Cautious Optimism

Dr. B received the pathology report today. She thinks we should take it with 'cautious optimism'.

The left breast had no evidence of any cancer.

In the right breast, the pathologists found an area of two centimeters containing microscopic tumor. This means that the chemotherapy transformed the 12 cm solid tumor that we started with in August into a 2 cm lump of tissue with only microscopic pockets of cancer cells. This is incredible, and proves the cancer had a very strong response to the chemotherapy.

Of the lymph nodes on the right side, 10 of the 16 lymph nodes that Dr. S removed had 1-3 mm pockets of cancer. The bad news is that so many were involved, and cancer remains in them (the lymph nodes being breast cancer's gateway to the rest of the body). Dr B assumes, though, that those lymph nodes were chock full of cancer in August, and that we can take it as a very good sign that the remaining cancer is so small.

Dr. B still plans to have me consult with some other area oncologists to see if more chemo would be advisable. At this point, there would have to be some pretty compelling evidence to get me to go another round right now. My hair is beginning to grow - it feels fuzzier - and I can eat unimpeded. I hadn't realized how cruddy I felt until now, when the effects of chemo have partly worn off. Now that I can relax a little on being brave, my defenses seem to be coming down. I know I could do more treatment if I had to - I won't back down from a challenge - but it would take a huge act of will.

Did Someone Get the License Plate?

We had a bit of a scare today when I got unwrapped to take my shower. Over the last few days, it seems the bruises from surgery have really developed. Dr. L warned us about this (I think - I wasn't really with it in the hospital...hellooooooooooo morphine drip). But neither of us tracked whether bruising was OK, or worrisome, or maybe both. Either way, I woke up in extra pain this morning, so when we discovered the fantastical colors hiding underneath the bandages, we called Dr. L. He wasn't sure what Zack was describing, so asked us to send pictures. That's right - we emailed digital pictures of my mottled, lumpy, steri-stripped chest to the doctor on a Saturday morning. Anyway, he called back and said everything looked fine, and to just keep up with the pain meds. So now you know, if those pictures end up posted on some celebutante website, just how it all started.

I'm Back

Having spent a thoroughly civilized afternoon - sitting up! in a chair! - I am feeling much better. My chest is very sore, and I have extremely limited arm motion, but I made it up and down stairs twice today with no ill effects. Solid food and I seem to have come to a new mutual understanding, as well. Even with a laptop, the keyboard is at the far end of my comfortable reach, so my posts will be short for a while.