So here's the latest.  They did the biopsy on the sentinel node and it came back cancerous so they went and took out a bunch more nodes and we're awaiting biopsy results on that.  It's not good and will likely mean more aggressive chemo, but at this point we're still pretty optimistic.  There's another meeting with the oncologist tomorrow I believe to discuss where to go from here.

Talked to my dad on the phone this afternoon and sounds like we'll be heading to Denver in a few days for a visit.  Looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time.  I mean I want to see my mom, but at the same time I know it's going to make this all feel much more real than it does at the moment.  But I guess that's life.  Or so I'm told anyhow.

Called my mom this afternoon since I hadn't heard back about the results of her MRI.  I was a little worried when she hadn't called me figuring if it was good news she'd probably call me right away.  Apparently my assumption was correct :(

The MRI revealed that the tumor is actually much bigger than what they thought.  She's going to be going in for PET scan tomorrow with results to follow on Tuesday.  The PET scan will help determine if the cancer has metastacized by checking for signs of cancer in the rest of her body.  This procedure IS NOT COVERED BY THE FUCKING INSURANCE COMPANY!!!!  The hospital's normal cost for this test is $5,200.  They offered to do it for $2,600 since the insurance wouldn't cover it.  However my parents found a place that will do it for $1,000. 

So, here's where it's at.  If the PET scan comes back showing that the tumor is all that there is, they will begin chemotherapy to shrink the tumor.  This is to insure that the tumor is smaller to make it easier to completely remove it in surgery.  Then once it's removed there will likely be some more chemo or radiation to make sure it's all gone. 

If the PET scan comes back showing that it's spread then God knows...

My mom's take on it is that if the PET comes back good, then yeah chemo will suck but if she's got a light at the end of the tunnel she can get through this.  If it comes back bad, then ...  yeah we'll just not go there. 

Oh and for the record, she had a mammogram back in September that didn't show a goddamn thing.  So for the women in the audience who don't do the self-exam thing, here's your reason to do it.