Category Archives: tests
Does the BRCA 5-site rearrangement panel include BART testing?
My medical geekiness showed its colors today. Last night, at the Young Survivors Sunday Starbucks group an amazing guest speaker mentioned the BART test for those who had tested BRCA negative. So, I dug out my trusty notebook of lab … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, screening, tests
relieved
Digital mammograms are amazing things. No waiting, just the results – right away. Plus EPIC West rocks – they have chocolate to eat while you sit and wait for the radiologist to read the mammogram pics. (Deep stress calls for … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, screening, tests
good &….
Good news: echo-cardiogram is normal! No chemo damage for me. Doesn’t explain the heart palpitations, but at least it’s nothing structural.
Filed under quality of life, recovery, tests
Good news
Tumor marker test (CA 15-3) came back normal. But then again, it was normal when I knew I had a tumor in me. But apparently that happens with early cancer. So, not quite sure what good it is. I’m told … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, tests
Three months post-chemo & all’s right in the world
Just got back from my 3-month medical oncology checkup. My onc. was surprisingly accepting of the fact that I decided to take a short tamoxifen break while I’m finishing up rads. I was afraid he’d be mad, but he wasn’t … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, chemo, CYP2D6, quality of life, radiation, recovery, tamoxifen, tests
Needle-core biopsy
I’m constructing a timeline in the “about” section, and found this piece about my needle-core biopsy. March 10, 2007 It was yesterday, and let’s just say that if the local anesthesia had actually worked it would have been fine, but … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, quality of life, tests
Metabolizing tamoxifen
What an interesting time we live in. Turns out that there are specific genes that affect enzymes that metabolize drugs. And some drugs inhibit the enzymes. This is important for women taking tamoxifen, because if it’s not metabolized well then … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, CYP2D6, tamoxifen, tests
Rads doubts and a small-pond problem
Am having doubts about not doing radiation…sneaky doubts that are like small children pulling at my skirt to get my attention. So I paid attention, the way one would to a child (to kneel down so that we can look … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, lymphedema, radiation, tests
Una mas
As a close friend said, just one more to go! Taxol #3 was completely and blissfully uneventful – no breathing problems at all. Feet starting to turn red again, but hopefully more IV hydrocortisone will do the trick later today. … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, chemo, quality of life, tests
Taxol #1 uneventful!
First of all, amazingly enough I did sleep last night – a whole 4 hours! Taxol #1 today was entirely uneventful. Boring even. Which is the best we could hope for! So, so far so good. My friend Heidi and … Continue reading
Filed under breast cancer, chemo, quality of life, tests
