CHEMO IS OVER...

  

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, IT'S ACTUALLY OVER!!!! When I began this journey 6 months ago everything seemed so overwhelming and so far away. We were going to multiple dr.s appointments each week for months getting pumped full of information and plans. Chemo seemed so far away. Now, by the grace of God, it's over and I'm done with chemo!! When I walked in the Cancer Center December 13th for my first cycle, I was so nervous, not knowing what to expect and not knowing how I was going to feel in the weeks between that treatment and the next. The first cycle was a little rough considering I didn't have my port yet so they had to stick me multiple times to draw blood then again to start the chemo infusion. I was already fairly bruised by the time I left and said that I had to have my port by the next treatment and I did. The first 3 weeks between treatments went pretty well. I did have some side effects that were unpleasant but I actually felt pretty good once they subsided. When I returned for my 2nd cycle and reported my side effects they told me that my fatigue and some of the other symptoms would be cumulative meaning that with each treatment they would continue building in my system and I would probably feel worse and worse and more and more tired each time. Well, cumulative it has been but I will say, it has all been worth it so far to beat cancer! So, as I mentioned, chemo is over and it officially ended March 28, 2014!!!!

LAST CHEMO...CHECK!!

Genetic Testing...

While in chemo of Friday I received a call from my Genetic Counselor Kaylee. After speaking with her in February I decided to go ahead with the BreastNext genetic testing panel which would test 18 genes. By testing these 18 genes I would know if I am at risk for any other types of cancer and I may also find out where my breast cancer came from if there are any mutations. I was hoping that there would be ZERO mutations because of course I don't want to be at an increased risk for other cancers but then again I was kind of hoping to have a mutation on that breast cancer gene because I wanted to know where my cancer came from. Well, the results are in and I couldn't be happier!! Analyses of 18 genes was NEGATIVE and I was found to NOT be a carrier of a mutation for any of the genes. This means that I do not have the associated increased risks for breast and other cancers associated with these genes!! With that being said, since there was no mutation on the breast cancer gene, so we still don't know where my cancer came from. However, I am ok with that because that also means I am not at an increased risk for it to come back. That also means that this cancer had to come from something environmental or something I have ingested which is scary! 

What's next...

Monday, April 7 we will meet with the Radiation Oncologist. I have many questions for him and am uncertain that radiation is the way I want to go. There are so many long term effects and I am not sure I want to be part of those. I will hear him out though and get my questions answered then make my decision from there. If I do decide to move forward with radiation, it would start in about 4 weeks. Once it is complete 6 weeks later I could potentially begin reconstruction next year sometime. If I decide to not move forward with radiation, I will be able to contact my Plastic Surgeon and move forward with reconstruction in the next few months. So, we shall see :)