Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I am Spiderman!
My sister called me today and asked me if I was Spiderman! It took me way too long to realize she was referring to my RADIOACTIVE CT/PET scan that I had today. They injected me with a radioactive sugar substance that filters through my body and gravitates toward any cancer in my body. I waited for 45 minutes while it went to work, then they scanned me for about 30 minutes. It is really hard to hold still that long. And to make matters worse I totally forgot to take my Xanax before the scan. I did ok though. No problemo. Thirty minutes, all alone, staring at the tube of the scanner...a lot runs through a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient's mind. Today I spent the time thanking my Heavenly Father for all that I have. To keep calm, I ran down the list and thought of my wonderful husband, children, parents, siblings, extended family, and friends. I have so much love in my life. I am truly blessed. I was so worried when the scan started, and then I did this, and it ended before my list of loved ones was even half way done. What a lucky girl I am!
The doctor visit list...
Here is a list of the appointments I have had thus far and what I learned at each appointment. I am going to try, from here on out, to publish a post after each new appointment so that everyone who is interested can keep updated on what is going on. I really didn't want to put all of this on Facebook but I have been so touched by how many people have reached out, showed concern and wanted me to keep them updated...so the blog sounded like a good idea.
1. June 7th, I had my regular annual exam with my family doc. During the visit I mentioned that my right breast felt fuller, firmer than my left. While both breasts have always been firm, the tissue very fibrous I have been told, the right one just seemed a bit different. She told me that she would have me get a mammogram to rule anything out and just add to the things I was checking off my list before we moved.
2. June 8th, I went to the hospital and got a mammogram, they told me the right breast looked very dense, they wanted to get a better look with ultrasound. After waiting a bit they did ultrasound. I started to get a bit worried when the tech started taking pictures of two dark areas. I think she ended up taking about 25 pics in all, measuring and snapping pics for about 15 minutes before she went to get the Radiologist. In comes the Radiologist. He proceeds to tell me there are two "areas of concern" and I am scheduled to see my family doc tomorrow at 11:30 (he already scheduled an apt for me? RED FLAG) He says that I will need a biopsy to rule out anything serious. When I push a little bit, telling him that we are supposed to be moving in a week and a half, and asking if I can have the biopsy done today, he looks down and tells me that he thinks this is very serious, I need to talk to my husband about the move, that unfortunately he thinks I have BREAST CANCER. I was all alone for the news. Of course at this point nothing was confirmed, but when you hear those words for the first time all alone, it is a very scary moment.
3. June 9, met with my family doc, she just went over what Radiologist found, and referred us to a surgeon who will be the one to order biopsy.
4. June 10, met with surgeon, he ordered biopsy to be done.
5. June 14, went to hospital for MRI, then ultrasound guided biopsy of right breast. So MRIs are no cup of tea when you are claustrophobic like me (the Xanax helps), but I tell you the biopsy was the worst thing I have gone through so far! They numbed the right side of my breast, inserted a needle to numb the two pathways to the two tumors, then inserted a larger hollow needle to each tumor, then they shot this tissue capture thingy into each tumor (6 times for the larger area, and 4 times for the smaller one). Everything was numb except for the tumors and tissue right around them, so each time they captured a tissue sample it felt like I was getting my ears pierced inside my boob! Not pleasant. The bruise that resulted from this wasn't pretty either.
6. June 17th, met with doctor for results of biopsy. He told me I have two different kinds of breast cancer. I have cancer in the lobules of the breast as well as the ducts. He referred me to the group's breast cancer specialist, for the rest of my treatment.
7. June 21, when they did my first MRI, they saw a blip on the left breast they wanted to double check so they ordered a MRI guided biopsy (my fav). It ended up that when they did the MRI this time they didn't see anything on the left breast. I thought it was weird, but since I am having a double mastectomy anyway, it didn't really bother me.
8. June 24, met with new breast cancer surgeon for "the gameplan." We are starting with three months of chemo first to shrink down the cancer. About half of my right breast has cancer or precancerous cells present. He said that if we don't do the chemo first it will very difficult to get clean (non cancer) margins around the cancer, and he won't be able to save a lot of my skin, making for a very difficult post-mastectomy reconstruction. SO, if we shrink everything down first then there is a more positive outlook for my mastectomy and reconstructive surgeries down the road.
So that is what has happened so far...whew! I need a nap and a Dr. Pepper after typing all that! :)
1. June 7th, I had my regular annual exam with my family doc. During the visit I mentioned that my right breast felt fuller, firmer than my left. While both breasts have always been firm, the tissue very fibrous I have been told, the right one just seemed a bit different. She told me that she would have me get a mammogram to rule anything out and just add to the things I was checking off my list before we moved.
2. June 8th, I went to the hospital and got a mammogram, they told me the right breast looked very dense, they wanted to get a better look with ultrasound. After waiting a bit they did ultrasound. I started to get a bit worried when the tech started taking pictures of two dark areas. I think she ended up taking about 25 pics in all, measuring and snapping pics for about 15 minutes before she went to get the Radiologist. In comes the Radiologist. He proceeds to tell me there are two "areas of concern" and I am scheduled to see my family doc tomorrow at 11:30 (he already scheduled an apt for me? RED FLAG) He says that I will need a biopsy to rule out anything serious. When I push a little bit, telling him that we are supposed to be moving in a week and a half, and asking if I can have the biopsy done today, he looks down and tells me that he thinks this is very serious, I need to talk to my husband about the move, that unfortunately he thinks I have BREAST CANCER. I was all alone for the news. Of course at this point nothing was confirmed, but when you hear those words for the first time all alone, it is a very scary moment.
3. June 9, met with my family doc, she just went over what Radiologist found, and referred us to a surgeon who will be the one to order biopsy.
4. June 10, met with surgeon, he ordered biopsy to be done.
5. June 14, went to hospital for MRI, then ultrasound guided biopsy of right breast. So MRIs are no cup of tea when you are claustrophobic like me (the Xanax helps), but I tell you the biopsy was the worst thing I have gone through so far! They numbed the right side of my breast, inserted a needle to numb the two pathways to the two tumors, then inserted a larger hollow needle to each tumor, then they shot this tissue capture thingy into each tumor (6 times for the larger area, and 4 times for the smaller one). Everything was numb except for the tumors and tissue right around them, so each time they captured a tissue sample it felt like I was getting my ears pierced inside my boob! Not pleasant. The bruise that resulted from this wasn't pretty either.
6. June 17th, met with doctor for results of biopsy. He told me I have two different kinds of breast cancer. I have cancer in the lobules of the breast as well as the ducts. He referred me to the group's breast cancer specialist, for the rest of my treatment.
7. June 21, when they did my first MRI, they saw a blip on the left breast they wanted to double check so they ordered a MRI guided biopsy (my fav). It ended up that when they did the MRI this time they didn't see anything on the left breast. I thought it was weird, but since I am having a double mastectomy anyway, it didn't really bother me.
8. June 24, met with new breast cancer surgeon for "the gameplan." We are starting with three months of chemo first to shrink down the cancer. About half of my right breast has cancer or precancerous cells present. He said that if we don't do the chemo first it will very difficult to get clean (non cancer) margins around the cancer, and he won't be able to save a lot of my skin, making for a very difficult post-mastectomy reconstruction. SO, if we shrink everything down first then there is a more positive outlook for my mastectomy and reconstructive surgeries down the road.
So that is what has happened so far...whew! I need a nap and a Dr. Pepper after typing all that! :)
Welcome to the fight!
So, I was supposed to be moving to Taiwan for Landon's job, on June 19, 2011. Instead of learning the Taiwanese culture, exploring Taipei, tackling Mandarin, and enjoying this awesome adventure, I am here. I am staying in Virginia. In a matter of days our plans changed from moving abroad to fighting a disease. I found out on June 17th, 2011, I have cancer. I have breast cancer. I can't freaking believe this. It is going to be a long year, but with the support of my amazing family and awesome friends, I am going to kick cancer's butt! I am going to FIGHT LIKE A GIRL! Welcome to my fight!
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