All is Good

I received my results back today from my MRI and my ultrasound. My MRI showed that everything was normal except I have a pituitary apoplexy. The definition of this is an infarction or hemorrhage of the pituitary gland in the presence of a pituitary adenoma. This was also on my MRI back in August, but I suppose with everything else that was going on, this was the least of their worries. I am having my thyroid checked to make sure that it is in normal range and I guess we will go from there, but nothing serious. My ultrasound dictation was not all the way complete when she called me about my MRI, but it was noted that it was a cyst on my left ovary. I'm very relived that everything was good. I do have to admit I was a little irritable this morning thinking about my results. I figured everything would be good, but there is that little voice in me that worries. I think that I will always have that no matter what. It's called canceritis. Wondering if an ache is just an ache or a headache is just a headache. At least I have medical technology to keep me at ease.

Some Good News

I had to absorbed a lot today at my appointment. As soon as he came into the room, he checked my lymph nodes under my arms and my throat. Usually he sits down and looks at my chart on the computer, so thought something was wrong. The CT scan showed a lymph node under my left arm, that seemed to measure larger then normal. At the size that it measured he would have been able to physically feel it and he felt nothing. He thinks that when they measured the node it was measured a different way then the first time it was measured. I know that this sounds confusing, but he drew a picture of it and it made sense. In conclusion he does not think its cancer.

Then he asked if I had any concerns, which normally I don't have too much in the beginning to ask, but as the conversation goes on, that's when I start piping up. At the discretion of my husband I did let him know that I occasionally have headaches. I have never been a person to get too many headaches and Tylenol seems to help. He then proceeded to ask me other questions if I get nausea when I get headaches and if I have been seeing well, which everything has been fine. He scheduled a MRI on my brain just to make sure. I have not had one since I was first diagnosed, so he thought it would be good to have one done. Better safe then sorry. I know that will put both Bryan and I at ease. This will be on Tuesday along with an ultrasound on my ovaries.

On the CT scan one of my ovaries showed a cyst or something to that nature, so just to make sure that it's not a tumor the ultrasound will help with that. He then asked me if I had my menstrual cycle return and I have. Because of this he ordered a genotype blood test to be done. This will show if the drug tamoxifen, that I'm taking, which is suppose to get rid of the estrogen that your ovaries produce, is working for me. It is not unusual for someone my age to have their ovaries come back after chemotherapy, but that means that they are not shut down and I'm still having estrogen go through my body. This is what fed my cancer initially, so we don't want the estrogen. Regardless if I got my menstrual cycle or not, the tamoxifen is suppose to work the same, but just to make sure I am having this blood test done. I should get that result in a week or so. That will then decide if we need to take additional medications to shut the ovaries down. Lupron is a popular medication that is a shot that is taken by many pre menopausal women. There is also an oral medication, I can't think of it off the top of my head, but that too would shut them completely down. I did not ask about removing them because I know that the answer would be that he wants to wait until I'm in remission for a full year. Just knowing that I am not in full menopause and what may be coming does not thrill me. I'm sure some of you reading this can agree to that. Menopause is no fun, especially at 29 years old, but if it saves my life, it's all worth it.

My MUGA scan was 61%. It has gone down since last time. Because of this, I will do another scan in 6 weeks. Normally it's done every 3 months. He thinks that it will hold stable. We don't want it to get lower then 50%. If that happened I would have to discontinue the Herceptin until my heart got stronger. If this was to happen I would go on an oral medication called "super herceptin" , there's a more technical name, but this would do the same as Herceptin and if not better.

My labs showed that everything was in the normal range. My tumor marker did go up slightly 17.1. I think it was 16.7 last time. Still in normal range.

So in conclusion, everything seems to be going well. We just want to be cautious and get a clearer picture on some items. He also told me that he would be leaving in July, so I will see him one last time before that date. I can choose whomever I want as my doctor. I think I will go with the one that was suggested unless I ask around at my next infusion and see if anyone suggests someone else. There will be someone taking his place, so I could wait and see.

Scan Day

A day full of scans. Well actually 2 scans and one lab draw. I had a MUGA scan in the AM, to check my heart again. This time around I got to see the pictures as they were being taken. The technologist that I've always had before would raise me so high that I could never see the screen to check out the pictures, but I had someone different today. This of course was the highlight of my day, exciting isn't it? I also learned that they mainly only take pictures of the left ventricle since this side does the most work. I'm always learning about my tests and procedures, of course I always ask the questions being the curious patient that I am. They have no problem answering me though. I had my lab for my blood draw after that and then I had my first CT scan. I usually have a PET scan, which scans my full body from the shoulders down, but this time around and probably from now on I will have a CT scan. They took pictures of my pelvic, abdomen and chest areas. It was weird to feel the "flush" feeling after they add the contrast to the IV in your arm. It makes you feel like you are peeing your pants. I'm glad that they warned my about that and didn't assumed that I have had one of these done in the past. I will receive my results on Wednesday when I meet with my oncologist, which leads me to some bad news.

I have heard through the grapevine that he will be leaving the St. Cloud area and will be moving back to where his family is from, so I am kind of upset. He has not told me yet, but I'm sure he will on Wednesday. He just started telling his patients a couple of weeks ago and I have not seen him since February. I asked the infusion nurse who she would recommend to take over my care and she suggested a new doctor that started in August right around the time I got diagnosed. She said he has an excellent bedside manner like my current oncologist does and he transferred from the Mayo clinic in Rochester, so that could be a plus. I still am very bummed. You put your life into some one's hands and trust them and then when they are going to leave, you feel as though your life will be endangered. At least that is how I feel. I can only hope and pray that I get another doctor who is just as good. Having a good doctor makes this journey so much better. Looking on the positive side, I guess it's always good to have a 2nd opinion on your treatment. Not that anything is going bad on mine, but a second set of eyes is not a bad idea.

I will update on Wednesday with my results. I just keep thinking positive thoughts that my heart will be super strong and I will be dancing with NED (no evidence of disease).

As some of you know Karyle passed away almost two weeks ago. I was unable to attend the funeral, but did go to the visitation. She had such a good life for the short time that she was here on this earth. Now I can only imagine how she is up in heaven dancing with Jesus. Please keep her family in your prayers as they continue to mourn. We will never understand why anyone gets this terrible disease of cancer, but she touched all of us some way or another.

The boys have been keeping us busy. Brock is eager to get outside and play as the weather continues to get nicer. Griffin is teething, so has not been the happiest camper lately. He is still funny as can be with his actions and baby talk. He is of course all over the place and into everything. He keeps us on our toes. I will try to post some recent pics next time.

I've heard from Stacie that some have signed up or donated for the Race for the Cure in May. If you haven't checked out the website you can also sleep in for the cure too, if you can't make it to the race. Every donation will help as this goes for breast cancer awareness, education, outreach, screening, preliminary treatment and research, which could not only save my life, but many others, so please donate if you can. The majority of the donations stays right here in Minnesota as the website stated. I will post the link again below this entry. Thanks for everyone who has signed up to participate and/or donated. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Here is the link again.
Go to http://www.komenminnesota.org/site3.aspx and click on "Register Online Now" if you can join us. If you are unable to make it but still would like to donate to Nicole's team, click on the middle icon "Donate Now".

It's important that you sign-up or donate under our team name, Team Nicole