Back from Florida, and off to the doctor ... we met with my surgeon here in Freeport this morning. The margins were good, so they got all of the cancer out. I have a minor infection at the incision site, but he figured that they won't need to do anything else; he prescribed some antibiotics to help it clear up.
He also talked about a different type of genetic test he thought I should have - the Oncotype DX test. It apparently helps them identify patients who are more likely to have a reoccurrence of cancer. He asked if I had seen anyone at the Cancer Center, and we told him that we had an appointment at the UW later that afternoon.
Later, as we met with the UW oncologist, I mentioned the Oncotype DX test - he said that it wasn't necessary for patients with my type of breast cancer.
I thought of that moment later, as Jeff drove home. We'll be going up there at least every 2 weeks through mid-summer, and I'll be driving up again tomorrow for an echocardiogram. But all the driving is OK - I feel like I'm in good hands up in Madison, where all my doctors know what kind of cancer I have.
We talked again about what will happen with chemotherapy, and set up an appointment to see the doctor and begin chemo next Wednesday. It's pretty fast, but I'd rather not sit around and think about it, anyway. Let's get it started, so we can get it done.
One thing the oncologist said stuck with both me and Jeff today:
He said that if 100 women in my situation (post surgery) with my type of cancer decided to skip chemo, about 35 of them would develop cancer again or elsewhere in their body, and die.
If 100 women in my situation with my type of cancer all had chemo, about 20 of them would develop cancer again or elsewhere and die.
The 20 percent number is kind of scary, frankly. But it's better than 35 percent.
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