PET Scan Results
I was too tired to write anything yesterday – not eating takes a big toll on me. But. Fantastic news from the surgeon this morning: cancer is localized to the breast! Hells yeah. That’s the final piece of news that was going to make or break me. 😉 (not really, but you know)
The scan itself was mostly waiting. They injected me with radioactive sugar via IV, and then I napped uncomfortably in a chair for an hour. Then you get taken into the scan room. The PET and the CT are done in the same machine. The scan itself is about 14 minutes where you’re passed back and forth between the tube. Not comfortable but definitely better than the face-down breast MRI.
Because I was radioactive, I had to stay away from kids and pregnant folks (I also stayed away from the dogs because we weren’t sure!). A friend took me out to a restaurant I haven’t been to and that was nice, to be distracted. I was so damn tired I “snuck” in the house to go to bed. The kids knew they couldn’t get close to me. (Upon coming home, Evelyn said, “yeah mom, you’re radioactive, we know.”) ?
Anyway, I’m driving the kids to daycare this morning (before 8 am) when I get a call from the surgeon who let me know we’re in good shape. Reading the lab reports makes it seem like there’s a possibility it’s creeping into my chest wall – but also, I’m not a doctor. These are things to ask at my next appointment. But, even if, the idea is to do chemo to shrink those little asshole cancer cells.
I thought this day couldn’t have had better news, but then the Mayo calls me to say they have an appointment this coming MONDAY. Yes, I’ll take that! So I should get a second treatment plan from Mayo that day, with the breast oncologist the next day to finalize the first treatment plan with Mercy. I am so thankful for this because it means I’ll be able to start treatment ASAP. This thing grew really fast and it keeps growing, I don’t want to wait long for it to go elsewhere.
Now I’ll “need” to decide on doing cold-cap therapy. It’s supposed to keep your hair on your head. This is really a luxury. So many people can’t afford to do this. It makes me feel guilty on some level. Lindsay reminded me I get to be lucky, too. In fact, this may be one of the few times I’ve gotten to be lucky – which is really weird. I’ll take it, though.
Still really amazed at you all. I’ve gotten a few lovely handwritten cards. ❤️ (I’m obsessed with pens & handwriting) It doesn’t matter how long we’ve known each other or whether we’ve spoken in the last 10 years – it all goes a long way.
I have to brag on my LMA peeps for a second. If you don’t know, I’ve been volunteering with the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) for a decade or more. I’ve wanted to be president from the beginning (because duh), and I’m president during a pandemic and now freaking cancer shows up. That’s one of those things that seem like the entire world is against you, but like everything else, you can find good out of it. And the best part of LMA is the people, like my friends from Minnesota. It’s NOT because they sent me the gift, either. LOL
I happen to know a whole lot of you, as it turns out, in LMA. Even if you’re not in LMA now, there’s a chance I know you from LMA (my very bestest friend among them). You accepted me when I was new. Introduced me to your friends. Encouraged and helped me throughout my career. Threw me celebratory parties for life milestones. Stayed friends with me even though the first time you met me I was on the hangover from hell. Boycott books with me (true story). You’ve mentored me – so damn many of you. You’re there when I call you. You’ve been asking everyone you know for advice, ins, tricks, memes, encouraging words. This organization has always meant something to me but I didn’t know how deep those roots ran.
LMAers aren’t the only ones, of course. I’ve just been thinking about how y’all turned out. For some reason, I can talk about the cancer, no problem. But I start on my supporters and it’s the one thing that consistently makes me tear up.
Can you tell why I’ve been in therapy all these years?! ? I joke but that’s the thing about mental health. (Now my PSAs are going to be mental health and getting weird body things checked out ???) It makes you think you’re worthless when you’re not.
Funny that it took a little thing like cancer to figure it out ? (someone on our board call said this today ? ❤️).
So there’s your sap for the day.
xoxo
