[Women] medical update from Cindy Taylor

[amdbone at suddenlink.net]

Sorry to hear this Cindy!  I can't imagine how upsetting this must be.  

---- Suzyn Mills via Women <women at fuusm.org> wrote: 
> Oh, Cindy, you are in our thoughts and sending big hugs your way for a great outcome when you have the surgery. I hope the thoughts don’t spoil your holiday and please know you have a caring community behind you!
> 
> Suzyn
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> > On Dec 20, 2020, at 9:42 AM, Cindy Taylor via Women <women at fuusm.org> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > Hi dear FUUSM  Friends,
> > I've really enjoyed the snowpeople and appreciated the meditation group on Wednesdays.. THANKS so much!!  I have been very appreciative of my Quaker group, too   (which I've been joining by Zoom on many Sundays at the same time as the FUUSM service.) 
> > I'd rather share this news to you all here and not try to talk over Zoom..  some of you realize that my most recent mammogram showed a concerning mass in my right breast. Here is the best update or rather breast update.  
> > Quite an exhausting experience so far with all the different doctors, tests, medical people, etc.    Friday was the longest- 3 plus hours at at the oncology center here in Parkersburg and getting opinion from oncologist, Dr. Nik Shah.   Best news under all the circumstances...   Latest recommendation is that I need to only have lumpectomy - the mass (lobular carcinoma in situ) on another form he called it " malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of rt. female breast".. This is NOT like more serious cancers.. it appears to be non-invasive and is "confined" and carries a high risk of developing breast cancer..    It's all a bit confusing and diagnostic tests show more info  and analysis of risk factors and possible treatments. He recommends that I have just the lump removed (with extra tissue).. and there is NO need for radiation treatment (which My surgeon had suggested might be a possibility) and there is not possibility at this stage for involvement of any lymph nodes.   A mastectomy is NOT recommended (or likely approved  following current guidelines for my particular "cancer").  I will need regular followup and there was suggestion for drug treatment that would further reduce my risks.. Some are not good choices because of my particular medical history and the other concern is my osteoporosis.   I had blood taken for genetic tests which will cover a variety of cancer related genes. Info may be helpful in guiding best treatment even though I'm unlikely to have the BRCA genes, because my sister did not (but both of her girls did and have had cancer surgeries). It will be interesting to learn more there.   All has been a bit confusing..   So glad to have my son Will's wife, Dr. Jane to review, research and explain more to me!!! Including what doctors do what..       so my next step will be to get back to my surgeon (Dr. Roberts) and ask his office to schedule me for that surgery..  It is an easy outpatient surgery.. and there is no immediate rush.. so I'm expecting that some time in January.  More analysis for that specimen collected at that surgery, may be helpful too.. 
> >      So dear Friends.. I'm very fortunate and counting my blessings,   not sure when I'll join you on zoom but if I don't or leave early, you'll understand... lots of calls coming in from family,etc.    Hope you are able to read this. 
> > Holding you all in the light, too during this challenging time. 
> > Cindy Taylor
> > PS not to scare you more.. but my daughter-in-Law, Dr. Jane (pediatric pulmonologist at UPMC in Pittsburgh)  told me yesterday that the medical facilities have been hacked too- by that same Russian attack hitting government.    they haven't been able to communicate with each other... so it's really causing chaos there..     Get on the phone if you have to communicate and can't rely on communications getting between institutions now!!  SCARY..   may explain some of the difficulties 
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