Update 9/16: JGMS visit, surgery date, biopsy results, bowling

Hi all,
Well yesterday was a lot. What I mean is, I had chemo on Monday so Tuesday I was okay, but Wednesday and Thursday-yuk. I wasn't sure that I would make it to school on Friday and feel okay to talk with KESQ about my condition. It was more emotional than I think I calculated beforehand (Okay, I really didn't think about it at all, whether it was going to be emotional) but when they got me in my classroom and I looked at kids names I just felt sad that I was missing out on a chance to meet all of those kids this year and possibly help them have a little bit of fun while learning mathematics. I think it's the first time that I really greived it was right there. At the same time, the long term sub in that position seems great, so I'm relieved about that. It was great to see some colleagues and say Hi and show them the fuzz that is growing in on top of my head (though I'm not sure I like it and I may shave it but I'm just curious to see what it's going to be like first...). What's funny is that my eyebrows started to grow back in and now they're falling out again. Ooh, I'm getting a hot flash as I write this. It's really quite comical. My head starts to get all sweaty and my body heats up and then it subsides. This happens several times a day-it's just that you were here to be a part of it (ha ha). Actually, it does make me laugh and I'm so glad for that. Why does it happen? Well it's either the chemo putting me into premature menopause or just messing with my system overall. I think it's the latter. It'll subside before my next chemo and then start again. At least my fever and aches of the last few days are gone, so that's great. I'd like to go to the gym in a bit to walk and do a little weight work.
Surgery-
Okay the date has been changed to.....October 17th at USC. We had to change it b/c Dr. Sherman does a lot of international work in poorer countries (which I think is so awesome). Anyway, he won't be in town on 10/31, he'll be in Kenya. So, we had to search for an alternate date that both of the surgeons could work together. The only concern here about moving it to the 17th is that my blood counts might not be where they should be since the surgery is scheduled only two weeks after my last chemo. So, Dr. Luke cautioned me that, even if I try to make sure I get the white and red booster shots, if my platelet counts are low, then they'll bump me-and we really won't know that until we close to that date. Therefore, I'm trying to schedule a back up date of 11/7 just in case I get bumped. Personally, I like the idea of doing surgery sooner than later, but I do want to be in good physical shape for it. I'm going to pay attention to my body at the second week, like I would be having surgery and see how I feel. I'm going in Tuesday for bloodwork and that will be 8 days after my last chemo so we'll see where I'm at. Anyway, I like the date of the 17th so we'll go with that for now.
Biopsy-
At last post I mentioned that there were two additional suspicious sites on my mammograms from before: one on the left and one on the right. So, they biopsied the one on the left, and Dr. L thought it might be DCIS from the linear dense formation of the calcifications. It turned out to be negative for malignancy, which is great. It doens't mean that I'm going to change my surgical plan. I'm still going to have a double mastectomy. However, what is great is that neither radiation, nor lymph node dissection on the left is needed-wahoo! So that changes things for me personally since the surgery will be less on that side and radiation as well. I'm so glad. Of course, after they do the surgery and reconstruction, I'll still have to follow up with MRI and/or mammo every six months becuase they can never really be sure they've removed all of the breast tissue, but it puts me so much more at ease to know that they'll be gone. Further, the'll chop them up and look at it all under a microscope so we can see what is really there after their removal. I'll have a greater peace of mind for sure.
Next step: Appointments with Dr. Silverstein and Dr. Sherman on Sept. 26th to discuss surgery. I was supposed to go this coming Monday but they said that I don't really need to and relaly helped me to schedule seeing both docs on the same day which is awesome. Constance, who is Dr. Silverstein's assistant is really great. She calls me "hun" which is funny and cute at the same time.
Bowling-
I hope everyone has a great great great time tomorrow and I'll look forward to seeing everyone. Just to review the details, it's from 1-5pm and tickets are $20 for either two or three games (I can't remember if it's two or three) and includes shoes. I'm planning to be there as long as I can without pooping out, but basically between about 2 and 4. Love to see you all even if you don't come to bowl :-). Great thanks to everyone who put on this benefit for me. Dr. Sherman is not covered in network by my insurance so that will definitely be an expense that this money will go towards.
Love to you all and Glory to God!
Julie