Reeka's blog: "Cancer stuffs"

So, I've been calling around cuz it's been 6 days since my appt and they haven't scheduled my breast MRI yet. Finally I got ahold of someone today. She says they have to schedule it 7-14 days after the first day of my period. Sounds simple enough, but the only time I have a regular cycle is when I'm on the pill, which I can't be on because it will make my tumor grow. *growls* Well, I'm set up for November 14, but I'll have to reschedule when my period doesn't come by Friday. And I've had one every month for a few months now, so this will probably be the month I don't have one and I'll be waiting another month to get the MRI just so they can decide whether they can do a lumpectomy. Meanwhile, the tumor's probably growing.

Well... today's appointment turned out to be fairly nonproductive. I do know one new thing, which is that the cancer is estrogen / progesterone positive. Which is good in terms of preventing recurrence, though I was hoping to go back on birth control pills to regulate my cycles. Oh well, life is more important than convenience :P The diagnosis is currently stage 0 Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. However, the mass did not show up well on the mammogram, so they want to do an MRI in order to determine how extensive the spread is inside the duct. That will determine whether they can attempt a lumptectomy or if they need to do a full mastectomy. If they can't clearly define the margins, they will likely want to do a mastectomy so they don't miss anything. After the surgery, I will need to go for 5-7 weeks of radiation treatments, 5 days a week. Then I will likely start Tamoxifen to prevent it from coming back.

OK... so I have my consultation with the oncologist tomorrow at 2:30. Hopefully he'll be able to answer most of my questions. I just looked him up, and he's actually the Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at University of Michigan hospital. Ooooh, I feel special.