"One year to an advanced degree" programs. We have studied and listened, asked questions and watched videos. We are crammed full of knowledge about breast cancer, IBC, related treatments, side effects, medicines, anatomy, oh let's not forget insurance companies, nutrition...you get the idea. And you know those one year programs always have tests. The valet parking guys at MD Anderson know us, know our cars. BTW, digressing from my digression, everyone there is very kind.
Kimberly had her second PET Scan on Thursday. They feed you a radioactive dye and then scan your body. The idea is that cancer cells glow on the images. This is a huge step in the process. The first PET, done back in August, came back indicating the cancer had not spread outside the area of her left breast and some left lymph nodes. That initial test had to be done before they would begin treatment. In all, I think Kimberly had maybe 6 different tests, and we really had to work to schedule them creatively so that her treatment wouldn't be delayed months. Between availability of the machines and the required delays due to what they are putting in your body, it took some work. Back to the Thursday test. I think everyone understands with a cancer like IBC, once it moves through your body it becomes difficult to control. When she left, they promised the scan would be ready Friday. If the test is clean, we schedule surgery. If it's not, it's back to Chemo and that is not good.
So Friday comes, and we had another long appointment at MDAnderson with a different surgeon. If you have read Kimmy's blog, you might recall that there have been a couple of snafus with K's surgeon. She was Kimmy's doctor before all this and we had never had an issue. But, a couple of things have happened, at least one of which could have turned out badly. To make a long story short, we decided to talk to someone else and we met with Dr. Mark Demers Friday last. This happens to be the same doctor that our brother in law called when we first found out K had cancer. Both of these doctors are in Orlando Surgical Group, and they allow second opinions within (or without) their practice. OSG is also the preferred surgical group for MD Anderson. Dr. Demers, for example, trained in Texas at the MD Anderson IBC Center.
So, back to the Friday appointment. I'm making you read to the end to get the good news. We spent over an hour with Dr. Demers and talked through the options (there were one or two) and the sequence and timing of everything. We both liked him and Kimberly decided that he will handle her surgery. Although a lumpectomy is not an option, Kimberly did get to decide whether to keep one or have both breasts removed. We debated how to talk about this to all of you but, hey, we have come this far together. Dr. Demers tells us that the difference in risk is very small, but in the end that slight risk and other considerations were enough for her to decide to go ahead with a double masectomy. It's been a process getting to this point, and I think I understand some of the feelings Kimberly has about this. As a person, as a woman. A beautiful, young woman who was very healthy before all of this. To say it has been upsetting to think about for her is quite an understatement, but I think she has largely come to terms. For my part, it's not an issue. I had a woman working for me for years as my office manager, who went by Shelley. Our kids were the same age (she has two boys) and when something would come up with one of our kids she would shrug and say "hey, once your kid has a diaper blow out in the kitchen, not much else shocks you". As a married couple, we are past this. I love my wife, am very attracted to her, and this isn't going to change that. :)
OK. Here we go. So at the end of the meeting we asked about the test. Although they have an electronic records delivery system, Dr. Demers was skeptical about it being ready, but it was. He read it to us as he read it for the first time. And it was clean. It was actually better than clean. The scan indicates not only that the cancer did not spread, but that the chemo kicked those cancer cells' collective asses! This confirms the clinical indications from the regular exams, which also seemed to indicate the chemo was effective. We have no doubt that all the prayers aided Kimberly's positive response. Please keep them coming.
Perspective:
Three possible outcomes:
-The cancer could have spread, but it did not.
-The cancer could have been stalemated, this is not what happened either.
-The cancer could be driven back, killed off, shrunk. This is what happened. Most/all of the cancer cells in the left breast are dead. There may be some minimal activity in the left lymph nodes.
We were ecstatic and Allie (who was visiting for the night), Kimberly and I celebrated with lots of champagne.
This does not change the surgery, it and all of the remaining treatment remains the same. But Demers confirmed that this does change the prognosis. It improves it. :) As we have said, the danger is in the possible spreading. It makes sense that if the chemo killed the cancer cells in the breast area, it should also have killed them any where else they may be. The battle is won, but we are still at war. I think we passed our first test!!
