Monday this week I went for breast MRI's. Standard procedure is you
strip down to your undies and socks, remove all jewelry and they give you a one size fits all hospital gown to wear. It's become a very exciting part of this journey. Spike, as my documentarist on these visits, jumps in the dressing room with me for a quick photo shoot before the procedures. This particular hospital gown was surprisingly a two-piece with un-matching patterns (gown with diagonal line-cross pattern, and pants with solid cube patterns). Not the combination I would choose, but interesting nonetheless.
strip down to your undies and socks, remove all jewelry and they give you a one size fits all hospital gown to wear. It's become a very exciting part of this journey. Spike, as my documentarist on these visits, jumps in the dressing room with me for a quick photo shoot before the procedures. This particular hospital gown was surprisingly a two-piece with un-matching patterns (gown with diagonal line-cross pattern, and pants with solid cube patterns). Not the combination I would choose, but interesting nonetheless.
The MRI itself was also quite impressive. A gigantic cube with a tube in the center that filed a 15' x 20' room. 
They also decided for special effects to shoot me up with contrastive dye, which required an I.V. The nurses name was Quin. She was dead set on getting a vein to flow. She went for the left arm first, and it blew (big fat bruise)! Then she opted for the right, in and out, chasing veins in my arm, until finally...BINGO! We have a juicy one!
On Tuesday, we went to see Dr. Chow. This was the first time I had seen or spoken directly to her since we both felt the lump on March 14th, and she ordered the ultrasound. She awkwardly hugged me when she saw me, and apologized. I told her I wanted her to review the biopsy results and remove the stitches from my ear. We did the ear first, which was quite an ordeal since in Mexico, apparently they sew and double knot stitches very tightly, causing your flesh to grow over top of the stitches and knots. Spike had to help hold my ear back, while Dr. Chow took an exacto blade and dug the stitches out of my earlobe. OUCH! Then I asked to tape record her as she reviewed all of the results. She agreed, but probably shouldn't have because she couldn't even understand or explain the results to me, but that's another story...I'll deal with that nonsense later! Basically, the stitches were removed and Dr. Chow will now be acting as my medical administrator from this point on, but their will be no advising from her.
On Wednesday, we met with the surgeon, Dr. Pamela Lewis, to review all of the pathology reports, MRI'S, genetics testing and her proposed surgery plan. Spike and I spent the morning gathering all of the paperwork that we had received so far, organized it into a binder and wrote out a list of questions to ask the doctor, this was after we spent an a few hours talking and crying about our fears and got clear on what was important. There's been many mornings, afternoons, evenings and sleepless nights for both of us, btw, but we're two of the toughest broads I know, and we're gonna get through this!
Dr. Lewis has special, disposable breast examination gowns that only require you to remove your top and bra. They are a solid royal blue front, with a sheer white back.
Dr. Lewis had some good news to share...the genetics test came back negative! Which means I don't have the cancer gene, and that also means I may still qualify for Lumpectomies in both breasts with radiation and hormone therapy, but Dr. Lewis still feels strongly that I should consider the mastectomy with reconstructive surgery. Here's why:
• Being a 38 year old, healthy woman having tumors within stage 2 in both breasts and testing negative for the cancer gene means that I can still qualify to have a lumpectomy(removal of the tumors) both breasts with sentinel lymph node biopsies (biopsy and possible removal of lymph nodes) radiation and hormone treatment. This is the least invasive surgery, but highest risk for side effects and cancer recurrence. Dr. Lewis is not recommending this option, but has agreed to support it if this is what I choose. 2-3 week recovery time.
• What Dr. Lewis is recommending is a bi-lateral mastectomy (removing all of both breasts entirely) with reconstructive top surgery (and creating new ones) for both breasts. She recommends this because it is the most assured way of getting rid of the cancer, and will not require radiation.
• If I go the mastectomy route, I have three choices:
1. No reconstructive top surgery (they just sew me up, putting a drainage tube in and I have 2 giant scars on my chest where my breasts used to be).1-2 week recovery time.
2. Reconstructive top surgery with implants (I'll have fake boobs with no feeling). A 2-3 week recovery time.
3. Reconstructive surgery preserving the nerve endings, nipple and using tissue from other parts of my body to reconstruct my breasts. (this one is the most involved surgery and has the longest recovery time 6-8 weeks).
Thursday last week was therapy day, I also managed to fit in some yoga with some fabulous boys, and everyday...phone calls, faxes, research, writing, e-mails and the blog. Today, on my way to consult with a plastic surgeon. I'll send pics if I get to wear a nifty examination gown. ;-) Tuesday, hopefully a consultation with Barbara Brenner (E.D. B.C.A.).
I'll be making a decision this week, and scheduling surgery.
Location:San Francisco
1 comment:
Hi Ally,
Saw this post and thought I would share our company with you...Annie & Isabel. We make designer hospital gowns and we actually made one to support breast cancer called the Elizabeth. We are giving 10% of proceeds from the sales of this gown back to breast cancer research. I wish you all the best on this journey. Far too many people being diagnosed with this. My grandmother eventually died of this....the breast cancer gown was named after her. Anyway...our site is www.annieandisabel.com Check us out and we are on facebook too. Good luck!!
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