MRI, genetic testing, second opinion ... root canal?!

I met with a fantastic Group Health surgeon today. Dr. Gerald Kent spent more than an hour talking me and Sean through my diagnosis, explaining the next several steps we'll be taking to gather as much information as we can to make the most informed decision possible about the course of treatment I'll take. The next several steps I'll take include: 1. Genetic testing to see if I'm a carrier for an BRCA gene mutation, which could put me at greater risk of cancer recurrence down the road. If I'm a BRCA carrier, that would mean Sylvia's at higher risk of getting breast or ovarian cancer, too. We don't know if my mom is a BRCA carrier; because she got her cancer in her late 60s and didn't meet other criteria, she wasn't tested for it when she was diagnosed. 2. Getting a breast MRI that will help my docs determine if there's any cancer in either breast that they missed in the mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. 3. Meeting with an oncologist to talk about the pros and cons of getting several lymph nodes removed, including the one with cancer cells in it. One pro: determining if cancer has spread to any other of my lymph nodes, and how many — something they likely won't be able to tell from the MRI because the cells in the lymph node are so small. Some cons: 1) a relatively high risk of pretty severe arm swelling and/or numbness, 2) this surgery is not considered more therapeutic than attacking the lymph nodes with chemotherapy (which I'll definitely need, because my cancer migrated to a lymph node) and radiation. 4. Going through Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's second opinion process. I don't know much about it yet, aside from the encouraging things that friends of mine at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center say about it. A Group Health tumor review board comprised of several doctors took a close look at my case and recommended the first two next steps outlined above. Sean and I, with support from Dr. Kent, requested steps three and four. One day, one step at a time. We are figuring this thing out. It may be a couple, possibly three weeks for me to decide what type of surgery I get. That's OK. Because breast cancers are relatively slow-growing, my doctor estimates it's been there for a year or more. So we're taking our time and being as methodical as we can about asking every question that comes to mind. Oh, and about that root canal ... I'll be getting my first one next week. (Hah! I laugh at you, root canal! You are too FUNNY!) I have a tooth with an inflamed nerve that makes it super sensitive to cold and/or pressure. Though the pain isn't bad now, we have to take care of it lickety split before I start chemo. No dental work or any other procedures that pose a risk of infection when my immune system is suppressed. Bring it, root canal. I'm ready for you, too.

#CaringBridge #cancer #BRCA #SCCA #lymphnodes #lymphedema #GroupHealth #rootcanal #MRI

Team Liz times two

A few weeks ago, I made a donation to a 140-mile bike ride that my friend Paul Jaye is doing with his father, sister and cousin to raise money for cancer research. They named their Ride to Conquer Cancer crew Team Liz in honor of Paul’s mom, who lost her brave battle with cancer two years ago. When I shared the news of my cancer diagnosis with Paul, he wrote:

“Liz you're strong, you have a great core team in Sean, Sylvia & Tyler and a great community that will stand by you as you go through this. We will stand by your side, and help out the entire Gillespie clan in any way that we can.

You will be very much on my mind as we ride this weekend. Our team name is Team Liz, and I'll be riding for two Liz's, one dearly missed, and one going *very* strong.”

After the first day of Team Liz’s ride through the countryside of Ontario, where Paul grew up, he shared this:

“We've finished the first day’s ride, and I'm absolutely blown away at how many cancer survivors are riding on this ride! During the speeches a few survivors talked, and the thing that stood out was how they'd surmounted their cancer, and how much life was left to live.

It's an inspiring ride, and you're very much on my mind as we chased down the kilometers today.”

Paul and his family are very much on my mind, too. I share more than a name and a cruel disease with Paul’s mum. Just like Liz Jaye, I have an amazing support network of family and friends who love me dearly and will keep me strong during the fight that lies ahead of me.

At times like this, giving to a cause like Team Liz’s Ride to Conquer Cancer can turn heartache and anger into something positive and meaningful.

In that spirit, I share this link to Paul’s fundraising page.

Go, Team Liz!

#cancer #CaringBridge

Shock, awe and (yes, I'm serious) gratitude

The shock: I have breast cancer. That's the worst part of this awful news I wish I didn't have to share. The awe: how fortunate I feel that good news about my bad news outweighs the bad. There are several indicators that my cancer is highly treatable. The fancy name for it is infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common kind of cancer (different from the kind my mom beat). It started in one of my milk ducts and has spread beyond it (not yet clear just how much), as well as to at least one of my lymph nodes. The cancer cells are in the middle of the abnormal spectrum and aren’t reproducing too rapidly: grade 2 out of 3 (which has nothing to do with what stage my cancer is — something we won’t know until more tests are done). I’m super relieved that my tumor is positive for both estrogen and progesterone, which means there are more tools to treat it. And it’s HER2 negative (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2), which means it’s not as aggressive as some of the nastiest breast cancers. The next steps are a) to meet with a surgeon to talk about the pathology of my tumor in greater detail (stay tuned for more news after my June 16 appointment), b) book an MRI if the surgeon feels I need one before he gets this thing out of me and c) go through the second opinion process with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, which will give us as much confidence as possible that the diagnosis and treatment plan my doctors lay out for me are based on rock solid science. The gratitude: what's hit me more than any emotion I've navigated these last several days. As horrible as it is to face a demon like cancer, I'm so grateful I can say with the utmost confidence that I'm ready for this. I'm also grateful beyond words for all the love and support I have from so many deeply caring people in my life: family and friends, near and far, whom I know will be there for me, Sean, Sylvia and Tyler in countless ways as we kick cancer in its unwelcome ass. Hard. Thanks to all of you who are sending me warm and positive thoughts. If it takes me longer than usual to write or call you back, I know you'll understand. We'll talk and/or hug and/or laugh and/or cry it out as soon as we can. In the meantime, know that my family and I draw great strength from all of you. You're amazing. As I sign off on what will be the first of many entries, I'll leave you with this thought from a dear friend: "Cancer has messed with the wrong woman."

#CaringBridge #cancer