To recap: I didn't want to have my Risky Organs Removed mostly because I didn't see the benefit outweighing the issues.....
We're still hanging on in February 2014.
Ok. Moving right along the long and open road we're traveling on.. the one main issue about having a bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy (aside from knowing how to pronounce it and remembering how to say it) was the financial consideration. Not the cost of the surgery even - but the ability to pay my regular monthly expenses while on short-term medical leave. My health insurance will cover a decent portion of the medical expenses - at least once I hit my deductible. Losing my full income for at least a month - now that's another story. As a single person making a paycheck stretch to cover everything is tough. In fact, I rarely am able to do it. Sacrifices are a normal part of life and thankfully I have a fantastic family that at least tries to understand. However, losing even part of my income is something I need to seriously contemplate. The way that the leave works is there is a 7 day day period of no payment and then 60% of my regular pay. I can use vacation or other leave time for the 7 days.
March 3, 2014
Met with my Breast Oncologist (Dr. Andrew Ashikari) who again suggested that I at least consult with a GYN Oncologist because I'm in generally good health and really should pursue this risk reducing endeavor. I still didn't like the idea and had no intention at all of following up. None.
March 5, 2014
My day off. I was innocently surfing around reading various things when an article appeared discussing how removal of ovaries can reduce the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Read the article. Continued to another website - different article, same information. And this continued for the whole day. No matter what I was doing, I kept stumbling on articles. Being me, I decided that it was all my dead people sending me messages (mostly Aunt Goldie because she had breast cancer). Continuing to be me (which I do really well by the way) I continued to read, research, review and re-read all sorts of articles on bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy and looking for reasons why I shouldn't do it. Couldn't really find anything substantial.
My initial intent was to also have a hysterectomy since they're going to cut me open anyway and I don't have any use for the uterus.
March 13, 2014
Appointment with GYN oncologist Dr. Thomas Herzog in his office at
Nyack Hospital's Breast Center. Very nice guy. Definitely suggests ovary and tube removal (salpingo-oopherectomy) and based on my family history suggested further genetic testing to see if I have the mutated gene that increases the risk of Lynch Syndrome. There's a Clinical Cancer Genetics Program affiliated with the Nyack Breast Center so I made an appointment for that.
March 31, 2014
Had my consultation with Dr. Oundjian (genetic counselor) and presented my detailed family history. Blood was taken for testing for Lynch Syndrome, but based on the family history it seemed fairly unlikely. The bottom line was if I tested postive, hysterectomy would be indicated because of a variety of factors. The removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes would reduce my risk of breast cancer by 90% and eliminate the risk of ovarian cancer.
From http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lynch-syndrome:
Apparently, it is enough of a risk to go for the hysterectomy also. I was told I'd have the results in 3 to 4 weeks. About 2 weeks later, Dr. Oundjian called to say the insurance company informed her that I haven't met my $1,000.00 deductible yet and would have to pay that out of pocket plus 20% of the rest of the cost. Nope. Not gonna happen. That would use up my entire HSA account. So I made an appointment to see Dr. Herzog on April 28th. We've now come to where I began!What is Lynch syndrome?
Lynch syndrome, often called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is an inherited disorder that increases the risk of many types of cancer, particularly cancers of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, which are collectively referred to as colorectal cancer. People with Lynch syndrome also have an increased risk of cancers of the stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder ducts, upper urinary tract, brain, and skin. Additionally, women with this disorder have a high risk of cancer of the ovaries and lining of the uterus (the endometrium). People with Lynch syndrome may occasionally have noncancerous (benign) growths (polyps) in the colon, called colon polyps. In individuals with this disorder, colon polyps occur earlier but not in greater numbers than they do in the general population.
Next Page: Part 3 - Surgical Consult
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