Updates 1-10

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 in situ (DCIS), 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.

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!

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.

Update 4

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.

Update 5 

We just heard back from the geneticist and I do not have any gene mutations for breast cancer!
Negative for both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

I am thrilled with this result and excited to get on with the bilateral mastectomy next week so we can investigate my lymph nodes and hopefully hear good news about them as well.

Surgery is November 18th and is set to begin at 12 and last approximately 5 hours.

A wonderful friend has set up a meal calendar for us and we are forever grateful.

Thank you, everyone, for your love and support. We feel all the good vibes you send our way.

Update 6 {by Joe)

The surgery is over!!!  Both parts went as well as possible.  The cancer surgeon removed three lymph nodes, all of which were negative.  The reconstruction went equally well, as the surgeon was able to get a fair amount of fluid into the tissue expanders.  We will see Sarah in about an hour.  I will post again later tonight.

Update 7 {by Joe}

Everything continues to to go well.  Sarah got to her room about 7 PM.  She got a round of pain meds and slept for a little while.  She got up (slowly) and went to the bathroom and did very well.  She is in a very good mood and got to talk to the boys (which did wonders for both her and the boys).  She is very pleased with her pain levels.  We are all very comfortable and getting ready for a great night of sleep.  Thanks again for all the support and messages.

Update 8 {by Joe}

Sarah rested very well last night.  The pain meds are working well but making her very tired.  She is starting to slowly get back her appetite.  When she is eating well, she can switch to oral pain meds which should make her feel more alert.  We have been given the option of going home today or staying one more night.  Will see how she feels later today.  I will send out anther update later.

Update 9 {by Joe}

I am thrilled to inform you Sarah progressed very quickly this afternoon and we were able to come home.  We arrived at roughly 5:15 and she is already comfortably watching a movie with the boys.  

We can’t begin to thank everyone enough for the support.  The best Sarah quote from our little two-day getaway was “We sure do have a huge support network for such a tiny piece of cancer.”

Update 10

Thank you, everyone, for all the support and well wishes this week. We have been buoyed by all of your positivity.  As Joe updated, surgery went very well and I am already home resting comfortably.  I'm not having any trouble sleeping on my back thanks to two big foam wedges along with a foam knee wedge. (I should also give a shout out to Percocet at this point.)  My appetite is good and my complexion is back to normal according to everyone who saw the blood drain from my face a time or two.

Joe has been a huge support managing all my meds and taking care of 4 surgical drains I came home with.  My first post-op appointment is Tuesday, Nov. 24th, and I will probably have 2 drains removed at that time.  On Dec, 2nd,  I'll have my second post-op appointment and hopefully the last 2 drains will come out at that time.

We have already had a few meals delivered and it has been wonderful!  Our focus has been so narrow that we don't even realize time to eat has rolled around again until the food is placed in front of us!

Joe and I are immensely grateful that we have my parents close by as a support we can fall back on over and over again.

We will let you know how the first post-op appointment goes.  Lymph nodes looked clear during surgery and they sent three out for testing for good measure. We should hear about those next week.

As recoveries go, I am feeling really good- physically and emotionally- and I know I'll improve little by little over time if I follow doctor's orders!

Thank you all so much for caring about us!