To all of you out there who’ve been so supportive this past week.
I got my MRI results yesterday after 8 days of extremely anxious waiting. It’s mostly good. I have DCIS: precancerous areas that need careful and regular watching because of my previous history, but the bad stuff is not back, nothing is too urgent and I can breathe again. I was offered surgery for peace of mind, but I think I’m probably going to turn it down.
I have to weigh the significant risks of autologous reconstructive surgery against the risk of monitoring and only acting in response to a change of status. I’d rather save the risks for when I need to act, rather than acting before it’s absolutely necessary. DCIS is in itself not particularly dangerous, it sits there quietly just being ‘changed cells’ until one day it tips over into something else and becomes invasive. If we’re watching for it, we’ll see it start to grow and that’s when I’ll pounce! I’ll have to have that surgery one day. Just not yet. And that level of uncertainty is one I can live with, versus the level I’ve been enduring the last 8 days, which was not knowing if what they’d found was already invasive and probably metastatic, in which case my long-term chances were not nearly so good, and much more aggressive treatment would be needed.
I see the surgeon again on Monday to give him my decision, and then it’s 6-monthly MRIs for some time while we see if the thing decides to kick off and start growing.
I can live with that. It’s mostly good.
talltalesfromchiconia 
Phew! If I am relieved heaven knows how you are feeling! Here’s hoping it all stays superb and good for a very long time.
Euphoric’s probably a bit OTT, but certainly blissfully relieved! Say hi to Jan for me 😉
Enjoy the relief! I had a lovely time with Jan and another friend and thank you for sending a message with her.
🙂
It is mostly good and I can let my breath out and say a very big “phew” on your behalf. You have a plan which can help settle our worry-wort brains down a lot I find and you can get on with your life. The colour and crafting you bring to the world via this blog really assists me on a daily basis. Kia kaha, arohanui :-))
Thank you! Kia manaakitia koe xx
I’m glad it isn’t back, and hope that the monitoring will keep it away. Thanks for letting us know.
It’s been a rather tense time, and the relief is huge. Now I can get on with things!
Phew! You deserve a treat now. You’ll be exhausted when you come back down. Take a break.
I must admit, the poor sleep has been the worst. I’m a much happier bunny now!
Huge relief for you, hope you’re planning a big treat now 🙂
I think we may be going out for lunch with doggo, and maybe a walk in the Botanic Gardens for the three of us 🙂 Plus, I’ve fetched out the Anemone quilt to start thinking about the hand quilting!
Whew! Happy for your news. Sending love and hugs your way. Keeping fingers crossed it behaves itself and stays just where it is!
All hugs gratefully received 🙂
Vast relief on your behalf, even if this isn’t 100% good news. May all the good you do flow back to you.
I suddenly feel like a different person, after being a shadowy and much grumpier version of my normal self for the past week. The smile is back…
Good to know what you’re dealing with. Sounds like a thoroughly thought through plan ♡
My first impulse was to just get rid of it, but the more we discussed it, the less I wanted to go that route. I think a watching brief is the most sensible solution at this stage, and one I can live with easily.
The best news considering the amount of anxiety over the last 8 days. My beads will continue to work full time for you 🥰
The lightening of the mental load is considerable, and I feel much happier.
Me too … here’s to many happy thoughts and feelings 💕
oh, thank goodness for that. What a relief. Hope you have a celebration planned.
We do indeed. Lunch out, and a walk in the Botanic Gardens with Mr Mouse, in the sunshine.
WHEW! I can breathe again. I’m so glad
Oh, me too! I feel much lighter!
Whew! So glad you have options, and now a plan and a period of respite. Will it take 8 days to get results of future MRI’s? Not knowing is almost the worst part. Enjoy your day out with your fellas!
No, the endless 8 day wait was as a result of availability of the surgeon’s appointment plus the time it took to get the senior radiologist’s report on the images. Next time, I’m sure it’ll be much shorter.
That is such excellent news, Kate!! I am so glad you are feeling yourself again, and now can sleep better and enjoy your life. xxx
Funny, isn’t it, about sleep. Now that I can relax, I’m finding myself dozing off even in the middle of the morning. The body knows when the mind is easy…
That is definitely mostly good news! Watchfulness sounds like the best course right now although my first thought may have been “get it out – now”.
You know of course that we will all still be holding you up. Blessings and peace to you. Now is perhaps a good time for a nap. It will actually be restful.
Chris S
It was my first thought too, but having undergone 5 surgeries with the first one, I felt it was a good time to stop, watch and wait if that was a practical solution. Which it is, right now.
You have a good oncologist who apparently takes the time to make sure you have options to think through. That makes a big difference. Some only have hammers in their toolkits so everything looks like a nail.
Maybe cake today? Then a nap? Whatever feels like a celebration.
Chris S
I have taken a lot of time over the years to keep myself independently informed, too. I know that not all DCIS progresses, but that in my case it already has in the past and therefore is more likely to do so again. I know all the traditional thinking is that it should be whipped out right smart, but I think there’s time to watch it for a while. If I need surgery down the track, so be it. As for the home therapy: fish and chips, a lovely walk with doggo, and then maybe cake and a nap… 😉
Kate, I’m happy to hear the news is mostly good and that you have such a centered attitude about it.
I live in this body, and need to take care of it, but looking after my mind is important too, and it’s not happy at the idea of yet more surgery!
I can well imagine. Surgery is not for the faint of heart. My foot still hurts seven months post-op. I hope you find a better way.
Glad the news is manageable. I think I’d choose the route you are taking if it were me.
5 years ago, I’d probably have decided differently, I think, but the older I get, the more cautious I seem to become!
What good news to wake up too, so glad for you. It is always a question of weighing pros and cons and quality over quantity, my thoughts and prayers remain with you, enjoy the weekend, and take care, xx.
I think the ideal of balancing mental equilibrium with minimal intervention is the best solution for me – for now. Things may change, but time enough then for a different strategy.
agree with everyone, but in particular with your plans that medical world has to keep you ticking along…gentle hugs from across the ditch.
I prefer the minimal intervention route to the heroic measures any time!
So sorry to read of your health issues – I had no idea.
I’ve had a couple of scares in the past for which I’ve had to wait for appointments to have myself checked out, so I know that feeling of lurking fear and apprehension all too well. Likewise the relief when you get an answer that is nowhere near as bad as the one that your imagination has been dreaming up, and that you have been trying not to think about.
All good wishes for your good health in the future – and big hugs to you.
This was a bad wait, but not nearly as bad as the wait I had with my first breast cancer diagnosis 8 years ago. I got the lovely news on Christmas Eve and had to wait until 10th January before I could get to see the surgeon. That was a very special Christmas…. not. Anyway, that first experience has made me very wary of possible repeats, and I was nervous this was a recurrence, rather than the brand new pre-cancer it has turned out to be. Thank you so much for the good wishes and hugs, always gratefully received 🙂
That sounds awful – at any time of year, but over Christmas…
One of my lumps required a week’s wait to see the local doctor,followed by a six week wait for an examination by a specialist and then another fortnight to get the results. When they came it transpired that the specialist had not actually been able to locate the lump, but instead of asking me to point it out to them, they just said there was nothing there. I went back to the local doc for another referral to be told that I’d been “signed off” on the basis of my results and would therefore have to wait another six weeks for a second specialist referral. I gave up at that point and paid to see a specialist at a private clinic, who for a hefty fee examined me the very next day, found the lump in question and assured me it was a common benign fatty lump, only to worry about if it changed size. Our NHS here gets much praise, but it doesn’t always work as it should.
That sounds frustrating… One positive result of the whole cancer experience is that it’s made me a lot bolshier and less willing to knuckle under to the system. Private medical insurance is good when you need quick action…
relieved to hear it’s “mostly” good”, that you have time to make any décisions needed, and you know what you’re dealing with because you’ve “been there, done that, and got the Tshirt” !
So glad for the mostly good news and the relief that has brought you. And I’m glad that there’s a plan of action to be followed in the future!
What a relief to hear about the good news. I think I would have gone for the same decision – keeping an eye on it and act when necessary. Sending virtual hugs. ❤️
Celebrate!!! I am so very happy and relived for you Kate! Will keep praying. 🎉😘
Praying is probably still a good idea. I’m not out of the woods yet, but I think this will buy me some breathing space 🙂
So glad to hear you got some good news. Time to relax and celebrate.
Definitely time for some cautious optimism, but I don’t want to get too excited; there’s still that ‘pre-cancer’ thing to live with!
Very good news indeed. Will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Seems a logical approach to me. So glad for “mostly good.”
Mostly… I need to go and see the surgeon on Monday to tell him what I want to do and see what he has to say.
Great news! May your good health continue!
Fingers crossed it stays ‘asleep’ as long as possible.
Thanks for sharing your news, Kate. I’m pleased it’s something that you can monitor and also prepare for, as opposed to something you have to have treatment for now – and of course, it may well be plans you don’t need to action. I certainly hope so. Big hugs.
Thanks! Because this is my second time around, I’m not so desperate to leap into action before it’s strictly necessary…
I hear what you are saying, Kate. It could have been SO much worse but the shadow is still somewhat hanging there so it’s still mostly good. I feel much the same way so I really do understand. That shadow never fully goes away but there are high noon moments where you don’t see the shadow and some moments when it’s more behind you than in front of you. You get a reprieve and keep living full out until you can’t. I’m always impressed to wake up each morning even when I’ve slept barely a bit. No promises or guarantees. Will continue to keep you in long term good thoughts. Let all those quilts get made and all the fabric used up first. I keep asking for enough time to make it all, read it all and write it all first. 😉 Then I buy a little something extra to stretch the time I need. 😉 I’m bad to the bone. 😉
Mostly, I can keep this level of threat at the back of my mind and keep going as normal. At some stage I’ll have to front up for surgery (pardon the pun), but it’s not, in my opinion, needed yet. And when it’s done in the fulness of time, I’ll only be back to where I’ve been for the past 8 years. It’s all good. Mostly… And yes, you are indeed Baaaad to the Bone!
I am so glad to hear you have some breathing space. Good luck tomorrow, I hope you feel comfortable with the outcome of the appointment. Sending hugs and healing vibes your way.
I feel I’m in a safe pair of hands, which is half the battle, i find. Thank you for the hugs and vibes!
Well, that’s a relief! Glad it’s still sort of good news considering what it could have been.
Yes, exactly. What’s bad news for someone else is good news for me…
Oh what a relief, I’m so glad it’s not the Bad Stuff.
Me too…