I also heard from my MD Anderson PA on the 17th and she informed me that everything looked clear from the chest x-ray that was taken following my oncologist surgeon appointment at MD Anderson. She was referring to the suspicious area in my chest wall. Great news!
On Tuesday, February 18th I went to my 3 month routine dermatology appointment. I went to check-in at the receptionist desk, announcing my name to the receptionist, and then headed to sit at a couch across the waiting area. I noticed this lady began to follow me, and then she sat down on the couch next to me. She looked at me and said, "You are Karin Fritz. You are the girl with the blog. I have been following you and praying for you". Wow! I was shocked! I had never met the lady in my life, but it was amazing to know that complete strangers were out there following my blog. The woman and I chatted a bit and then we both went on about our business.
I also heard back from my genetics nurse in Lubbock on Friday, and everything came back negative. This really was not a surprise, since once again there has been no prior family history of breast cancer.
My college friend, Vanessa Wood, was able to go with me again to my 11th chemo session on Monday, February 26th. All went well, only one more week of this chemo treatment to go! My white blood cell count is maintaing at a normal level. My red blood cell count however continues to slightly drop each week, but is still holding in the low-normal range.
On Tuesday, February 25th I contacted my PA at MD Anderson to follow-up on scheduling future appointments and to find out what their radiologists had to say about my bone scan and MRI.
At this point my bilateral mastectomy is tentatively scheduled for June 5th. The date is tentative and could change in the event my white blood count or red blood cells should drop to a dangerous level, and we would have to push chemo sessions back. Hopefully, this does not happen! June 4th will be spent talking one final time with my plastic surgeon, consultation with anesthesiology, and lab work.
Additional appointments were scheduled on May 6-7, which will include another mammogram, ultrasound, appointment with my plastic surgeon, and an appointment with my breast surgeon oncologist.
From the conversation, the PA still had not heard back from the radiology department at MD Anderson in regards to my bone scan and MRI. She informed me to call her back in a few days to touch base with her on this if she does not call me back sooner. Based from the the findings from the MD Anderson radiology department additional test might be ordered. An initial consultation will also be scheduled with my plastic surgeon within the next few weeks.
Another update, but really probably no surprise...my hair is super thin! A lot of people are actually surprised at how much hair I do still have. I do not leave the house though without a wig, cap, scarf, something on my head. It is not ready to be shaved as it still looks decent, just extra thin, under caps. I have though come to really like wearing wigs! It is so easy to not have to worry about fixing you hair, just putting it on, and you are ready to go. In fact, I like wearing wigs so much I just might wear them even when my hair does finally come back! I'll never have to blow-dry, straighten, and do a Texas puff to my hair again! And it always look picture perfect, as though you just left the hair salon.
Next week marks my 12th week of chemo, and I will be finished with Taxol! One hurdle will be complete through this journey!
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