Milestones or Millstones?

- Based on the most recent data, relative survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer are:

 • 91% at 5 years after diagnosis 

• 84% after 10 years 

• 80% after 15 years. 

 Stage at diagnosis is one of the most important factors affecting prognosis. Five-year relative survival rates for breast cancer are: 

• 99% for localized disease 

• 86% for regional disease

 • 27% for patients diagnosed with metastatic disease. 

https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures-2019-2020.pdf

I think any cancer patient will tell you that dealing with this disease is best tackled in steps. Mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, diagnosis, genetic testing, surgery, recovery, radiation, recovery, Aromatase inhibitors...that is the traditional path that I am on.  I was fortunate I did not require chemotherapy because it does not appear to have spread and I am not HER2+. I opted for a lumpectomy based on those results as well and the fact that my genetic testing did not indicate any of the known breast cancer markers. All these things make my recovery quite a bit easier than a lot of others and I am grateful for that. But just because it is easier does not mean that it is easy.

Last week on Friday I hit the marker of being halfway through my radiation.  As of today I have completed 12 of 20 doses.  I am having external beam radiation.  Radiation is quick, it only takes a few minutes but it is 5 days a week for 4 weeks.  On Mondays it takes longer because they have to take X-ray films to be sure the radiation is hitting it's mark.  On Wednesdays it takes longer because after radiation I have to meet with the radiation oncologist to address any issues I may be having. Then you also throw in a DXA scan, CT sim for the boost treatments, virtual sim for the boost treatments...you get the idea.  For those 4 weeks it is roller coaster.  Then add in that one of the biggest side effects of radiation (after skin issues) is exhaustion.  That is where I am right now.  It is summer and there are a ton of things I would like to be doing now but either I shouldn't (being in the pool during the day) or I am just flat out too tired to.  Yesterday, I stopped to pick up a few groceries after my treatment and by the time I got home, I was so tired that I slept for an hour.  Making dinner wipes me out.  I have been making quilts up until now and I haven't even touched last week's block because the thought of having to get out all my quilting paraphenalia is beyond me.  I hate it.  I know it will pass but I hate it.  

Here’s a good analogy for understanding the role of radiation therapy after surgery: “If you drop a glass on the kitchen floor, you must first sweep up all of the big pieces of glass and throw them away — you can think of breast surgery in this way,” says Marisa Weiss, M.D., founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org and director of breast radiation oncology at Lankenau Medical Center. “Radiation therapy is like vacuuming the area after you sweep, getting into the corners and under the furniture, to get rid of any tiny shards of glass that might be left behind.”

My prognosis is good.  According to the above stats, I have an 80% chance of still being here in 15 years.  By that time my youngest grandson will be graduating high school. Good lord! My oldest granddaughter will be 27! (Yipes! I need to quit thinking about that!)

So I will get up every day for the next week and a half and do as I am supposed to.  I will take my naps. I may even get a massage! If being tired is the worst I have to deal with from this then I can deal.