From Uncertainty to a Plan of Action (P.O.A.)

Last Friday, I met with Dr. D., who had all of the test results by then.   She carefully went through the pathology report and the PET/CT scan results, explaining what type of cancer (definitely ovarian) and the extent of the distant sites.  She reassured me that these metabolically active hot spots were all small in size (< 1 cm), and that this type of cancer responds well to chemotherapy.
So the P.O.A. is as follows: three sessions of chemotherapy, followed by the "debulking" surgery, and then three more sessions of chemo.  Each session is three weeks long, the first week being the most difficult regarding side effects.  The second week is characterised by a low level of white blood cells, thus increased vulnerability to infection.  The third week gives me time to regather my strength and build up the white cell count before the next cycle begins.
I made a special request to see my PET/CT scan in 3D, so we were allowed to go down to the lab where one of the doctors gave us a thorough explanation of the results.  It helps me a lot to be able to visualize exactly what's going on on the inside.  
This "need to know" also applies to the drugs used for the chemotherapy -- I looked these up on Wikipedia in order to understand exactly how they act at the cellular level.  Fascinating!  (See Taxol and Carboplatin, if you're  interested.)
The first session is planned for next Tuesday, Dec. 14th.
Yesterday, Virginie and I went shopping for comfortable turbans to keep my soon-to-be-bald head warm.  I also stocked up on comfortable lounging clothes.  
I'm so relieved that the actual treatment will soon begin!