Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:46:44 -0800
Hi Family,
Subject: Guess what I'm doing for my birthday?
Dear Bev, Jan, Anita, Andrea & Dad,
Dear Bev, Jan, Anita, Andrea & Dad,
Well, I met with the Dr again this morning for a short appointment
and gave him my decision about surgery. For all the reasons I mentioned
before, I decided to go ahead and have a mastectomy. So guess what I'll
be doing for my birthday? My doctor and I actually have the same birthday.
So Dr. Gulbrandson will be performing surgery on me for both our
birthdays! Yea!...its gonna be a party!
Wednesday, March 13, at 7:30 am is the scheduled surgery.
We have to arrive at 5:30. I think it's one night in the hospital.
OK, thats about it for now.
Love, Pam
Date: Fri, Feb 15, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Subject: Decision TimeHi Family,
Well, it seems as if time is moving v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y for me. My doctor has been in no real hurry to get me to make a decision about surgery. It seems like one appointment leads to another and then another set of facts and information. This week has been a busy week with appointments and also a very emotional week for me. I think the decision as to what I am going to do is very close.
Tuesday, I had a breast MRI. I have never had an MRI before. I think it is some sort of Chinese torture with all the noise and lying perfectly still on my stomach with my arms stretched out overhead.
Wednesday, I met with a genetic counselor For some reason that was really upsetting to me to realize that if I had the BRCA gene that I, and my sisters, and my children, and nieces & nephews could also be at risk for developing certain cancers.
That afternoon, Dr Dutton called me with the MRI results which she presented as positive. She said there was just a bit more abnormal enhancement that showed up on the MRI and it would be feasible to remove that area and treat with radiation and eliminate the cancer. After talking with her, I was really leaning toward breast conservation.
Today I had an appointment with Dr Gulbrandson and he presented things slightly differently. Although I still could be considered a good candidate for breast conservation, he gave me a bit more to think about. He is concerned that the area in question is about the same size as the area he already took out reaching close to the maximum size guideline that is used when conservation is an option. Its not that any one tumor is that big; its that I have several smaller tumors in an area of that size, thus the multifocal aspect. Also he said that I have alot of different kinds of things going on in my breast ranging from abnormal cells (atypical lobular hyperplascia), cancer that is staying right where it began (lobulat carcinoma in situ & ductal carcinoma in situ), and then the full blown cancer (multifocal ductal infultrating carcinoma). There are a lot of changes happening so it might be more difficult to get all the cancer cells out.
After talking to Dr G, I have now pretty much come to the conclusion that a mastectomy on my left breast is probably the best course of action for me. I've wanted to take the least invasive route as possible while still achieving a desirable outcome, but I think this will be the best treatment in my case.
Dr G still didnt want me to decide today, but take the weekend to think it over. I have an appointment with him on Tuesday and will give him my decision....So that being the case, I still dont know when surgery will be, but I'm guessing in 2-3 weeks from now.
Its been a long road. It has been hard to decide. It's been the hardest thing I've had to decide. I know God is with me. My family is with me. My husband is with me. My church family and friends are with me. Thank you for your prayers.
Love you lots!
Pammy
Subject: Radiation Oncology
Hello Loved Ones,
Before meeting with her, I was leaning toward a particular treatment path. Now I am leaning toward a different path. She highly recommended a MRI, which in my case, is an important piece of information.
Since that dreaded appointment with my General Surgeon, Dr. Gulbrandson on Jan. 22, when I was told I have breast cancer, I have been doing my own form of research. He basically told me that in my case of early stage cancer I have two options as far as surgery goes; breast conservation in which a portion of the breast is removed or a full mastectomy on my left breast. Thanks for the support of Bev and Anita for being with me. Trying to wrap my head around all the information that the dr was saying was a lot to digest. I think I was in partial shock for about a week.
After hearing the stories of other breast cancer patients, talking to my G.P., and going to a cancer support group, I had pretty much come to the conclusion to have a mastectomy. The reasons being that my cancer is multifocal invasive ductal carcinoma which means that the mass that was biopsied had more that one cancer tumor in it. Initially I thought that meant cancer could be scattered throughout the whole breast, but now I realize that the cancer started in this one area and more than likely will work its way out. That is why an MRI will be beneficial to see where the cancer is in my breast.
If cancer is only in that one quadrant of my breast, breast conservation is a viable option for me and has just about the same results as a mastectomy for this stage of cancer. If the MRI show multiple lesions throughout the breast then of course a mastectomy is necessary.
Another concern I had was that with breast conservation, radiation would be necessary. With a mastectomy, no radiation is necessary. Since this is my left breast, I had heard that radiation would damage my heart 20 years down the road. I always wanted to live to be 100, but I’d settle for another 20 years anyway! Dr. Dutton said that about 10 years ago the way radiation had been given was changed and there are now procedures used to protect the heart.
So I’m waiting to hear when my MRI is scheduled. Hopefully this week and I’ll go from there.
Love, Pam
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2012 at 7:25PM
Subject: Pending Surgery
Hi Loved Ones,
Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! So nice to see you last week at Bevs. (We even saw Jan via skype.)
So, we just got back from the surgeon, Dr. Gulbrandson. He gave me further detail of the biopsy results that I had on Dec 14. He said they found 2 different kind of suspicious things in my breast: lobular carcinoma in situ and atypical lobular hyperplasia. He said biopsy results come back either malignant or benign and then there are these grey areas. Also don't let the word "carcinoma" automatically conclude it is cancerous, although it could be.
He said I should have the area taken out; i think its about the size of a quarter. Once it is removed, then it will be sent to the lab to see if it is cancer or not.
I'm scheduled for surgery on Jan 14 at the Roseville Surgical Alliance. Its right there at the doctor's office building. The morning of the surgery, I will first go to the Roseville Imaging Center (where I had my mammogram and biopsy) and have a hollow needle with a wire inserted to find the right spot, probably because they have the imaging machines. Then Scott will take me to the Surgical Alliance for the surgery. Although I will be under anesthesia, It should take less than an hour, and then I will come home. The incision with be about 1 inch & a half on the upper portion of my left breast. I should be fine within 24 hours.
Well that about wraps it up! Maybe we can do another skype tomorrow (saturday, Dec 29). Let me know if you can; maybe around noon.
Love to you all! Pam
Love to you all! Pam
___________________________________________________
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 8:30:53 PM
Subject: Surgeon's Appointment
Dear Sisters,
It was nice talking to you Wednesday night. We will try again and maybe dad and Bev can join us!
I have a consult next Friday with a general surgeon to determine what to do next.
In the meantime, I found a good article on the process I'm going through. Here is the link: http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8293/29471/185739.html?d=dmtContent
See you tomorrow!
Love, Pam
___________________________________________________
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 3:58:58 PM
Subject: Results
I finally heard from my doctor. The results were sent to
Dr Nelsen, my gynecologist.....Well its not great news and its not
definitively bad news. The bottom line is the results are
inconclusive. She didn't say it was cancer, but couldn't exclude cancer
either. At the least, it is a precursor to cancer.
The next step is to see a general surgeon for another biopsy,
probably more in depth, She said they should be contacting me within 7
days.....So in the mean time, we will have our Soper family Christmas on Saturday, regular Christmas on Tuesday, and deal with this after that.
Love, Pam
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 1:52:21 PM
Subject: Still Waiting
Subject: Still Waiting
Hi All,
I still haven't heard anything back from the doctor.
Maybe I will tonight. She did call me at 7pm when she first got the fax
about the problem. In the meantime, here are a couple of links to some
relevant articles:
Radial Scar
Fibrocystic Changes
Love Pam
Subject: Biopsy
Hi Sisters & Dad,
So I had my biopsy today. It was interesting and the
worst part was more squishing of my breast by a mammo machine!
Here's what happened: I laid down on my stomach on a
bed/table with a whole in it so my boob could dangle through. Then the
bed was raised up a bit and a mammo machine was clamped on
my breast. A few pictures were taken to find just the right
spot. When that was determined, lanocaine was applied to numb the area
and then a needle was shot into my breast. The doctor is
sitting in a chair while she is doing this, kind of under the bed. At the
end, the doctor marked the questionable area by placing a metal clip on
it, inside my breast! It will just stay in there! It will not make
metal detectors go off, or so they say... I'm glad its over!
I'm just suppose to take it easy the rest of the day.
One concern is excessive bleeding at the injection site, but my bleeding was
minimal. Just put an ice pack on it, a bra and an ace bandage and I'm
good to go. I'm suppose to stay bandaged up till tomorrow.
The doctor said that the place they were concerned about
only showed up on 1 slide in the 3d mammo from last week, so wasn't sure if she
could even get a biopsy today........ It all looks like cob webs to
me. (Oh yea, its kinda cool, I can see all the pics on the monitor as
they are doing stuff.) ....She was able to find the spot and said if
the biopsy comes back negative, she will still want to do an MRI because she
definitely thinks its something, but not necessarily cancerous. She
suggested it could be a radial scar or fibrosis which isn't cancer but should
be removed because it could lead to cancer. (I need to do more research.)
So, I may not know anything for sure until
Tuesday..... And then its one step at a time. Thank you for your
prayers :)
...Something else that is interesting is that the place I
get my mammograms is the only place in Northerna California that has the new 3D
machines and not everyone gets the 3d mammo because they only have one
machine. I asked her how long they had the new machine and she said 2
months, so if I would have scheduled my appointment when I could have, in early
Sept, the problem area may not have been noticed. All things work
together for good!
OK, at least Matthew is making dinner. I better go
check on things!
Love, Pam
Sent: 12/12/2012 9:32:20 PM
Subject: Update on Biopsy
Subject: Update on Biopsy
Dear Loved Ones,
Just an update: My biopsy will be this Friday at
12:30. It will be at the same place where I had my mammogram and take
about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Scott will be with me. The doctor will use
a needle to collect a tissue sample while also using the mamogram machine to
see exactly where the questionable area is. This is called
stereotactic surgery. (I'm not sure exactly how that all works
out.) I should have the results of the test by Monday.
Other information the nurse told me was: not to take
any blood thinners or even fish oil which I guess thins your blood; that i
don't have to fast; and to bring a tight fitting bra! ...So I've stopped
my omega-3, havent stopped eating, and...I guess I need to buy a new bra!
Love you all,
Pam
Sent: 12/9/2012 1:38:48 AM
Subject: Mundane Things
Dear Sises,
I hope everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit--
decorating, spending money, etc!... But along with the holiday season
comes the mundane things of life as well.
As the year was winding down, I realized I didn't make my
mammogram appt after my physical in Sept, so figured I should get it done
before the end of the year. My appt was Monday of this week, Dec
3. Every year my mammo is routine and I didn't anticipate anything
different this time, but this year it was a little different.
First thing, they got a new-fangled machine and it is really
a boob squisher! On Wednesday, they called me for a follow up exam
because apparently there was something they wanted to check out further.
I was a little alarmed because I had never been called back before. Still
I wasn't super worried because women do get called back for a double check
and it turns out to be nothing.
My recheck appt was Friday. There was an area in both
breasts that they wanted to look at more in depth. I had more mammo
pictures and then an ultrasound. The right side seems to be ok, just some
kind of a cyst, but nothing to be alarmed about. The left side will
require a biopsy... I am starting to get a little worried now.....
The biopsy will probably be next week; I don't know when
yet... Just want to keep you girls informed. You are my
family! Not only will we always be close as sisters, but unfortunately we
will always share that dreaded bond we have of cancer in our DNA.
I am believing everything will be fine and this is just a reminder to
always get your mammograms! I am tying not to think of the
"what ifs." Hopefully, my next report will be good news!
I will keep you abreast!
Love, Pam
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