Having Esther glued to my side, we headed off to the Cancer Clinic for a check-up with Dr. Proctor. He asked me about my last chemo cycle and if I had experienced any new side effects. After updating him on my ongoing issues with numb and tingly toes, he was going to send us on our way. It was then I inquired as to whether the CT results were in. He, mistakenly, thought he had already shared the results with me. No!! It's been driving me crazy for two weeks, waiting to find out!!
So ... IT'S ALL GOOD NEWS!! The abdomen CT revealed the same lesion on my liver as had been spotted in November. It's characteristics are still consistent with a cavernous hemangioma -- YAY!!!! That's fantastic news! Apparently, in November, a 6mm spot had also been noticed (no one told me about that one), but it did not appear at all on the new CT. Dr. Proctor wants me to have one more CT in 6 months, just for a thorough follow-up. If the lesion still has the characteristics of a hemangioma at that point in time, he will assume that all is well with my liver.
The chest CT was totally clear -- clear lungs, clear chest area -- WHAT A TREMENDOUS RELIEF!!!
Then, it was off to Dr. Meredith's office to see if I needed another inflation. The tape measure came out, as did the Sharpie, and I was measured, poked, lifted, marked, and scrutinized. Dr. Meredith decided on one last inflation with saline since radiation can sometimes shrink a bit of the fluid. He wants the best outcome for me, post-reconstruction, so I was more than willing to take his advice and have one more inflation. Hokey man -- this "breast" is H-U-G-E!!! I'm usually quite a stomach-sleeper, but trying to lay on this thing is like laying on an inflexible, large rock.
NOT comfortable!!!
Thursday morning, Esther and I hit the road bright and early. I left Ashcroft about 5 a.m., picking Esther up just after 6. I'm always a "play it safe" kind of person, so I allowed TONS of time to make it to my 10:30 appointment. You never know when you might run out of gas, get a flat tire, or get delayed by an accident. Other than struggling to find the Cancer Agency on the hospital grounds (thank Heaven for iphones!!) and wondering where on Earth we would park, all went smoothly.
Dr. Chowderhy is likely the most down-to-earth, easy-to-talk-to doctor that I have encountered on this entire journey (of course, it doesn't hurt that he's a very attractive man!!). He answered every one of my questions in great detail, in plain English. Even the "Why is radiation needed?" question that I had asked several oncologists with no satisfaction, was answered in one simple, easy-to-understand sentence. Here goes ...
Chemotherapy works through the circulatory system ... hence, the reason why it is given by intraVENOUS (no matter which method -- port, PICC, or traditional IV). Chemo is extremely effective in killing cancer cells in the bloodstream, organs, and soft tissue. HOWEVER ... it is fairly ineffective in the lymphatic system. Why didn't anyone ever fill me in on this fact earlier?? I had one lymph node involved -- HUGELY INVOLVED -- BURSTING INVOLVED!! Therefore, even though the chemo may have killed some cancer cells in my lymph system, radiation is needed to kill all lymph nodes in my chest and armpit area.
That wasn't one sentence, was it?? Dr. Chowderhy did a better job explaining than me :) :)
The long and short of it is that I am absolutely convinced that radiation is necessary AND beneficial. I will have a total of 28 sessions, Monday to Friday, likely starting the week of June 24, with the goal of killing off approximately 80 lymph nodes in my chest and armpit area. Even as we speak, I am holding my breath waiting for the phone to ring about another appointment this week for my planning/lining-up/tattooing session.
The building of patience continues on!
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