What's coming up

Here's what we're expecting over the next month+:

Tues, 7/28: Treatment day 3 + surgical oncologist consult
This will be a long day, likely from about 8am-4pm. My local aunt will be there with us and will get me home:
- Labs
- Appointment with oncologist, Dr. Isaacs
- Consult with surgical oncologist, Dr. De La Cruz, to discuss surgery plan
- Pre-medication
- Third infusion  
- Observation

Thurs, 8/13: Consult with reconstruction surgeon
In addition to the surgical oncologist, we'll be meeting with the reconstruction surgeon, Dr. Fan, to go over options for various scenarios, like a lumpectomy with reduction and/or lift. This is called an oncoplastic reduction and is when surgeons combine tumor removal with a mastopexy (lift) or reduction mammaplasty to rearrange tissue, prevent dimpling, and maintain symmetry.

Mon, 8/17: My mom is flying up to be here for the next series of appointments and staying until we know more about next steps.

Tues, 8/18: Treatment day 4
This will be likely from about 8am-2pm, unless anything comes up that requires us to fit in another appointment or test. My mom will be there with us:
- Labs
- Appointment with oncologist, Dr. Isaacs
- Pre-medication
- Fourth infusion  
- Observation  

Tues, 8/25: Biopsy

Once we have the results of the MRI and biopsy, we'll know more about next steps -- whether that means adding in chemo weekly for another several weeks and then doing surgery, or going straight to surgery without chemo. 

Given the incredible response I've been having to the experimental immunotherapy, my oncologist is seriously weighing the pros/cons of going to surgery right away without chemo first, because there isn't good data on long-term outcomes without chemo as part of treatment. This kind of uncertainty comes with being in an experimental trial.

Either way, after surgery, there will be more treatment. As I understand it, regardless of surgical findings, there will definitely be radiation and possibly several more months of immunotherapy. If there is any trace of cancer seen during surgery, though, I would have to do chemo after surgery and before radiation and immunotherapy.

Still lots of what ifs.

Let's keep hoping!
<3 E