Today was the visit with the surgeon, and it's as I suspected, there will be chemo. I did cry a little at that, but was already prepared for that answer.
The big reason for the chemo is because of the pectoral chain and just not knowing whether it's cancer in there, or not.
If surgery was first, they'd be removing the pectoral chain, along with both lumps (lumpectomy).
Instead, we're doing chemo first. She said it would be about every 3 weeks for a few months. I guess that sounds like maybe 4 or 5 sessions? She's not the oncologist, so she didn't have that answer for me. The goal is to shrink the field of surgery.
About 4-6 weeks after chemo is finished, they'll do the lumpectomy to remove both breast cancer masses.
Another 4-6 weeks following that surgery, they'll be putting me through radiation therapy. She told me that'll be 5 days a week for at least three weeks.
She also confirmed that IVF/pregnancy will not be an option in my future. Hormone suppression will start at the end of this journey. I'm not sure if that means after chemo, after surgery, or after radiation.
If there's a bright side, I guess it's that I won't be needing a full mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
I meet with the oncologist Monday.
I've got this.
I'm going to lose my hair.
Am I even going to be able to take my class trip to DC? I've been looking forward to that since early last fall. The surgeon feels pretty positive that I will be able to.
I need to know if I have to drop the class by May 17th.
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