On to the Oncologist...

The appointments were booked super fast! After my meeting with Dr. Camal, Monica (my new BFF) was able to get me into the Oncologist on Friday. She told me I was going to love him. This time I brought my mom with me since she was back from Florida now. We headed over to meet Dr. Ian Horkheimer, at the Regional Care Cancer Associates in Little Silver. They brought us both in and the nurse took my info and vitals. She saw that I was referred to by Dr. Camal and said to us, "Dr. Camal is the best she is just wonderful. You are so lucky to have her. You are in good hands with her."

Dr. Horkheimer came in talked to my mother and I. He has such a calm demeanor, it made both of us feel very comfortable. He did a quick exam on me and noticed my music note tattoo on my back shoulder. He asked if I was musical or played any instruments. I said "I sing but I haven't done it in awhile, I got this after my dad dies. I do Digital Marketing for a living". He told us about his kids and that he has them taking piano lessons and hopes someday they will appreciate them. We talked little about my kids and then went over details about the next steps in this journey. He said the because it was stage 2 cancer and in the lymph nodes that we would most likely need to do chemotherapy. But it didn't really matter to him which we did first, surgery or chemo. He said it was up to Dr. Camal. If the MRI comes back and show that the lymph node is too close to a blood vessel Dr. Camal may want us to do chemotherapy first to shrink the lymph nodes to make a cleaner and safer surgery. He said that decision will be made by Dr. Camal, and she always makes the right decision. The important tests for him will be the results of my Bone scan and my CAT scan. Those will tell him where the cancer is and if its spreading or staying in one spot.

I am ER and PR Positive and (we got the results) HER2 Neu Negative. I asked what that all meant with the HER2 Neu. He explained that the cells have little receptors like antennas that respond to the higher Estrogen levels - and it normally respond when there is a flood of estrogen like during a monthly cycle or pregnancy. But with a ER Positive cancer cells do the same and that is what helps them grow. So they will give me Estrogen blockers to block the flood of estrogen. The HER2 Neu- He said they really do not know exactly what it does. And if anyone says they know, they are lying. He said what they do know is that if the protein is found that it has a higher chance of coming back and that they have to fight it in a different way. They can fight it but its a different process. So Im glad mine came back negative.

He sat with us for at least a half hour or more and talked about the importance of getting flu shots for me and for everyone in my family. As well as getting the next booster for Covid. Since when I go through chemo I need to stay as healthy as possible. He sat next to my mom and answered her questions.

Towards the end of our consultation he said " Everyone comes out of this a changed person. If you don't you didn't learn the lesson. Work doesn't become as important as before. Priorities change. You will be singing again after all this ."

That stuck with me because it was the smallest part of our conversation from a man that knows Nothing about me except I have breast cancer and a music note tattoo. But it was the way that he knew that music note was important part of me. It just again felt like the right fit. Here is the man that will also save my life.