2B

There is no question.  2B is the answer.

And, today marked the end of Treatment 2B.  Boo Yah!  Well...maybe...these B Cycles seem to wear me out.  Of course, that could be because our smoke detector battery decided to die at 2AM the night before.  And, due to the fact that Hugo has a space heater in his room, I was sufficiently freaked out to not be able to fall back asleep for several more hours, after checking to make sure everything was okay (it was).  Grrr...

But, all went well with 2B.  It is a very quick treatment - only 10 minutes long.  Of course, they never make it that simple.  After you check-in for treatment it takes 45min to an hour for them to mix your Chemo up fresh and personal just for you.  And, during that time we met with the Genetics Counselor.  This was a very interesting meeting.  Jessi was such a nice, beautiful, young, smart person...it seemed kind of incongruent with what we were talking about.  As she said, she has to say, "'It sucks' with a smile".  Which she did very well.  I appreciated her sense of humor as well as that of my cohorts in crime, Matt and Cathy, as my Chemo buddies for the day.  But, the information is a little overwhelming...to say the least.

Basically, the next step for me is to get genetically tested.  You have probably heard Angelina Jolie's hype about BRCA and why she chose to get an elective double-mastectomy.  This could apply to me as well if I test positive.  Of course, they are testing for other things as well, so it is kind of mixed bag.  I am not sure I want to know some of this stuff as it makes for more decision-making.

The Geneticist, of course, would like to see me test positive for BRCA because, I think, it would be convenient.  It means that she can link the Triple Negative status to something concrete and clean.  But, for me, I would prefer a negative result.  It means I can worry a bit less about my daughters, sister, mother, nieces, grandchildren!  (And, actually, the boys, too as BRCA is also associated with prostate cancer.)  It would not answer the "why" to this question, but I think I am okay with that.  There is plenty in life we will never know the why to and even though that is a very tough question in this situation, I think I can make my peace without ever knowing the why.  Especially if it means a bit more safety for all my family.

So...we will know the results of this test within the next three months; possibly three weeks if the insurance doesn't approve us for the more complicated test.  And, then there will be more to think about.  Yay!  Ha.  Not.

After this meeting, I was called in for Chemo by the cutest Big Bad Wolf ever.  Holly was also awesome.  Young and fun and willing to go along with all of our silliness.  Matt took a picture:

After the quick treatment, we met with my good friend and Dietician, Dena McDowell.  Dena is also so much fun to be around and has such great advice.  I feel so blessed that going to these treatments, can be a thing with smiles instead of tears.

Finally, we returned home.  I was, at this point, exhausted.  I went upstairs to read while the boys took their afternoon nap and instead discovered that I could not keep my eyes open.  Hugo cried and called for me, but still I could not open my eyes.  Thank God for my wonderful mother who came to my rescue.  She got the boys up, helped Matt with dinner, Linda came over, too and they got the kids into their costumes and headed out into the gloomy night for an evening of Halloween fun.  All the while, I lay in bed and relished in the peace.  Sorry, Mom, Matt, and Linda.  I know the kids are not easy, but boy was that nice for me to have a quiet evening.  Thank you.

2B done.  Yay.