allclear1.jpgYesterday was eventful. I went to see Dr. R at Sunnybrook Hospital, in Toronto, for my second opinion dialogue. My wonderful pal and sister-in-law, M, came with me. I have been staying with M and my brother, Tom, for the last couple of days. They have been so incredibly kind and generous as hosts, inviting over friends and family, cooking marathon meals, and generally being the wonderful people they are.

In some significant way, it is M’s own cancer story, or part of it, one really important detail, that may have saved my life. M had pain in her left breast a couple of years ago that prompted her to seek a diagnostic mammogram, only then to learn that she had breast cancer. When I experienced continuous pain in my left breast this past Spring, it was the echo of M’s story that sent me on my own path to my GP seeking a diagnostic mammogram, and finding likewise, cancer in the other breast.

M and I made our way to Sunnybrook Hospital, and to Dr. R’s office in the Cancer Centre. To recap, for the uninitiated, following my surgery, there was a conflict between the cancer diagnosis at time of biopsy (microinvasion) and at the time of pathology analysis following surgery (no invasive cancer). I located, with Dr. R’s assistance, a dedicated breast pathologist who specializes in the kind of cancer that I had (DCIS) and had ALL the slides sent to her for re-analysis – a fresh and highly skilled pair of eyes. Dr. R offered to provide a consultation regarding the whole case once the pathologist had finished her work.

The important facts that emerged from my conversation yesterday with Dr. R are as follows:

-No indication of invasive cancer

-Clear and significant surgical margins (greater than 1 cm)

-Mastectomy was, in fact, my only surgical option because the cancer was not just dispersed (multi-focal) but also existed in two large and separate locations (multi-centric) which removes lumpectomy as an option.

The clinical implication for the findings is that there is no need for any further treatment of any kind, and I don’t even need to pursue any kind of follow-up monitoring.

I really appreciate the effort and commitment demonstrated by Dr. R, who organized the pathology second opinion, and offered to talk to me with no formal referral — just following contact by email. I can’t say clearly enough how wonderful it was to be able, finally, to ask my questions and feel heard.

You have likely participated in some way in my cancer story, if only as a reader of this blog, which has been, for me, a vital way to connect with a social network of folks who offer solace, wit and the critical factor of co-presence. To all of you, I need to say how very grateful I am that you have been strong enough and persistent enough to be part of my life in this strange time. With this new clarity concerning the present – my present body – I feel like I can finally take a big first step away from this grotesque disease that is cancer.