Meeting with the medical team

On May 24th, we had an appointment to meet with a breast surgeon to talk about my diagnosis and a treatment plan. I was anxious but eager to find out additional information and to get started. My sister, My, met up with Mike, Katherine (who was home sick from school) and me at NWH. We met with Dr. Specht who practices at both NWH and MGH.

Dr. Specht talked about the diagnosis, next steps and the proposed treatment plan in addition to a clinical trial. My was in charge of taking notes. Here is a summary of her notes:  the tumor is 17mm in mass on the left breast. It is HER 2 positive, estrogen positive and HER 2 new receptor.  The lymph node also tested positive.  Next steps included a MRI breast, a CT scan, a Bone Scan, lab work, an Echo (ultrasound of heart) and an installation of port. The treatment plan will consist of once a week chemo for 12 weeks, surgery, additional chemo once every 2 weeks for 8 weeks, and then radiation daily for 6 weeks.

Mike and I decided it was best for me to receive care at MGH as we liked the team approach of the surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist. Dr. Specht was kind enough to help us arrange a meeting w/ Dr. Comander that afternoon.  We met w/ Dr. Comander with Katherine in tow.  She was kind and understanding.  We were told I really needed to connect w/ the medical oncologist doctor as she will be the one person I would be visiting with most frequently.  She would be my advocate throughout the treatment.

Similar to Dr. Specht's appointment, we reviewed my diagnosis, next steps and my treatment plan.  I really pushed to get started as soon as possible as I didn't want to wait any longer.  The worst part of this journey so far has been the waiting game.  Dr. Comander made arrangements for me to have a bone scan, a CT scan and a Echo the following day at MGH.  Everything was happening so fast that I didn't have time to worry. Dr. Comander divides her time between the satellite office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I was told if I was able to complete all the lab and scans prior to Thursday, I could start chemo on Thursday, May 26th.  I committed to this but honestly did not know what it all meant.