A quick update from Peterborough ( or "Peter- patch") as a western friend of mine from here calls it! It has been a whirlwind day - where I tried to balance important Dr appointments with equally important things like a pedicure with my favourite person doing it, and seeing friends for short visits and dinner.
Today my friend Dianne and I spent almost 3 hours at the hospital. I did blood work, intake with the nurses and then had a long time with the Medical Oncologist here - the one who knows my BC doctor. I was struck by a couple of things. First, we waited in the Cancer centre with 3 women, all seeming younger than I am, all with no hair. They were waiting for their chemo treatment. At first I felt a bit afraid - will this be me in a couple of months, I wondered? Then I looked a little closer - each had their 'support people' with them. Each seemed strong, in spite of their illness, in how they carried themselves, and interacted with others. Each was still beautiful. Maybe it will be me, I thought... and if so, I can do it (and I'm not minimizing the impact it will have)....now I'm wondering if my title is a bit ironic?!?
Secondly, Dr Shim, although trained with the doctor I saw last week, had a very different approach, asked different questions, and I really liked her also. She raised two tests that I haven't had that she feels strongly that I have - a genetic test (think Angelina Jolie) and a bone scan. She said that breast cancer likes to metastasize to bone, and while it's highly unlikely that has happened since my lymph nodes were clear, she would really like to do the scan anyway, just to be sure. I am happy to work with someone who wants to check out all the angles, just to be sure. She is fine with me doing chemo in P'boro and I see the radiation oncologist tomorrow, so am assuming that will also be fine. I am grateful once again, that I have the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of two oncologists, their knowledge, experience and perspectives - that is a gift!
So, we all wait for the Oncotype test to come back (Likely around June 8 - 9) and this will determine the direction we go - to chemo or not to chemo - that is the question!?!?
Hopefully tonight I can fall asleep before 2 am Ontario Time!!
Today my friend Dianne and I spent almost 3 hours at the hospital. I did blood work, intake with the nurses and then had a long time with the Medical Oncologist here - the one who knows my BC doctor. I was struck by a couple of things. First, we waited in the Cancer centre with 3 women, all seeming younger than I am, all with no hair. They were waiting for their chemo treatment. At first I felt a bit afraid - will this be me in a couple of months, I wondered? Then I looked a little closer - each had their 'support people' with them. Each seemed strong, in spite of their illness, in how they carried themselves, and interacted with others. Each was still beautiful. Maybe it will be me, I thought... and if so, I can do it (and I'm not minimizing the impact it will have)....now I'm wondering if my title is a bit ironic?!?
Secondly, Dr Shim, although trained with the doctor I saw last week, had a very different approach, asked different questions, and I really liked her also. She raised two tests that I haven't had that she feels strongly that I have - a genetic test (think Angelina Jolie) and a bone scan. She said that breast cancer likes to metastasize to bone, and while it's highly unlikely that has happened since my lymph nodes were clear, she would really like to do the scan anyway, just to be sure. I am happy to work with someone who wants to check out all the angles, just to be sure. She is fine with me doing chemo in P'boro and I see the radiation oncologist tomorrow, so am assuming that will also be fine. I am grateful once again, that I have the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of two oncologists, their knowledge, experience and perspectives - that is a gift!
So, we all wait for the Oncotype test to come back (Likely around June 8 - 9) and this will determine the direction we go - to chemo or not to chemo - that is the question!?!?
Hopefully tonight I can fall asleep before 2 am Ontario Time!!