Friday, April 20, 2007

From there to here

First of all, I'll start here. I'm doing okay. I am currently undergoing 24 weeks of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. I have completed 2 infusion sessions. And, as of this moment, I still have all my hair.

Now for there. After a normal mammogram in June 2006, I was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast on February 16, 2007. John got busy on PubMed, and at the U of Washington Health Sciences Library. After much research, and helpful advice from friends, I had a bilateral mastectomy on March 1. Post-op dx: infiltrating poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma. Hormone receptor status, triple negative (estrogen, progesterone, Her2 neu). Upshot, an aggressive tumor, but no evidence of lymph spread (sentinel node negative on both sides). So that was good news. Because of the possibility of micrometasteses, adjuvant chemotherapy is done. I had a port-a-cath placed at the time of my surgery. It's a port they can inject into (and draw blood out of) that infuses directly into my vena cava. Saves my peripheral veins from 24 weeks of poking.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Terri - Been thinking about you - and didn't want to add to a possible bombardment of e-mails! A blog is a great idea! Hang in there and You Go Girl! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Terri--You're amazing! I would never know how to set up a blog site--barely know how to open an email. (Or did your kids set this up?) Anyway, what a great way to be able to keep in touch. I love your humor about this whole thing! But then, I've always enjoyed your no-nonsense attitude, mixed with a subtle undercurrent of dry humor. Always thinking of you these days...Meg

wayner said...

Terri,
This is such a good way to keep in touch. I've always thought you are wonderful - just like your mom.

Keep up your good work. You & your family are in my prayers each day.

Carol