Happy breaking news, part 2: The biopsy results of the whatzamawhoozit in my right breast revealed NO CANCER! Benign with a capital B, baby! I wasn't expecting to find out so quickly — figured we'd be lucky to get the results before the July 4 weekend. Sure is nice to have this wait behind us.
I still need at least one, possibly two more biopsies, both MRI-guided (i.e., trickier): one of a relatively small mass that's close to my known tumor and possibly the second right-breast whatzamawhoozit (let's be real here, "area of concern" has way to clinical and ominous of a ring to it), which didn't show up on yesterday's ultrasound. Group Health's tumor review board meets tomorrow, and they're going to talk about these latest findings — then I'll confer with my oncologist and my surgeon about options and next steps. Love having so many eyeballs and brains on my case. The diligent, double-checking nerd in me is REALLY looking forward to my second opinion appointment at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, slated for July 14. Some smart doctor friends of mine have taken a close look at my pathology report and are helping me formulate some questions I never would've thought to ask. It was nice to hear a Group Health nurse whom I've talked to several times applaud me today for being so patient and persistent about getting as much data as we possibly can before making major treatment decisions. It's pretty common for women to take a hurry-up-and-cut-that-shit-out-of-me attitude, which can add stress to the process of mapping out a treatment plan. When I first learned I had cancer, I wondered why they wouldn't offer me the option of getting my left boob lopped off on my way out of radiology. But knowing that it's likely been there a year or more makes me feel not so much panicked as determined to find out as much as possible and map out my treatment plan with careful confidence. In other Team Liz health news, I got my first ever root canal today — easy peasy piece o' cake. Had to get it done before chemo starts, because mouths are swimming with bacteria and dental procedures pose too great an infection risk for immunocompromised cancer patients. By the way ... poor root canals. They get such a bad rap, but the way they do them these days, you're in and out in an hour or so. Not much different than a filling. I'll have to forego the ibuprofen my endodontist said I'd need for what will likely be some moderate pain and inflammation in the next week. Have to steer clear of any blood-thinning meds for several days before my MRI-guided biopsy(ies). My busted-up pinky finger is healing day by day. Stitches came out a week ago, and I'll be wearing a splint for at least one more week. That's a wrap for now. Thanks, everyone, for all the words of support you've been posting here, on Facebook, sending in emails, texts and phone calls. I wish I could respond to each and every one of you each and every time and let you know you're making a difference by reminding me I've got this. There will be days when believing that will might take some convincing, and when I need it, I know you all be there for me in spades. As I've been saying a lot these days ... big hugs to you!