The final cytology came back on the spinal tap and it is all in the normal range. They want me to go get a nerve test on the left arm, but they will not be able to do the muscle test due to the mastectomy and risk of lymphodema.
My hair is growing in and it is all fuzzy. Rob says it feels like Angie's fur. It is com ing in pretty dark. Doesn't look very blond to me.
I also saw the plastic surgeon and my belly hole is just about closed. She thinks it will be closed by the time I see her in 2 weeks. Ugly scar, but that can always be fixed.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
MRI & Spinal Tap
I had the MRI on Thursday and the rest of my spine looks fine. The spinal tap was horrible. It took her 3 times to get it in correctly. I also wound up with a muscle spasm on the left side of my lower back the rest of the weekend. I have a mild spinal tap headache which has been getting better. I got the preliminary results of the spinal tap this morning and it looks normal. We are still waiting on the the cytology, which the doctor said should be in later today or in the morning.
My plastic surgeon appointment for today was canceled and I will got on Friday. My belly is looking good...almost closed.
My plastic surgeon appointment for today was canceled and I will got on Friday. My belly is looking good...almost closed.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Back in the Water
I figured I needed to update everyone with what was going on. I have seen the plastic surgeon, oncologist and a neurologist since the last time I posted.
I am starting to feel better and getting stronger everyday. I am still tired walking for a long time, but it is getting easier. My hair is growing in. It is about a 1/4 inch now and looks dark. We will see what it will look like when it grows in a little more.
I saw the plastic surgeon to discuss my additional surgeries. I will need to get to a weight that will make me happy first before he can continue with any of the additional surgeries. Also my belly will have to be closed fully before he can fix up the scar on my stomach. Since I have finished chemo, my stomach wound has begun healing quickly. It should be closed up within a few months. The scar looks like I got cut open with a can opener, but the surgeon assures me that he can fix it. I also need to finish my surgery on my breasts. I need to get a reduction on the good one and he needs to fix and finish the reconstructed one. He is also going to do some liposuction into the area above the reconstructed breast to fill in the area left hollow by the mastectomy. I joked with him to take it from my thighs, but he said that he will only need a shot glass full to fill in the area.
The oncologist saw me a few weeks ago. I will have to see her every 3 months for the first year. She started me on the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen. The side effects suck, but they keep telling me that it will get better. She also gave me a diuretic to help take down the swelling in my legs from the chemo drugs. She also sent me for a MRI on my brain and cervical spine for the numbness in my left hand. After those results came in, the oncologist wanted me to see a neurologist. I also received a bone scan, since the Tamoxifen can cause osteoporosis. I have to take 1500mg of calcium a day to help with that.
I saw the neurologist yesterday. Most of my MRI was fine, the brain scan did show sinusitis and for one area on my cervical spine that was a little brighter than the rest of it. She advised that it could be normal for me, but she wanted to send me for more tests. I have 2 more MRIs next Thursday on the rest of my spine. I am also getting a spinal tap to check for cancer cells in the spinal fluid, just as a precaution. She advised that the after the spinal tap, the MRI could light up, so she needs to get one beforehand. This would be why I am getting a MRI before the spinal tap so she can have a baseline.
I am starting to feel better and getting stronger everyday. I am still tired walking for a long time, but it is getting easier. My hair is growing in. It is about a 1/4 inch now and looks dark. We will see what it will look like when it grows in a little more.
I saw the plastic surgeon to discuss my additional surgeries. I will need to get to a weight that will make me happy first before he can continue with any of the additional surgeries. Also my belly will have to be closed fully before he can fix up the scar on my stomach. Since I have finished chemo, my stomach wound has begun healing quickly. It should be closed up within a few months. The scar looks like I got cut open with a can opener, but the surgeon assures me that he can fix it. I also need to finish my surgery on my breasts. I need to get a reduction on the good one and he needs to fix and finish the reconstructed one. He is also going to do some liposuction into the area above the reconstructed breast to fill in the area left hollow by the mastectomy. I joked with him to take it from my thighs, but he said that he will only need a shot glass full to fill in the area.
The oncologist saw me a few weeks ago. I will have to see her every 3 months for the first year. She started me on the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen. The side effects suck, but they keep telling me that it will get better. She also gave me a diuretic to help take down the swelling in my legs from the chemo drugs. She also sent me for a MRI on my brain and cervical spine for the numbness in my left hand. After those results came in, the oncologist wanted me to see a neurologist. I also received a bone scan, since the Tamoxifen can cause osteoporosis. I have to take 1500mg of calcium a day to help with that.
I saw the neurologist yesterday. Most of my MRI was fine, the brain scan did show sinusitis and for one area on my cervical spine that was a little brighter than the rest of it. She advised that it could be normal for me, but she wanted to send me for more tests. I have 2 more MRIs next Thursday on the rest of my spine. I am also getting a spinal tap to check for cancer cells in the spinal fluid, just as a precaution. She advised that the after the spinal tap, the MRI could light up, so she needs to get one beforehand. This would be why I am getting a MRI before the spinal tap so she can have a baseline.
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