Going for the Triple Crown

Had the meeting with Radiation Oncologist and the Medical Oncologists today. First stop was the Radiation Oncologist. When meeting with her nurse she went to hand the packet of information to my mother and I had to remind her, I was the patient. She said "I knew you were young, I just still so surprised by how young". They gave me information on creams and how to deal with microwaved skin and about the 33 treatments I will need. Do you know there is a cream called My Girls? Cracked me up. However, the lovely Radiation Oncologist (who was trained in the USSR) said that my oncotyping showed Intermediate recurrence risk and that I would need to meet with Medical Oncologist to decide what that would mean. She then checked my incision sites and was very pleased with they way they are healing. Excellent.

CHEMO A GO GO

Next we met with the Medical Oncologists. After my vital signs were checked for a second time [my blood pressure improved by 5 mm Hg between visits, but my heart rate increased by 10 beats- a little anxious maybe?] she laid out the facts. With my Intermediate risk, because even though it was a micrometasis (very little in the lymph nodes) she recommended that we go aggressive, but told me the choice was mine.  I agreed to go aggressive. Go big or go home. She gave me the chemotherapy options, including none and entering a trial, but I decided to go with the regimen she most highly recommended (didn't have the risk of Congestive Heart Failure as an option) called TC (Taxotere/cytoxan). The major side effect is decreased white blood cells and total hair loss. Yup, going to be bald. However, she said most people are able to work while having it and she had patients who ran while having it (I made sure my Mom heard that part). Nausea is not really a side effect. Score! Also, the day after the infusions I will get a shot to increase my white blood cells and ward off infections.

It is 4 cycles of TC starting Tuesday. 1 infusion every 3 weeks. So after 12 weeks I will be finished (and able to regrow my hair). She said that within 3 days of starting Chemo all my hair will be gone. The oncologist gave me a prescription for a wig. My nana wore wigs growing up and I am more weirded out to wear a wig than to lose my hair. Hats and scarves it is. (The oncologist insisted on me taking the wig prescription regardless)

I am happy that we are going aggressive with the treatment. I do not want the cancer to come back and I am glad we are doing everything to ensure that (Happy about chemo, well that just seems absurd). 

Hoping to look as good as this guy bald