9/9 The day before my 56th birthday I found out I need a double mastectomy. That was heavy news at a bad time. Surgeon #2 said the second overlapping mass (in my duct) was DCIS and needed to come out along with the tumor. (Thank goodness we had this new opinion and recommendation, or I would have had to have a second surgery after the original lumpectomy!) Surgeon #2 then set me up with a great team of doctors who started setting up appointments for me. I was on my way to getting a plan, and then hopefully a surgery scheduled. Next task was to figure out what my treatment and reconstruction options were.
And then it was my birthday. My summer was almost over. I had to get in some bikini time before it was too late!
9/10 On my birthday Ned took me to Gateway, Colorado for a magical long weekend escape. (I said I wanted to wear my bikini one last time before the mastectomy, and so he found this gem for me to bask in!) We had a great time, and I soaked up all the place had to offer: more summer weather, spectacular scenery, mountain biking (where the main photo on this blog was taken), an amazing massage, and LOTS of pool time (with all the bikinis I own!)- not to mention great food, drink and relaxing…. Oh, and did I say spectacular views?!
When we got back home I finally got to meet the famous oncologist I had heard about (who is receptive to my metabolic approach to cancer), and she was fantastic! This doctor is going to lead my entire treatment. (She is the reason for, and the way I found Surgeon #2, who is also awesome). And the best news is, my mammaprint came back negative, so I won’t have to do chemo. Yay!!!
9/13 I was really starting to mourn the upcoming loss of my breasts, so I got in touch with a dear friend Lisa who had had an analogous fat transfer years ago and was loving her results. It was so great to connect– and to see someone happy with the procedure I thought I might want. All of a sudden I was excited and optimistic! A seed was planted and I started to research the place in New Orleans where she had it done (Center for Restorative Breast Surgery). Cutting edge stuff! I decided this would be my third opinion.
9/16 I met with a physical therapist (on surgeon #2’s team in Denver), and finally the plastic surgeon to see what my options were. The plastic surgeon said I am too skinny for an analogous fat transfer procedure (she only does the DIEP), and so silicone implants were my only option with her. (Now I am not a fan of foreign objects in my body- especially given all of my allergies. But since our next meeting was with surgeon #2 would do the mastectomy, I didn’t want to lose any chance at reconstruction (by not putting anything in there at least to hold the space.). So in an act of desperation, I agreed to (temporary!) silicone implants until I could get the reconstruction I really wanted. This would sped up my surgery (and they were hoping to schedule my surgery for Sept. 28 or Oct. 5th). We were so close! But was still a little bit of a waiting game.
9/17 But I didn’t sleep well that night. In fact, I was tormented again by my thoughts and worries and not being in control at all (if I did this surgery with silicone implants). I never liked the idea of the implants, and here I was, agreeing to get them. I was not getting exactly what I wanted, and the delay for reconstruction meant another major surgery down the road. Yikes! Two major surgeries! Would I be up for it after the first?
And I was just really sad because it was sinking in that I would be losing my breasts very soon. I like my breasts.Wasn’t this all just a bad dream?
9/24 Surgeon #2’s office called me: surgery was scheduled for Oct. 5th. That was great!! Or not??? This was really happening!
9/30 The mastectomy was looming, and I really wanted to celebrate, say goodbye to, and remember my poor little boobies before they got chopped off. So my dear friend and fellow artist Melissa painted wildflowers all over my chest (which was exquisite!), and my dear friend and photographer Barb took pictures of me. (I hadn’t felt that special and celebrated since my wedding day. It was a truly touching experience and magical day.) It all felt good.
9/30 Then, literally right after my chest painting was completed (at 2:30pm) the New Orleans folks called. They said they could do either a DIEP or SGAP on me, and they offered me a surgery date of Oct 7th. Holy moly!! I can get what I want, and so soon?! I’m in!!! I was so excited I could hardly stand it.
