Today I met with an interim Oncologist as my real Oncologist is away at a conference ( how rude! ) and he wants me to get started. He explained to me that chemo had side effects - that I may get mouth ulcers. - sigh......seriously thats what he started with.
I stared at him thanking my lucky stars that he was only interim and that all the other staff had been amazing. I am guessing it may help to have a good rapport with the Dr who is going to systematically poison me for the next 6 to 8 months.
In better news though the appointment did go well.
He explained where we were heading and what was going on.
I love a good plan.
My MRI showed that the tumour has yet again almost doubled in size 1.4cm 2.8cm now 5.2cm which wasn't great news but was as expected.
The cancer that I have is Estrogen Receptor Positive - which in the scheme of "good" (is there a good when you say the word cancer?) is good - 75% of breast cancers are this -so there has been lots of work on treating this and the cocktail of drugs is widely used.
My chemo regime will be what is known as FEC. FEC starts with F and has three letters and is the furtherest thing from fun that can be imagined apparently.
I checked in with my Aunt who is an oncology nurse tonight who confirmed that FEC is indeed a very tough regime. Her words were oh not FEC - oh bugger she said.
Awesome they are words to inspire aren't they? So then I rang a girlfriend who is just finished her treatment and said I'm having FEC what did you have - and she said oh FEC - but with a U and K in it LOL.
So what the "fec" is FEC ???- Thank you Dr Google.
“F” is made up of molecules that look very much like the molecules in normal cells, but they’re structured slightly differently; this very small difference is enough to keep cells from functioning properly, once “F” makes its way into them.
“E” stops the enzymes that support cell reproduction; it damages the cell by altering its membranes; and it stops cell reproduction by attaching itself to the cell’s DNA, which then gets tangled up and is unable to replicate itself.
“C” sticks to the cell’s DNA, like “E,” preventing it from replicating. And that, really, is what killing cancer is all about: stop the cells from dividing, and you stop the cancer.
This regime is given once every three weeks for 4 - 6 cycles. I have been told it can only be given for one cycle due to it's potency. They are aiming to give me 3 - 4 and will be checking after 2 in the hope that the tumour is shrinking.
After that appointment I went to get a "clip" put into the place where the tumour is to mark the spot-so that if the chemo works as it should and shrinks it away to nothing the surgeon will still know the affected tissue to remove when it comes time for surgery.
This was done as a local which for me was really good I had about 2 hours of numbness which was a relief as unlike most cancer mine hurts like heck constantly.
Then I went and had blood tests.
Then I went for a ECG to check my heart can withstand the chemo regime.
Monday I go in for day surgery to have my port put in - which is a permanent device under the skin which connects to a vein via a catheter. This allows easy access straight to my veins for chemo and anything else they have to hit me with.
Thursday I have my first round of chemo.
(Faith and I on our way this morning ) It will be 19 days from when my GP gave me the news and made his diagnosis to when the first drop of chemo hits my veins.
Welcome to all my new readers from work- I am glad I can keep you up to date through here. Richard and I thank everyone for your prayers emails and support. Currently we are doing ok.
One day at a time - step by step.
