Welcome to my first blog. It's been a crazy time for the Tallmans, and almost impossible to let everyone know what's going on. So here we are.
A quick update:
We are in Seattle. We drove out on Thursday and met with the multi-disciplinary cancer care team at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on Friday afternoon. This team includes a surgeon, oncologist, and radiologist. I am really happy to be here. My surgeon is a woman who specializes in breast cancer in young women and the team is very compassionate and knowledgeable. The oncologist is also a woman and a professor at UW medical school. They presented us with the facts that we have so far:
- An identified tumor of 1 cm on the right. Estrogen and progesterone receptor positive. HER2 negative. The assumption is that this is Stage 1, but this can't be confirmed until after surgery.
- An unidentified 5mm lump on the right. This will be biopsied on Monday.
- Calcifications on the right. These will also be biopsied on Monday.
- After the additional biopsy results, the surgeon will be able to determine if we can do a lumpectomy or if mastectomy is the only option.
- The oncologist recommended all sorts of various chemotherapies and hormonal therapies that were very difficult to hear about. It made me cry. Their goal (as well as mine) is to prevent any recurrence. None of us care too much about the great 5 year survival rates for early stage breast cancer. (100%) What we care about is the 30 to 40 year survival rate. Because I am young, they want to be more aggressive and even admitted that their recommendations might qualify as "over treatment." We have some tough decisions to make. Right now we are gathering information to make the best decision we can.
When we first arrived, we stayed at the SCCA house, which is a "hotel" for patients. It was nice and convenient, but depressing. The walls were sterile and it felt more like a hospital than a home away from home. Thanks to Priceline and my smooth-operator husband, we are now at the Westin, in a suite on the top floor with a view of the sound, for the same price. Yep, we're living the dream.
I will write more as we have more information.
Love,
Susan
The blog is a great idea. Thank you so much for keeping us informed.
ReplyDeleteSo great to know what's going on! Good luck with those tough decisions - we are praying for you!!!!
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ReplyDeleteSorry forgot which account I was in :) I just wanted to let you know that you are in our prayers everyday! God bless!!! You are one tough cookie! And Safe Travels!
ReplyDeleteHi Niece,
ReplyDeleteThanks for including me in your communications. While I feel strong in my faith with God, I assure you that I'll not be offended by you expressing your feelings however you feel. In times of stress I find myself thinking or saying things that would make a "drunken sailor" blush. We are, after all human. I don't want to make this about me, but so you know where I'm coming from, I am also battling cancer. As you mom did, I waited to long, and what appeared to have been a successful cure of tonsil cancer, was not so successful. The cancer has spread into my left lung, which indicates it is now in my system. I'm also still getting follow-ups for postate cancer from 10 years ago. I'm reluctant to pass this on to you, because I don't want to scare you, but let you know that I'm sure I share many of your emotions. Due to the fact that you were wise enough to get on this so soon, I feel and pray you problem will not develop anywhere near this far. I'ts most encouraing that you don't have to worry about passing this on to your daughter. Speaking of worry, all though we can't get around it, if we dwell on it it will become a deblitating thing and effect ever facet of our lives. I think you are handing this great and you have a wonderful future. As my niece, I want to show you all the love and support I possibly can.