Mid MRI Results

10/13/2014 Mid Treatment MRI Results

So Andy came with me and we met with Doctor Hake today.  He is very pleased with the MRI results.  I asked him twice to explain again what he saw on the MRI.  So here's Andy's explanation:
Sheila's MRI showed good enhancement, meaning there is more flowage of blood and water in her breast.  Secondly, there was no discrete areas of tumor.  Before she started, Dr. Hake said her whole breast lit up, and had a lot of small discrete stared areas (dense tumors).  Now, while the tumor is still there, it is decreasing in size and density.  It was more of a darker shading, than dark with all kinds of small sharp stars.

So in layman's terms the tumors are busting up and the chemo is doing its job.  Some good news!

I asked many different questions today when I met with Doctor Hake.   One was how long after chemo will I wait before having surgery?  He said about 3 weeks after.  Which right now would fall December 23rd.  He did say that we could push it back to the next week because of Christmas.  However, I need to meet with my breast surgeon and reconstruction surgeon soon so we can get that scheduled.  I may have the option to have reconstruction done right away, but again will have to wait until I actually meet with the surgeon's.  I still will be having radiation.

Unfortunately I have come down with a cold.  I have a sore throat, but the strep culture they did today came back negative.  So good news there because that means I can still get treatment tomorrow.  I also have infection in my big toe that needed to be punctured and drained.  So now I'm on antibiotics and soaking it, and will hope for it to clear up without needing anything else.

I've learned that what I may have planned to do in a day can change just like that with Doctor's appointments and treatment.