End of a LONG week!

So...Wednesday I went to see the surgeon...he didn't take out the pesky drains that make me feel like an alien. They have prevented me from sleeping...they are not my friends! I went to see the oncologist later in the day and met a new doctor since mine was out sick. I liked him as well and may stick with him. I had blood drawn for the BRCA test.

BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are two genes that are linked with hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. About 200,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year and about 23,000 with ovarian cancer (according to the American Cancer Society). Of these cancers, about 5% to 10% will be due to a mutation in one of the BRCA genes. Men can also inherit an increased risk of developing breast cancer, primarily from an alteration in the BRCA-2 gene.
Individuals with mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have significantly elevated risks for breast cancer (up to 80% lifetime risk), ovarian cancer (up to 40% lifetime risk), bilateral breast cancer and other types of cancers. BRCA mutations are inherited and passed from generation to generation. One half of the time, they are passed from the father’s side of the family.
The DNA in white blood cells is used to detect mutations in the BRCA genes. While the gene products (proteins) of the BRCA genes act only in breast and ovarian tissue, the genes are present in every cell of the body and blood is the most easily accessible source of that DNA.

This test will be used to plan for the next steps in my treatment. This will also be a test that if positive, will be important for Alexander's future.

Today, I had a PET scan. Here is the description:

What is Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scanning?

Sample image obtained using a combination of PET and CT imaging technology.
Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging or a PET scan, is a type of nuclear medicine imaging.
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease and certain other abnormalities within the body.
Nuclear medicine or radionuclide imaging procedures are noninvasive and usually painless medical tests that help physicians diagnose medical conditions. These imaging scans use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers.
Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam you are undergoing, the radiotracer is either injected into a vein, swallowed or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of your body being examined, where it gives off energy in the form of gamma rays. This energy is detected by a device called a gamma camera, a (positron emission tomography) PET scanner and/or probe. These devices work together with a computer to measure the amount of radiotracer absorbed by your body and to produce special pictures offering details on both the structure and function of organs and tissues.
In some centers, nuclear medicine images can be superimposed with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce special views, a practice known as image fusion or co-registration. These views allow the information from two different studies to be correlated and interpreted on one image, leading to more precise information and accurate diagnoses. In addition, manufacturers are now making PET/CT units that are able to perform both imaging studies at the same time.
A PET scan measures important body functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar (glucose) metabolism, to help doctors evaluate how well organs and tissues are functioning.
CT imaging uses special x-ray equipment, and in some cases a contrast material, to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. These images can then be interpreted by a radiologist on a computer monitor as printed images. CT imaging provides excellent anatomic information.
Today, most PET scans are performed on instruments that are combined PET and CT scanners. The combined PET/CT scans provide images that pinpoint the location of abnormal metabolic activity within the body. The combined scans have been shown to provide more accurate diagnoses than the two scans performed separately.

What are some common uses of the procedure?
PET and PET/CT scans are performed to:
-detect cancer
-determine whether a cancer has spread in the body
-assess the effectiveness of a treatment plan, such as cancer therapy
-determine if a cancer has returned after treatment
-determine blood flow to the heart muscle
-determine the effects of a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, on areas of the heart
-identify areas of the heart muscle that would benefit from a procedure such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery (in combination with a myocardial perfusion scan).
-evaluate brain abnormalities, such as tumors, memory disorders and seizures and other central nervous system disorders
-to map normal human brain and heart function


These 2 tests will be used to map a plan for my further treatment. There were 8 lymph nodes removed from the cancerous left breast. Of the 8, 3 of them showed cancerous activity. Thankfully there was no cancer found in the right breast. Sooooo right now we wait for the blood test results which will take about 2 weeks since they are sent to a special lab. The PET scan results should be back within a few days. After seeing the surgeon today, he removed my drains!!! Yeah!! It was one of the freakiest feelings I have ever felt. I was able to feel the tubing coming through my body as he pulled it out of me. I can't believe it was so far imbedded in my body.....
The great news is that after a week I am able to finally take a full shower! I have never been so happy to take a shower before. I received a giant basket full of bath stuff that I can break into!

I am hoping to be released from the surgeon to go back to work when I see him next Wednesday. My fingers are crossed.

I have to apologize to all of my dear friends and family that I have not been able to personally talk to. This past week has been very tiring and I am making lists of people that I want to talk to. I appreciate all of the calls, emails, Facebook posts.