A Crummy Sequel?

Did you want a sequel?  No, me neither.  Yet, here we are.

Sequels are rarely better than the original.  However, in the case, the news is better than the first one, even though the theme is the same.  

Linda has breast cancer again.  It is a new primary tumor, so not related to the one from 12 years ago.  Also, for those that didn't know, she found out a few years ago she has a genetic mutation which makes her more prone to certain cancers, especially breast cancer.  It is called PALB2.  The good news is that knowing she has this genetic predisposition means that she is scanned preventively on a regular basis so if they find something it is caught early.  We have been going to OHSU and locally for these scans.  This most recent breast cancer was found via her preventative MRI which is why they found it while it was early in progression.

She had a MRI, and ultrasound which indicated it was 7mm - 10mm (1cm) so still small.  The biopsy indicated it was DCIS (contained), ER+ (better type than last time).  They will confirm this when they remove the tumor since the biopsy isn't always 100%.

Plan is to have surgery on Monday, Dec 14th.  They will just remove the tumor for now.  If the tumor tests as DCIS (contained) then she won't need a sentinel node (lymph node) biopsy so much better overall.

After surgery we will meet with the Oncologist to determine the best path forward (radiation and/or other treatments like aromatase inhibitors).

Everything indicates a better path this time (well, and she doesn't have another living being inside her) so we're hopeful for a less winding road.

Speaking of Ava Darlene, we realized many years after her birth that her name matches up with the Avaguard D sanitizer we used all the time in the NICU before we settled on her name. I wonder if seeing that all the time helped guide us toward picking her name?

I'll provide an update after the surgery.

Rob.