Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18th. It should begin at noon and last around 5 hours. Joe will update after the surgery so that all of you know for sure it went well.
Between now and then we should receive genetic testing results.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Update 3
My MRI is clear! Nothing suspicious visible and no sign of enlarged lymph nodes. A post-biopsy hematoma could be seen and that's normal. Our next step is to get surgery scheduled.
I am pleased to report that 10 women under 40 that I know have had a mammogram since I shared my diagnosis with them! Imagine what catching every patient at Stage 1 would do for the fight against breast cancer. Brave ladies, to walk in there when someone they know is right at the beginning of this mess. I consider every mammogram someone doesn't get a false negative; just because you aren't looking doesn't mean nothing is there. You just don't know unless you go.
I am pleased to report that 10 women under 40 that I know have had a mammogram since I shared my diagnosis with them! Imagine what catching every patient at Stage 1 would do for the fight against breast cancer. Brave ladies, to walk in there when someone they know is right at the beginning of this mess. I consider every mammogram someone doesn't get a false negative; just because you aren't looking doesn't mean nothing is there. You just don't know unless you go.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Update 2
This morning I had a bilateral breast MRI to determine if there is any other questionable tissue area that might need to be biopsied before we move forward with surgery. I will share results from that when I have them but I was told that they were able to obtain great images. If there's anything else to see aside from the original cluster of microcalcifications, they should have no problem seeing it. The MRI was very loud. They had me positioned on my stomach with my arms at my side and they communicated with me throughout. I could not communicate with them, however, aside from a panic button placed in my hand for emergency use. That's right, I had to go 20 minutes without speaking. I think we all know that was the hardest part for me.
After the MRI, we met with a geneticist to have blood drawn for genetic testing to see if I am positive for either BRCA1 or BRCA2, among other gene mutations. We were told there is a < 5% chance that I am positive for those mutations. If I am positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 it will be important to consider elective removal of ovaries, etc... Results from the genetic testing will be available in about 14 days.
The fun didn't stop there.
We met with a plastic surgeon this afternoon to discuss reconstruction after bilateral mastectomy. There are a few ways to go about reconstruction so we learned about our options and the timing of them with regard to chemo and radiation (if radiation is indicated).
While I was in the MRI holding my tongue for a PR of 20 min, I was thinking how nice it is that so many inspiring, hope filled stories come pouring out of the woodwork with a cancer diagnosis. In the last few days I have been connected with some strong, sincere, candid young women that have traveled this road before me and their help has already been a real boost. People get through this all the time and many without a fraction of the support I will have. I am so thankful for the kind people in our life, family and friends alike. We have an impressive village!
I will check back in with MRI results, BRCA results and surgery dates as they become available.
Thank you all for your support, I'm a lucky woman!
After the MRI, we met with a geneticist to have blood drawn for genetic testing to see if I am positive for either BRCA1 or BRCA2, among other gene mutations. We were told there is a < 5% chance that I am positive for those mutations. If I am positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 it will be important to consider elective removal of ovaries, etc... Results from the genetic testing will be available in about 14 days.
The fun didn't stop there.
We met with a plastic surgeon this afternoon to discuss reconstruction after bilateral mastectomy. There are a few ways to go about reconstruction so we learned about our options and the timing of them with regard to chemo and radiation (if radiation is indicated).
While I was in the MRI holding my tongue for a PR of 20 min, I was thinking how nice it is that so many inspiring, hope filled stories come pouring out of the woodwork with a cancer diagnosis. In the last few days I have been connected with some strong, sincere, candid young women that have traveled this road before me and their help has already been a real boost. People get through this all the time and many without a fraction of the support I will have. I am so thankful for the kind people in our life, family and friends alike. We have an impressive village!
I will check back in with MRI results, BRCA results and surgery dates as they become available.
Thank you all for your support, I'm a lucky woman!
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Update 1
Every 19 seconds a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
On Wednesday, October 21, 2015, one of them was me.
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, ER+, PR +, HER2/neu+.
This was found early and my prognosis is excellent. I'm 35 years old. I don't have any first or second degree relatives with breast cancer. No lumps were ever detected. I had an abnormal mammogram, returned for a second scan, had a biopsy done and then received my diagnosis. Mammography saved the day.
PLEASE get mammograms annually as an adult (or urge the women you love to do so); every single health professional we have encountered in the last 2 days is furious with the new recommendation to wait until 45 to begin. GO NOW.
My treatment plan will include surgery, reconstruction, chemotherapy and Herceptin. Herceptin will be over the course of a full year.
My next appointments are on Tuesday. I will have an MRI and an appointment for genetic testing. We will know results from the MRI this week. It will take 14 days to hear results from the genetic testing.
We are hoping this will be a convenient place for our many supporters to get accurate information first hand. We have had many offers for help and we know we'll take people up on them in the coming months. The first thing you can do for us is to go get a mammogram or urge someone you love to do the same.
On Wednesday, October 21, 2015, one of them was me.
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, ER+, PR +, HER2/neu+.
This was found early and my prognosis is excellent. I'm 35 years old. I don't have any first or second degree relatives with breast cancer. No lumps were ever detected. I had an abnormal mammogram, returned for a second scan, had a biopsy done and then received my diagnosis. Mammography saved the day.
PLEASE get mammograms annually as an adult (or urge the women you love to do so); every single health professional we have encountered in the last 2 days is furious with the new recommendation to wait until 45 to begin. GO NOW.
My treatment plan will include surgery, reconstruction, chemotherapy and Herceptin. Herceptin will be over the course of a full year.
My next appointments are on Tuesday. I will have an MRI and an appointment for genetic testing. We will know results from the MRI this week. It will take 14 days to hear results from the genetic testing.
We are hoping this will be a convenient place for our many supporters to get accurate information first hand. We have had many offers for help and we know we'll take people up on them in the coming months. The first thing you can do for us is to go get a mammogram or urge someone you love to do the same.
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