Many things have come up since I finished chemotherapy.  First, I feel pretty good.  I am back to work mostly full-time, expect for doctor appointments.  I'm very tired at night, but I just need to get used to a regular schedule again and make sure I get my sleep.

I saw the radiologist, Dr. Carolynne Young on Tuesday.  She emplored me to start the radiation right away, so I have been to many doctor visits since then to get it started.  I had to get my breast expander shot with the last CCs of salien to make sure it won't change shape again after they start.  The radiologist team had to mark me with specific areas for the beams to hit and then tattoo (small dots) those areas.  Then, I had to go geta CT scan to make sure it was marked in the correct area. 

While talking with Dr. Young, I asked the usual question I always ask my doctors, which is, "what do you think are the odds the left breast will get cancer?"  She answered the same way Dr. Tetef did, which was, "It depends on if you have the gene for it or not."  So, I finally saw a genetic counselor to find out if I have the gene. 

Apparently only 10% of breast cancer is hereditary, unlike what most people think.   The thing that alarms docs is how "young" I am for getting such an agressive tumor.  So, if I had this thing start a year or so ago, that means I could have had it since I was 45 or 46.  If you are younger than 50, the odds go up that it might be hereditary.

Family out there, do any of you know of anyone in our family that have had breast cancer?  I don't know of any. 

But, we are going to do the DNA blood test to be sure.  Because as it stands, if I have the gene, it is 50% chance for it to come on the left side some day.  If I don't, it's 20%. 

Either way, the genetics counselor said that many women will wish they had done a bilateral mastectomy because they always worry that it will come back on the other side. 

Also, we have it planned to do some "rearranging" of the other breast to make it match the right breast, so while they are in there, it makes sense for them to actually do a skin sparing mastectomy and a reconstruction. 

The other thing is, if I have the gene, it's a good possibility that I'll get ovarian cancer.  I had a hysterectomy, but left the ovaries in (mostly for the estrogen for my heart health).  So, I will be looking at having the ovaries removed, too. 

This has been a lot for me to take in.  But remember, we have to wait for the DNA tests to come back and it probably won't be until November 20th or so.   In the meantime, I gotta make up my mind what I'm going to do if it is or if it isn't.   I'm very preventative, so I'm leaning toward it.  But, how scary. 

-- Back to the radiation, 

Radiotherapy uses high-speed ionising radiation, similar to X-rays. to attack the DNA in abnormal (cancerous) cells, If it hits the DNA when it is dividing, a nonsensical code sequence will be produced and the body's natural defence system will throw the rogue cells out. At least, that's the theory.

Techniques are being developed all the time to try to kill more of the cancerous cells and less of the surrounding healthy ones. The total dosage is very carefully calculated to do the most efficient and effective job. So I must go to every planned session, in which there will be about 33, or 7 weeks of therapy every day except weekends.  Also, radiotherapy's effectiveness has to be balanced against the risks; for example, there are recent reports of new cancers appearing later in life after radiotherapy treatments, and studies on heart and lung damage amongst breast cancer patients show the problems could be significant.

here's what it looks like



But, picture the paper sheet off and I'm bear on the right side. Plus, the radiologists are in the next room, once they start. 



The machine actually moves around me and I have to stay as still as possible for 15 minutes. 

I can't wait till it starts so that it can be over.  Mostly likely near the first of 2009.    Next week I'll do the "dry run" to make sure we have it all in the right places and then start the following week. 

That's all for now.  Thanks for keeping up with all the news.