BRAAAAAAAAINS...are fine

I got a call from my oncologist's office today. They let me know that the brain MRI didn't show anything that looked metastatic, but it did have a couple of anomalies. If you've spent any time with me, this should come as no surprise. That said, the anomalies are likely nothing of concern, but just to be thorough they want me to do a second brain MRI in the near future. At least they give you a nice, toasty warm blanket to snuggle under while you're in the tube.

My liver function labs came back better than the previous ones but are still fairly elevated. I think the plan is to get an abdominal ultrasound to take a look. My suspicion is it's just a side effect of one of the meds I'm on but we'll take a peek and see. So, my brain seems to be free of cancer and there's a good possibility my liver is just PO'd about something else, so that's all good news! But as I said...it just seems like it never ends.

So, two more tests coming right up!

Three years in

One week from today marks three years since my breast cancer diagnosis. In quick succession after that phone call with my diagnosis, I got a port installed in my chest, had a few months of chemo, a few more months of a second type of chemo, had a bilateral mastectomy that diagnosed me as having stage 3 breast cancer, had six weeks of daily radiation, and started a daily dose of anti-hormone treatment (to be taken for a decade, since my tumor was hormone-fed). A few months later I had a reconstruction. And a year later I had a revision to my reconstruction.

And then six months ago I had a scare. Pain in my ribs on the same side as my tumor had been on. More tests. It ended up being costochondritis. Painful, but not deadly.

I often have people ask if I’m in remission, if I’m done with cancer. My answer is usually, “So far, so good” because the fact is I feel like I’m never done with cancer. I went in for a follow-up with my oncologist yesterday. I walked out with an order for a brain MRI. And lab work because my liver function is suspicious. And a referral to a neurologist because something we’ve done has caused enough pain in my right foot that I limp at times. And a new RX to switch over to a different pill for that decade of meds I’m working on.

So, last night I donned those lovely blue scrubs again for my brain MRI. I should find out today if my breast cancer decided to be, in my oncologist’s words, “mischievous” and head for greener pastures in my liver or brain. Is that likely what’s going on here? Not necessarily. Is it possible. Sure.

So, am I done with cancer? That question is so much more complicated than it seems. I just know it seems like it never ends.

Woot!

Looks like we’re not doing it again (for now). My X-rays and bone scan came back clear. That’s such a huge weight off my shoulders!

April 24, 2018

Are we gonna do this again? Not sure. I should find out in the next day or so.

I started having pain in one of my right ribs about two weeks ago. It could be a sign that my cancer has metastasized into the bone, or it could be nothing. I talked to my oncologist about it and she wanted to do diagnostics on it, so today I went over for several chest x-rays and a full-body bone scan. Results are pending right now. This is one of those times in my life I’d loooove to be wrong. Really wrong. Ridiculously wrong. Bone metastasis is bad news. Either way though, at least I got a rejuvenating nap on the table during my bone scan? Also, here’s a photo of me yet again enjoying ARA’s snazzy gowns, just because.

BoobNews: "It's sweet to bee recovering" edition

December, 2016

I just got back from checking in with my plastic surgeon and almost everything seems to be healing beautifully. It looks so good that she said, "Maybe I should have you hold a sign that says Dr. Potter did it!" I laughed and told her if she gave me the sign I'd be happy to hold it for her. The only thing that's not healing in an above average way is my new navel. The plan? Put honey on it. Yep, medical-grade honey can help wound healing so I'm going to be extra-sweet for the near future! Good thing it's not the spring yet, so at least I don't have to worry about bees trying to start a new hive in my belly.