The Art That Made Medicine

 

Tonight I went to an exhibit @cuboulderartmuseum titled “The Art That Made Medicine”, looking at the connections between artistic practice and medical knowledge in anatomical illustration. It was very well done. Of course out of only 30 or so pieces, there was one about breast cancer - this photo of a surgical textbook from 1886. The picture is of a mastectomy. 

From the text: “ Whenever amputation of the breast is performed for malignant tumor, the operation must be radical…No regard whatever should be paid to cosmetic considerations, the object of the measure being the extirpation of a deadly disease…”

Amen to that. 100+ years later, and now we’re ALL about the cosmetic considerations, to the point where some women aren’t even offered the option to just do nothing. 

Mastectomies used to be brutal, extensive procedures with too little regard to functional outcome so I’m glad we’ve made some changes there (I still have pectoral muscles, for example). But I feel like maybe we’ve swung the pendulum a little too far in the “cosmetic considerations” department with the assumption that women need breasts to feel feminine, womanly, or whole. 

There are a lot of things I’m determined not to let breast cancer take away: my life, my joy, my intimacy, my exercise, my hair, my health. It can have my breasts.

#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction #standtallafc#aestheticflatclosure #lobularbreastcancer#noboobsnoproblem #medicalhistory #cuartmuseum

3 Month Check Up with Medical Oncology

 3 month check up with the medical oncologist today. No signs of breast cancer! Normal tumor markers, normal pathology, stable CT chest/abdomen/pelvis. 

There is no greater relief than a stay of execution. Living with a recent cancer diagnosis feels like you have an expiration date - we all do, though mine feels a little closer now. But it remains far enough away, nebulous in its exact time, and that’s all I can ask for - time. 

So much gratitude for my family and friends and their support during these difficult few months. It’s like a roller coaster you didn’t ask to get on, and that you can’t get off. @beewood17thanks for holding my hand every second. 

#lobularbreastcancer #3monthcheckup#estrogenreceptorpositive #aromataseinhibitor#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction#breastcancersurvivor #fuckbreastcancer #tumormarkers

Biopsies - The Gifts that Keep on Giving

This week’s adventure in breast cancer: another biopsy, this time of a weird thing in my mouth. Simple local anesthesia with a fat lip for a few hours. 

This is almost certainly nothing. But when you are an academic physician with access to PubMed, you read a lot of things you probably shouldn’t - including case reports on intra-oral metastasis from cancer. It’s rare, but it does happen. I wish I did not know this, but I do. 

Also this week - blood tests and tumor markers. Everything is looking stable so far and my oncology appointment on Friday will hopefully be a reassuring one. 

Thank you all for the good vibes, they certainly are working!

#lobularbreastcancer #estrogenpositivebreastcancer #biopsy#entdoctor #fuckbreastcancer #breastcancersurveillance#ithasbeenalongweekalready #waitingforpathology

A Sunny Sigh of Relief

 

Soaking up the sun today - covered in sunscreen. Good news: my skin isn’t on the list of organs actively trying to kill me, and I don’t have melanoma. 

I will continue to be diligent in my sunscreen use (@teamzealios is my favorite) but I’m also going to revel in every last second of waning sunshine as we head into darker days and winter nights. 

#itsnotmelanoma #wearsunscreen #skincancerawareness#zealiosskincare #fuckcancer #triathletewithcancer#lobularbreastcancer #estrogenpositivebreastcancer#doublemastectomywithoutreconstruction#noboobsnoproblem #flatandfabulous #teamshestrong

3 Month Scanxiety Day

 

Scanxiety day! 3 month CT to keep an eye on my liver lesions, and to look for signs of metastatic disease. These get more difficult and anxiety-provoking with each scan. 

Results later today, but I’m too nervous to look, so I might wait for the oncologist visit Friday to peek. 

Fingers crossed, good vibes, prayers - whatever your jam, please send some positivity into the universe for me today.

#fuckbreastcancer #scanxiety #lobularbreastcancer#estrogenreceptorpositive#bilateralmastectomywithoutreconstruction#noboobsnoproblem
#ctscan

You Can Have More Than One Cancer

Well shit. Under that band aid is a biopsy site - saw my dermatologist today, and she didn’t like a mole on my chest. 

What was supposed to be a routine skin check has now turned into another cancer scare. Only this time I DO have a family history of melanoma, and I’ve had all kinds of bad sun habits in my life. 

Results will not be back until next week - amidst my 3 month CT scan, labs, and a different biopsy. It’s going to be a long week. 

#fuckcancer