Kasey met with Dr. Sekharan this week to plan her next steps. Her final chemotherapy session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24th. Following this, she’ll take a break to clear the chemo from her system before undergoing a double mastectomy on November 6th. During the mastectomy, expanders will be placed, which will be gradually filled with saline over time. Kasey may also require radiation, though this will be confirmed on October 1st when her treatment plan is finalized. Once the expanders are filled to the desired amount and she has recovered from the mastectomy—and radiation, if needed—she will undergo reconstructive surgery to remove the expanders and complete the reconstruction process. Kasey requires a double mastectomy due to the presence of numerous precancerous cells in her breast tissue. While chemotherapy effectively targets cancer cells, it does not address precancerous cells, necessitating the removal of the affected tissue. Removing only the cancerous and precancerous cells would likely result in deformity, making a mastectomy the preferred option. However, a mastectomy does not guarantee that breast cancer will never return, as recurrence is still possible. The procedure offers a better chance of clearing precancerous cells but does not necessarily improve survival odds. During the surgery, a lymph node will be removed and biopsied. The biopsy results will determine whether additional lymph nodes need to be removed, further treatment is required, or, in the best-case scenario, the node is benign, requiring no further lymph node evaluation.
Kasey is thrilled to be nearing the end of chemotherapy but remains anxious about the upcoming steps. She’s diligently following her doctors’ recommendations and striving to stay positive as she transitions to the surgical phase. She’ll likely need at least three weeks off work for recovery, possibly longer depending on her surgeon’s guidance. The reconstructive surgery date is not yet set, but the expanders can remain in place for up to a year. We’re hopeful for a swift recovery and that radiation won’t be necessary.
The medical team was amazed by Kasey’s curls and the effectiveness of the cold cap! Throughout this journey, Kasey has shown incredible strength, maintaining her mental and physical health. I’m beyond proud to have such an amazing, strong sister. If you’d like to share words of encouragement or prayers for Kasey, please send them to me, and I’ll pass them along for her final chemo on September 24th and her surgery on November 6th. Thank you all for your support—we’re deeply grateful.
Love you all,
Kary