My apologies if anyone is hanging on the edge of their seat to know what has been happening. Good stuff mostly - very good stuff. I got the results of the bone scan and CT Scan and both were negative. The estrogen receptor status in positive which means I have some antihormone options. And my cancer was not agressive. My oncologist who as she left the exam room several appointments back said "It's all rather more an art than a science" is, however, recommending chemotherapy because there were three tumors and because of my age. I asked her for, and received,a statistical analysis which suggested my chances of survival after 5 years were somewhat improved if I chose chemo. However, as my sister reminded me when this was all first unfolding, statistics capture some of the people some of the time. So, after much deliberation and research and trying to key into my intuition I have decided to not have chemo. I am going for a second opinion at Sloane Kettering ( the former director of which once publicly stated that chemo therpay is by and large quackery which only has efficacy for three types of cancer - none of which is breast cancer) to reassure myself that although I will probably not do what they are also likely to recommend, I will hear very little else that might persuade me that I am making a mistake. I am also interested in hearing what they say about the antihormone treatment with Tamoxifen but am currently disinclined to do this as there are also significant side-effects.

The healing progresses and I am getting accustomed to this new physical reality. I don't see the surgeon again for 6 months and he declares me healed! Work is ok if carzy with academic infighting, territoriality and other less than enlightened behavior but I am on the periphery mostly and intentionally.


I don't anticipate using this blog much longer as I am not making cancer my hobby but will look for other areas to tap into myself so I don't get so lost again. Oh, and contrary to the title of this post I do not have IDC Cancer - anymore! Thanks for reading!