I didn't get zapped. I thought this is the pre-apt. for getting the tattoos and the mold done.
Wrong. It was just admin stuff. An intern examined me and filled out a lot of papers.
There was some confusion. First, she was upset that a bone scan hadn't been done. I was a little surprised as I thought (I could be wrong) that would have been done back when I was diagnosed to check for metastasis. Since I was clearly an early case and all my other checks were clear, I was wondering why I needed to do this at this late stage, since I'm getting CAT scan in a few months anyway.
I don't like to speak out too quickly so I let her call the boss. Also, I mentioned the genetic testing and she said it could be done there. When she got off the phone, it was yes to the genetic testing and no to the bone scan.
Whew!
I actually contacted another clinic who gave me a name so I'll have to write them back, thank them and tell them that Strauss will do it. They're doing it based on being Ashkenazi, having another young case in my family and the fact I have two daughters (who can't be tested until they're 18).
She also asked a lot of other questions, ranging from whether I had told my kids (she was glad I had) and what my background is. Of course, being American, when she asked about my "background" I had to make a distinction between my nationality and my actual ethnic make-up. When I got to the fourth country, she stopped me, laughing "Oh, a real Melting Pot!" I didn't dare tell her I wasn't done but let it go.
She then asked me if I wanted to participate in a study having to do with radiation effects on the thyroid. I said "yes" quickly because my sister's cancer started in the thyroid and other members of my family have had thyroid issues so thought it would be a good idea. Basically, I have to do one more apt. (I have to many, will I even notice?) with an endocrinologist and I have to have (yet-another) blood test before I start. I'm such a pin cushion, I really don't care at this point. It's a big plus for me because I'm now going to have my thyroid followed, for free! Can't be a bad thing.
Except it meant even more paperwork. I don't know how many volunteers they get but they were all excited. This very lovely lady appeared. They explained that I can exit the study at any time, without explanation. I told them that my son was participating in another study on his enamel so I kind of knew how it works. Some strange "quality of life" survey of just 5 vague questions... The survey is based out of Reims but they're using patients from all over France.
She took a lot of my papers. The one thing she did give me back was my MRI, which is the one thing, thanks to turning Adassa's radiology dept. upside down, I do already have...
I did see they had a copy of the tumor board. I looked and saw a bunch of names I didn't know. Dr. Gottenberg and a lot of his partners were there. A radiologist's name I didn't know and there was an oncologist. She explained that they were radiologist-oncologists. Regular oncologists mainly deal with chemo patients, so I won't be seeing one at all.
I also saw the list of who did my surgery. I noted the name of the anesthesiologist. "Il etait beau!" I said half jokingly. My anesthesiologist was pretty hot. I joked that he picked the wrong speciality and that I was tempted to stay awake, just to look at him. We were all laughing. Anesthesiology really is suited more for those without looks or personality and it was clear he had plenty of both!
During the exam, she wasn't happy with the healing of the scar where the lymph nodes were removed. Probably because vain-me decided to wear a bra a couple of days ago. I was so determined to be "normal" again but it didn't last long. I'm back into the boob-smunching sports bra until it heals. She wants me to go back to Dr. Gottenberg and I made an apt. for next week, when I got home. She said it will probably delay my treatment until January (!!!) That had me in a panic! I've put my LIFE on hold lady, to start this right away! (then of course, I'm thinking last-minute deals...)
After all this, the survey lady walked me down to the actual therapeutic-radiology dept. The nurse said we can probably start the 16th. That was a relief but I'm not holding my breath. She was also pretty positive for getting me 8:30am apt.s, which would be really nice and out of the way of the kids' school. Of course, she pointed out the school break but that's 2 1/2 weeks, vs. the five weeks of radiation.
That was another little panic. I thought I was supposed to have six weeks of therapy. Write that down as a question for Dr. Gottenberg!
There's a lot of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing here. I wish some of these stories were kept straight! I'll get to the bottom of this, when I start and for how long... but I wish they were all singing the same tune. I could have made some Xmas plans!!
I have already spent three seconds on researching various creams for radiation. Turns out, they want me to use nothing. I then asked, if it doesn't look and/or feel good, then what? Totally get the not-wearing-any-cream to apt.s but what if the area gives me trouble? They will tell me what to get. Okay, I'm in France! I still have some pure Aloe lotion somewhere in the closet... (what all the BC ladies on the internet rave about).
My apt. was for 9:30 and I ended up spending the entire morning there... I'm having trouble with my right leg. It's probably a repetitive thing from the car, similar to the problems I still kind of have with my knee. That's probably what got her going about the bone scan. The stupid leg is more painful than the scars.
The physical therapy question was also kind of left in limbo. Which PT should I go to and who can recommend one? My gynecologist didn't know. They sent me back to Dr. Gottenberg. They didn't know but they asked him and they gave me the two names he recommended. Of course, he could have told me that at the apt. but oh well. I picked the woman who is near the kids' school over the man. Who cares? I got an apt. for next Friday and we'll see from there. I was warned on a private FB BC group page that I may not be able to continue. My report says only two lymph nodes were removed so it's doubtful that I'll suffer any lymphoedema problems, or "fat arm" syndrome, as it's called in French. That's more for women who had the more extreme mastectomies but Dr. Gottenberg said it's "preventitive". I figure it won't hurt and I have so many apt.'s anyway.
I am very pleased with what it looks like. After the surgery, it was all bruised and twisted around. I wasn't upset. I figured being pointed in the wrong direction on the left was a small price to pay for being cancer-free and at almost 50 years old, one can only be so vain.
But no. It's settled down and now, the headlights are focused straight ahead. Yeah! Also, I can't tell any missing "mass" that Dr. N. warned me might happen. So far, it hasn't happened and I'm surprised as two tumors were removed. I might still find out that it's not entirely true. I might still be seeing swelling that's covering it up. A tip I got on the net was to later lean over. But really, anything that needs leaning over to check, isn't worth the worry.
Also, the scar is very well placed. The lymph node scar will be visible if one really looks at my armpit, which few should be doing. The big 4 inch scar runs along the side, and completely under any swimsuit or bra, unless I lived in Brazil, which I don't (and not any suits I should be wearing at my age anyway!)
On Thanksgiving, I put a photo of my lab report with the statement "What I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving" on Facebook. Ironic as I barely understand it but it was true. It was actually Thanksgivingkah on Thursday, the only time that the two holidays will collide. We ate just escalope of turkey and then lit candles. Last night, we went to services were Davina barely sang. She spent more time yakking with her friend Sarah. Both looked like very naughty girls!
Wrong. It was just admin stuff. An intern examined me and filled out a lot of papers.
There was some confusion. First, she was upset that a bone scan hadn't been done. I was a little surprised as I thought (I could be wrong) that would have been done back when I was diagnosed to check for metastasis. Since I was clearly an early case and all my other checks were clear, I was wondering why I needed to do this at this late stage, since I'm getting CAT scan in a few months anyway.
I don't like to speak out too quickly so I let her call the boss. Also, I mentioned the genetic testing and she said it could be done there. When she got off the phone, it was yes to the genetic testing and no to the bone scan.
Whew!
I actually contacted another clinic who gave me a name so I'll have to write them back, thank them and tell them that Strauss will do it. They're doing it based on being Ashkenazi, having another young case in my family and the fact I have two daughters (who can't be tested until they're 18).
She also asked a lot of other questions, ranging from whether I had told my kids (she was glad I had) and what my background is. Of course, being American, when she asked about my "background" I had to make a distinction between my nationality and my actual ethnic make-up. When I got to the fourth country, she stopped me, laughing "Oh, a real Melting Pot!" I didn't dare tell her I wasn't done but let it go.
She then asked me if I wanted to participate in a study having to do with radiation effects on the thyroid. I said "yes" quickly because my sister's cancer started in the thyroid and other members of my family have had thyroid issues so thought it would be a good idea. Basically, I have to do one more apt. (I have to many, will I even notice?) with an endocrinologist and I have to have (yet-another) blood test before I start. I'm such a pin cushion, I really don't care at this point. It's a big plus for me because I'm now going to have my thyroid followed, for free! Can't be a bad thing.
Except it meant even more paperwork. I don't know how many volunteers they get but they were all excited. This very lovely lady appeared. They explained that I can exit the study at any time, without explanation. I told them that my son was participating in another study on his enamel so I kind of knew how it works. Some strange "quality of life" survey of just 5 vague questions... The survey is based out of Reims but they're using patients from all over France.
She took a lot of my papers. The one thing she did give me back was my MRI, which is the one thing, thanks to turning Adassa's radiology dept. upside down, I do already have...
I did see they had a copy of the tumor board. I looked and saw a bunch of names I didn't know. Dr. Gottenberg and a lot of his partners were there. A radiologist's name I didn't know and there was an oncologist. She explained that they were radiologist-oncologists. Regular oncologists mainly deal with chemo patients, so I won't be seeing one at all.
I also saw the list of who did my surgery. I noted the name of the anesthesiologist. "Il etait beau!" I said half jokingly. My anesthesiologist was pretty hot. I joked that he picked the wrong speciality and that I was tempted to stay awake, just to look at him. We were all laughing. Anesthesiology really is suited more for those without looks or personality and it was clear he had plenty of both!
During the exam, she wasn't happy with the healing of the scar where the lymph nodes were removed. Probably because vain-me decided to wear a bra a couple of days ago. I was so determined to be "normal" again but it didn't last long. I'm back into the boob-smunching sports bra until it heals. She wants me to go back to Dr. Gottenberg and I made an apt. for next week, when I got home. She said it will probably delay my treatment until January (!!!) That had me in a panic! I've put my LIFE on hold lady, to start this right away! (then of course, I'm thinking last-minute deals...)
After all this, the survey lady walked me down to the actual therapeutic-radiology dept. The nurse said we can probably start the 16th. That was a relief but I'm not holding my breath. She was also pretty positive for getting me 8:30am apt.s, which would be really nice and out of the way of the kids' school. Of course, she pointed out the school break but that's 2 1/2 weeks, vs. the five weeks of radiation.
That was another little panic. I thought I was supposed to have six weeks of therapy. Write that down as a question for Dr. Gottenberg!
There's a lot of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing here. I wish some of these stories were kept straight! I'll get to the bottom of this, when I start and for how long... but I wish they were all singing the same tune. I could have made some Xmas plans!!
I have already spent three seconds on researching various creams for radiation. Turns out, they want me to use nothing. I then asked, if it doesn't look and/or feel good, then what? Totally get the not-wearing-any-cream to apt.s but what if the area gives me trouble? They will tell me what to get. Okay, I'm in France! I still have some pure Aloe lotion somewhere in the closet... (what all the BC ladies on the internet rave about).
My apt. was for 9:30 and I ended up spending the entire morning there... I'm having trouble with my right leg. It's probably a repetitive thing from the car, similar to the problems I still kind of have with my knee. That's probably what got her going about the bone scan. The stupid leg is more painful than the scars.
The physical therapy question was also kind of left in limbo. Which PT should I go to and who can recommend one? My gynecologist didn't know. They sent me back to Dr. Gottenberg. They didn't know but they asked him and they gave me the two names he recommended. Of course, he could have told me that at the apt. but oh well. I picked the woman who is near the kids' school over the man. Who cares? I got an apt. for next Friday and we'll see from there. I was warned on a private FB BC group page that I may not be able to continue. My report says only two lymph nodes were removed so it's doubtful that I'll suffer any lymphoedema problems, or "fat arm" syndrome, as it's called in French. That's more for women who had the more extreme mastectomies but Dr. Gottenberg said it's "preventitive". I figure it won't hurt and I have so many apt.'s anyway.
I am very pleased with what it looks like. After the surgery, it was all bruised and twisted around. I wasn't upset. I figured being pointed in the wrong direction on the left was a small price to pay for being cancer-free and at almost 50 years old, one can only be so vain.
But no. It's settled down and now, the headlights are focused straight ahead. Yeah! Also, I can't tell any missing "mass" that Dr. N. warned me might happen. So far, it hasn't happened and I'm surprised as two tumors were removed. I might still find out that it's not entirely true. I might still be seeing swelling that's covering it up. A tip I got on the net was to later lean over. But really, anything that needs leaning over to check, isn't worth the worry.
Also, the scar is very well placed. The lymph node scar will be visible if one really looks at my armpit, which few should be doing. The big 4 inch scar runs along the side, and completely under any swimsuit or bra, unless I lived in Brazil, which I don't (and not any suits I should be wearing at my age anyway!)
On Thanksgiving, I put a photo of my lab report with the statement "What I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving" on Facebook. Ironic as I barely understand it but it was true. It was actually Thanksgivingkah on Thursday, the only time that the two holidays will collide. We ate just escalope of turkey and then lit candles. Last night, we went to services were Davina barely sang. She spent more time yakking with her friend Sarah. Both looked like very naughty girls!
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