ALMOST SURPRISING!

Nothing like a slice (or ten!) of "Jule's Thin Crust Pizza" 

after a long day at the cancer center getting a second opinion! 
(The gorgeous woman on the left is my friend Andrea 
who also doubles as my driver on occasion! We have a lot of fun together. People who see her think she's a model! Our sons are pals, that's how we met...)

My visit to Fox Chase Cancer Center today  was tremendous and ALMOST SURPRISING except that I believe this Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." 

Before I begin, I have to thank my good friend and teaching colleague Margret for coming to get Eli at 9:30 a.m. and taking him ALL DAY until 6 p.m.! She has a sweet son who gets along great with Eli....That is no small feat to take Mr. E for an entire day! Love you, Margret, Conley School Teacher of the Year 2012-2013! I can't wait to hear your "acceptance speech" next week!!!!

Here's how my visit to Fox Chase went down...First of all, we had to find the actual hospital itself, which was not that easy with the traffic congestion and all, but Andrea pressed on. Then, once there, navigating around the hospital trying to find where to go was a "little" tough, but Andrea and I finally found the place where first time patients "sign-up." FINALLY we found the Women's Cancer Center. The hospital itself was nice, crowded as can be (a good sign) yet not as spanking clean at Doylestown. All of you know what a total neat freak I am, yet I didn't let this cloud my judgement! I am kind of proud of myself for that. :)  The doctor was what I was there for and he DID NOT disappoint!

After meeting with a super knowledgeable nurse, then a "fellow" (a doctor who had completed her residency but was doing more time on the floor) I finally met the surgeon, Dr. Bleicher. Andrea and I were convinced almost instantly that this was the place to go and the guy to go with!

I was all ready to be told the different double mastectomy choices I had, but instead, we were told I had the option to get a skin-sparing much simpler lumpectomy, as opposed to the whole enchilada - the "Angelina Jolie". I almost fell off the table! (Thank God I didn't because I was wearing a hospital gown and that would have been sorta ugly...not to mention completely embarrassing...) Anyway, apparently, after speaking with the doctor and the "fellow," this happens a lot where women are only told they can get an "Angelina", when they could actually get a much simpler and way less invasive procedure. I am SOOOOOOO GLAD I got a second opinion! HUGE Life lesson right there! It's a choice between a one and a half hour procedure - then walking out afterwards - VS an 8-10 hour procedure with two nights in the hospital and a long, difficult recovery.

                          Meet Richard J. Bleicher, MD, FACS!

Dr. Bleicher at Fox Chase was the most AMAZING guy. He was incredibly smart, even brilliant (and I NEVER use that word!) - he had a lot of experience treating people with cancer - it was practically pouring forth from his speech. He talked fast and explained many things, yet was totally understandable on every point and he is a also a great people person to boot! He was patient with my every question, and never rolled his eyes once! I knew within 5 minutes of meeting him that I wanted him to be my doctor, so I scheduled the lumpectomy operation then and there. Andrea and I just kept looking at each other with our mouths hanging open at the news that I did not have to get a double mastectomy!!! I am still in shock.

The weird thing is, I have the same chance of reoccurring cancer (30%) no matter which of these operations I get! I will have to be monitored closely from now on but that's okay. I will have to get a mammogram and an MRI every sixth months alternately. Plus they will "track" me for the rest of my life. If I DO get a recurrence THEN I would have to get the "Angelina", but for now I do not have to do that, and I may never have to! Not only that but I CAN take Tamoxifin to kill any remaining cancer cells, (the other doctor had told me that I couldn't and that was one reason he had recommended I get a double.) So I would take Tamoxifin for five years.

I will only be missing a few days of school after my operation which is scheduled for Thursday, September 19th. Then later down the pike I will have to miss some school for chemo only not radiation. I know I will be tired from the chemo....But it's an easier pill to swallow now. Another weird "coincidence" is that I asked Dr. Bleicher if I could do my radiation (which is every day for 6 weeks) closer to my home, at Doylestown Hospital and the doc said sure, but there is a GREAT Fox Chase doctor even closer, right in Buckingham which is 5 minutes away! Dr. Bleicher  (who is a teaching doctor, who does research and writes article) highly recommended her for both her expertise and her personality!

The only other hurdle I know I will get over is next Wed. I have to get an MRI. Dr. Bleicher wants to make sure there is no cancer on my other side. He says he NEVER orders MRIs, and the nurses and training doctor agreed, so I know I am being taken care of in a thoughtful manner. He doesn't think there is any cancer there but he wants to be extra sure.Please pray that nothing shows up on my other side!

The two surgeons I talked to - one at the local hospital and the other at the cancer center - were just miles apart in treating people with cancer - the difference and experience was striking! Both were very professional, and experts at what they do, but one has had much more experience treating cancer patients. I told Dr. Bleicher today it was like comparing a Raisinet to a piece of the best chocolate in the world! (Which I have yet to Google so I can bring him some on my next visit!)

Okay that's all for now, it was quite a day. PRAISE GOD! And thank you all so much for your support and PRAYERS!!!!!