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December 26, 2005 Friday, I received some very good news. The tumor that was removed last
Tuesday was less than .3 centimeters (yes, 3 millimeters). There were no cancer cells at the margins of the tissue that the surgeon removed, so they don't have to remove any more. And, the lymph node was negative for
cancer. Good stuff!
I'm astounded at the small size of the tumor; .3 centimeters is about the size of the headset jack on your cell phone. I find it hard to believe that they can biopsy a tumor that small. It is
amazing that they can even find it! The fact that it was so small and that there was no cancer in the lymph node they removed make me hopeful that I will not have chemotherapy. I will still have radiation and may have
other therapies – those remain to be seen. I have an appointment with the medical oncologist on January 17th. He's the guy who makes recommendations about chemo, hormone, and antibody therapies.
Now, I've started
researching more about how in the heck they found this cancer to begin with. No one could feel a tumor and no tumor could be seen on the mammogram. What could be seen on the right-side mammogram were three small bright
white spots. On the left side, there was a scattering of white spots more like spilled salt. The radiologist said that the right side needed to be checked and the left side was "coarse calcification" that is likely to
be benign. Hmmm. What I've found out is that dead cancer cells leave behind mineral deposits called "calcifications." If the groupings aren't too small and aren't too big, then about 20% of the time, they indicate
cancer cell activity. The trick seems to be for the radiologist to be able to tell when they are in the right range to be of concern. No wonder doctors who specialize in radiology go to school longer than others. And,
no wonder that mammography is a sub-specialty in radiology. Following are a couple of web pages that have very good information about mammography.
Ultra-sound might have been able to "see" the tumor before it was
removed, but with stereotactic core needle biopsy, the ultra-sound isn't necessary. This type of biopsy is computerized – the computer takes two mammograms from two directions and uses the information to create a three
dimensional image of the spot in question. Then, the computer guides a needle that takes tissue samples from the spot. Pretty cool. (It would be a lot better if they could figure out a way to take samples without the
needle though!)
Enough about science…let me talk philosophy. Those of you who have been around me during the last week know that I've been anxious about surgery, but not worried
about cancer. I love life and cancer doesn't change that. So, I'll let you in on part of my secret. There is a prayer written by Reinhold Niebuhr that I've believed in and tried to live by for a very long time. If you
aren't a Christian, substitute some other word for "God"; it will work just as well. Here is my version:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking this world (and the people in it) as it is, not as I would have it.
Whenever I get off track, I remember this prayer and work really hard at living by it. It works!
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