Dr. B called this morning to tell me that the Oncotype dx results came in. This is the test that he told me might change his mind about treatment when we first met. My score was 80 out of 100. Anything over 30 is considered high....I felt like I got punched in the stomach when I heard 80!!!!!!!! This is a newer test that examines the genes in the tumor cell. The results should be used to determine if a patient with early stage cancer would benefit from chemotherapy. He said that the lab in CA actually called him because their results also showed that I was not ER/PR+. Based on these results he recommened that I post-pone surgery for 4 months and start chemo immediately.....The concern with the ER/PR issue is that he was planning on giving me tamoxifan after surgery for 5 years...this drug works to stop any other cancer cells that may be in the system but it works on ER/PR+ cells. He said that he was very concerned by the different ER/PR results along with the high oncotype result, and the Her2+ results. These were all making my case harder to find an easy answer on treatment. He said he discussed my case with his partners and they agreed that I should start chemo. He called Dr. Onc3 that I saw for my third opinion and she said she would not change my plans. She said that the test was for larger tumors than mine and she would stick with the original pathology info. He said that it was ultimately my decision but if it were his wife he would recommend the more agressive treatment.
My biggest concern about the chemo is the affect that it will have on my kids. I don't know how sick I will be and Jillian won't understand why I have no hair and who knows what Tyler will think about it. It just breaks my heart that my kids have to grow up with this horrible disease affecting their lives. This should be a time of innocence and instead they get this shoved in their face...it just doesn't seem fair to them. I will do whatever I have to do to beat this but I will always worry about the impact it has on them.....
Bret and I are meeting with Dr. B. at 3 to go over all of this craziness....please pray for my strength to get through this day.
2 comments:
O.K. Jan, this is where you have to wrap your head around what you are hearing, be the strongest you can be, and just continue to make the right decisions for you and your family. You have two extremely strong kids that love you dearly. They will NOT be damaged for life, they will be even stronger after watching you beat this thing. Remember we all love you and are behind you 100%
Love, Kay
Jan - I think and pray for you, Bret and kids every day. I can't believe what you are facing but you have always been a very strong, intelligent woman who I admire very much. You concentrate on yourself, those wonderful kids of yours will make it through this and be stronger for it. I love you Jan and wish I could be with you. Jo
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