“Triple Negative” nicely sums up the past 12 months

I should have known.  I can’t even get ‘normal’ breast cancer! 

I’ve been telling this story so much lately it’s almost unbelieveable you haven’t already heard?  Well, in case you haven’t….

The pathology of my cancer had some problems.  It’s triple negative and there was some lymph vascular invasion.  On an aggression scale of 1-9, my tumour was a 9 (Grade 3).  I won’t go into all the details of everything here as there’s plenty of info on the web if you’re interested.  I had to go back for a second surgery so they could clean up the ‘dirty margins’ that could only be seen with the pathology.  I’m still sore and bruised.

The upshot is…I start chemo in the first week of March and I am opting into a trial which will take 12 months to complete.  I’ve taken up to 6 months unpaid leave from work.  I have to say my boss and colleagues been very supportive which confirms I made the right move leaving the previous place where I was so miserable.

I asked the Oncologist about how the chemo will ’sit’ with my Graves.  She told me she’s had other patients where the chemo has pulled them out of Graves remission.  Before I start I have to have a raft of blood tests including TSH, T3, T4 and antibodies and my onco and endo will talk.  Apparently there’ll be times I won’t know if I’m suffering side effects from chemo, Graves symptoms, or menopause (which I am told I can expect to kick in during treatment).  Delightful!

Meanwhile, my weight continues to explode!  I know it seems silly to be thinking about that at a time like this but I don’t feel like me.  I’m going to lose my hair and I’m convinced I am going to look like a big ol’ waxy potato!  I don’t think I can do the wig thing.  Any suggestions for head covering and especially makeup tricks (I’m going to lose my eyelashes and eyebrows too) gratefully received.  

Fab to know despite everything, vanity is my most prominent characteristic!