It's been quite a week. I was all geared up to see the radiation oncologist this past Tuesday, but Monday afternoon I got a call canceling that appointment. My oncology team (surgeon, oncologist, radiologist) met on Monday to discuss my case. First let me say there are NO new tumors or any such thing in my body. I am still technically cancer-free. However, they decided the following:

Because there was still a 3.2 cm tumor in the breast they removed, AND because that tumor was still cancerous, they would like to change their approach in my treatment to ensure I have the best chance for the best possible outcome (the best being: no cancer relapse). On the off-chance there are still minuscule cancer cells roaming around, the docs want to give my body a short burst of stronger/broader-hitting cancer drugs.

So, beginning next Wednesday, October 1, I will receive chemotherapy which includes two more drugs, Taxotere and Carboplatin, in addition to the Herceptin. I will receive a total of 4 chemotherapy treatments over the next 3 months. And yes, I will lose my hair. I don't know what the other side-effects will be yet. I will meet with a nurse on Tuesday to discuss all the side-effects and other things `i should expect.

After these three months of stronger chemo, I will then do radiation for 6 weeks. Then recovery from radiation for 2-3 months. Then reconstruction. 

So, the good news is NO NEW TUMORS. The bad news is that the tumors I did have were very bad. So this treatment is to stomp out even the IDEA of a cancer cell trying to come back.

I'm going to get a short haircut tomorrow in anticipation of the hairloss. Then I'm going straight to my church women's retreat where I can laugh, cry, pray, and eat lots of chocolate with my sisters in Christ.

Thank YOU for your continued prayers for me and my family. Daniel and Tim were at first slightly upset about this, and now they're discussing the cool wigs I can wear.