Journal entry by Ashley Gottier —
From the time I was diagnosed, the whole way up to my post op appointment (so about two months), every medical professional I talked to said I would likely need radiation. I was very grateful that I would likely not need chemotherapy, and so I accepted from the very beginning that I would have radiation.
At my post op appointment, the news was all good: the margins were excellent, none of the cancer had invaded beyond the ducts, everything looked great. And then the surgeon who did my post op (different from the one I've had up to this point) said he didn't think I needed radiation. He very quickly clarified that because of my age, the medical oncologist would say I need radiation, but he doesn't think I need it based on how low grade my cancer was. So I still didn't get my hopes up too high, as radiation still seemed to be standard of care.
We met with my medical oncologist about two weeks after my post op, and he explained all the different treatment options to us. He did recommend endocrine therapy, but said he wanted the tumor to be tested to determine how effective radiation would be. I had been pushing for this test literally since my first meeting with my surgeon, and I knew the test had already been ordered (and I thought the results were already back). But my medical oncologist didn't see the results in the computer, so he said he'd make sure it had been ordered, and I thought the results would be discussed by a radiation oncologist. That afternoon my medical oncologist called to tell me that the testing on my tumor determined there would be no benefit from radiation therapy! The next day I received a call from the radiation oncologist notifying me that they were cancelling the referral, as I had no need for radiation.
We are amazed by the goodness of God and this blessing that we could have never imagined. Obviously there will still be follow up appointments to make sure everything stays good, and possibly endocrine therapy (which is a daily pill for five years). But for now, this journey is over, and as we look back we are amazed by the ways God was with us through the fire and the flood, and are reminded that He is always Sovereign Over Us
At my post op appointment, the news was all good: the margins were excellent, none of the cancer had invaded beyond the ducts, everything looked great. And then the surgeon who did my post op (different from the one I've had up to this point) said he didn't think I needed radiation. He very quickly clarified that because of my age, the medical oncologist would say I need radiation, but he doesn't think I need it based on how low grade my cancer was. So I still didn't get my hopes up too high, as radiation still seemed to be standard of care.
We met with my medical oncologist about two weeks after my post op, and he explained all the different treatment options to us. He did recommend endocrine therapy, but said he wanted the tumor to be tested to determine how effective radiation would be. I had been pushing for this test literally since my first meeting with my surgeon, and I knew the test had already been ordered (and I thought the results were already back). But my medical oncologist didn't see the results in the computer, so he said he'd make sure it had been ordered, and I thought the results would be discussed by a radiation oncologist. That afternoon my medical oncologist called to tell me that the testing on my tumor determined there would be no benefit from radiation therapy! The next day I received a call from the radiation oncologist notifying me that they were cancelling the referral, as I had no need for radiation.
We are amazed by the goodness of God and this blessing that we could have never imagined. Obviously there will still be follow up appointments to make sure everything stays good, and possibly endocrine therapy (which is a daily pill for five years). But for now, this journey is over, and as we look back we are amazed by the ways God was with us through the fire and the flood, and are reminded that He is always Sovereign Over Us
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