Life in the Bottle gets complicated.

Today was my first visit with my oncologist. In my mind, we would review all the reports beginning with the initial mammogram, MRI, biopsy, and through the mastectomy. Then, the doctor would give me a prescription to begin the anti-hormone therapy for the next 5 years. Well, it's more complicated than that. I should have known, as every part of this cancer journey has been very different than our pre-conceived notions. I will be having a bone scan, CT scans with and without contrast, PET scan, and genetic testing that has a fancy name which escapes me now. All of this is scheduled in the next 2 weeks. After the test results are in, the treatment plan will be finalized, and chemo is not off the table as I originally was told. The thought of having to go through chemo therapy and then begin the anti-hormone treatment is more than I can deal with right now; especially, as I will have to continue to work while having the treatments. Because I am a young breast cancer patient (this is one time it doesn't pay to be young), the oncologist is concerned that I have an increased chance of developing additional cancer. Best case scenario is that our insurance company will okay this fancy genetic testing ($4000), and the test results show minimal chance of the cancer coming back.
Life in the bottle is complex.