A little update on my medical side of things. I saw my family doctor this month to renew my prescription for my anti-depressant. I still feel like I need it since I don't feel that I have truly process all this yet. I think the meds help me to be a better mom with more patience and understanding. They help to take the edge off of my "anger" and feelings of sadness that this has all really happened. So we renewed that and she felt that I looked great. I also saw my surgeon this month. He did the "breast" exam (I always hold my breathe and wish and hope that nothing is found). He checks my lymph nodes and said I look and feel fine. He wants me to go for a mammogram and sent another referral to the plastic surgeon. Apparently the other plastic surgeon "does not like to do young women". So I'm being referred to someone else. I'm not in a hurry for this and so I really don't care about the wait to get in. Apparently they can still mammogram me. I'm not sure how this will all go but I guess it can be done. He said that very rarely does the cancer return to the scar/scar tissue so they mammogram yearly to be sure. My date for the mammogram is November 5th......a year to the day that I was first at Freeport for the mammogram and biopsy and met the surgeon. A bit unsettling but I guess my year cancerversary is coming.
Now onto the clinical trial stuff. All my blood work came back fine and my new clinical trial team feels that I am looking and sounding great. I have been taking Metformin for a month now and today I start my twice a day routine. I found an article that explains the trial that I am part of so I'll link it here so you can read about it.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01101438
It's an interesting study and it could be the breakthrough that us Triple Negative cancer patients need. Being TN means that my cancer was not fed by hormones. That sounds like a good thing, and it is, but it also means we don't know what caused my cancer. So it means I cannot take any meds or have any further treatment to stop what is feeding my cancer. For those women who have estrogen feeding their cancer, they take a drug for 5 years which stops estrogen from being produced hence stops the cancer from being fed. I don't have that option. That means that TN cancer patients have a higher rate of recurrence because the cause of their cancer is unknown and TN cancer tends to be more aggressive. It doesn't mean that I will have a recurrence but it's a crap shoot. So any drug or vaccine or anything that would help us with TN would be a MAJOR breakthrough in cancer research.
On a lighter note......I am happy to report that I now have all my own eyebrows back and eyelashes. My hair is growing in like a weed. It's still rather short and to short to tell if it will be curly but it's SO soft and the colour of dirty dish water. The novelty of shaving my legs has totally worn off but it was fun at first. I have been going "topless" for the last few weeks (no hat, scarves or wig) and it feels SO good.
I am looking forward to enjoying my summer. Beach trips, BBQ's, time with family and friends and most importantly time with my amazing boys and Kurt. Life is good, I'm feeling good and that's all that matters.
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