Sheep Shots

You were warned!

Let me just say that (to paraphrase Mark Twain), the rumors of my death (or impending death) are greatly exaggerated!

Read on at your own peril.

Here's what's going on:

In April, I had a "suspicious" mammogram that was followed up with ultrasound. A small calcification that they had been following for years (since 2002?) appeared to be growing. It was pinpointed and I was referred to a surgeon. A stereotactic biopsy was performed. The diagnosis was atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and though it appeared non-malignant, a lumpectomy was recommended because ADH can lead to other more serious things.

I had the lumpectomy. Pathology report came back showing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of about 2 mm, stage 0 (that's zero, and ironically, about the size of a size 0 (US) knitting needle) cancer, non-invasive, right at the edge of the surgical site.

A second surgery was performed a month later to obtain "clean margins," which were, indeed, clean. An MRI follow-up confirmed that there were no remaining malignant cells.

The next recommendation was for a very intense, short-term radiation treatment (brachytherapy) in which a balloon catheter is implanted and a radioactive seed the size of a grain of rice is inserted 2 times a day for 5 days. This is to prevent recurrence. The device was inserted, and I was facing 10 days (in this heat) without showers and/or deodorant. A CT last Friday revealed that there was insufficient tissue between the catheter and the skin to prevent burning to the skin. The device was removed and I was referred for "traditional" radiation.

I saw the radiologist last Wednesday, and asked point blank, "Why am I doing this?"

Since the answer wasn't definitive. . .

Right now, I am weighing my options. There is no reason to rush and several good reasons to wait. DCIS has about a 5-10% recurrence rate after 10 years no matter what treatment is employed. If I have radiation now, and it recurs, I may not be a candidate for further radiation. Medical options (Tamoxifen) to prevent recurrence are available. I am meeting with a medical oncologist to discuss them in a week.

Never mind that being zapped 33 times that close to my heart, lung, and ribcage scares the bejeezus out of me.

Keep a good thought, please, but don't worry. I am bigger than this!

And let me just add for those women who dislike the discomfort of a mammogram--I didn't feel anything, nada, zero, zilch! Find something 2 mm in diameter. It's about the thickness of a pencil lead. Smaller than a BB, a lot! Bigger than a poppy seed, but not much. Would you have felt that through layers of skin and fat? I didn't! And probably would not, even if I had known exactly where to feel.

Don't put off routine tests!

Okay?

Labels: current events