The ball is rolling now...

Well...Tuesday was our Monday.  My appointment with Dr. Wilde was rescheduled for 9am today, Tuesday.  Josh, my mom, sister, and I met with her, and though hearing what she had to say was terrifying, it was also encouraging as well.  What a relief to hear her say emphatically to me, "You are NOT going to die of Breast Cancer."   
 
My sister summed up the visit best, and since I'm pretty emotionally spent for the day...I'm just gonna pull a copy/paste...(thanks, Aim!)

Here is what we found out today from her surgeon Dr. Wilde, who is the director for the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center.

She has 3 spots in her right breast. Two of them were biopsied and are very close together (so they may actually be only one spot) measuring 1.4 cm and 1 cm. The third nodule was not biopsied. The diagnosis is Invasive mammary carcinoma. the invasive means that it has expanded outside of the ductal and lobular walls. It is Grade I. this is different than staging which is determined by size and if it has spread or not. Grade I means that the cancer cells are less abnormal than the higher grades...meaning they can behave and have some similar qualities to normal breast tissue. This is a positive. She is also ER and PR positive which means that the cancer cells have estrogen and progesterone receptors. This is also a positive. This means that these cells can be targeted with medications (like tamoxifin) that will bind to these receptors and kill the cells.

She has many imaging studies to be done this week and next and then we will be able to make a more definitive plan on how to proceed. She will have an MRI tomorrow and a PET/CT scan (which shows where cancer cells are in the whole body) and a bone scan (to make sure it isn't in the bone). She will also potentially be having a breast MRI and another mammogram and ultrasound of the other breast.

She will have a team of doctors surrounding her...her surgical oncologist (Dr. Wilde who we met today), a medical oncologist (who will manage the medical side of her treatment, ie chemo if needed), a Radiation oncologist (for radiation treatment if needed), a Pathologist for a second opinion on her biopsies, a Reconstructive doctor, a genetic specialist (to test for the breast cancer mutation in her genes) and also a psychologist if she wishes to see one. In addition there are numerous support groups and counselors related to the breast care center she can utilize.

She will be having surgery at some point. Lindsay is clear that she just wants it gone and is ready to have a mastectomy. She may have a double mastectomy if she has the gene, or just to be safe depending on her imaging. Having a lumpectomy may also be an option, but she is ready to be aggressive. She may also need systemic treatment with chemo therapy and radiation.

The time like looks like she will meet with Dr. Wilde again in two weeks and could be having surgery as early as the first week of December. If she needs chemo and radiation she will start chemo 3 weeks after surgery and radiation another 3 weeks after that.

Now that I have gotten all the technical stuff out I will tell you what stuck with me...Dr. Wilde, a very no nonsense surgeon said multiple times "you are not going to die from this". In 2013, as she kept telling us, this is a very curable disease and one that Lindsay's kids won't even have to think about.

I think she is in great hands and I know she is strong enough to handle this with grace and through her battle be a beacon of light for others who may have to battle this or any other disease. She is my big sister, she will conquer this. I love you all and appreciate your prayers and good wishes.

I'll keep you in the loop as much as I can.

Amy 

*One more note from me, Lindsay...
If you are reading this, and are a person who prays...here are my immediate prayer requests:  Pray for me to stay strong and calm during my MRI tomorrow and upcoming tests.  Please pray that the cancer is localized to my breast and has not spread to bone or lymphatic system.  Also, please pray that I do not test positive for the breast cancer gene.  Finally, keep my sweet husband, precious girls, and family in your prayers as I think it is possible that this is going to be even harder on them than it will be on me.

The love and support I have felt in the 5 days since my diagnosis has been totally overwhelming and is such a blessing and comfort...thank you to ALL of my friends and family...I love you.