The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer Recovery: Lessons Learned Along the Path to Healing. Tammy Inc. Miller

were a lot of choices thrown at me from a lumpectomy to mastectomy to reconstruction (insert scream and pulling at hair image), and there were decisions that had to be made. These are the type of decisions that only you can make, and I strongly affirm the idea that we need to be educated about the options available. In many cases, there are many options. My emotions were very high, but in the end I felt good (and still do to this day) about my choice of decisions.

      Basically, since the cancer was directly under my nipple, for me the decisions started with either a lumpectomy (in this case, also known as a partial mastectomy) or a total mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) and whether or not I wanted reconstruction done. In most cases, a lumpectomy does not require the removal of the nipple and areola area, but since this was directly where the cancer was located; it would be required in my case. Dr. B explained that there weren’t any guarantees. Even if I had a bilateral total mastectomy (both breasts removed), this still would not guarantee that the cancer would never come back. We had a long discussion about the options since my cancer was in the nipple area, and it was small enough at 2 cm, that I opted for the partial mastectomy, which is essentially the same as a lumpectomy, except that I was losing a definitive part of the breast. I asked him that all important question, “If I were your mother…” He laughed and said I was way too young to be his mother, but if I were his sister or wife (shoot – he’s married and has 4 kids – oh, well, he is still easy on the eyes!), yes, this would be the surgery he would recommend.

      Okay, then. One of the things I really dislike in life is indecision. I don’t always make the right decision, although I did in this matter, but being a “fence sitter” makes me crazy. I would rather make the decision and move on than sit there dangling my feet off the fence!

      I believe that Dr. B is a fantastic doctor and I did and do trust him with my life. When I asked him once why he chose this particular focus, he told me that there was so much controversy in the field of breast cancer, and it was always changing with new updates in medicine. I think that is what keeps it interesting for him. As we learn more and more, we can make better decisions. When I was diagnosed, he told me there would be some decisions to make, and he could advise me, but I was the only one who could ultimately make the decisions. I know some people do not want this option, and would rather just say to the doctor, “Do whatever you think is the best thing”, and others who refuse to do anything and let nature take its course. If you have been reading this book from the beginning, you already know that I wanted all the information I could find so I could make a decision that I felt I could live with - and indeed, I have.

      Some of the decisions you face are what type of treatment you want, including how much of the breast you want removed, what type of follow-up you want after that, including reconstruction, removal of the lymph nodes, radiation, chemotherapy, and what type of long-term treatment you want, including medications like Tamoxifen, Arimidex, or a variety of the newer drugs on the market. A lot of these decisions are based on how quickly the cancer had been discovered, if there are other parts of your body affected by the cancer, and your general health at the time of the diagnosis, but we’ll talk more about that in later chapters.

      The surgery was scheduled for two weeks later and we were ready to go.

      As I was leaving the office, I handed Dr. B, and his wonderful nurse, Nancy, each a big red foam clown nose – the first of many distributed along the path! When I gave it to Dr. B, I told him he was officially the head of my Humor Team, and I expected him to be up for the task! I also left a nose for his staff person, Becky, who became my vital link to Dr. B. I think at that moment they felt they may not be dealing with their “normal” patient. And, I can tell you, I am described in many ways, with many adjectives (my very favorite is vivacious!), but “normal” is rarely one of them! I told them they were now officially part of my Humor Team, and we were getting on with it! Little did I know that the nose exchange would be the first of many “creative” episodes with Dr. B and his delightful nurse and staff!!

      Lesson Five – Recruit or “hire” (no cost involved) your personal Humor Team! Sometimes it is difficult to laugh at the situation, at other times, the only sense you can make out of life is a sense of humor. Other people can help you keep your spirits up and look for ways to see the lighter side of even the seemingly darkest situations.