By far the neatest gifts were two frames (one for my sister a/k/a 'Beast' and one for me a/k/a 'Shady'). They call me Shady because ... well I've done some pretty shady things in my life, smoked pot, drank a lot, etc. Getting back to the frames - there are lines that mention what occurred in 1964 (the year my sister and I were born). The last line reads:
But the most important thing that occurred in 1964 was Maria and Irene Atsatos were born!
My mother gave birth to two bouncing, beautiful baby girls - identical twins - on a very hot Sunday back in 1964 in Upper Darby, PA, only a year after she moved here from Greece.
It's been a while since I have written, and those of you who know me well and have read older posts know that I am a die-hard liberal. Both my parents are Democrats as well so I have much in common with them. Some of my older posts deal with politics, both here and in Greece, some deal with entertainment, some with family, and some are funny. I have to laugh - laughter gets me through the day.
On Tuesday, September 2nd, I got a telephone call from Main Line Health Radiology. "Irene, you need to come back for another mammogram and an ultrasound." The following day, Wednesday, I had a second set of mammograms and an ultrasound.
On Thursday, I met with Dr. Thomas Frazier, an oncologist at Breast Surgical Specialists at Bryn Mawr, for a consult. A very personable doctor - I liked him immediately. My gynecologist, Marvin Hyett, who I have been seeing for over 26 years told me, "Irene, you couldn't have had a better doctor. I know Thomas well." Dr. Frazier examined both of my breasts thoroughly and then showed me my mammogram and ultrasound films. I asked if I could take pictures of the films. He said it was fine.
I had a Needle Core Biopsy on Friday, September 5th, guided by an ultrasound. I watched the procedure on the monitor. It was at that point that I knew something was not right ...
What I witnessed on the monitor during the procedure didn't look good, and when I asked to see the samples (4 bottles) I knew right away I had cancer. There were just too many signs. I asked Dr. Simpson, the doc performing the biopsy, "why didn't you insert a titanium clip in my breast? Dr. Frazier mentioned you would be inserting one so that we can monitor my right breast in the future." Her reply, "Irene, don't worry, they will be able to locate the nodule ..."
After the longest weekend of my life, Dr Frazier called me Monday morning (September 8th) ... "Irene, the tumor is malignant."
Before he even had a chance to continue I asked, "what stage doctor?"
"Stage 1A Irene, I'm sorry. I will need to see you in my office."
I took a post-it note from Nikki's desk and wrote what he told me down. I don't know what I would have done without Nikki ... we both started crying.
How do I call my sister in Greece now to tell her the tumor is malignant. After a few minutes I called. "Hey John, how are you?" ...
I love John so much. He is like a brother to me. He handed the phone to my sister because he knows how close we are - he wanted me to tell Maria the results first ... needless to say, Maria started crying, I cried, Nikki cried ...
On Wednesday, September 10th, I saw Dr. Frazier at 10:00 a.m. I didn't sleep the entire night. Nikki came with me to support me and to take notes. At one point the doctor was talking to me - his lips were moving but I couldn't hear what he was saying.
Thank you Nikki. You're like a sister to me, but most of all thank you for having a wonderful disposition and laughing all the time.
He gave me 4 scripts and spent a considerable amount of time explaining my cancer - he even drew a picture and wrote notes for me.
I met with Karen who provided the locations and times of my tests ... I think her name was Karen - I've met so many nurses I can't be certain her name was Karen.
Too much information to have to process. Information overload ... my brain hurts from thinking too much and from trying to process all of this ...
Today at 3:00 p.m., I had an MRI (w/dye) of both breasts, a chest x-ray and blood tests. Dr. Frazier should have the results of those tests by tomorrow.
Nikki dropped me off at the Warden Lobby at Bryn Mawr Hospital. "Irene, I'll drop you off and pick you up ..." It's good that I listened to Nikki - the MRI was an hour and 10 minutes. A man must have created this special MRI for breasts - two openings where the breasts hang (your on your stomach and your arms are extended above your head). The openings are not even curved (to at least resemble the shape of our breasts)!
Bang, bang bang ... anyone who has ever had an MRI can relate to the noise.
"Irene, this next one will be 10 minutes. Are you okay?" Cheryl, the technician talked to me throughout each stage. "Other than my sternum hurting, the paralysis in my lower back and legs, and the pins and needles in my arms and hands, I feel great Cheryl! A man must have created this contraption.! I'm fine ..."
When it was all over I sat up and felt dizzy. It took about 10 minutes for me to get the sensation back in my hands and legs. They removed the port (from the top of my hand where the dye was injected).
"Can you stand Irene? My assistant and I will help you stand up slowly." My reply, "we'll get the answer to that question if I wind up on the floor ..." I have to joke - it gets me through difficult moments.
In another post I will write about Sara, my cancer buddy - nurse navigator, who met me in the waiting area before my MRI. A wonderful nurse with a great sense of humor who also had breast cancer. We hit it off right away. We both had each other in stitches in the waiting area. It's what I call a 'busting a gut' laughing spell. The kind of laughter that makes you almost pee your pants.
I called Nikki up when I got outside ... "Nikki, I'm finished, walking to the Wawa on the corner, I'm really thirsty."
"Okay sweetie, sure honey, call you back in five ..."
BUSTING A GUT! Someone was in her office ...
Even during the most difficult moments in our lives, humor and laughter will find its way in ...
So grateful that my sister and her family will be back from Greece (they are flying back on the 22nd). I miss them so much, more than words can ever say.
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