FROM DAN:
It’s been a few weeks since our last update, and we know many are wondering about Katrina's diagnosis and next steps. We had to wait for the surgery pathology results, followed by another test on the tumor to determine its genomic makeup. We now have a pretty clear picture to share.
To start, she has another minor surgery tomorrow (Tuesday), to ensure clear margins in the breast tissue. She will be the first one in the operating room tomorrow morning, so please send good thoughts her way!
To cut to the chase on her diagnosis, Katrina’s cancer is considered Stage 2, which is early stage, and curable. She had several small tumors in her right breast, in addition to the main one, which is not particularly significant other than to further confirm that the mastectomy was the proper approach. Part of the surgery included removing some “sentinel” lymph nodes in the underarm area. Cancer was found in only one of the five lymph nodes they removed, with trace cancer cells in a second, and three completely clear. The one positive lymph node is what makes it Stage 2 instead of Stage 1. The fact that it was only in one node with three completely clear means it’s highly unlikely that the cancer has spread anywhere else.
Nevertheless, the recommended course from Katrina’s oncologist, and confirmed in consultations with two other highly respected oncologists, is for Katrina to do chemotherapy, followed by radiation, followed by several years of hormone-suppression therapy. These treatments together have been shown to greatly reduce the risk of future recurrence compared to surgery alone. Chemotherapy will start next week. She will receive 8 total treatments, one every two weeks. So she should be done with that in mid-July. After a one-month break, she will do 6 weeks of radiation, which is every day, Monday through Friday, but the treatments are only about 10-15 minutes. Then another one-month break, followed by the final reconstructive breast surgery, somewhere around the beginning of October if the schedule holds. So there’s a lot ahead of us, but it’s good to have a more complete sense of what’s to come.
Part of this new reality we’re facing includes rethinking the When and possibly the How of having a second child. Katrina can’t be pregnant during chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Over the last several weeks, we’ve been seeing a fertility specialist, and to make a long story short, we now have successfully frozen embryos, which gives us options in the future.
With all the cancer-related and fertility-related appointments, and the surrounding logistics and conversations, we feel like we have new full-time jobs that we didn’t apply for. Between all the biopsies, blood draws, and fertility hormone injections, Katrina has endured getting stuck with more needles over the last couple of months than you can imagine. Otherwise, she feels physically well. A slightly limited range of motion and occasional pains from the surgery, but nothing too intense or long-lasting.
The range of emotions has been intense, to say the least, including fear, anger, sadness, pure exhaustion, and yes, lots of strength, love and gratitude. The bottom line is the same as it was when we started. Katrina will be ok in the long run, and we’re doing everything possible to make sure of that. The process has been and will continue to be brutally hard at times. We will keep taking it one day at a time, one breath at a time.
In the face of these circumstances, Katrina remains incredibly brave and strong. Seeing her go through all of this is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. I am reminded often of Nelson Mandela’s quote about courage: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Despite the masculine pronouns, my amazing wife has been emulating this on a daily basis. She feels the fear (and sadness, and anger), intensely at times, but doesn't let it paralyze her. She moves through it, and does what she needs to do to both take care of her own health, and be a present and loving mother, wife, daughter, and friend.
Keep reaching out whenever you feel moved. If we don’t get back to you, it’s only because these new jobs we have are so time-consuming, but your good wishes are always welcome. We are so grateful for all your love and support!
