Next Steps

  I had a final MRI prior to surgery today to take a peek at my lovely tumor and see how the final targeted and chemotherapy annihilated it. At my last visit, my surgeon stated that it was less detectable so part of my pre-surgery plan is to get a seed implanted in the area of the tumor. Here is a video explaining that:

The seed looks like this:

It is 11 mm long and 2 mm in diameter.

 I will get the seed implanted on June 4th, have a few surgeon visits prior to my surgery, and then have surgery planned for June 25th at this time. Our plan is to conserve as much tissue as possible so a lumpectomy with oncoplastic intervention is what we are shooting for, unless the MRI shows right sided involvement or any other tumors on the left.

 A large part of the decision making for the type of surgery comes down to genetic testing and involvement of the tumor. Since I am not BRCA positive and my tumor looks to be localized only to the left, I don't have any major indications to proceed to a mastectomy. Please know that each person's situation is different in so many ways, so please do your research and speak with your team to decide what is best for you, if you ever have to do this (and I hope you never do!).

 Radiation therapy will follow as will my ongoing infusions of Herceptin and Perjeta (+ or - chemotherapy depending on pathology results post-surgery).

TL;DR