Well..here we are again!

Greetings everyone! You're probably already guessing if I'm sending a new blog post that I've got some new news. Well..you would be correct!

Where to start! How about just putting it out there. This cancer party has decided to move to the brain. I know...I'll let you take a second and wrap your head around that one. No pun intended! Not the news I was expecting or wanting either. So..let me catch you up.

As many of you are aware my last scans in March were "inconclusive" in my lungs. The radiologist thought the new spots were most likely inflammation from an infection but wasn't 100% sure. So we decided to schedule more scans in May. 

In the beginning of April I had been feeling dizzy and nauseous a lot. It got so bad one night I ended up in the emergency room. After some great anti dizzy and nausea meds and a CT scan of the brain, they sent me home with a "brain looks good and it's just vertigo". Well I had a pretty crappy few weeks but I finally turned a corner and started feeling better. My migraines seemed to be stronger and more often but since I've been a migraine sufferer since 4th grade I just figured it was part of the vertigo. 

So May rolls around and my onco wants to schedule my chest CT scan, he suggests we also do a brain MRI since the CT they did in the ER didn't really show the inner ear and that is usually the cause of vertigo. 

We had a lot going on with work and I wasn't sure where I would need to be so I set up my scan for last Saturday. I actually would advise it! Saturdays are great! It's really slow and they get you in and out! Hey..i find the joy where I can right! 

Cut to Tuesday when my onco calls me on the phone. He immediately apologies and says that he would prefer to have the conversation with me in person but that he is in NY for the week. My heart immediately sank. I was waiting for him to say that the tumors in my lungs had grown. NOT that there were new spots in a new location. He started by saying that my lungs look good. The inflammation had cleared up and the spot that is still there is barely detectable. We figure I had phenomena over the holidays when I was really sick that was not diagnosed. I knew I felt like crap in Aspen when I had to work but just figured it was a cold mixed with altitude sickness and cancer in the lungs. 

Anyway, he proceeded to explain that there were several spots in my brain. All be it very tiny there were multiple locations. Because of this surgery and targeted therapy are off the table. He is suggesting full brain radiation. He gave me the number to the top brain radiologist at Cedars and suggested I call him asap. I called and they fit me in that afternoon.

Andre was on a new show that day so the last thing I wanted to do was call him and freak him out. I wanted to kind of get my grip on it and find out exactly what was going on. So I called my friend Cortney and she came to rescue and met me at the radiologist. As I always say it's best to have a friend or someone else there to take notes and ask questions you may be forgetting.

The doctor took us into his office and showed us all of the scans. He pointed out that the three main ones (didn't get a total count but more then 5 and less then 10) were located by the part of my brain that controls equilibrium (bing that makes sense) my sight, and my left side mobility. The largest is only about 6.2 - 8mm. Tiny..that's barely the size of half a fingernail. BUT enough to cause swelling and side effects. Luckily my vision and mobility seem totally fine. Only issues is the dizziness and nausea. Once I see my oncologist Ill get my full scans and print out so I can totally understand how many there are, where each one is located and it's size.

OK..so for the treatment....They want me to do three weeks of radiation. That is a total of 15 treatments, every day, five days a week. I went back on Thursday to do another scan and they fitted me for my mask. Here is a youtube of the process. It was pretty easy and it was actually a bit of a reunion. I knew both of the techs from my radiation in 2012. It was actually pretty comforting to see them and I immediately feel at ease and was cracking jokes as always.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7OAR3oJknY

I've sent my scans off to UCLA and Sloan Kettering. As of now the consensus seems to be the same, full brain radiation. This way they get the ones they see and the ones that may still be hiding. My first treatment will be next Wednesday at 5:45pm. I will set up a schedule when I'm there to go at the same time everyday. I'm hoping for a morning appointment so I can get on with my day!

OH..did I mention on top of all of this we're being evicted from my apartment I've living in for 17 years! Developer bought half of my block and is tearing everything down. They gave me a year extension but my amazing friends and boss put their foot down and said I was moving this weekend! Yes..this weekend. So we were shipped off to a hotel in Santa Monica as a team swooped in, packed and moved us! When we check out of the hotel tomorrow I will be going to my new apartment all moved in!

This is getting pretty long so I'll wrap it up. I'm in great spirits. It is what is it is and the radiologist is confident that the radiation will take care of everything. Yes, there will be side effects, I'll go into all of those at a later date. BUT it's nothing we cant get through and deal with. I literally have a village of love, strength, and support behind me!

I thank you in advance for all of your prayers, love, light, and healing energy. Please keep Andre in your thoughts and prayers as well as he is really having a hard time with all of this. He is my rock as always but I know he's putting on a brave face for me. God really blessed me with a good one ;)


LOVE YOU ALL! UPDATE AGAIN SOON I PROMISE!

Stage 4 and 40

Hello everyone!!! I am still basking in the post birthday love glow! 40 is going to be awesome!

First, I wanted to take a moment and try to put into words my gratitude to everyone who has donated to my Give Forward page. Every cent is helping me find alternative treatments and ways to keep me physically and mentally healthy. I also want to say that every hug, text, kind word is equally important. Everyone knows that I feel this fight is 80% mental and 20% medical. So thank you for your donations, prayers, love, light, and positive energy...its workin

https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/3qt7/team-sonja-kicking-cancer-s-a-

I know I'm long overdue for an update but I've figured out that writing seems to break my beautiful veil of denial. It's strange, even when I talk about it I feel like I'm talking about someone else. there is something about sitting down, thinking out, then putting it all down that really makes it real. So, forgive me for living in my fantasy world and not keeping everyone in the loop. I know everyone only wants to know how I'm doing because they love and care for me. Once again, i promise I will try to do better!

So..with that being said, lets take the little box off of the back shelf of my mind and lets talk about this cancer. Yes, it's still here. Yes, I'm still in treatment and will be for the rest of my life. So before I get into all of that I'll take it back a bit for any of my new readers.

I was originally diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in July of 2012. My initial treatment was a lumpectomy of my left breast with a partial mastectomy on both breast. Followed by seven weeks of radiation and the hormone therapy Tamoxifen. I considered August 15, 2012, my initial surgery, as my cancer free date. In Janu

ary of 2015 I started a round of scans in the hopes that I could end my tamoxifen treatment so Andre and I could start a family. Unfortunately these scans showed nodules on my lungs. On February 9, 2015 I had a VAT to biopsy the nodules.  I woke up the the news that they removed 3% of my lung and confirmed that my breast cancer had metastasized.

I was fortunate that the FDA had just approved a new drug called Ibrance that was for my type of cancer. ER+, meaning my cancer grows from estrogen. I would be one of the first in the world to start this new drug in a non trial form. On paper my treatment is easy! Two pills a day and one shot a month. However, what this treatment does to me isn't so easy. I wont go into all of the details but chemical menopause at 39 (now 40 as of the 7th!) is not ideal. If the hot flashes and night sweats were not bad enough, I've now been diagnosed with Osteophyte's and cervical spondylosis. In lamens terms bone spurs and arthritics. Nothing like a lack of estrogen to speed up aging. So to say this 40 year old body feels 60 most days is not an understatement.  But hey..I am grateful to every day and know that my cancer adventure has been a million times easier then others.

The good news is that something is working! I have scans every three months and blood work done monthly. So far my tumors were half the size in May that they were in January. My scans in August showed that everything has stayed the same! In stage 4 terms that is amazing! My next scan is in November. Prayers and fingers crossed that things have shrunk or at the least have stayed the same.

I really feel that all of the alternative things I have been doing are as big a help as the meds. Below are the main things I've added or changed in my life.

• Diet - I try to eat organic whenever possible. I eat a predominately pescitarian diet and limit sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and dairy. I initially did a 28 day food delivery service, followed by a 10 day raw cleanse. I will try and do 3-5 day cleanse every six months. 
• Exercise - I work out with my amazing trainer Jennifer two times a week on the Gyrotonic and Power Plate. We are working out years of abuse and the sessions are more physical therapy then a work out. One day we'll actually get to train but now we are working on breathing, core strength, and overall health and rehab from my surgeries. I didn't even know what an IT band was before this, I certainly didn't know it hated me! :) Jennifer has been an integral party of my team and a wealth of information, experience and support. She works with other cancer patients and gives me hope that I can beat this through their stories of remission.  http://embody-health.com/
• Yoga - Lynn is part therapist/part life coach/part kick my ass yogi and Guru! I do yoga three to four times a week. My practice has grown leaps and bounds since I started in March. I'm the opposite of most people and have too much flexibility. I had no idea you could reverse it by strengthening and what a difference it makes. Lynn also has me on on array of aryvedic herbs and tummeric. http://www.liberationyoga.com/bios/lynn-taylor/
• Meditation - this is something that I struggle with but know it is as important as everything else. I do my best to meditate 10-20 minutes in the morning and a 10 min or 30 min sleep meditation prior to bed. It depends on my mood but I have several guided mediation's that I like. Anything from a sound healing meditation at a certain frequency, chakra balancing, primordial sound, or just a standard relaxation. I've also become fond of a few sleep hypnosis meditations. 
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Thearapy - This is a pricy one but after my first scan I'm a believer! Attached are a few articles that can explain it better than can! http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199606203342506   http://www.beverlyhillshyp erbaric.com/index.html
• Far Infared Sauna - http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12265/6-benefits-of-infrared-sauna-therapy.html                                                                              http://www.ameerrosic.com/infrared-saunas-kill-cancer-parasites-yeast-chronic-infection/
• Accupunture and energy work - I try to make it to accupunture once a week. This is especially benifical when I have my Lupron shot that brings on my migrains.    http://www.healingstudiola.com/about.html
• Vitamin IV infusions - In addition to my oncologist checking my tumor markers and my white blood cell count, I also try to keep tabs on my vitamin levels. Vitamin D & C are especially important to my overall health. When i'm feeling especially week I'll go for a super charge or vitamins!  http://www.cienegaspa.com/vitamin-therapy/
  
• Most important..Love and Laughter! 

As you can imagine none of the above is covered under insurance and is not cheap! I will not even go into the bills that are stacked up from the scans alone! I am blessed to have an amazing boss and emotinally and finacially supportive friends! Thanks to you I intend on being here for 40 more years! 

I'll keep this update informative! I have my next scan in November but I promise I'll blog more! Trust..I have a ton to say on the "pinkwashing" of breast cancer in October and the lack of support for the only type of breast cancer that kills... Stage V! 

Health takes work!

Hi everyone! I know I know! I'm way overdue for an update! The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming!  Words are not adequate to show my gratitude. I know I could not do this without your emotional, spiritual and even financial support. I have to admit that the fundraiser was a hard pill for me to swallow, but I have realized that my lesson this time around is to accept help. I'm sure I was saying "I've got it" at the age of 2! However, sometimes in life you need to retrain yourself to just say THANK YOU! SO THANK YOU!

So..onto the good stuff! Below is a link to my new doctor, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. Yes, if you are in the know that Dr. Pat! I'll give you a minute to watch his 60 min special. Well..about 13 to be exact ;)

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/billionaire-doctor-fights-cancer-in-unconventional-way/

Ok! Pretty amazing right! Thanks to my amazing boss, who picked up the phone and called on my behalf, he saw me the very next day! Our initial meeting was upsetting and hopeful all wrapped into one. You never want to hear "time is of the essence" or "I wish we were speaking in 2012". However, I refuse to look backward. Only forward with optimism and faith.

I'm currently in the process of obtaining my actual biopsy slides to bring to Dr. Pat. As you can imagine, getting paperwork completed in a hospital is a nightmare, imagine trying to get actual tissue samples released! I sent all of my paperwork in on Thursday, called on Friday. When I had still not heard from anyone on Monday, I showed up at the records office. They tried to play the oh we never received it. I was like check again, it was sent at this time on this date. Oh..there it is, we apologize it was never entered. My response was..well enter it now; I'll wait! I was then forwarded to the pathology department who said it would take 3 to 4 days to process. My response..well, since your hospital missed my Stage IV diagnosis I'm switching hospitals, I appreciate if you speed up that process. He assured me he would do his best. Let's just say I anticipate I will have to make a personal visit again tomorrow.

Now I'm not actually blaming my Oncologist or Cedars. I know that we have done all of the appropriate testing, etc. However, I am inclined to go with Dr. Pat and that with other tests and looking at cancer from a cellular/micro level it would have been caught sooner. I've noticed that there really needs to be more education on a Stage IV diagnosis. I really think we need to change the way people think about it. It's not a death sentence. Unfortunately, that is the only way people look at it. It's really about quality of life over trying to beat it. Well..that's not how I think. I have full faith that I can beat this. Yep! I have the same attitude I did when I received my Stage II diagnosis. Just a lump in the road that I will crush!

On other fronts, I am 100% focused on my health. I have been instructed I am not allowed to work. If you know me, you know I did not take that well. I love my job, and we're in the middle of a huge move/project. However, when the boss tells you to stop working, you listen! In her words, my only job is kicking cancer's ass. So..what does that mean?!?! I now do yoga three times a week; I have a trainer I work out with three times a week. I do cardio at least four times as well. Yes..I'm basically working out twice a day some days. I've cut out alcohol, dairy, caffeine, and sugar. I also 100% organic food delivered daily. Oh did I mention hyperbaric oxygen chamber sessions as well as an acupuncturist. So basically I'm not having any fun but I know it will be worth it! I believe cancer can be fought with food and optimal health.

I promise I'll be better about updating! Again I can not thank everyone enough!

I'll leave you with deep thoughts from Sarah Tanno and Jazz!

http://gfwd.at/1EFIaVN

Here we go again!

Rocking my BTBC shirt, holding the jar of positive
notes/thoughts LG, Ashley, Sarah, & Freddie made for me!

Greetings everyone! As many of you may have guessed, if I've started my blog up again the outcome was not scar tissue. I apologize for the delay in information, but I needed to process everything and make sure my parents and close friends were aware before sharing on social media.

Sooo...the results! Well, they actually knew during my surgery that it was metastasis breast cancer. They pretty much told me that when they scheduled the surgery but you know me..always the one to be optimistic!

OK..i'll slow down for everyone and give you a minute to digest. Yes, it's official; my breast cancer has come back in my lungs. It is considered metastasis breast cancer, not lung cancer. Commonly referred to as stage four breast cancer. BTW I refuse to even use a capital letter when referring to it.

I will say this now, GOOGLE IS YOUR ENEMY! Lol, do not google stage four or even metastasis breast cancer.  It will only give you death and gloom. I, however, am special! Not only am I special, we live in a time of amazing medical breakthroughs. So much, so that the FDA just approved a new drug last week that works wonders on my type of cancer. Did you read that! Just last week a new drug was approved that has amazing results!

So the basics! We were mainly waiting on the pathology to confirm that my cancer was still ER+ HER-. What that means is my cancer grows from estrogen. So the first step is to shut my estrogen off. We've been doing that with Tamoxifen, but that was obviously not enough. This is a lesson in being careful what you pray for! haha..my whole goal has been to get off the Tamoxifen so we could get ready to get pregnant. Well..my prayers were answered! Ha, I'm off the Tamoxifen! ;)

I'll stop for a second and remind people that are new to this blog or still taking it in..I make jokes! A lot of them at my expense. Know that any statement, like the one above, is for a laugh! Sometimes the truth really is the funniest antidote.

Ok..back to the basics! The good news is the course of action for my type of cancer is hormone therapy, not chemotherapy. Everyone knows I am not a fan of chemo and feel it does more harm than help. Especially for my type of cancer. I'm not knocking it. It has worked for several of my friends. I'm also not saying that if I needed another option I would absolutely do chemo! What I am saying is I know mentally, physically, and medically it's not the right move for me. What is the right move is shutting my ovaries off and fighting this thing that way!

So remember earlier that I mentioned what amazing times we live in! Well, just last week the FDA approved a drug specifically to fight my kind of cancer! I'm the first patient my oncologist has put on it. It's called IBRANCE and is used in conjunction with Letrozole and Lupron. I received my first shot of Lupron today. Lupron is the drug that will shut off my ovaries. At this point, there is no reason to discuss a hysterectomy. As I've frozen eggs, I'm totally open to any and all options.

Up until a week ago the course of action for my type of cancer was a combination of Lupron (shot once a month) and a daily pill of Letrozole. Now we can add Ibrance. Below is the press release of the new drug.

http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm432871.htm

Ok, I'm still educating myself and getting second, third, and fourth opinions! However, I wanted to let everyone know what was going on.

As you can imagine it's been a lot to bite off but Andre is being amazing as always! Words can not describe how blessed I am to have him as my rock, my partner, my support, my love, my everything! You know me I'm more concerned with how he is dealing with everything. I'll be honest it is a bit of a roller coaster but that is to be expected.

How am I doing you ask!?! I'm actually ok! I'm sure I'll have some bad days. It's not an easy diagnosis to hear. I have chosen to think of it as a chronic disease diagnosis. Meaning this is something that I will have to keep in check for the rest of my life. I expect that life to be long and happy!

I will admit this surgery was a bitch to get over! I'm hoping to get the pain under control way before they take the stitches out next Friday. As of now I'm still watching the clock for my next Oxy! At least they gave me the good stuff.

I can not put into words how amazing everyone is! I am truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life. I apologize if I'm a bit slow getting back to everyone but as you can imagine I'm a bit inundated! Keep all of your prayers, meditation, love, light, chants, energy, you name it coming! I'm on so many prayer lists I official have a Jewish name! I truly believe every thought, intention, and energy counts. Together we will beat this!

I will leave you with deep thoughts from Lady Gaga! Ha! My amazing tour family took the time to write a ton of little positive notes and placed them in a jar. Anytime I feel sad I'm supposed to pull a note from the jar. They gave me this jar on Wednesday and today was the first day I pulled a note! Not really because I was sad, I just wanted a little encouragement before I met with my doctor. It did the trick!

Love and Light to you all! In the words of Andre "WE GOT THIS"

Rads aren't bad...so far!

Hello everyone! I know I know...I haven't been very good at updating everyone. BUT...that just means I'm feeling better and I'm out and about! Since it's been so long I'll back up a bit! Last update was the great news that I did not have to do chemo! My oncotype test results came back at 12! I was hoping for under 18 but would have been happy with anything under 25! So 12 is awesome!! With that news we moved forward with radiation. Of course you know me I had already met with the radiologist before we even had the results. Some people call that proactive but I call it telling the universe what is going to happen! Just to make sure everything else was good I also did a bone scan and a PET scan. All clear on all fronts! Hopefully I'm done with the scans and the nuclear medicine for awhile! It really is such a double edge sword. You read all of these things that X-Ray's and scans themselves cause cancer. When you have cancer it seems that you are doing some kinda of scan every other day! 

So...radiation! Or RADS as it's so lovingly called. Well its not exactly rad...BUT it isn't so bad. ;) So far! Today marks my 7th treatment. I will do a total of 33 sessions. I go every morning at 9:30am, five days a week. It looks like I will finish on November 7th. Honestly it's super easy. Door to door the whole things takes about 30 minutes. Radiation is cumulative so it takes a few weeks for any side effects to kick in. So far so good. I have a little bit of a blush as they call it but I'm hoping that is all it does. One of the side effects is that your skin burns, just like a sunburn. So when I say blush it just means my skin is a little pink.  Hey...I'm a white girl...its bound to happen! Another side effect is fatigue. Because I'm generally fit and active they are saying it may not hit me too hard until the end. Remember it' cumulative so sometimes you're hit the hardest at the very end and 10-14 days after your last treatment. 

Physically I'm doing great! Scars are healing well and I feel pretty good. I definitely tire out a lot quicker then usual and I can not be in the sun. I'm learning to listen to my body and rest when I need to. Emotionally I'm going a little stir crazy. If you know me you know I'm not one to sit still. Not being able to travel and work is killing me. Andre has been amazing at dealing with my "I'm bored: and "I'm out of the loop" temper tantrums. 

Well....that's it for now! I'm really looking forward to my birthday this weekend! Lot's to celebrate!!

No Chemo!

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while but on top of everything else my computer crashed! So I hijacked Andre's computer to update everyone. First and foremost we finally got my oncotype test back. I am so excited to let everyone know that I do not have to do Chemotherapy! Woo hoo!! To break it down they basically score your reoccurrence rate 1-  100% and if you fall below 31% they generally do not recommend chemotherapy. I am so happy that my surgeon recommend this test and that I waited for the results. Disclaimer - to anyone else with breast cancer reading this oncotype test ,from what I understand, is best only if you are ER+ and node negative. The lower your reoccurrence rate the less likely your tumor is to return and respond to chemotherapy. Hence no reason to put your body through it. You will do better with hormone therapy. It's so weird I was ok with the side effects part of chemo. (well in my head right now) I already had some fun haircuts and dye jobs planned before my hair fell out. Not to mention between Gaga and Andre I could have a different amazing lace front wig everyday! It really all came down to time! I just do not have time to deal with it! (yes yes in the scheme of things what is 3 months) It would have kept me off of the road until the end of the year and that is just not an option! Luckily it doesn't have to be! 

While we were waiting for the test results I went ahead and met with my radiologist and finished my fertility treatments. Everything  moved smoothly and quickly with the fertility treatments. Other then being time consuming and expensive it was pretty painless. If I ever need to give myself injections for anything again it will be a breeze! The aftermath of retrieval on the other hand has not been fun. My retrieval was schedule for Monday morning. I guess I need to start mentioning to any anesthesiologist that I have the tolerance of a horse! Meaning it takes A LOT to knock me out and take care of the pain. Most people are pretty much already asleep by the time they wheel them into the room. No...not me I was still talking when they were ready to start the procedure. I'm not sure if they wanted to knock me out or just shut me up! Regardless it took a lot more then anticipated. Which I've heard often! (yes that applies to shutting me up as well) I take after my father in this regard. All in all I was in and out in about three hours! My Dr was very happy they were able to retrieve 16 eggs. From what I understand that is excellent! Now the recovery on the other hand has not been excelent. I wont go into detail but imagine the worst gas pain you have ever had...like stop you in your track...double over in pain, pain! Yep...that's what I've experienced the last two days. I just wish it was just gas...I would know how to deal with that! Andre wouldn't be happy but I would! hee hee! I'm going back in for a check up tomorrow and hopefully it will start subsiding and is normal. 

Ok, so whats next! Radiation then if all goes well back to life with some hormone therapy thrown in! Friday I have a CT scan and meeting with my radiologist to "map" my chest. They are actually going to tattoo four dots on my chest. These dots will guide them where the "rays" need to go. All of this is the ensure they are hitting the breast and chest instead of other vital organs! ie heart and lungs! It's really all rather mathematical and exact to each person. Monday a bone scan, and Wednesday a PET scan. Once all of that is done I can start my radiation. I will go five days a week for 6-7 weeks. Each appointment will take about 30 minutes. Once I complete radiation I will then start hormone therapy for two years. Most people do five but I'll go into all of that fun stuff in another post!

Ok..back to bad TV! Thanks for reading! Love you all and thank you for all of your prayers and support! 

xoxo,
Sonja

Napkin on the window

To stop or not to stop…that is the question! Anyone that lives in an urban area is use to homeless people. You actually recognize them and even know some of them by name.  However, in general, you do nothing more then smile, give a nod and go on with your day. Quietly judging and occasional taking a second to be thankful for all that you have. Yesterday was a little different. My friend Chris and I were going to have lunch. As I’m exiting the car continuing to tell him the ups and downs and waiting to find out about chemo and radiation a homeless kid on the street chimes in.  We stopped for a moment and listened to him. He was telling us about a book and how it healed him of several things.  We had a little banter and then went into the restaurant. When we finished with lunch and went back to the car we found the note below on the window. By this time the kid had walked away. I folded up the note and we left. BUT what an impression he made on me. I want to know his story! Is he homeless? Is he on drugs? Is he crazy? Was he kicked out of his house for some reason out of is control? Or is he exactly where he wants to be? I want to go back and find him, but what would I say? What would I do? Or is it just a moment of pay it forward? Regardless I appreciate the time he took to offer up his advice. I hope in some way that maybe this blog might be “my napkin on the window” for someone else.

Ok…enough of my musing onto the update. Until today the last few days have been pretty uneventful. With everything I’ve been through in the last month that is a nice change. Monday the 27th was exactly a month since my diagnosis as well as Santé’s 16th birthday! I actually felt well enough have lunch with Cindy and Kim, go to Santé’s basketball game AND have dinner!!  I was pretty much down for the count on Tuesday but it was worth it! I’m still in pain but it is getting better everyday.

Amazing gift from Gaga! Tango wants one sooo bad! haha

Today was my last post op follow up with my PS. She removed the remaining sterile strips (tape) took my “after” photos and gave me the thumbs up! Once I see my oncologist and radiologist next week I’ll have a better idea of when I start radiation and I will see her again to confirm when I’m physically ready to start. From there we moved onto the fertility doctor.  Now some of you may be wondering why a fertility doctor. Well with chemo not off the table and radiation imminent, freezing eggs is my best “insurance” incase the cancer treatments kill a lot of good cells (and fertility) as well! Which they are known to do.  So a new car or a down payment on a house in TX later I actually started today. We were just expecting a consultation but with time being of the essence I did my first injection today and I will go back tomorrow after my blood work is back for the rest of the treatment. Basically they will teach me how to give myself the injections and I will give myself two injections a day for the next 12-15 days.  Then when I’m ready it will be a quick out patient procedure to “harvest” my eggs and freeze them.  Whoopie more anesthesia and surgery. Well….if it gives me piece of mind then I’m all for it. Fingers crossed that it’s an insurance policy we will not have to cash!

So…the other important stuff!

September 5^th – Appointment with an oncologist

September 7^th – Appointment with alternative Doctor – to discuss adjunctive therapy or alternatives to chemo and hormone therapy

September 10 – appointment with my radiologist
TBD - Chemo and Radiology

Still waiting on the BRAC1 and Onco test results. Well…until then!