Could Be Worse

Here is some straight information, from me, to those of you who want to know.  Sorry if at some point there is 'Too Much Information'.......

If you want to know, at the beginning, what all of this information will mean, then, it is still the same treatments that I had told you about earlier.  There are no changes.

First Chemotherapy,  Next some type of Surgery, Then, wait and see....

What I found out TODAY:

                                                          

                                                    Biopsy Number One:

The lung Doc was able to cut out a .8 centimeter (less than 1 centimeter) nodule in my right lung, with 'good margins' , and found that the rest of my lung looked healthy. 

 The nodule turned out to be breast cancer, which is, I will tell you, the worst of all the different possiblities there, OK?.... But, as there were no other 'hot spots' in my lungs -- "It Could Have Been Worse"  !!

(Removing this nodule increases the effectiveness of the chemo, which is a systemic treatment)

                                                     Biopsy Number Two:

The breast Doc was able to 'get' 2 likely-looking suspected nodes when she did the 'Sentinel Node Biopsy'... these turned out to be negative for breast cancer..... 

So, I don't know, it does not make sense to me.... maybe the wrong nodes were extracted..?  This is the best possible result with this biopsy, but I don't think the Docs guarantee good results.... "It's Good, so Far" ....

(The reason it doesn't make sense, is that cancer 'colonizes' through the lymph system, usually... although I heard today, that also the blood can spread cancer...  Who knows??? Anyway, how could it be that there is breast cancer found in my right lung, from my left breast without my lymph nodes being positive for cancer, too??)

Other things:

I asked again about the PET scan showing anything in my liver, bones, pelvic region and the new Doc I met today said that she confirmed that there was nothing apparent in all of the soft tissue and bones.  (PET is not good at looking at the heart and the brain.)

The worst thing I have heard so far, was something I was told on October 6th, 2008 and that is that it seems that my actual breast tumor is a rare and quite aggressive type that actually seems to respond well to chemo, but has a reputation for recurrence later.   I have had quite a lot of time to assimilate THAT... "Whatever" !!

I do not know when I will start Chemo, and the lung biopsy was so beyond painful, and I am just getting through with that.... 

I did find out one thing with the surgery, and that is just what my Brother Mark said, that Zophran, an anti nausea drug really does work.  

It is always nice, to have a bit of hope.

I have had a very long day today--

Well, Love and Great Wishes,

C.