The Waiting is the Hardest Part

The last 7 weeks have seemed like an eternity. We're being told that's fast and we're lucky as it usually takes 3 months and we're on a second opinion.

Monday January 9th, Pace is supposed to get another MRI that will determine if the left breast has precancerous growth or if it is related to hormonal changes in the milk ducts due to ovulation. We're not betting on anything but the hope is the later.

Tuesday January 10th she gets an echogram of her liver, intestines, stomach and kidneys to be sure that no cancer has spread there.

Next Wednesday the 11th we meet with the medical oncologist, he's the chemotherapy doctor, and we should get the results of the pathology of the tumor. At that time we should know at minimum if the cancer is:

• a 1 2 or 3 grade (1 is low relatively normal, slow-growing cells, 3 is very deformed, fast-growing cells)
• what stage the cancer is at (based on the books we're in a stage 2)
• if it is progesterone or estrogen receptive (probably genetic, will have to get the wee one tested in the future)
• they'll also measure the tumor again which impacts the stage of the spread

Then on the 19th of January is the meeting with the surgeon and we'll have a course of action.

By that time we will know if we are looking at chemo then a lumpectomy, or a radical bilateral masectomy followed by chemo, regardless they're both brutal choices.