Now With Twice the Options!

I met with my Oncologist today.* Weird. I have an Oncologist.** Byron Wilson, M.D., not to be confused with Brian Wilson. Alan and I liked him very much. Perhaps I liked him more because he said that I have nice breasts (not in a creepy way). Anyhooo ... I am sure you'd like some actual information here. You don't just stop by for a giggle. It's not all boobie tassels.

Dr. Wilson expanded the options:
1) Do nothing. Walk away and pretend this never happened. I might just get away with it. (Not recommended)
2) Close surveillance. MRI followed by a Mammogram six months later, and self exams
3) Start taking Tamoxifen as well as close surveillance
4) Bi-lateral Mastectomy

He explained so much more about LCIS. It was more than I could find online or in books. It's not as scary as I thought. You hear the word "cancer" and you naturally have a bad reaction.

I have plenty of time to make a decision, and not to worry, I will not choose option 1.

My next step is to have an MRI, which should happen the end of May. I will also be seeing a genetic counselor. I did the 23andme.com genetic testing, which showed I don't have the BRCA gene, but Dr. Byron would like to confirm this.

Thanks for checking in! It's nice to have some somewhat good news on what has been a difficult week.

*My mom was supposed to visit her Oncologist today too.

**My mom could never say "Oncologist". She always put in an extra "o": "OnOcologist". Or she'd just say "Cancer Doctor."

Side Tracked

I took a little break from processing everything and just didn't think about this for a week. Feels a bit like I was in a dream state.

Then this happened. My mom was in the hospital, being treated for pleural effusion. I was to call her Doctor this morning to find out next steps, but instead I got a call. Her heart had stopped. They tried for a long time to bring her back, but she was gone.

My mom would pray for me every day. I'm not a religious person, but now that she's gone, I miss that already - knowing that someone was praying for me. My heart is breaking. I don't care about my situation anymore. I just want my mom.