Well here's the history because people always want to know 'how it happened' but I have to preface this story with a notation - Dom isn't the best gift-buyer. Sometimes he's right on the mark and sometimes he's not. My friends who know the story about my skates two years ago know what I'm talking about. I got a raclette for Christmas, not skates. If you haven't heard that story, ask me and I'll tell you all about it. Okay so here's this story: it was Christmas morning and we were opening gifts - well small gifts because we decided to only do stocking stuffers for each other. I got to almost the end of my stocking and there was a neatly wrapped box and inside was a pair of sheep skin insoles for my winter boots! That was the first and only moment I thought 'is this a ring?'. The moment passed and the last thing that was in my stocking was a can of Tetley green tea. This is funny because, as you know, I have received a lot of tea as gifts (all much appreciated!) but Tetley is probably my least favourite and the week before Christmas I had just finished working through a container of Tetley green tea along with a week of complaining to Dom about how I do not like Tetley tea (my biggest annoyance is that the tea bags do not have strings on them, also their round shape makes them float rather than sink which makes steeping less effective, the bags are never good for more than one cup....I could go on). So, getting back to the tea in the stocking, my first thought as I pulled out the can of Tetley tea was 'Dom is the worst gift buyer ever' - that was in my head, not out loud. I said oh thanks more tea in that voice that doesn't exactly convey gratitude and Dom played it well - he said 'its actually pretty good, open it and smell it'. I did and inside was a ring box. That's it. Well played Dom, well played.
For New Year's Eve we went to Lesley's place for a few hours - it was a great party equipped with a photo wall - even with props.
.jpg)
Speaking of which...let's get to the cancer thing.
I had an MRI on Tuesday so that my surgeon - Dr. Beaulieu - has a good idea of where we're at for surgery next week (surgery is on Tuesday January 13). I also had a pre-op appointment on Wednesday to hear about the surgery - I even got a "Breast Surgery" book. Dr. Beaulieu's office called me Wednesday to tell me that based on the MRI, my surgery will be a partial mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. The partial mastectomy is basically a lumpectomy with extra tissue surrounding the tumour. I learned that I have to have a drain put in my armpit for a few days after my surgery (gross) to help drain the lymph fluid - if you don't know what the lymph system does, it basically moves fluid around your body including immune system cells like white blood cells that fight infection. Anyway, I've watched a few lectures on YouTube about the lymph system so that I understand what its all about and its basically vital to your body (you'd die in a few hours if it ever failed). After surgery since some of my lymph nodes have been removed, I'm at risk of lymphedema in my arm because I'll be missing parts of my lymph system that drains fluid from my arm. So, I've got exercises to do and have to continue with them pretty much for the rest of my life to ensure I don't get lymphedema.
By the way, over the past 5 weeks since my last chemo treatment my tumour has not changed at all, not one bit, its still about the size of a pea. However, about a week after my last chemo treatment my lymph node started swelling and becoming sore. This has continued for the past few weeks - my actual armpit is swollen - not noticeable to you but to me it is. An axillary lymph node dissection is removal of this lymph node as well as others in my armpit. They will test the tumour again to see how much of it is still alive and each lymph node to see which ones are infected with cancer. The hope is that the tumour is dead (this is apparently rare) and that the only lymph node infected is the one that's currently swollen.
I have been a bit worried about this swelling lymph node over the holidays and just finished reading this book called Anti-Cancer (I highly recommend this book, its excellent). In this book, the author explains that primary tumours (the first tumour to grow) releases this chemical called angiostatin which inhibits - or controls - the growth of the secondary tumours - sort of like the tumour's kids. So Parent Tumour grows enough that cancer cells break off and go somewhere else in the body - the first spot from a breast tumour is usually a lymph node because its the closest - and Kid Tumour starts to grow. But Parent Tumour releases the angiostatin so that Kid Tumour doesn't grow crazy out of control. This is why sometimes you might hear that people get cancer removed and then after surgery a tumour pops up somewhere else and grows fast. This is because the Kid Tumour was there (but undetectable) and growing slowly because Parent Tumour was holding it back but when Parent Tumour is gone, Kid Tumour goes crazy. What's that saying? When the cat is away, the mice will play?
My theory is that this is what has happened to me - which is why my Parent Tumour hasn't grown at all since chemo - my theory is that my Parent Tumour is dead and so my Kid Tumour in my lymph node is having a party and growing. Little does Kid Tumour know but the party is over on Tuesday. I shared this theory with Dr. Craig and he said that he has heard about this happening but that of course, we won't know until surgery and the tumours are tested. If I'm right, I'm going to med school. Just kidding, I'm not smart enough.
I had acupuncture today - Hippie Bruce worked again on my hot flashes (which continue at night - I guess you call them night sweats) and put on a few of those bandaid/needle things on my arms to help with my lymph node drainage. I saw Dr. Craig in the waiting room after acupuncture and he told me that Hippie Bruce is also a Juno-award winner! Whoa! I told Dr. Craig that was for sure going in this blog. So Hippie Bruce is part of a band called Esmerine that won a Juno last year. He also has an office in Wakefield if anyone is looking to try out acupuncture.
So I think that's it. I've had loads of energy the past few weeks, I've been out shovelling every day (I think the neighbours might think I'm a bit obsessed), doing yoga, walking on the treadmill - oh and watching this show called The Big C - its a comedy about a women who has stage 4 melanoma so I decided its my show to watch while I'm on the treadmill. I like the irony.
Oh and hair growth - the more I wear my wig, the more it fits to my head and so its much more comfortable however since I am finished chemo, my hair should be growing back but I haven't really noticed anything. So I googled it. The consensus is that about 3-4 weeks after chemo your hair should start growing back starting with a 'fuzz' and then a few weeks after that fine hair. I told Dom this one night very discouraged because I have not noticed any fuzz so Dom broke out the flashlight app on his phone and examined my head and low and behold - fuzz! Its not much but now I can see it in the mirror if I look closely but ladies, I've got a long way to go.
And of course Joan Lunden - she had a tough time in December with the Red Death chemo treatments (thats the kind I started chemo with) - but it seems like she's bounced back with Kryptonite shots like I had and blood transfusions (I didn't need any of those). This week she started radiation so she's about a month ahead of me - I'll keep you posted on her progress.
I will try to post something next week post-surgery, even if its just a quick one as long as my arm is in good working condition - or maybe I'll dictate my blog to my Mom and she can type it (she's coming up on Sunday to stay for a while). Thanks again to everyone who sent a Christmas card, brought food over the holidays or who will do so in the next few weeks. I can't explain how great it is to get these meals. Its so nice having a break from cooking!
Wish me luck!
