It turns out that I am not estrogen positive after all. What that means, among other things, is that I probably won’t need any estrogen inhibitors.
The results from the molecular study of the cancer cells are being re-run and I go back to the oncologist for a final update this Friday. By that time, I should have a report that either confirms the first finding or one that points us in a different direction.
The oncologist is recommending a regimen of 4 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by radiation. That’s an aggressive treatment plan, owing to the suspicion that it’s always possible that some marauding cancer cells could have disguised themselves and are lurking in shadows somewhere in my body. The chemo will take care of them and zap them right out of existence. Cancer cells are good at playing those kinds of games but I definitely do not want my body being the host of a masquerade party. I’ll take an aggressive treatment plan any day. I’m sure it’s one of the reasons why the survival rate for breast cancer is increasingly higher and higher.
My big excitement of today was going back to my primary care physician for a pneumonia shot after Quint and I met with the oncologist. Can’t be too careful. And they’re supposed to be good for ten years. So let’s see, I had my flu vaccine when Quint and I were at the doctor’s last Friday. I hurried and got a shingles vaccine last year when Quint got shingles. That’s very painful so I definitely wanted no part of that.
I’m on hold until Friday, after which appointment I will probably get scheduled for the chemotherapy, starting sometime during the first week of December, then a three week wait, then another cycle of chemo, etc. etc. It will take 12 weeks to get through the four cycles of chemo.
I’m finally getting used to saying “me” and “chemotherapy” and “cancer” in the same sentence. Guess that’s an improvement.
My peace comes from knowing that the number of days of my life were determined by God before I was even born. So worrying about how long I’ll live is not going to add one minute to my life.
Besides, I have things planned since I’m now President of the Effingham/Shelby County Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Things like, oh, I don’t know. I’m already starting to go around to the different Ladies Aid groups to meet other women in the Zone and am enjoying all of them tremendously. I thank God for all my friends at church. They are such a comfort as they pray for me and help me keep my chin up.
They are so genuine and loving and I thank God for bringing each and every one into my life.
I mean it.
— Jane Reinheimer
Thank you jane for that report...I was just about to ping you to ask how it went and ta-dah, there was your post!
I’ve pinged bunches to this post...she’s probably back from holiday by now.
4 rounds of chemo...well that’s easier than mine...of 6. You have a great attitude, you’ll do fine. Plus you have a great support system already in place-your hubby and the church ladies (lol). My church has really rallied around me, it’s times like this that you truly can feel the love that normally one might take for granted.
Congrats on becoming prez of the Missionary group! Cool. Hopefully the chemo won’t slow you down too much...once you get an idea on how it does affect you, then you can better schedule things. Like f’instance, I know I will be worthless by about day 4 after chemo and for about 3 to 4 days after wards (which was why I was slow to check on this thread! I flat on my back in bed-weak as kitten-which, come to think about it, that is a bad metaphor, since I’ve seen lil’ kittens race up trees with ease!LOL)
Good that you got all your shots before chemo! Nobody even suggested it for me, so now I add that to my paranoia, seeing how this IS the season for all kinds of cooties in the air. I swear, I’ll probably become really OCD about germs after all this!
My onc. was initially concerned about my cancer creeping off to other places, too, after one of my scans looked “suspicious” but subsequent scans looked better and so far, so good. It is so distressing to even think of it going elsewhere and setting up shop.
Have they told you what yummy chemo-cocktail you’ll be on? Right now I’m on A/C.
That’s adrimyacin (sic.)-nicknamed Red Devil- and cytotoxan. Just the name, cytotoxan is enough to creep you out and is very self explanatory! Red Devil, I’m finding is not that bad, so far. That one the nurse has to manually inject, instead of IV drip-comes in big syringes...yikes! And it will turn your urine bright red for a couple of bathroom visits afterwards! That can be alarming if you’re not prepared for it.
Oh boy...here I go again, just rambling on. I wish you well today at the docs. Let us know what all you find out!