Chapter 3

After my lumpectomy I had lots of tests done to make sure my cancer didn't spread to other parts of my body. My pathology reports told me that I had stage 1 cancer, good thing I caught it when I did. It was graded at a 3, which meant it was the fastest growing.
So from there I had an ultrasound done on my liver, which they found a few spots on. Then I had to get an MRI done to investigate further, to find it wasn't cancer, thank goodness. I also got a chest xray, bone scan, mammograms, MRI's on both breasts, and a mugoscan(which tests how strong my heart is). Thankfully all tests came back just fine.
Then on Jan.6 I had my first treatment of chemo. I get it done here in Truro and it takes about 3 hours. I go through 3 different rounds and from now on it will be administered through my porta cath in my chest. I sit in a pretty comfy reclining chair cuddled in blankets watching tv and being served lunch. I have 5 treatments left which takes me to the end of April.
The pathology report also told me that my cancer was feeding off my estrogen and that I had an overexpression on the HER2 gene. My body combined with my birth control pill was producing too much estrogen. So after chemo I have 5 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week down in Halifax. When that is done I have to do Herceptin therapy that should control my estrogen, and if there is other cancer cells in my body, starve them by blocking my estrogen to them. When that is done, I have to take a pill every day for 5 years,  hopefully to deter cancer from my body and control my hormones.
I have an appt in February to meet with Dr's to start genetic testing. Unfortunately, cancer runs in my family and if traveled to my genes then my journey will change with other surgerys and treatments. But until test results, no sense in discussing that...
So until next time, enjoy your weekend everyone!

I removed my bandages yesterday from my porta cath.