming on the horizon, and rather than turn and try to out run it; they choose every time to head straight into it. It may seem the opposite of what should happen, but if they tried to outrun it they would end up tiring and potentially being at more risk. Choosing to push into the very storm that is threatening them, they are stronger and able to endure it. 

So, optimistic I remain with you, Sherri. We the readers here are your herd, following behind your lead and bringing with us our energy and love into the storm. 

"Optimism is radical. It is the hard choice, the brave choice. And it is, it seems to me, 

most needed now, in the face of despair—just as a car is most useful when you have a 

distance to close. Otherwise it is a large, unmovable object parked in the garage.

Optimism is our instinct to inhale while suffocating. Our need to declare what

 'needs to be' in the face of what is. Optimism is not uncool; 

it is rebellious and daring and vital." - GUILLERMO DEL TORO

Aly Wednesday - Guest Writer

it's a monday

My favorite color is trees

Not to be dramatic, but I've already faced a couple life-changing medical issues before this. Cancer is the first one that comes with a whole team of specialists, each with their own sub-teams and folders of support materials that include community help groups and resources for mortgage assistance as needed. It feels both supportive and unnerving.

This week, I am set to meet two different Oncologists and get an MRI. Everyone wants that MRI, and I am allergic to the contrast dye as well as the first option to treat it. 

It's complicated. Some of you may remember the "swell" allergic reaction I had to the medication treatment for my Grave's disease while I was in school. It was migrating hives like the map of the world and "Angelina Jolie lips." Something about that allergy combined with the contrast dye triggers a contraindication flag at the pharmacy. 

As of this afternoon, we have an alternative plan, so the MRI is a go. Good thing there was a team to work on that challenge.

Wish me luck. 

"What a life is ours! Doesn't anybody in the world anymore want to get up in the middle of the night and sing?" ~ Mary Oliver, from Upstream

welcome to the next adventure

Favorite Flower

Diagnosis

It begins with a diagnosis: breast cancer. It is the result of my personal discovery followed by three mammograms, two ultrasounds, two biopsies (mammogram/ultrasound-guided), and three pathology reports. 

I am assigned a Breast Care Navigator (BCN), who is a kind voice on the phone, well-meaning, always informative and (unfortunately) a bit over-exuberant. The BCN becomes a team of two, and these nurses are available to answer my questions at any time, coordinate my new cancer care "team," offer helpful suggestions and vetted links (to prevent the middle-of-the-night Google search), and the inside scoop into what comes next. 

What comes next is a meeting with a surgeon. He is straightforward, optimistic, and answers my list of questions and Rick's. He also surprises me by listening to my heart (prompted by my questions about the relationship of surgery to my heart defect), which I appreciate immensely. 

On the horizon are appointments with two different oncologists and an MRI. 

Now we wait. I am coming to think that the waiting is a regular part of the regular cycle—a rush of actions followed by the waiting. 

The Facts (as I understand them so far)

The cancer is Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. It is one of the most common breast cancers, which also means there is a lot of data about treatment options. It is located in one breast (left) and is a single, self-contained mass about the size of the end of my thumb (2 cm). It tests high for estrogen and progesterone, which I am told means that it is still in an early stage and working on growing itself rather than trying to grow in other places. Under these conditions, it is Stage 2. 

All of this is good news in terms of treatment. The surgeon suggests that, if conditions remain the same, successful treatment could be a localized, breast-saving surgical procedure to remove the mass along with an appropriate cushion of cells and any "sentinel" lymph nodes as identified at the time of the procedure. Follow-up treatment would be targeted radiation. Final recommendations depend on a couple more pieces of data still outstanding.

The Unknowns

I mean, I have a list, but let's start with these: 

• MRI is scheduled for 4/27 to provide a different view for another layer of data so that the care team can make informed recommendations for surgery and follow-up treatment. 

• HER2 pathology testing has been done on the original biopsy samples. I can see what the report says but don't know how to interpret it. I do know that everyone wants that information to (again) make informed recommendations. 

How am I doing? How can you help?

Those questions. I don't have good answers. Here's my attempt in the moment. 

Physically I am fine, except for the anxiety, migraines, and insomnia. It's an emotional rollercoaster. I've been baking a lot (it helps me think). To make bread is a tactile process to create something life-giving.

I've also been breaking my day into smaller pieces, something I did when I was learning to stay sober—one day at a time was too much at first. Make it an hour, or minutes. Breathe in. Breath out. I can do big things by doing a whole helluva bunch of small things pushed together. 

I feel like the practical things that need me to ask for help will come later—here's that waiting part again. Right now, your kind words lift me up. Yesterday I got a text from a family member to say, I'm with you and love you. It was exactly enough and exactly what I needed. 

Nuts and Bolts

I'll post updates on this site. Update posts should be shorter (this post is twice as long as I expected). Check the calendar page for my schedule of appointments, etc (from the menu up at the top), which will auto-populate as I schedule things from my phone. Leave me comments here, or text, email or call me. 

Thank you all. I feel you with me. 

Sherri

Random thoughts:

"Do not feel lonely. The entire Universe is inside you. Stop acting small. You are the Universe in ecstatic motion." ~ Rumi

"I remain optimistic until I have reason to believe otherwise." ~ me