Tough Titties Inc

John, Aedan and I just got back from a nice two week trip to North Carolina to visit his parents. Unfortunately my back was in no better shape then before I left and again I was living on darvocets. It really put a damper on the entire trip as I was in bed with a heating pad for much of it!  The good news is that I am feeling a little better – yesterday I only had two darvocets and today I took Tylenol  which seems to be working quite well.

Going to start the Tamoxifen tomorrow. Keep me in your prayers!!!

On a bright note… next week John and I are driving to Reno to visit an integrative oncologist who is truly doing some miraculous work. His name is Dr. Forsythe and if interested you can find out what he is all about here: http://www.cancerhopecenter.org/ I am preparing my list of questions for him. Let me know if you have anything you would like to know… he is expensive so I am going to squeeze out as much information as I can in one sitting! According to all accounts and according to my body both physically and mentally – I am cancer free. However I am really interested in meeting with this guy and talking about preventative care to go along with the Tamoxifen. REALLY excited for this appointment.

What a week it has been… the good, the bad, and the painful.

I am writing from bed right now because my back is killing me. I am talking about the most severe pain I have had in a long time – like some one is slowing turning a knife in my back. The mastectomy has nothing on this pain. I am going to compare it to the pain I felt after my car accident 11 years ago when I broke my femur. I have been doing exercises to get the range of motion back into my arms especially my right arm and these exercises are causing the pain. You see post surgery I was very protective of my chest plus the doctors told me not to raise my arms so I was very scared I would do something to hurt my sore lymph nodes or move the expanders. But after two weeks of living like that my shoulders have became stiff… therefore I had to start doing some exercises to get back my range of motion and hopefully some normalcy to my everyday activities. Unfortunately for me this is proving incredibly painful. I hate to sound like a pill popper but thank god for my valium and darvocets! Unfortunately they only take the edge off the pain – they don’t really take it away completely. I hope this doesn’t last much longer!

On the bright side of things, I had my first expander “fill” this week. It wasn’t painful – probably because I am still getting feeling back to my boobs. I can feel electrical type pulses coming back to my chest which is supposedly a good thing as it means my nerve endings are reconnecting. It is really amazing to see my boobs grow literally before my eyes! I am currently about a 34B… but my plastic surgeon says I  shouldn’t look at it by cup size but go by what looks proportional for my body type. She says that people normally have about 6 fill ups… 6 fill ups and I will be huge! I’m thinking about 4 fills. Then I will have an outpatient surgery to get my real silicon implants. Just FYI – the expanders are incredibly uncomfortable. I am really looking forward to the real thing.

On another bright front I received my oncotype dx score on Friday. The oncotype dx is a test performed on early stage, node negative, ER/PR + breast cancer tumors.  The test looks at 21 genes from the tumor. Through analysis of these genes, you are given your risk of distant recurrence. Based on you recurrence risk, chemotherapy is either put on the table or taken off the table as a treatment option. My oncotype dx score is a 3. Really low – according to my Breast Surgeon it is one of the lowest scores she has seen. YAY! So I will most likely not need any chemotherapy. But I will take Tamoxifen, the hormone blocker I have spoken about in previous posts. I have the prescription for it now but I am waiting for the right time to fill it. I need to be mentally ready to start that pill and hopefully the back pain will be gone too.

My risk of recurrence is 4% after five years on Tamoxifen. I don’t want to be on it for that long but that is the statistical viewpoint from the oncotype test.

Though Tamoxifen has its own set of side effects I feel relieved that chemotherapy is at this point off the table. In addition to Tamoxifen I plan on supplementing with a natural therapy called I3C among a host of other natural remedies.

13C or Indole -3- Carbinol is a phytochemical isolated from cruciferous vegetables – you know the green ones! Studies have found it has a similar action to tamoxifen – and according to one study inhibited the growth of ER+ breast cancer cells by 90% compared to only 60% for Tamoxifen. I could go on for days on all the benefits of 13C but suffice to say there is enough powerful evidence (yes – studies to support!!) that adding 13C to a Tamoxifen regime only helps prevent recurrence and helps prevent developing breast cancer in the first place. At this point I am considered cancer free so everything at this point in hopefully an insurance policy that this sinister beast does not return.

My other natural remedies include: Curcumin, Green Tea, Melatonin, Se-Methylselenocysteine, CoQ1o, Fish Oils and Flax Oil, Vitamin A, D3, E, C, Tocotrienols, Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes.

You can get a lot of this information from Life Extension – they are a wonderful resource for all types of disorders including cancer.

I also had a PET/CT scan this week. This test looks for distant metastatic disease. The injected me with a simple sugar – glucose – and the glucose had radioactive (SCARY!) tracers. While all cells metabolize glucose, cancer cells use much more then normal cells. Therefore the scan picks areas where the radioactive glucose has clustered. PET scans are highly sensitive and can accurately show the extent of disease… BUT hopefully my scan will come back completely normal! I am awaiting the test results. I will probably have a PET scan at least once a year for five years.

FDA warning… No, I am not a doctor – just an active participant in my treatment. I have done a lot of research so far and will continue to do so. We must be in control of our treatment plan.

And now its time for another darvocet… good night!

Can you believe it! Two weeks since surgery. Unbelievable!! I am doing well – as well as can be expected I guess. I am still very sore and tire very easily. In the morning, I am very stiff. It feels like there is a three hundred pound brick resting on my chest. By the time I am out of the shower I need to lie down again. Pathetic how tired I get from such simple tasks. My mom has been here waiting on me hand and foot! She is such a great mommy. She leaves on Sunday! Which makes me sad.

Some good news on the medical front – every Wednesday at Hoag Hospital there is a Tumor Board meeting. This meeting consists of surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, dietitians, counselors… etc… a multitude of experts from various disciplines come together to review each patient’s case. My case was put before the board this past Wednesday. It looks like the experts are in agreement that I do not need radiation and there was little talk about Chemotherapy. They do want me to take Tamoxifen, which I already knew about, so I feel like no new news is good news!! This further validates my feeling for Dr. Wrong, who scolded me for questioning why I needed Chemotherapy.

I meet with my breast surgeon on Monday who will go into detail on my surgery pathology report. She briefly gave me a run through over the phone….

1. The tumor is a grade 1, not a grade 2.. which means it is less aggressive then first thought.

2.  There were atypical cells in my left breast… so thank god I had both removed. Atypical cells do not mean cancer… but why take the chance!

3. Looks like clean margins around my tumor and my lymph nodes are again confirmed all normal!! Thank the Lord!

Oh.. and on the bright side too… my plastic surgeon said my end result is going to be stellar!! There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.

My drainage tubes are out – not fun getting those suckers out! OUCH! Check out the picture of them….

I guess it was bound to happen. After a month of meeting truly wonderful doctors, yesterday, I met with what I can only describe as a mean, condescending and hope deflating oncologist. Not sure If I could get in trouble for actually telling you his name but lets just say his last name rhymes with Wrong. Perhaps the saddest part about this meeting was that it was at a place called the Oasis of Hope – a supposed integrated clinic of western and alternative cancer therapies. Now for someone who eats, sleeps and breathes alternative therapies and who is willing to go the extra mile financially to ensure alternative therapies are part of my treatment plan, this should have been a slam dunk for the Oasis of Hope. But alas, their PR person by way of Dr. Wrong, is just pushing more of the same western treatment and isn’t even nice about it. At this point in my life, I can tell a lot by someone’s energy and simple kindness. Should I need chemotherapy… I surely won’t be getting it from him.

Its funny because now that I have described Dr. Wrong, I want to quickly describe the oncologist who I most likely will work with for my post surgical therapies – his last name – funny enough –  is Justice. How appropriate. He kind of looks like Santa Claus. He gives you a big warm hug when he sees you… he says… Bridget – this is nothing, you are going to beat this. This is so curable. Then he proceeds to give me his home, mobile and pager numbers and says I don’t care if its 2 am on Christmas morning… if you need something, have a question… you call.. except for this week because he is leading a team of doctors to Haiti.

Word to the wise for any ailment…. get lots of opinions and meet with lots of doctors until you find one that truly meets your needs. Don’t settle for Dr. Wrong.

Yesterday was my surgery. I am elated to report that it went very well. The best part being that there were no surprises. My lymph nodes were normal which means it looks like the cancer was all contained in that 1.3 centimeter lump. I asked if I could take it home but I was shut down! I wanted to take it home in in a glass jar and make fun of it. Stick needles into it. And use it as a reminder to stay healthy  and motivate me to wake up and go to the gym even though some mornings I just don’t want to.

Anyway, like I have said in previous blogs my surgeons, both the breast and plastic were and are amazing. I have said in the past that if there skills in surgery are as great as their personalities, then I am in good hands. This was even more apparent yesterday.

So if you live in Southern California and are looking for a plastic surgeon for cosmetic purposes or God forbid anything like I went through Dr. Tenley Lawton is your gal. Genuine, down to earth, caring, gentle… for some reason I don’t think most plastic surgeons are like this. And then there is my breast surgeon. Dr. Lisa Guerra. You could not ask for more from a surgeon. She is excellent in all ways. She called me the night before the surgery to check in – we spoke for twenty minutes. I emailed her a few weeks ago at 9:30 at night and she responded immediately. She truly loves her  job and it shows through her energy which makes you feel so comfortable. I just love her!!

Dr. Guerra also does a very CLEAN mastectomy. Which means she gets as much breast tissue out as possible. Of course no surgeon can get everything out…. but should you or any one you know be in this situation, ensure the doctor does a CLEAN mastectomy. Do not settle for less.

Right now, I am typing away on my macbook overlooking Newport Beach. Unfortunately, I did not get an ocean view but I can see the snow capped mountains off in the distance. The sun is shining and we will be blessed with 70 degree weather all week! Sorry east coast!

My pain is being managed by percocets and valium. I couldn’t do the dilaudid – it made me nauseous and dizzy.

John is asleep on the couch in my room. He has been amazing. I think he was more nervous then I was about going into surgery. I was trying to make him laugh with my bad jokes because he was in tears. I ‘m like this should be the reverse! Women rock what can I say.

So here we are. Surgery is tomorrow. I am really excited! Is that weird? I had a great day… which was capped by a 90 minute session in a hyperbaric chamber. I loved it. I now know why Michael Jackson owned one of these contraptions. I was literally “high” on oxygen when I left. Note to self – don’t go to your favorite health food store when high on oxygen. (Oh how different my life is from 15 years ago!)

I spoke with my surgeon a couple hours ago. She called to check in – make sure I was ok – I think people are a little taken back by how excited I am – I am almost giddy. I am not scared. I am relieved that tomorrow is here.

Anyway, my surgeon totally rocks. She said I could take a valium if I need to relax and I asked her to get a good night sleep.

For the past 10 years, John and I have visited our local farmers market on most Saturday mornings. When we lived in LA we frequented the Hollywood Farmers Market on Sunset and Ivar. I love everything about the Hollywood Farmers Market from the fresh organic foods to the old bearded man playing the banjo…. and the transvestite in stilettos passing out literature on all sorts of progressive issues.

Now that we live in Irvine, we visit the Farmers Market at UCI. While the people may be a little less colorful… there are no transvestites… the food is as colorful and wonderful as the Hollywood market.  Local, organic produce feeds the senses in all kind of ways. Aedan loves the Farmers Market. The fresh pesticide free strawberries are his favorite. He always leaves with red stains around his lips from the delicious strawberry samples he has devoured.

Since my diagnose, I have stepped up the in take of fresh organic produce. This means we are buying double at the farmers market these days. My aim is to eat 70% raw. This is difficult but I feel it is SO important. I am having two fresh juices each day. As I type, I am enjoying a spinach, kale, parsley, broccoli, celery, chard and lemon juice. Honestly, it is delicious.

Thank God for Local Farmers. Support Them. Eat Organic. Change the system. If you don’t have a farmers market to enjoy with your family, ask your local supermarket to ensure they carry fresh organic fruits and vegetables.

So yesterday I went to get my immune drip at the Institute For Progressive Medicine. The drip consists of 75 grams of vitamin C, B vitamins, some other vitamins and Glutathione. For the IV, you sit in a big comfy green recliner and I use one of their comfy green comforters so I am nice and toasty. Anyway, I am sitting there chatting with an older women who is getting a drip too.

I tell her why I am getting the drip and she tells me that she had Breast Cancer too… about fifteen years ago. She had Stage 1 and had a double mastectomy with reconstruction. Then she asks if I would like to see them? I am like… ah yeah sure. Then she totally whips her boobs out. They look absolutely fabulous. She even had the nipple reconstruction which can look kind of funky… but hers looked great. Props to that plastic surgeon. I must say it was a highlight to see how great fake boobies look. Especially ones with fake nipples… I am hopefully having a nipple sparing mastectomy. They will test the nipple tissue during surgery and if it looks normal then my nipples stay put.

The lady goes on to tell me that she used to speak on Breast Cancer and that she is used to whipping them out and that I will do the same down the road… hmmm well if they look that good then yeah… maybe you want to show them off?

Yesterday I met with a second oncologist. The oncologist said she would do a test on my tumor to see if I even needed chemo – that I may not need it…but than she said she would recommend Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is a hormone blocker and gives you an increased risk of Uterine cancer…. so wait a minute… I am supposed to have surgery to get rid of a cancer and then take something else that increases my risk of another type of cancer?

Talk about a hard pill to swallow.

Hopefully the alternative group – the Whitaker Wellness Center in Newport Beach will have some ideas!

When I was diagnosed, oh but two short weeks ago, my knowledge of Breast Cancer was extremely limited. Needless to say, in the past two weeks I have gotten an education in all things Breast Cancer related.  One important lesson, especially for young women diagnosed with this form of cancer involves genetic testing. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes which mean they play a role in preventing cancer and repairing genetic mistakes. However, if there is an inherited mutation or abnormal genetic change to these genes then they don’t do their all important job of suppression. Therefore, people with a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 are at a much higher risk of developing both Breast Cancer and/or Ovarian Cancer. The risk of developing Breast Cancer is as high as 85%, the risk of Ovarian is less at around 50% – but is still not the kind of odds you’d like to be playing with when cancer is concerned. When put in context, without this mutation a women has a 12% chance of developing Breast Cancer (1 in 8), and a 1.6% chance of developing Ovarian Cancer. Interestingly, women in Orange County, California are at a slightly higher risk – 1 in 7 will develop Breast Cancer. One theory is that women in Orange County tend to have health insurance so Breast Cancer is diagnosed more here then in other places. Of course, I would also look at environmental reasons but that is a discussion for another day.

I had the genetic testing done as most women under 40 who develop Breast Cancer are advised to do. Thank God, this came back negative. I have no abnormal mutation to these genes… which means my cancer is environmental or may perhaps be linked to some other gene. But there is no evidence to support the latter theory at this time. (According to my genetic counselor.)

This is really good news for me and for my family!!

But, back to the statistic’s game real quick… my sisters are at greater risk for developing Breast Cancer then the general population because I have it. Their risk has increased from 12% to 20-30%. So to my sisters and anyone with a mother, daughter or sister with Breast Cancer – you need to be extra vigilant… so get checked ladies… its never too early… obviously!  :)