Today, I had the best 35th birthday I could imagine. For those of you tracking at home, my birthday is actually in June. But, this year I was in Africa for my birthday and Zack decided that we would celebrate when I was home and rested. Turns out, he has had a surprise party planned for weeks. Unfortunately, I ended up having my CT scan rescheduled to today - right in the middle of the party that I didn't know I was having. He made a lot of frantic phone calls last night, and changed both the time and venue with 18 hours notice.
To everyone who changed their plans to drive an extra hour each way to come to our house and celebrate my birthday: you gave me the greatest present I could wish for. I didn't think about having cancer for hours. I felt happy, and normal, and that life goes on.
To everyone who wanted to, and just couldn't make it: I know you would have if it were possible. Thanks for the food, presents, and good wishes. You can come to the party next year. Because there is going to be a blow out.
(Sidenote: 900 mL of 'vanilla smoothie' barium suspension is not the world's best pre-party fare. But barbecued chicken balances it out.)
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
Doc 1:Insurance Co 0
Dr B badgered the insurance company into submission. That said, the CT scan was approved. After much scrambling a new appointment was made for tomorrow at noon. For those of you who have never had a CT scan, be grateful. I saw the two kegs of barium that Lynn needs to drink prior to the scan (one 3 hours before and another 1 hour before). At least these are vanilla flavored. I don't want to know what barium flavored tastes like.
The secondary diagnosis is in from the pathologist. Looks like the cancer is susceptible to hormone therapy. We're not sure whether that means they will suppress the ovaries or remove them, but that comes after chemo. Chemo has been moved up to Monday as Lynn was experiencing some pain. Looks like Dr B is not wasting any time. Chemo every other week on top of growth hormone to keep the bones producing. This is more often than the usual every three weeks. Surgical consult is Tuesday and then....we wait. Not much to do except see Dr B every other week.
I took off work on Monday to be there for Lynn and am leaving work early on Tuesday for the Dr S appt. This will be our first time meeting her. Dr B said that there was some concern about the left side that Dr S may talk about---nothing conclusive but enough to keep an eye on.
That all said, we're wiped out. I think it's going to hit hardest sometime Wednesday or Thursday when there's nothing to do but wait. Not sure when the next test is to see if the chemo is working--we'll know by the size of the growth (it's gotten even bigger since a few days ago).
Tired. Scared. A bit lost. Mostly drained.
The secondary diagnosis is in from the pathologist. Looks like the cancer is susceptible to hormone therapy. We're not sure whether that means they will suppress the ovaries or remove them, but that comes after chemo. Chemo has been moved up to Monday as Lynn was experiencing some pain. Looks like Dr B is not wasting any time. Chemo every other week on top of growth hormone to keep the bones producing. This is more often than the usual every three weeks. Surgical consult is Tuesday and then....we wait. Not much to do except see Dr B every other week.
I took off work on Monday to be there for Lynn and am leaving work early on Tuesday for the Dr S appt. This will be our first time meeting her. Dr B said that there was some concern about the left side that Dr S may talk about---nothing conclusive but enough to keep an eye on.
That all said, we're wiped out. I think it's going to hit hardest sometime Wednesday or Thursday when there's nothing to do but wait. Not sure when the next test is to see if the chemo is working--we'll know by the size of the growth (it's gotten even bigger since a few days ago).
Tired. Scared. A bit lost. Mostly drained.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
The Little Guy and The Big Bad Insurance Company
I don't think anyone I've talked to has had a good thing to say about an insurance company but we still flock to them. Actually, given the amount we pay to the insurance company, I am sure some of us come out ahead. Then again, are medical prices really that fair?
So the precert for the CT scan was rejected by the administrative front to the insurance company. The CT scan and its partner the PET scan are used (in the arena of cancer) to determine whether the cancer has spread to any other parts of the body. The bone scan does something similar but looks specifically at the skeletal structure. So if you are ok with the bone scan why would you deny the CT scan? From what I read it's to prevent the use of CT scan as a means to diagnose/classify a condition.
An example of this would be going to the doctor with knee pain and immediately getting an MRI. As opposed to perhaps performing other (read: less expensive) tests first. My question here is, if Lynn has already been diagnosed with cancer and this would help us classify the severity (metastasis or spreading of the cancer makes what Lynn has a stage IV cancer as opposed to a stage III cancer), why would you deny the scan?
I can understand trying to prevent the abuse of technology, but at the same time why? Why does it cost so much? It's almost elitist, but I guess once again we cater to big companies--I mean the manufacturer of the equipment as well as the insurance company here. Do we need to pay doctors $250/hr? I guess if we add it all up, there is a price on the human life---we just need access to the details.
So the precert for the CT scan was rejected by the administrative front to the insurance company. The CT scan and its partner the PET scan are used (in the arena of cancer) to determine whether the cancer has spread to any other parts of the body. The bone scan does something similar but looks specifically at the skeletal structure. So if you are ok with the bone scan why would you deny the CT scan? From what I read it's to prevent the use of CT scan as a means to diagnose/classify a condition.
An example of this would be going to the doctor with knee pain and immediately getting an MRI. As opposed to perhaps performing other (read: less expensive) tests first. My question here is, if Lynn has already been diagnosed with cancer and this would help us classify the severity (metastasis or spreading of the cancer makes what Lynn has a stage IV cancer as opposed to a stage III cancer), why would you deny the scan?
I can understand trying to prevent the abuse of technology, but at the same time why? Why does it cost so much? It's almost elitist, but I guess once again we cater to big companies--I mean the manufacturer of the equipment as well as the insurance company here. Do we need to pay doctors $250/hr? I guess if we add it all up, there is a price on the human life---we just need access to the details.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
The Little Things
I don't really like going to work. It's not that I don't like my job, but there are always more important things to do. Let's just say that all those things (sleeping, working out, eating well,....watching paint dry) have been put to the side for my most important work diversion--Lynn.
That said, I count us lucky in all this. Not that this happened by any means--it is not something I wish on anyone--but we have a great team of doctors, Lynn is young and healthy and we have enough resources (financially, emotionally, and more) to beat odds.
The response from our friends and family is humbling. You know you have people out there who think about you and care about you, but when they all call, email, communicate with you multiple times over the course of a few days, it can't possibly be anything other than emotional. We are grateful for the support so far.
I add this to the list of reasons why we should all be independently wealthy.
That said, I count us lucky in all this. Not that this happened by any means--it is not something I wish on anyone--but we have a great team of doctors, Lynn is young and healthy and we have enough resources (financially, emotionally, and more) to beat odds.
The response from our friends and family is humbling. You know you have people out there who think about you and care about you, but when they all call, email, communicate with you multiple times over the course of a few days, it can't possibly be anything other than emotional. We are grateful for the support so far.
I add this to the list of reasons why we should all be independently wealthy.
Status Update
Got the pathology report tonight. Official diagnosis: invasive ductal carcinoma. Team MD calls this a locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and preliminarily rates it a stage III cancer.
We are grateful that this isn't an inflammatory breast cancer (which we thought it might be at first), but it is still pretty hard core. The CT scan tomorrow will (cross fingers and toes, light candles, etc) rule out stage IV - distal metastatic cancer.
We are grateful that this isn't an inflammatory breast cancer (which we thought it might be at first), but it is still pretty hard core. The CT scan tomorrow will (cross fingers and toes, light candles, etc) rule out stage IV - distal metastatic cancer.
Leg bone connected to the....
Today we started the whirlwind of tests. Dad took me to LFH for a bone scan to see if the cancer had spread to my bones. (Three cheers for a dad who drives 2 hours each way to drive his daughter back and forth to the hospital twice, waits in the waiting room for a few hours, AND buys her lunch.) The bone scan entailed getting a large shot of radioactive dye. Several hours later, Dad and I went back to the hospital for the scan itself. The tech strapped me to a very narrow table, even rubber-banding my feet together so that they didn't move. She then programmed a huge camera to slowly move up my body and do the scan. Painless, but a little tiring. (of course, that could also be because I couldn't have any coffee today) And, I got a cool souvenir picture of my skeleton to take home!
For more information on bone scans, this was a good description (mostly because there is a picture of the scan): http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Bone-Scan?page=1
The scan didn't show anything really worrying, though Team MD want to keep an eye on my shoulders. One test down, two more to go.
For more information on bone scans, this was a good description (mostly because there is a picture of the scan): http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Bone-Scan?page=1
The scan didn't show anything really worrying, though Team MD want to keep an eye on my shoulders. One test down, two more to go.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
...There was an addendum?
I think it is important to note that throughout this my parents were in town. This made it hard and easy. It's hard to explain but sometimes it's hard to know whether it's easier to work through things alone or with others. It sets the stage for how we deal with this from now on. We love the people in our lives but also know that balancing that with our own space (even Lynn or I alone and apart from each other from time to time) is going to be very important.
This is all so fast and we know so little...
This is all so fast and we know so little...
In the Beginning
Last Wednesday, I visited my OB-GYN (Dr. H) with a lump in my breast (medical records always say 'complaining of' - I wasn't complaining then, but I could be tempted to now). She took a look, stepped out, and called her colleague (Dr. F) at the Women's Breast Imaging Center. When she returned to the room, she told me to get in my car, drive over, and have an initial mammogram and ultrasound done. I called Zack, and he met me there. Based on the results, we knew it was breast cancer.
Thursday morning I went back to Dr. F for an MRI and biopsy. The good news: Nothing on the left side. The bad news: the tissue was too hard for a good biopsy.
Friday afternoon, Dr. F called with the biopsy results. Cancer, but the pathologist couldn't determine what sort from the sample.
Weekend: Frantic research. Thank you, Jemma's uncle, for the great articles!
Tuesday, we visited the oncologist (Dr. B) for the first time. She recommends chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiation. She also sent me for a whole bunch of tests. Zack and I were bustled across the street to the hospital for a second biopsy (this time with Dr. R). Of course, we had to wait for half an hour to check in first. Hurry up and wait. Good news: Dr. R thinks the tissue will be enough for the pathologist. Bad news: the mass looks bigger than at last week's ultrasound.
Summary: Yes, cancer. We don't know what sort (ductal or lobular, spreading or in situ), or what stage (I=good, IV=bad). Pathologist will call Wednesday afternoon with the type, and Friday with the stage and characteristics. Wednesday, I have a bone scan to see if the cancer has spread to the bones. Thursday I have a CT scan to see if the cancer has spread to any other organs. And Friday I have a MUGA scan to see if my heart can handle particular kinds of chemo.
We're keeping our fingers crossed that our insurance will pre-certify everything in time. It's been a whirlwind!
Thursday morning I went back to Dr. F for an MRI and biopsy. The good news: Nothing on the left side. The bad news: the tissue was too hard for a good biopsy.
Friday afternoon, Dr. F called with the biopsy results. Cancer, but the pathologist couldn't determine what sort from the sample.
Weekend: Frantic research. Thank you, Jemma's uncle, for the great articles!
Tuesday, we visited the oncologist (Dr. B) for the first time. She recommends chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiation. She also sent me for a whole bunch of tests. Zack and I were bustled across the street to the hospital for a second biopsy (this time with Dr. R). Of course, we had to wait for half an hour to check in first. Hurry up and wait. Good news: Dr. R thinks the tissue will be enough for the pathologist. Bad news: the mass looks bigger than at last week's ultrasound.
Summary: Yes, cancer. We don't know what sort (ductal or lobular, spreading or in situ), or what stage (I=good, IV=bad). Pathologist will call Wednesday afternoon with the type, and Friday with the stage and characteristics. Wednesday, I have a bone scan to see if the cancer has spread to the bones. Thursday I have a CT scan to see if the cancer has spread to any other organs. And Friday I have a MUGA scan to see if my heart can handle particular kinds of chemo.
We're keeping our fingers crossed that our insurance will pre-certify everything in time. It's been a whirlwind!
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