Oncocyte Score...

The word oncocyte still feels very awkward on my tongue, but I have good news to report:

My oncocyte score is 17 (out of 50).  The lower the better on this evaluation of the exact type of cancer cell I have.

Under 20 is considered low risk.  That is, I have a risk of about 10% of recurrence of the cancer--after completing radiation and after taking an Aromatase inhibitor for five years.

One in ten--that seems pretty scary to me, but I am grateful that my particular type of cell is not the very aggressive type with a 1/3 or 1/4 risk factor.

What random factors go into having cancer--when you discover it, what type you have, whether it's caused by genetic predisposition, by environmental conditions, or by sheer chance.

l'm becoming more grateful by the day for each aspect of my health that goes well.

Good news on BRCA 1 & 2

I called my doctor today to find out whether the results of my blood test are available yet.

She said it was negative for the BRCA 1 and 2 genes.  

That means that I don't need to have a mastectomy or double mastectomy.  Hooray!

Instead I will be starting radiation on June 30, five days a week for 4-6 weeks.

On June 23 I will do the prep for radiation, including getting four dots tattooed on the precise area where the x-rays will be aimed.  That will enable the technicians to direct the radiation exactly to the right spot each day.

When she heard about the tattoo, Roz teased me: "Wow, Mom, you're finally getting one!"  (I was not too happy when she acquired a rose tattoo and then a butterfly as a teenager.)

I'm so grateful that she and her sisters now don't have to worry about having the breast cancer genes, at least not from me!