February 12, 2022

Happy Saturday y’all – I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Saturday.  I wanted to check-in and keep the countdown going.  As I stated before we are now counting backwards so officially I completed Taxol #9 yesterday, which is the same as saying that Taxol #4 is in the books – we have 3 more treatments to go.   March 4th will be here before we know it!  

I remember when I was first diagnosed and saw my oncologist for the first time and I recall her drawing out the “treatment plan” for my cancer and I remember her stating that I would have 5 months of chemotherapy and I thought – 5 months?  What the….. I just thought that seemed like forever.  Yet, here we are – almost 5 months later and I am still kicking cancer’s ass….. which is proven by the great news on the scan that I had this past Monday 2/07 – for those who haven’t heard – “No measurable associated mass is identified.”  That is the official wording in the findings section of my report.  PRAISES!!! PRAISES!!! PRAISES Lifting!!!

I had a very informative and eventful trip to MD Anderson this past week.  It’s funny though, I had been anticipating this trip more than any of the other trips because I was going to be seeing all the doctor’s that I had not connected with yet and I went into the appointments completely convinced that I would have all my answers after these visits but I walked out with more questions than I had answers – which was to be expected, however, its just not what I expected.  I have been able to start formulating some of my thoughts around what is the best path forward for me.  I promise to share once I have made my decision and after I’ve told my surgeons.  My breast reconstruction surgeon is great and she even told me that as long as I have decided by the day before surgery she is good, but y’all know me….. I will definitely have my decision made well before then.  My goal is to decide (hopefully) by the time I wrap up chemo so I can enjoy the time from March 4th till April 5th (surgery date) to just relax, heal from chemo and mentally and physically prepare for surgery.

As I indicated above my surgery date has been scheduled for April 5th (PRAISES!).  This is the day that the said now non-existent tumor will be removed.  I can’t wait!  I know that some of you are wondering a couple of things like (1) if the tumor is gone, Why do I still need surgery? And (2) how will the surgeon know where to cut to remove the tumors.  These are both great questions.  Let me answer them for you here.   

For question #1 – why do we still have to remove the tissue where the tumor was if it’s now gone.  By removing the tissue they will be making sure that there are no other remaining or straggling tumor cells in the area where the tumor is. The surgeons job is to assure that there are clear margins from the tissue that she will be removing.   In addition to removing the tissue where the tumor was, she will also be injecting a dye into the tumor the day before surgery and during surgery she will then be able to see where the sentinel nodes are and she will take a few of those out and have them tested by the pathologist that is in the operating room with her.  If the first set of nodes have no cancer cells in them they will not be taking any other nodes. (Side note – there was no cancer found in the lymph node that they biopsied at my time of diagnosis, therefore, they expect that there will not be any cancer in the nodes during surgery.  PRAYERS FOR NEGATIVE NODES IN SURGERY). 

For question #2 – How will the surgeon find the tumor?  During the initial biopsy they put a small titanium marker in the tumor. The surgeon will use an ultrasound to find that marker before surgery.  Once she finds the marker they will then use a needle to inject the tumor with the dye and she will also put a small guide wire in that will then guide her to where the incision needs to be made for surgery.  My surgeon is expecting that incision will be minimal considering that their is no detectable mass currently.  We are expecting a good outcome from surgery.  

After surgery the tissue will be then sent for a full pathology work up and within a few weeks of surgery I will receive the final report which will tell me all the details that I will need to know about the cancer that was removed.  Additionally, they will determine if my tumor has had a Complete Pathological Response (CPR definition found here) to the chemotherapy treatment.  My oncologist explained to me that 50% of the patients end up with this and 50% don’t.  I am going with I am going to be part of the 50% that will have a complete response.  I’m sure you are with me.  (PRAYERS FOR A CPR). 

Now on to next steps:

• 02/17 – Follow-up with ENT for the fluid in my right ear – moved from 02/03 due to bad weather
• 02/18 – Taxol #3 (Actually #10)
• 02/25 – Taxol #2 (Actually #11)
• 03/04 – Taxol #1 (Actually #12) – LAST DAY OF CHEMO!!!

I am so thankful for all of you who continue to walk this path with me and follow my journey.  Your outpouring of love and support is one of my biggest blessings.  Thank you again – even though those words still never seem to be enough.

Xo,

Tracy