After 4 different recommendations, Tuesday we met with Dr. Jerry Fain. Though I wish he had been better prepared for our meeting, he fits our personalities well. Instead of talking at us he actually discussed the whole thing with us.
He started by drawing up a rough schematic of the breast with the lump explaining why we should not do surgery up front. He explained that though they can see the lump they can not see the fingers and whether or not they have invaded the chest wall. We had thought it was completely isolated from the chest wall.
He said he used to be a proponent of surgery first then treatment later, but it required many surgeries and the entire industry found that they were more successful to treat via chemo and targeted antibodies first, shrinking the tumor and then surgery last. This way they can monitor whether or not the treatment is working or not. If the tumor is cut out, there is no way to monitor if treatments are working.
He was also so kind to tell us he had no problem referring us to another doctor at anytime if we were no longer comfortable with him.
We are also switching surgeons, we will meet with her Tuesday for a consultation. If everything goes well, Sarah is scheduled for a port install on Friday the 18th.
We have decided Thursdays will be the best day for the treatment so that I can be home the next few days with her as she recovers. It means our weekends will be slow and quiet. We plan to start chemo the 24th.
The treatment is a combination of 4 drugs; 2 are targeted Perjeta and Herceptin (these are antibodies that target the specific cells that have gone rebellious); 2 are what they call chemo- Taxotere and Carboplatin, they are the big guns and destroy all fast dividing cells. The idea is to use the targeted drugs to immobilize or slow the growth down of the tumor and then destroy the tumor with the chemo. The treatments will be every 3 weeks for 18 weeks (6 treatments) and then maybe surgery. The Herceptin has to be given for an entire year, so even after surgery Sarah will continue treatments for some time.
Positive Bad News
Sarah asked him what it was going to do to her with being so tired already. He said it is very likely that she will actually start to feel better once the cancer starts to be compromised, after 2 treatments.
This treatment is not as risky or as aggressive as it was just a couple of years ago.
He measured the tumor at 3.6 cm x 3.6 cm, this is less than what the surgeon and MRI measured at 5 cm. We are not sure if that means it is shrinking or not.
But I figure if it is shrinking it is because people are praying for her and secondly He has guided her steps with her diet, and it is working. I look forward to the new surgeon (Patricia Morrison) doing a measurement on Tuesday.
I look forward to the days where “Positive Bad News” turns into just “Good News”, it’s coming. He will mend her. He will never let go of her.
There will be an end to these troubles!! Praise Him!