Doctor's Report

So I have been a bit delinquent in updating the blog but now I have this post and I just posted  Hawaii pictures too.

So Monday's doctor appointment went well.  My MammaPrint test came back as low risk which is awesome.  This means no chemo!  So what's next...I was suppose to meet with radiation oncologist on Wednesday but that appointment got pushed back to next Monday.  I need to have 2 appointments with them before I can start treatments and they also have to make sure I am all healed from my surgery.  I hope to start the week after Thanksgiving.  It will be 5 weeks of radiation, going every day and then 8 additional sessions of targeted radiation to the tumor site.  It is a lot but generally last only 10-15 minutes and while a pain, it does help reduce the risk of recurrence.   Finally after radiation is complete, I will go on Tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen drug.  Since my tumor was estrogen + this will help block estrogen that I am producing and again reduce the risk of recurrence.  So all in all, I am calling this the best case scenario of a bad thing.  Things could be way worse than they are now and I am thankful it's only what it is!  It still sucks having to have gone through what I already have gone through and what left to come.  Oh well, as one 3rd wrote me, God gives you what you can handle.

I was truly blessed Wednesday morning upon my arrival at Madison's school.  The 3rd graders and their parents wrote me individual notes of encouragement and prayer requests.  I was emotionally overwhelmed and started bawling after reading them. These 3rd graders and parents are truly amazing!  I have an wonderful group of people praying for me and my family!

Madison has also been convalescing this week.  On Tuesday, she had 2 baby teeth pulled.  Like her mother, she was making herself upset before her appointment.  Once we got there though she was a trooper and the teeth came out.  Afterwards, I was willing to take her to get an ice cream shake, frozen yogurt, etc and she didn't want anything.  I finally convinced her to go and get a Coke at McDonald's.  We stayed there for about 10 minutes as she wanted to get back to school.  I dropped her at school and about an hour later got a phone call from her wanting to come home.  Poor thing, she relaxed on the couch and enjoyed some mashed potatoes.  On Wednesday morning, she got up like she normally does and was ready to go!  I went to chapel with her this morning and then came home and went out to lunch with my mom and Frannie.  I got a phone call while at lunch that Madison was running a fever.  So off to school I went to pick her up.  I am hoping it is all related to having her teeth pulled and she will be good to go to school on Thursday.  And if it is a cold, I guess I am glad that she got one before Thanksgiving!

Blessings,

Stephanie