The day started with some angst. The feeling of will I continue to do as well as I have been. Will it be #3 that knocks me on my ass. All these thoughts running through my head as I work for 2 hours then head off to my Dr.s appointment.

Noah drives me to the session and as we arrive I notice Juan was there. I was so happy as I thought my results of genetic tests would be back and wanted him present. So the Nurse walked in and said ok I’m gonna access your port to run your test and I automatically start to calm my mind and work through the fear that this access would not go smoothly. But it went well! They accessed to the port and were able to draw the blood without all the flushing and acrobats.  So cheers to the Nurse!

So in walks in my 5 foot nothing oncologist, Dr. Ajaz. She had in her hand my results. And my cancer is not genetic. Which means for my family, great news, yes even my boys. Remember men can also get breast cancer. So for me that means we will not know how I got it and I still have to decide what surgery I will do after chemo. Lumpectomy or mastectomy. Either one does not change this diagnoses but I have to think beyond this and what can happen in the future. Since my cancer was not hormone based this cancer could have grown anywhere so removing the breast doesn’t mean it wont come back. So  there Is a lot to think about. Then I told the Dr. Ajaz that we went to MD Anderson and I can not express the smile on her face. She was so happy and said that was great. I told her that they agreed with my treatment and she quickly said she studied there and that is the best place to go. She also said that chemo and radiation can be done anywhere but surgery and second opinions you want from MD Anderson. I explained that my biggest concern is once I have the surgery they will remove lymph nodes and more breast tissue and if I have the surgery is here in North Orlando they will send the samples out. But if I have the surgery at MD Anderson, there is a pathologist there in the surgery room guiding the surgeon to remove more or not. I think both Juan and I are in agreement on where I should have this surgery.

Off to the back room for chemo treatment. This center is bigger then the one I go to. There has to be at least 30 recliners all setup with IV machines and little side tables. I pick my chair and get ready. The fear begins again. The thoughts of, will I feel the same, will this one kick my ass? But then I thanked God for making this process easier than most and to help me through this next session. Then the red chemo starts to enter my body. I quickly get on my laptop and start working. Again the first real change is the tingling through my face and lips. I never felt it so quickly but it is all ok. I GOT THIS!

On a side note, once again my game plan was squashed. My chemo is longer than I anticipated. For some reason I thought total chemo would be 12 season. No way Jose, my first set of chemo is 4 session then 12 weekly sessions of taxol. So it is so very important to always go with another person to all your visits. You hear one thing and your helper hears something else. It’s like going to church. You get one thing out of it and someone else can get another.

So the positive of today one more chemo down, my Dr. loves the idea of going to MD Anderson and did you hear they found Dorothy’s slippers? Today is a win in my book!

Educational info – Youtube vidoe on how they access the port.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__youtu.be_rKXmySpexi8&d=DwICAg&c=if2ShhgNBoA_qsKVO5sxhX_pJknXqNywJwHNdEEOAq0&r=xcqz9lTAOWiyYvlbfs4akaLpq4PNzSAmp_qbYCJBuxk&m=O5Y_iH3AX43NjNiu7AZFgV19sT2OGbD4YUnUs-aYp-Q&s=etClAgQhBbsWslQHvr7-kzvxWyO0I2SxjOiP9OuyYX0&e