Genetics Testing & Waiting - 11/6/20

After much discussion with my Oncologist at our visit last week he agreed to have some bloodwork done to do some genetic testing specifically for the BRCA gene so this afternoon I made a visit to the Infusion Lab at St. Lukes for a blood draw. After a little confusion as to what I was having done and questions about did I have a port or not and which arm to use due to having a bilateral mastectomy and lymph nodes taken from both sides, things got started. I have to say it was probably the BEST blood draw stick that I've ever had and she did it in my hand vs my arm! Literally maybe 10 minutes in the chair and as I was finishing up, a nice volunteer came up to me, introduced himself, and said he was there to make my stay as comfortable as possible and could he bring me a beverage? When I told him that I was finished and was getting ready to leave he still offered me something to drink, which I declined again, and then told me to have a wonderful day. :) The results from the bloodwork can take up to 2-3 weeks so we just wait to hear what it comes back with. At the same time, I am doing another genetic screening that looks at 61 genes associated with other hereditary cancers. With a number of family members, specifically my grandparents and my Dad, who passed away from different cancers, we just want to see if the screening will provide any additional information for us that might be beneficial to know.

As far as how I'm doing? Physically I'm feeling pretty good which is good and bad at the same time. Good, because I feel like I'm pretty much back to normal with some minor issues with range of motion in my left arm that I will be addressing during a session with a myofascial release therapist next week and Bad, because just as I'm feeling good again, it will be time for my reconstruction surgery on the 23rd. But like my first surgery, we'll get through it and I'll be back to feeling good again at some point. I am trying my best to just focus on each day and live in the moment and not stress on things that I can't control at this point. Sometimes that's easier said than done but I'm trying.