Posted by David Poncelow
Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:29:00 GMT | no comments
I just got a call from my doctor with the pathology report from my surgery. The result was that three out of the twenty-one lymph nodes were involved. The surgical borders were all clean, so the surgery got all the cancer we know of, but the cancer had gotten into fatty tissue around the sentinel lymph node. As a result, I’m going to need to have radiation therapy in addition to chemotherapy. Some of the results of the hormone tests on the first biopsy also came back- they are positive for Progesterone and Estrogen receptors. As a result, hormone therapy is also likely to be helpful (a good thing- one more way to fight this). Tests for HER2 are still outstanding- that might be another helpful mode of treatment. I’ve got another appointment next Friday at 11:15, so perhaps I’ll get a bit more interpretation for these results then. I think I may be into the time when there are fewer answers forthcoming- it’s going to be a long game of wait-and-see. I’ll know what the next step is on Friday at least.
In the meantime I’m healing well. I’m up and about, even took a walk into downtown Ballard a little while ago. It’s a bright, sunshiny day today- another perfect day to be living in Seattle. It’s definitely fall, with a bit of a nip in the moist air (it’s been raining in the evenings). I’m about ready for another nap, and I might even make it out to visit with some friends tonight. I’m already a bit stir-crazy, which may not bode well for the next couple weeks
Posted in Cancer
Posted by David Poncelow
Thu, 21 Sep 2006 14:45:00 GMT | no comments
Well, I got through surgery yesterday and am home now. I’m feeling pretty good, no real pain to speak of. I’m still pretty drugged, not too sure how much sense I’m actually making. I did end up losing the lymph nodes- I guess they were involved. Now I’ve got a plastic grenade-shaped container hooked up to a tube going into my side that’s draining off the lymph fluids and blood from the surgery. I don’t know a whole lot at the moment, and I keep seeming to forget what I do know! I’m sure my mind will be clearer tomorrow, and I should have the full results back from the surgery at the beginning of next week.
And now, perhaps another movie!
Posted in Cancer
Posted by David Poncelow
Tue, 19 Sep 2006 14:28:00 GMT | no comments
I’ve got a lot of friends and family that would like to stay abreast (hehe… abreast, breast cancer…. ok, so maybe it’s not really that funny) of what’s going on in my cancer treatment. I’ll try to write out what’s going on as I get through this - I can go into a lot more detail here than I can on the phone or chatting. Perhaps there is someone else out there that’s going through this too- it’s always good to know that you aren’t alone when going through this type of thing.
The blog itself is pretty quick and dirty- a generic template. Perhaps I’ll get around to customizing it a bit- if not, well, it will still do!
Posted in Misc
Posted by David Poncelow
Tue, 19 Sep 2006 13:44:00 GMT | no comments
Well, my cancer surgery is tomorrow. It’s already been an interesting journey- a lot of waiting for answers and anticipation. It all started about four months ago- Dahlia found something unusual about my chest- an area directly underneath the nipple that had become firmer than normal and the nipple was somewhat flattened. Nothing tremendously noticeable, but unusual. I discounted it somewhat, but Dahlia was worried, so after a little while I made an appointment to find out what it was.
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Posted in Cancer