Jan 06, 2023, 2 PM
Things move fast-but do they go anywhere at all?
Humming to oneself…
‘When an irresistible force such as you
Meets an old immovable object like me
You can bet as sure as you live
Something’s gotta give, something’s gotta give, something’s gotta give’… – sing it Frankie!!
Hello Friends, family et al,
Several of you have expressed positive responses to this blog, so I am encouraged to continue to report on things medical. If you feel overwhelmed by this level of information (as you may remember I am the daughter of a nurse) -just delete it. This blog is not ever going to report back to me, and I won’t ever know. You can just make appropriate solicitous humming noises when needed.
Today was the ultrasound that I couldn’t figure out the reason for — and still not sure it makes sense, but here is the rationale I was given. When one is initially given a diagnosis of the need for further “care”, an ultrasound needle biopsy is made to determine whether or not another procedure might be necessary. ( Think, what the heck showed up on the diagnostic mammogram? Let’s take a further look.) That was done. Diagnosis, in the pathology report, was made on the basis of the biopsy. That set everything else in motion, sort of. Look back at the two blogs sent for a refresher on what all that entailed.
Lions tigers and bears, oh my!
Today I had the second ultrasound on both sides. The same conscientious radiologist, Dr. Evans came in to look upon the work of the technician. She said, “it’s inconclusive.” I probed her a bit. There is some less suspicious ‘stuff’ on the right and more suspicious ‘stuff’ on the left. She thinks there might be another bit of C going on there, separate from the bit they found, and distant from it – but maybe not, as MRIs give false positives. They need another MRI, with needle biopsy this time, on both sides, under sedation, to suss it out.
I HEAR YOUR QUESTIONS- THEY REFLECT MINE. WHY DIDN’T WE LOOK AT THIS FROM THE START? If an MRI could have told this tale, why didn’t it do that before? What could possibly be added to four doctors, 2 mammos, two ultrasounds, bloodwork, and HER2test, two nurse navigators and the good sense of all the experienced folks I have seen. The answer is that they only look for the specific site of their suspicions, and not at the whole thing. Why not? ( don’t know, although I am sure it makes good sense to someone, but who is paying the bills which must be enormous at this point I’m sure, but let me reassure you – I have insurance, although I feel bad about using so much of the resources, and I only pay my part for which I am exceedingly grateful. I know- bad sentence structure, but it’s been a long morning.
In the parking lot, I got to call both the fabulous nurse navigator from Boulder, and the mediocre one from the other office and got a response that my third leg of the stool has finally come in – the HER2 neu. The results- wait for it – inconclusively 2+ . They have to do another process to study and clarify – entirely normal, I am told, and that should be back next week sometime, maybe.
So- The oncologist is probably on the 11th, if they still want to see me without knowing what my diagnosis finally is. The new biopsy is moved up the waiting list to the top, but they only do them twice a week, so next Thursday or Friday will no doubt be for that procedure, followed by a diagnosis which then gets shuttled between the several involved parties. The HER2neu (FISH) should be finished by the end of next week as well. I am not planning on surgery on the 17th anymore – I’m thinking that it would be sometime in February, and since I have plans out of town, it may have to be toward the end of the month. Luckily, I am still old, and this isn’t supposed to be growing too fast in someone like me Youngsters pay attention here!
Sigh – you at least, all know how impatient I am. Don’t ever pray for patience.
I’m including a link to a site by the American Cancer society that speaks to this FISH-Her2 thing. Think its use is only for anyone who likes to read that sort of stuff. Infomo-nerds
With love, Yours grumpily,
Judy, Judith Lavezzi
Hang in there Judy. I know it’s all overwhelming. I personally just had to stop trying to figure it all out and trust God to lead my cancer team. I’ve had to do the same with all the bills. Praying for you and your team.