Triple Negative

After going through an ultrasound on the left breast and learning they were unable to determine if the mass is cancer, they now want to do another biopsy. Why? As I asked myself (considering I'm going to HAVE to lose it anyway) - because the doctor does not want to take lymph nodes if he doesn't have to. OK, fine. So, on 1 July, my son's 23d birthday, I will undergo one more final biopsy prior to surgery. My surgery date has been pushed back to around the last week of July pending the results of this next biopsy.

Does it matter? Well, for the purposes of whether its a single or double - no, it doesn't. For increased survivability odds, it needs be the double because I am what they call a triple negative - or as I immediately thought - a triple whammy. I am negative in all three of these areas: Estrogen, progesterone, and Her2Neu (whatever that is). It would be much better to have one positive in the three. What I understand is this - it is the motherload of breast cancers. Its a mean b**** (so says my team leader), and we will fight fire with fire. How refreshing.

So after they take my atomic girls, they will immediately work on the reconstruction by inserting expanders and about 4-6 weeks later, start a heavy dose of chemo. There was so much information given that my head is still in a tizzy. One thing my surgeon said was to let my body get plenty of rest before the surgery because recovery is harder for a triple negative. Fricken wonderful, eh? Oh well, I figure I have to assess this as I would any military mission - annihilate the enemy and come home alive. AND - I mean that with all due respect to all soldiers - they remain part of my family. As my picture of the sniper in my office says, "If you have but one shot at an opportunity, make it count." Amen to that.

So, as my sister and I were driving home we stopped for a Coke. In addition to the drinks, I asked for a Grouper and a specific Pick-3, to which the lady behind the counter slumped over and let out this big, heavy sigh....Uh, oh - wrong day for me, or in this case, her. I guess I hit that gray area when I said, "I'm sorry, but am I imposing on you?" and she said "No, I'm just having a bad day" - I started laughing and Sherry said her immediate thought, was Oh S*** here it comes..... and it did. "Bad day? YOU are having a bad day? Lady, let me tell you something - YOU are having a good day? Are you ok - seriously - are you ok?" Her response, "I have a headache" - She had a flippin headache, I'm glad that's all it was. However, I continued to ramble on "Trust me, YOU are having a good day, I on the other hand, am not having such a good day! I just found out that I have the worst breast cancer a woman can have and they are going to cut my girls off! THAT'S a bad day - so when you think you are having a bad day - you remember this conversation, ok!" To which the young man behind the counter said, "I'm sincerely sorry" God bless him for reeling me back in. I think my point at that moment was to let her know that SHE was just fine - give her a damn aspirin and tell her to count her blessings. Anyway, on my way out, I said, "Bet your ass you'll have a good day now, huh?" Well, Sherry and I laughed for 10 minutes because of the look on her face, and then the following thought hit me....oh, sweet Jesus - I hope they erase that tape.....

I guess it could be worse.....