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