This has taken me a while to get to. It's good because it means Life is going on and that other things just matter more. Well, maybe not more but they are taking more of my time and focus. So, it's good.
I went in on Thursday, May 1 as I was experiencing some discomfort on a rib on the right side which is the side where I had cancer. I was told that I am still quite swollen from radiation so the doctor thinks it likely that there is fluid in that area causing the problem. I left happy with that answer rather than being told to panic or to go through some hideous test.
On the following Saturday, I went in for an MRI. This is the one the insurance company had an issue with covering but my doctor wrote a note or whatever and it was covered. The MRI was clear which for SO many reasons is great. The follow-up would've been an MRI-guided biopsy which frankly freaked me out last year. Last year's concerns that showed areas beyond my cancer were also apparently gone and/or diminished. MRI's don't diagnose per se. They just red-flag. They have a false positive track record of about 40%. I'm glad it was good and is over.
Next Friday I'll be seeing my surgical oncologist for the first time since this all happened. It's just a follow-up.
I will actually be dropping the whole radiation department from my team. The reason is that Dr. Kiel is leaving. We decided that for follow-ups, I can handle them with chemo and surgical oncologists given that I don't require any radiation issues at this time.
At the recommendation of the DNA specialist, I will be pursuing a choloscopy. It's basically to get a baseline but also of course just to look. I know it's a nasty procedure but if it means more information, I'm cooperating. I'm imagining I'll get to it over the summer.
The Avon Walk is coming up. I wish I could say I am ready. I just don't have time to train or even think about it. Again, it's good. My life is filled with work and two boys who now have their own hectic schedules but no driver's licenses!
Isaac is playing baseball and wrapping up school. Toby will begin some class this summer. Isaac will have camp for four weeks while Toby will go to school for those four weeks. I'm looking to work but haven't heard yet what the options are.
If anyone wishes to give to the Avon Walk, please ask what to do and I'll give you the information. My friend Gayle hasn't met her goal!
Thanks for reading.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Nothing Much
I just found some time and thought leaving "hair" up for too long looked like I was all about my hair!
I'm still good. My schedule continues to make it difficult to train for the walk. I'm concerned about it but as I have no solutions, it is what it is. I'm going to make it to the gym but the long walks I need aren't really happening.
I made the goal for the Avon Walk thanks to many people helping of course. My friend Gayle has not met her goal so I don't know what'll happen there. I'm giving her any checks or cash that come my way so that she can more likely meet her goal.
I'm considering staying in the "village". That's the tent area during the Avon Walk. My main reasons for not doing it are Isaac and Toby. I have to decide and soon.
In June, Ted and I are hoping to put together a cook-out, dinner or something for everyone who helped and also to celebrate that the walk is done. I'll get the word out closer to time.
I guess this isn't all about cancer now. What is this? I'm glad it's becoming ill-defined and not all about my next appointment or findings from my last one.
I do have an MRI at the beginning of May. I'll post results of that. Odds are very high for false positives. I endured that last time even with cancer and the follow-through isn't so fun. I am concerned about the whole thing but I have to go. I'll suck it up and make it.
Back to work. It's Friday and payday!
I'm still good. My schedule continues to make it difficult to train for the walk. I'm concerned about it but as I have no solutions, it is what it is. I'm going to make it to the gym but the long walks I need aren't really happening.
I made the goal for the Avon Walk thanks to many people helping of course. My friend Gayle has not met her goal so I don't know what'll happen there. I'm giving her any checks or cash that come my way so that she can more likely meet her goal.
I'm considering staying in the "village". That's the tent area during the Avon Walk. My main reasons for not doing it are Isaac and Toby. I have to decide and soon.
In June, Ted and I are hoping to put together a cook-out, dinner or something for everyone who helped and also to celebrate that the walk is done. I'll get the word out closer to time.
I guess this isn't all about cancer now. What is this? I'm glad it's becoming ill-defined and not all about my next appointment or findings from my last one.
I do have an MRI at the beginning of May. I'll post results of that. Odds are very high for false positives. I endured that last time even with cancer and the follow-through isn't so fun. I am concerned about the whole thing but I have to go. I'll suck it up and make it.
Back to work. It's Friday and payday!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Hair
There's really nothing much to tell. I have been asked a few times, "Now what?" One person asked me how I'd know if all of the treatments worked. Essentially, I'll know when I'm sitting around old and cancer-free. That's when I'll be able to say, I guess it worked. That's the only answer I have for that. As for "Now what?" I am back to having little to tell on the health front. With health, no news is good news.
The next real update will be after my MRI next month. It's got a high likelihood of false alarms so I will most likely wait until everything is fully resolved before posting about that.
Let's see um...got my hair cut yesterday. My hair looks and feels pretty weird. I got it thinned and shaped but am still going to grow it longer. It's weird to have new hair at 42 but I have it. It's not good or bad but I feel in photos this will always be my post-cancer hair and that kind of bugs me. It's good to find things with cancer annoying rather than truly terrifying so this is fine.
I have my Avon funds raised to meet the goal. I have to send in some checks. I'm still doing fund-raising though as it's a good cause obviously but also because my friend Gayle hasn't met her goal yet. Like me, she's finding it hard to juggle children, work and now this big endeavor. She'll get there. Her mother is doing very well by the way.
I'm good. I'm feeling great. Thanks for the inquiries.
Ruth
The next real update will be after my MRI next month. It's got a high likelihood of false alarms so I will most likely wait until everything is fully resolved before posting about that.
Let's see um...got my hair cut yesterday. My hair looks and feels pretty weird. I got it thinned and shaped but am still going to grow it longer. It's weird to have new hair at 42 but I have it. It's not good or bad but I feel in photos this will always be my post-cancer hair and that kind of bugs me. It's good to find things with cancer annoying rather than truly terrifying so this is fine.
I have my Avon funds raised to meet the goal. I have to send in some checks. I'm still doing fund-raising though as it's a good cause obviously but also because my friend Gayle hasn't met her goal yet. Like me, she's finding it hard to juggle children, work and now this big endeavor. She'll get there. Her mother is doing very well by the way.
I'm good. I'm feeling great. Thanks for the inquiries.
Ruth
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
MRI Covered
As you can tell by the title, the MRI will be covered. I guess if the doctor takes the time to write a note, then it's okay. Whatever. I'm one of the lucky ones with health insurance.
On another note, I'm nearly to my goal for the Avon Walk. I am holding onto some checks in case others I know doing the walk might need them to help them hit their goals. If anyone wishes to donate, checks are great and can be made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer or to me and then I'll write a check straight to the organization.
I'm feeling good. It's good when there's little to report on the health front. It once was so complicated. I hope it stays this way.
Thanks to everyone for kind words, concerns and support in general.
On another note, I'm nearly to my goal for the Avon Walk. I am holding onto some checks in case others I know doing the walk might need them to help them hit their goals. If anyone wishes to donate, checks are great and can be made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer or to me and then I'll write a check straight to the organization.
I'm feeling good. It's good when there's little to report on the health front. It once was so complicated. I hope it stays this way.
Thanks to everyone for kind words, concerns and support in general.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
No MRI
Wonders never cease. Never mind that Dr. Kiel is well, Dr. Kiel. She's my radiation oncologist. She is the one who recommended the MRI to follow the mammogram. Long story short, she kind of knows what she's doing. If I weren't sure, I could've checked the New England Journal of medicine which since 2006 has regarded MRI's as recommended follow-up for women who've had breast cancer.
However.........it seems my health insurance company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield along with Encompass who acts to review claims and potential claims, don't see fit for me to get an MRI. Well, shucks! I guess making sure that the margins where my cancer was remain clear just doesn't warrant money being spent. So, I didn't get the MRI.
The end? Um, no. Dr. Kiel is going to write something more formal to my insurance company to prove need. And then the cow jumped over the moon. Wait a minute. I'm getting confused. It looks like I wrote that a well-regarded oncologist is asking permission for what she and the New England Journal of Medicine regard as standard procedure. Let me re-read. Hmm. Yes, that's what I wrote.
We'll see. We'll see if the request from my doctor gets approved. If not, enter legal proceedings. I'll keep you posted. This is nonsense. I am not going to go on and on about the supposed "doctor" whom I've never met who reviewed this and that this is the system we've all come to accept. It does scare me for the future should I need some other procedures and they should then somehow be regarded as unnecessary. I'm breaking that potential precedent now by taking this on.
My DNA results were clear. This indicates that I have no extra worries regarding any new breast cancers or ovarian cancers. I found that out yesterday and am very glad for this news.
The Avon Walk is happening. I have $1020. I need $980 more. I can take checks, cash or the link can be clicked in the entry prior to this one and donations can be made online.
If you know of any good attorneys who are adept at challenging insurance claims being denied, please pass that along to me.
It's all good. Getting mad and activated beats sad and sick any day.
However.........it seems my health insurance company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield along with Encompass who acts to review claims and potential claims, don't see fit for me to get an MRI. Well, shucks! I guess making sure that the margins where my cancer was remain clear just doesn't warrant money being spent. So, I didn't get the MRI.
The end? Um, no. Dr. Kiel is going to write something more formal to my insurance company to prove need. And then the cow jumped over the moon. Wait a minute. I'm getting confused. It looks like I wrote that a well-regarded oncologist is asking permission for what she and the New England Journal of Medicine regard as standard procedure. Let me re-read. Hmm. Yes, that's what I wrote.
We'll see. We'll see if the request from my doctor gets approved. If not, enter legal proceedings. I'll keep you posted. This is nonsense. I am not going to go on and on about the supposed "doctor" whom I've never met who reviewed this and that this is the system we've all come to accept. It does scare me for the future should I need some other procedures and they should then somehow be regarded as unnecessary. I'm breaking that potential precedent now by taking this on.
My DNA results were clear. This indicates that I have no extra worries regarding any new breast cancers or ovarian cancers. I found that out yesterday and am very glad for this news.
The Avon Walk is happening. I have $1020. I need $980 more. I can take checks, cash or the link can be clicked in the entry prior to this one and donations can be made online.
If you know of any good attorneys who are adept at challenging insurance claims being denied, please pass that along to me.
It's all good. Getting mad and activated beats sad and sick any day.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Clear Mammogram
I went in for a mammogram today. I'm very glad that the location was moved as I didn't have flashbacks as much as I would've in the other place. This is in the new Prentice Women's Hospital. Waiting areas are called "suites".
I will have an MRI on Lincoln's Birthday. I'm off that day and Isaac has school so I picked that to avoid a day off of work and to avoid childcare issues. Those are always the issues but I have been working around them as much as possible. The MRI is status quo for a follow-up. No fun but it was to be expected.
I have another medical appointment at the end of the month. Even now that it's over, I'm going downtown for a lot of appointments. I'll post again after the MRI and outcome. DNA findings are likely in about a month.
I will have an MRI on Lincoln's Birthday. I'm off that day and Isaac has school so I picked that to avoid a day off of work and to avoid childcare issues. Those are always the issues but I have been working around them as much as possible. The MRI is status quo for a follow-up. No fun but it was to be expected.
I have another medical appointment at the end of the month. Even now that it's over, I'm going downtown for a lot of appointments. I'll post again after the MRI and outcome. DNA findings are likely in about a month.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Updates
Okay, so I'm clearly jazzed about the Avon Walk. Beyond that, there is some stuff to tell.
I went in for a DNA counselling session on Wednesday. I was given the coloring book version. As I was talking to the couselor, she gave me quiz questions to make sure I understood! I hate quizzes! I did alright but to say I fully understand this stuff is just not the case. In short, it's highly highly unlikely that I am a DNA carrier. The only reason to proceed at all is my young age to have gotten breast cancer. So, they took blood, they're proceeding and I'll find out in about a month.
The reason to investigate is multi-faceted. The short answer is that if I'm a DNA carrier, I'm more vulnerable to getting cancer again. If I am, I will likely look to future surgeries to be preventative against cancer. However, I was told that odds are only in the 3% -7% range that the tests will yield any results in that direction. It's just a stone I don't wish to leave unturned.
The conselor recommended a colonoscopy. I'm quite sure I spelled that wrong. It's nothing any oncologists recommended but I'm going to do it. I hear it's a hideous test and I'll spare the details here. That's another long story about why to do it. Again, very very remote reason to do it but anything followed by a percentage sign to me means to do it "just in case".
On Friday I have my first mammogram since the last one I had which detected the cancer. I thought I was fine but I've been freaking out a bit. Saturday is a slower day obviously so I've had more time to hear my own thoughts today. I'll be okay. If I were given the option to back out, I'd still go. I feel a safety in getting checked but also fearful of course. Barbara is going to try to come with me. If she can that's lovely and if not, I'll be fine I'm sure. There's a British pub nearby and a bistro with a good wine list close by.
I've started a gym routine. It's to get my strength together, get healthier and to get ready for the walk. I am moving heaven and earth to get to the gym three times a week. So far so good but it's only January. I do a lame workout but with time, it'll improve I'm sure. I'm already getting better.
I'm good. I actually felt done with cancer but with the scary DNA consultation, tests in process there and now my mammogram, I do feel I'm again facing it. This will always be part of my life I suppose. I have much more to celebrate than to lament.
Thanks for reading if anyone still is.
I went in for a DNA counselling session on Wednesday. I was given the coloring book version. As I was talking to the couselor, she gave me quiz questions to make sure I understood! I hate quizzes! I did alright but to say I fully understand this stuff is just not the case. In short, it's highly highly unlikely that I am a DNA carrier. The only reason to proceed at all is my young age to have gotten breast cancer. So, they took blood, they're proceeding and I'll find out in about a month.
The reason to investigate is multi-faceted. The short answer is that if I'm a DNA carrier, I'm more vulnerable to getting cancer again. If I am, I will likely look to future surgeries to be preventative against cancer. However, I was told that odds are only in the 3% -7% range that the tests will yield any results in that direction. It's just a stone I don't wish to leave unturned.
The conselor recommended a colonoscopy. I'm quite sure I spelled that wrong. It's nothing any oncologists recommended but I'm going to do it. I hear it's a hideous test and I'll spare the details here. That's another long story about why to do it. Again, very very remote reason to do it but anything followed by a percentage sign to me means to do it "just in case".
On Friday I have my first mammogram since the last one I had which detected the cancer. I thought I was fine but I've been freaking out a bit. Saturday is a slower day obviously so I've had more time to hear my own thoughts today. I'll be okay. If I were given the option to back out, I'd still go. I feel a safety in getting checked but also fearful of course. Barbara is going to try to come with me. If she can that's lovely and if not, I'll be fine I'm sure. There's a British pub nearby and a bistro with a good wine list close by.
I've started a gym routine. It's to get my strength together, get healthier and to get ready for the walk. I am moving heaven and earth to get to the gym three times a week. So far so good but it's only January. I do a lame workout but with time, it'll improve I'm sure. I'm already getting better.
I'm good. I actually felt done with cancer but with the scary DNA consultation, tests in process there and now my mammogram, I do feel I'm again facing it. This will always be part of my life I suppose. I have much more to celebrate than to lament.
Thanks for reading if anyone still is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)