Thursday, June 11, 2009

Meanwhile, Along the Winding Path . . .

Back from the follow-up ultrasound. As they had warned me (many times), the ‘problem’ with an MRI is that it really lights up all manner of concerns. Ultimately this is a good thing because you need to find everything.

My right breast remains clear, which is good if I’m aiming for lumpectomy. My left breast, which already contains the cancer, does have other areas they want to biopsy. But there is still hope. Two very small lumps that they suspect might be cancer are very close to the primary lump, and so they can probably get all that in the lumpectomy. There is an additional lump in another quadrant however, and if that turns out to be cancerous, I’m looking at a definite mastectomy. The radiologist suspects that it is benign but wants to be double sure. So again, there is still hope for a lumpectomy if that’s what I decide.

Monday I will have the three more sets of core biopsies. Wednesday I will find out the results. I also had blood work done today and a chest X-Ray so the results of those should be coming.

I should say too that while all this testing and waiting is agonizing, I don’t have the kind of cancer that requires immediate care. Some women take their month long European vacation before getting treatment. Of course, they are complete lunatics in my opinion, but the doctors do send them off with a smile.

So another weekend without definitives. But as Cheryl just reminded me, all good stories require tension and suspense. So tune in next week for another exciting episode of As The Magnetic Resonance Imager Turns!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Leave it to you and Cheryl to find humor through this. I knew I loved you for some odd reason. - Todd

Anonymous said...

Hey, and if you can't do a Eurpean vacation, how about a trip to Eau Claire and the Ramada?!?!?!?!? Tempting, isn't it!

C.M. Harris said...

Incredibly. If we go anywhere this month, it will be Eau Claire or camping. But not sure. I'm really trying to stay well right now.

Not that the Eau Claire Ramada is infectious or anything . . .

Unknown said...

Sounds like there's no such thing as a simple right or wrong decision here-- damn it! Good thing you two are so wise and will figure out what's best, I know it. In the meantime, there's always comfort food to help you along the way! Speaking of which, I'll be dropping off a batch of cookies on your doorstep later! (Clearly, I'm projecting my own needs and desires here to emotionally feed myself! Thanks for indulging me! :-)

~ Jenny

Anonymous said...

While it is TERRIFIC that you don't have to start treatment tomorrow, i.e. you aren't going to croak anytime soon, the waiting SUCKS. My doctor said the same thing, "We can start chemo next week, or next month." Idiot. Of course I said, "Let's get this party started!"

Hang in there kids!

Laura

C.M. Harris said...

Jenny, you are absolutely the sweetest. We ALL are digging on your cookies. Thank you so much.

C.M. Harris said...

Laura, yeah, the waiting is driving us nuts. If it hadn't been for the extra ultrasound, I would be in the hospital right now. But what are ya gonna do. Thanks for all your good advice.