Milestones

I had my six-month follow-up with my oncologist today.  As you may recall, the oncologist I treated with throughout chemo and up through my first reconstruction surgery, Dr. Mary Pinder-Schenck, left Virginia Mason in March.  So today I met with my new oncologist, Dr. Henry Otero. Jesus, everyone at the Cancer Care Center at Virginia Mason is just amazingly sweet, caring, and genuine.  I guess to be an oncologist or to work with cancer patients, you kinda have to be that way.  You wouldn’t last very long at the Cancer Care Center if you were crabby, emotionally vacuous, and insincere.

It was awesome meeting with Dr. Otero today.  I also met with Dr. Pinder’s successor, whose name is escaping me.  Female oncologist.  Very knowledgeable.  Anyhoo, prior to meeting with Dr. Otero, I had blood drawn to have my “labs” done — checking on various stats discernable from my blood.  Back in the day, I had blood drawn for labs to be done before every chemo treatment.  It was very weird to have a phlebotomist tap a vein today to get blood from me.  The last time I was in the Cancer Care Center having blood drawn, I still had my port.  It seems like that time was so long ago, yet it was barely a year ago. 

When I met with Dr. Otero, it was obvious that he had read up on my file.  We talked a lot about my hereditary cancer issues and my inconclusive genetic test result.  His main concern for me was ovarian cancer.  I explained that Dr. Rothblatt and I have been actively discussing the game plan in that regard and that I am giving myself at least a couple of years to figure out if I want to and am able to have my own kids with the eggs being produced by my ovaries.  If two years go by and I’m still without a viable procreation game plan, then I will need to revisit my options and more seriously consider having my ovaries taken out as a preventative measure.  Dr. Otero seemed okay with this approach.

I asked Dr. Otero what my chances of breast cancer are now — either a resurgence of Karla or new cancer.  He explained that after my mastectomies, the chances of new cancer developing in my chest wall are approximately 1%.  The chances of Karla popping up again are 15%.  Dr. Pinder’s replacement chimed up during this discussion and explained that the concern regarding Karla would not necessarily be that she would reappear in my chest wall, but that “bits” of Karla got into my bloodstream and would then get into my bones, other organs, or brain.  I then asked what screening processes are available to me to monitor any such resurgence.  Unfortunately, both Dr. Otero and Dr. Pinder’s replacement noted that there are no real tests that can be done regularly that would provide useful information.  In the end, the only reliable ”test” is for me to be very aware of and in tune with my body, being sensitive to report all changes with my health immediately to my doctors.

Dr. Otero commented on how great I looked and what a great attitude I had.  In response, I shared with him and Dr. Pinder’s replacement that Karla was the biggest blessing I’ve received in a long time.  Reevaluating my life and reprioritizing everything were necessary changes that I made because of Karla.  Both Dr. Otero and Dr. Pinder’s replacement smiled at my comments.  Dr. Otero ended our meeting by telling me that he doesn’t need to see me until the holidays (another 6 months), and that he is looking forward to working with me in the future and continuing my care.  It was a very pleasant appointment.

I’ve experienced another milestone these last couple days — as of yesterday, I am finally off of my 4-week exercise restriction, so I’m back to exercising.  I budgeted for a new pair of running shoes to mark this momentous occasion.  Spring and summer in Seattle yield the best running weather I’ve ever experienced, and I’m excited to hit the pavement in what promises to be gorgeous weather for the next few months.  After two days of running, I can feel the lactic acid slowly overcome my hamstrings and quads, but I am drinking lots of water and will remain active until the pain goes away.  I am excited to reintroduce exercise into my daily regimen, which should be interesting with my crazy work schedule.  But it can (and will) be done.  Priorities, right?

For today’s soundtrack I will leave you with one of the songs on my ipod that I love listening to while I run: http://www.rhapsody.com/iio-4/rapture-reconstruction-platinum-edition.  Sorry I don’t have an easy link today.  Click on play for Track #3 off of Disc #2 (Rapture — Deep Dish Space Remix).