First appt with the oncologist

On April 5, 2018, I had my first appointment with an oncologist.  I saw Dr. Richa at the Oncology Center at St Joseph Hospital.  We had to be there 30 minutes early but they were running behind so we sat there for about an hour.  It was so strange sitting in the waiting room.  I feel (somewhat) young and healthy.  Everyone in the waiting room seemed so old and sick.  Would this be what I looked like after a few treatments?

We finally got in the exam room and met with Dr. Richa.  Andy and I both really liked him.  We asked a few questions.  Dr Richa went over my CT/PET scan results, which came back clear except for the breast and lymph nodes that we already knew about.  Whew!  I can't tell you what a relief that was.

The treatment plan he was recommending was exactly what I thought it would be.  I'd done some careful research and the plan was what I expected.  It would be 4-6 rounds of TCHP (harsh chemo)... I'm planning on just 4 rounds.  I'm an overachiever like that!  Each letter of the TCHP stands for a different medication.  Then I will need to do 10-12 rounds of just HP because I am triple positive.  After the harsh chemo, would come surgery.  Then radiation.

Dr Richa wants me to get a second opinion.  We will do that through UCSF.  And he'd like me to talk with a genetic counselor because one of the "breast cancer genes" BRCA2 came back with a mutation (a variant of unknown significance).  There's no evidence YET that this gene causes breast or ovarian cancer, but they are still studying it.

Something else that Dr. Richa suggested we look into is the Chemo Cold Caps which can help you keep your hair during treatment.  I thought you had to buy them at $5,000 a pop, but it turns out that you can rent them. We are looking into that.

We were able to tour the chemo infusion room.  It seemed so surreal.  It felt like I was there for someone else.  We were introduced to a couple of the nurses.  They said they'd schedule a chemo education appointment pretty soon.

Overall I felt like the appointment went well.  I'm just anxious to get on with this treatment and be done!