Well, we met with the oncologist yesterday. I'm not sure he told us anything that I didn't already know, but it was nice to have the confirmation of the plan of action. It all seems to be moving so fast. It was only 4 weeks ago that I made the first phone call.
I was not given a "stage" since I have not been cut open yet. My mammogram says it's "no less than 4cm" and the oncologist measured about 6cm yesterday. Being put into the category of stage 3 does not mean I am going to die! It simply means that my tumor is huge. I am having a CAT scan done on Friday (8/31) to look for any other spots. I will be having an MRI on Tuesday (9/4) to get a better look at my breasts and lymph nodes. We don't know if it has spread at all but hopefully we will after these tests.
The surgeon's office has scheduled me for my port surgery on Wednesday (9/5). We want to start my chemotherapy around September 13th, so it needs to be in 7 days prior. A couple reasons for doing chemo before surgery- to nip the nasty cancer cells in the butt because they ARE the invasive type, and to watch the tumor shrink to confirm that the medicine is working. This also may provide me with the chance for a lumpectomy instead of the mastectomy. The doctors are concerned that because I am young and my cells reproduce rapidly, the cancer cells maybe also be rapidly reproducing as well and we want to stop it as quickly as possible.
The doctor is not sure which type of treatment he wants to give me yet. There is a standard protocol for my type of cancer (invasive ductal carcinoma), but because of my age, he might change it up a little bit. I could have treatments once every three weeks or once every two weeks.
In the mean time, I'm searching the internet for support sites, for real information, etc so that I can cope with this. It still seems so incredibly surreal. Really, who has breast cancer at 28? And with absolutely no risk factors?
Because it seems I actually have readers ;), if anyone has questions, post them. I'll try to either answer in the comments or address them in the next post.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
What?!?!
I've never blogged before. This is my first go at it. I think I've decided to document everything here more for me than for any readers I might have...
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma today. At 28 years old. We don't know how advanced it is yet, since my only biopsy was of the lump in my breast.
I suppose I'll start at the beginning. I noticed a lump in the upper left quadrant of my left breast about two months ago. I searched the internet, asked the advice of my friends, and decided I wouldn't worry about it yet. I thought perhaps it was a cyst or just dense breast tissue, but the lump didn't change throughout my menstrual cycle. It was not affected by hormones.
I called my OB/GYN, my husband made me, after a whole cycle went by with no change. I had my appointment with that doctor on August 8th. She did nothing to calm my anxiety, instead told me that we needed to have a diagnostic ultrasound and mammogram done. A mammogram at 28?! What?!?! Leaving that appointment, I think I made peace with whatever diagnosis I would have. It is what it is.
I went to the Breast Center on August 15th, and nervously had an ultrasound done. The tech walked me back to the waiting room (for women with no shirt on) and told me to wait while the doctor looked over the ultrasound. She came back and said we would need to do the mammogram. I got my boobs squished and once again was walked back to the waiting room and told the doctor would look over the results. It seemed like an eternity went by when not only the tech came back but a nurse came with her. I was escorted into the doctor's "office" which had my mammogram and ultrasound films up for viewing. I knew what was next. It was confirmed to me that it was in fact an abnormal mammogram and the area looked "suspicious." The nurse was kind enough to set me up with a general surgeon for an appointment for a biopsy.
My biospy was on August 21st. I was surprisingly calm going into it. It is what it is. He performed a core needle biopsy, where an incision is made and a large hollow needle is inserted to collect tissue (like coring an apple). He took five samples. I was told they would call me when they had the results from pathology and that I'd have to come back to the office. The procedure wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I was definitely incredibly sore afterward. I couldn't pick up my baby, I couldn't push a shopping cart.
And then came this afternoon when I got the results. I got a phone call yesterday from the nurse saying that they still had no lab report, but they were sure they would have it today, so we set an appoinment for me to meet with the doctor again. Again, I was surprisingly not nervous going into the appointment. It is what it is. He asked me how I was doing, asked about pain and soreness, and then hesitated. Again, I knew what was next. Breast cancer, at age 28. What?!?!
I have no risk factors. Other than being a female. I am young. I started (and finished) having children before I was 30. All three were breastfed to some degree. There is no history of breast cancer in my family. Yet here I am with invasive ductal carcinoma.
I have a meeting with an oncologist next week and I will also have an MRI done to get a better picture. The plan of action is agressive. Chemotherapy will most likely be the first step. I'm not in denial nor am I angry. It is what it is, but what?!?!
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma today. At 28 years old. We don't know how advanced it is yet, since my only biopsy was of the lump in my breast.
I suppose I'll start at the beginning. I noticed a lump in the upper left quadrant of my left breast about two months ago. I searched the internet, asked the advice of my friends, and decided I wouldn't worry about it yet. I thought perhaps it was a cyst or just dense breast tissue, but the lump didn't change throughout my menstrual cycle. It was not affected by hormones.
I called my OB/GYN, my husband made me, after a whole cycle went by with no change. I had my appointment with that doctor on August 8th. She did nothing to calm my anxiety, instead told me that we needed to have a diagnostic ultrasound and mammogram done. A mammogram at 28?! What?!?! Leaving that appointment, I think I made peace with whatever diagnosis I would have. It is what it is.
I went to the Breast Center on August 15th, and nervously had an ultrasound done. The tech walked me back to the waiting room (for women with no shirt on) and told me to wait while the doctor looked over the ultrasound. She came back and said we would need to do the mammogram. I got my boobs squished and once again was walked back to the waiting room and told the doctor would look over the results. It seemed like an eternity went by when not only the tech came back but a nurse came with her. I was escorted into the doctor's "office" which had my mammogram and ultrasound films up for viewing. I knew what was next. It was confirmed to me that it was in fact an abnormal mammogram and the area looked "suspicious." The nurse was kind enough to set me up with a general surgeon for an appointment for a biopsy.
My biospy was on August 21st. I was surprisingly calm going into it. It is what it is. He performed a core needle biopsy, where an incision is made and a large hollow needle is inserted to collect tissue (like coring an apple). He took five samples. I was told they would call me when they had the results from pathology and that I'd have to come back to the office. The procedure wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I was definitely incredibly sore afterward. I couldn't pick up my baby, I couldn't push a shopping cart.
And then came this afternoon when I got the results. I got a phone call yesterday from the nurse saying that they still had no lab report, but they were sure they would have it today, so we set an appoinment for me to meet with the doctor again. Again, I was surprisingly not nervous going into the appointment. It is what it is. He asked me how I was doing, asked about pain and soreness, and then hesitated. Again, I knew what was next. Breast cancer, at age 28. What?!?!
I have no risk factors. Other than being a female. I am young. I started (and finished) having children before I was 30. All three were breastfed to some degree. There is no history of breast cancer in my family. Yet here I am with invasive ductal carcinoma.
I have a meeting with an oncologist next week and I will also have an MRI done to get a better picture. The plan of action is agressive. Chemotherapy will most likely be the first step. I'm not in denial nor am I angry. It is what it is, but what?!?!
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