Well, my oncologist confirmed that all seems to be well with my right side. As for getting it removed, he strongly encourage me NOT to. He said that reconstruction of my left would be easier if I still had my right. Guess it's a model to use for the new one!
I'm still not fully given over to the keeping of the right one. My thoughts run from the "less tissue must mean less risk" idea to the vain "I want a new matched set!" Both of which are just not grounded. I'm still just a bit weary of the "good" prognosis of the right, though. My ultrasound on the left was "BENIGN." Yeah, right. So much for that ultrasound!
So next Wednesday, I have an appointment with Dr. Oztalay-Mathia to discuss the surgery and schedule it. (For the further excision of the left breast.) I am going to talk to her more about the right. I think I need to hear from a woman doctor on the issue. But in a recent brief conversation, she seemed quite surprised that I would want the right one off "just because." She might call me before next Wednesday. If we get everything taken care of over the phone, we'll just schedule the surgery. Yippie.
Dr. Mathia will put in a port for the chemo at the same time. Then, when she says I'm ready, I'll start chemo - which will be four cycles of Taxol and Cytoxan plus Avastin. I'll go once every three weeks. It takes 3 to 4 hours to get. I shouldn't get too sick, but I will loose all my hair. Look out world, I'm going to get a different wig for every day of the week! Well, it's a nice wish, but at a couple of hundred dollars each...wait, ok...let's try this again...Look out world, I'm going to get a different bandana for every day of the week! he he
Oh, Dr. Henderson gave me the names of two plastic surgeons that I need to contact about my reconstruction - Dr. Gavagan and Dr. Meininger. I have ruled out TRAM Flap reconstruction. Dr. Henderson suggested it. I told him there was ABSOLUTELY NO POSSIBILITY of me getting that. They take a bit of stomach muscle and run it up under your rib cage to use as a blood supply to the new tissue used. I have a hard enough time riding my horse - I'm certainly NOT going to give up ANY of my stomach muscles!!! I would prefer either DIEP or SIEA reconstruction. These are very similar to a TRAM flap, but they don't take any muscle. On a GREAT note - with any of these, I pretty much get a free tummy tuck - that's where the tissue used for the reconstruction comes from! On another GREAT note (possibly), I may not be able to do any of these...he he he...my surgeon said I may be too thin to get enough good tissue from my tummy to use. I don't know about that, but I have been back on the BowFlex for a couple weeks and am already seeing results! Oh, well, if not one of these, then I'll get implants. (Read implants - plural. There's no way I'd get just one - they would never match!)
Alrighty then. I MUST go to bed!!! One of these days I'll make it before midnight....
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