The Plan

I finally met with all the members of my team and devised a plan to beat this disease. It was not quite how I had hoped - but it looks like a winning plan.

First, finish chemo - just one more treatment
Six weeks later, have a mastectomy on the right breast (mid-Sept)
Three to four weeks later, start radiation therapy (five days per week for five weeks) (mid-Oct)
Four months after completion of radiation, we are ready for the next surgery (March??)
Have left mastectomy and reconstruction and have an expandable implant put in right breast (March)
Expand the implant weekly for 8 weeks
Replace expandable implant with a permanent one (May??)
Do final tattoing of the breast, etc

It is a lot more surgeries than I want - but it is the plan with the best cure rates and least invasive surgeries and chance of infection.

The problem is that I need radiation treatment. With radiation, the skin can be destroyed and can scar and cause a lot of problems with healing. The radiation is done as close to surgery as possible - so they can penetrate the chest wall well so I cannot wait for healing of a reconstructed breast and delay radiation without giving up cure rates.

We went through most all the options and this seemed to be the best one to destroy as little tissue as possible, give me the most active lifestyle and still have the best cure rates for the cancer.

I am trying to focus on the fact that the cancer will be gone by the end of the year and the rest will be cosmetic. It will prolong things quite a bit more than I wanted, but at least I will have most of my body :-) and my immune system back. I should have my energy levels back and will be able to exercise and enjoy life a bit more and not panic about getting a fever or infection.

Between chemo, menopause, low blood pressure issues and anemia and low platelets, I am managing to keep my spirits up pretty well. I had a few tough hours yesterday as I digested all the work to go still to destroy this beast.

I played with the kids a bit today - so that put my spirits back up. Both kids are really doing well in school. Nat is just really advancing in math and reading. Andrew has really started to take an interest in letters and sounds and is starting to write - so that is great to see.

We decided to make an overdue trip to build-a-bear and we will all build an animal. I want the kids to help with my breast cancer bear and they both have to rub and kiss my bear's heart before they stuff it in my animal because it will accompany me to all of the rest of my treatments and will be with me during all of my hospitalizations. I hope the animals can hold up to a lot of tears and hugs - because I have a feeling this one will be tested well.

Keep up all the thoughts and prayers. They really are helping! By the end of the year, I should be cancer free and that is an awesome thought.