Tik Toc

All tests are completed, finally.... Now I just sit, and wait, and wait. It's not like I'm sitting around mindlessly, but I sure would appreciate a plan at this juncture. I'm a planner, I want to know what and when to expect things to happen. I've been quite busy catching up with various people in my life, and to tell you the truth, I can't even remember what I did yesterday, never mind last week. I've heard that I will get Chemo brain, (similar to baby brain), but I think that I've already developed a form of this.
I met with a nurse educator who specializes in breast cancer on Wednesday to go over my pathology report, and learn anything I can about where I'm at, and what I can expect from here. She was excellent. She had access to all my medical records, and was able to confirm that all my scans and test results were in, and that it all looked good, that the cancer appears to have not metastasized. It turns out that I'm not estrogen positive, (the cancer is not estrogen driven), therefore I am not a candidate for Tamoxifen, a drug you are given post chemo/radiation - just another weapon in the armory to fight this disease. I am waiting for 1 more test result, the HER2. If the protein is present, then they add another med to my treatment, which is administered with the chemo. Based on the info she has seen to date, she believes that I will likely have 6 chemo treatments, 21 days apart, 4 hour treatments. Without setbacks (which can happen when you're sick and/or your bloodcount is low), I'm looking at 5 mths. of chemo. I will spare you all the details about what can possibly happen to me during chemo, since it's not pretty, and it is difficult to know exactly how I am going to respond. To say the least, I am not looking forward to the next 6 months, putting all that poison in my body...
Overall, I'm feeling more energetic, and physically better every day. I was able to get to the gym 1 day this week, (2 weeks before schedule..), and that really did a lot for me mentally. It really felt great to get back doing something I love to do. Of course it was a modified workout, but I did work up a sweat, and it felt damn good! I look forward to going a few days this upcoming week as well.
I'm meeting with Dr. H. this week for a follow up, I expect a good report. Otherwise, I'm just waiting to be referred to a medical oncologist. Hope to have some news soon.

Jill xo