Thanks for the extra time off snow!

Yesterday was my first appointment at the Cancer and Hematology Center.  I met with Dr. Vanderwoude (yet another doctor I really liked). Before I get into the appointment, lets just discuss one thing. Nothing makes you realize you have cancer more than going into a cancer center. As weird as it sounds, I sometimes forget about it. Besides the slight lingering pain from last weeks surgery,  I don't feel sick, I am on no medications, and overall life hasn't changed much. It was obvious that many of the patients in the office are battling cancer. I'd be lying if I said that didn't freak me out a little.

Because my surgery was only on Thursday, Dr. Vanderwoude was still missing some results. Here are some of the things she did know:
  -The margins around the area they removed were good, meaning that there was enough room between the cancer and the edges to make the doctors happy. This also means that they aren't going to have to go back in and take more out. This makes me happy.
  -There were two tiny spots of cancer outside of the ductal carcinoma they already knew about. These spots were tiny however (5mm and 3mm) which made them happy.
  -She confirmed that the 2 nodes that they took out were clear
  -She also said that my incisions looked really good for being so soon after surgery. (On a side note: the bruising I have is kinda ridiculous! I seriously might include a picture one of these days.)

Now the cancer cells have to be tested to determine what the treatment plan is. Here is where it all gets confusing. Words like estrogen receptors and her 2's and such came into the conversation. I think I want there to be estrogen receptors? And then there is ONCA testing that might be done. All of these things will determine whether chemo will be involved. The chemo word came up a couple too many times for my liking in this meeting.

The frustrating thing is I feel like there are so many questions still unanswered. I just want to get going. I'm anxious to figure out what the treatment will be and how it will affect me (and frankly school). I want to be able to answer the questions I get from people.

I still haven't been back to school since surgery. Monday I had my doctors appointment in Grand Rapids so I took the day off and today we had a snow day. I am getting a little stir crazy. All of the good TV is gone from my DVR and I've eaten one too many cookies. I need to get back to school, back to a routine, and have something else to think about. I might not go so far as to say I miss my students (maybe I do a little), but I do miss my coworkers!!!

So there is a little update for you. More snow is on the way so we'll see if I make it back to work tomorrow!